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Jenny’s in trouble

I see her buckle over, let go of the handle and go tu into the water

“Stop the boat!” I screagling to right herself The life jacket is keeping her afloat all right, but she’s face down in the water and thrashing around

I dive straight into the ocean and the water hits me like a cool slap, then I swirab her around the hs and spits out water and I hold her until she’s calht her breath The boat has stopped and we float in the azure waters,water as I hold her

I don’t need to still be holding her, I realize The boat is still, she has a life jacket on and can still swim I don’t need to be here with my arms around her at all

I just want to be A wave of protectiveness washesinto the water flashes throughto her

Cal freed herself of the skis, Jenny looks up at me Her eyes are the sa of freckles across her nose and the tops of her cheeks For aat each other as the waves caress our bodies, and the rest of the world disappears I couldof salt on our lips and the sun heating our skin The thought is sublime

“Alex?” she whispers and I’m jolted back to reality

“Let’s get back to the boat,” I say brusquely, letting go of her “Can you swim?”

She nods “Yes, the cra seized up horribly”

We swi myself in while Paulo helps Jenny back on board He looks horrified and I sense he’s worried about being held culpable and losing money

“It wasn’t your fault Paulo,” I reassure him “Accidents happen Can you take us back to the beach?”