Chapter 3
three
. . .
SUMMER
The man nods in recognition so I must have spoken clear enough for him to understand.
There’s a flurry of movement, the man yelling out to the crowd and eventually he returns with my inhaler. He must have been guided to my backpack and found it there.
I ignore his worried stare and take a deep inhale of medication. Or as deep as I can for what little there is left inside. Then, I wait.
He waits, too. Kneeling in front of me, quiet and patient while my airway relaxes.
Within a few minutes, the medication starts to work and my breathing slowly returns to normal. He must notice because that dazzling smile of his reappears.
“That’s better.” He nods, brushing his thumb across my knuckles. “You had me worried.”
I think he’s just being nice, but when I meet his gaze, I see the sincerity there. And the worry.
I nod. “I’m okay now.”
“Do you need to go to the hospital?” He scans my body. “It would make me feel better if you got checked out.”
“Well, it wouldn’t make me feel better to pay for an emergency room visit.”
“I get it, but we need to make sure you’re okay.”
“We don’t need to do anything. I’m fine now,” I say, firmly.
The children, who had been instructed to stay back, have inched closer.
“It’s Prince Eric!” Ten four-year-olds squeal in unison.
“He rescued the mermaid!” one girl shrieks excitedly.
“No, she’s supposed to rescue him, ” comes a disapproving voice.
I’m wondering if they think my asthma attack is part of some skit. I wish it was. I wish I could stand up and laugh it off. But standing in this tail is impossible and laughing right now would cause further pain to my aching chest.
“Oh, my goodness! Is that Rory Shields?” a woman behind us calls.
His name hits like a rogue wave—Rory Shields. Of course. I’ve seen the sign at the edge of town. The golden boy of swimming. Coral Cove’s hometown hero. And now, my accidental lifeguard.
There’s a murmur throughout the group of bystanders. And now that I’m not dying, the crowd moves closer, many of them trying to draw the attention of the man who rescued me.
A shadowy figure looms over me and I squint up into the sun to find Rich shaking his head.
“That was not what I hired you for,” he hisses. Tenneil stands behind him, with crossed arms and a pinched, sour face. As far as expressions go, she’s a one trick pony, and disapproval is all she knows.
I swallow the lump in my throat. I’ve been around people like Rich my whole life. Up until a few years ago, I was on his side of this transaction so I know exactly what is going through his mind and I hate that I was ever associated with people like him.
My mouth opens, but nothing comes out.
“Are you out of your mind?” Rory barks as he returns his attention to me. To where Rich and Tenneil are towering over me. “You sent her into a red-flag surf for a stupid photo op?” He motions down the beach to the lifeguard stand where a red flag is waving in the breeze.
“O-oh,” Rich stammers. “I didn’t realize.”
“She could have gotten pulled under, you idiot. You think a plastic mermaid tail is going to help her fight a rip current?”
Rick blinks. “I—I apologize.” And Tenneil behind him is standing there with her mouth gaping open. It’s clear no one has ever put her in her place before.
“If you ever put her, or anyone, in danger like that again, you’ll be answering to more than an angry swimmer.” Rory lowers his voice. “And if there weren’t children present, I’d tell you how I really feel about you.”
With that, Rory bends down to scoop me up.
“All right, Ariel, let’s get out of here,” he says loudly for everyone to hear.
“What are you doing?” I whisper as he starts walking toward the parking lot.
“Play along.” He winks. “And then Prince Eric and the little mermaid lived happily ever after,” he calls to the birthday party before adding to me, “Now smile and wave.”
“Daddy, that’s the best birthday surprise ever!” I hear the birthday girl call.