The next few minutes felt like an hour. Huge defiant waves tossed me around. I got sucked back out into the deep, only to be picked up by a wave and dumped back to shore. I lost count of how many times.
I’d learned to deal with undertows, and taking a deep breath I waited for a friendly current. As another big wave headed my way, I dived under, praying to God. I wasn’t ready to drown. I’d only just met my soulmate.
I managed to tread water long enough to see Ollie’s board, which had ended up back onshore. I finally spotted Ollie floating on his back.
Adrenaline charged through me. I swam fast and furiously, fighting with the undertow and refusing to surrender.
As the current tried to suck me under, I envisioned Miranda smiling at me, instilling me with superhuman force. I dived under a huge wall of water, and when I came up, I reached Ollie.
He was out cold, so I clutched his waist, and after being pushed around again, I lucked upon a friendly wave that pushed us back to shore.
I laid Ollie on the sand and fell onto my knees, heaving.
Miles undid Ollie’s strap, and although winded, I pushed down on his chest continuously.
When water spurted out of his mouth, I released a trapped breath, and Miles gasped with relief.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
At first, he stared at me, dazed, but then his eyes sparked with alarm.
“I can’t move my fucking legs!”
I kept calm because Miles’s face had turned pale. He was Ollie’s best friend.
I turned to Miles. “You stay here, and I’ll run and get some help, okay?”
He nodded and was about to help Ollie sit up when I stopped him.
“Don’t move him.”
I bent down to Ollie and said, “Just hang in there, buddy. Stay still until the ambulance arrives, okay?”
He nodded, looking lost.
I ran all the way up to Aidan’s house, which was connected to a neighboring bay.
Clarissa opened the door. “Hello, stranger,” she said cheerfully.
Her sweet smile soon faded when I didn’t smile back.
I explained what had happened, and she covered her mouth and was about to run for the beach, but I stopped her, explaining that Miles was there.
Then I followed her back into the house and called for an ambulance.
After I finished the call, I said, “They’re on their way.” Tears ran down her cheeks, and I took her hand. “I’m sorry. I should have done more to stop him.”
If I hadn’t been such a fool and entered that turbulent surf, Ollie might not have charged ahead.
“Aidan warned him before he left. He went in for his morning swim, and it was so rough that when Ollie showed up with his board, I tried to talk him out of it. Oh God.” She sighed. “But you know Ollie. He’s so stubborn.”
“Don’t worry. It’s probably just temporary nerve damage.”
“I hope so.” Clarissa bit her lip. More tears pooled in her eyes.
I held her hand. “He’s a strong guy.”
“I’ll grab some water for him and a towel,” Clarissa said, moving from one spot to another, looking confused.