Page 35 of Rescue My Heart
She lingered for a moment, hoping McKenna might soften or say something to acknowledge their history, even in a small way. But McKenna kept her focus on the clipboard, barely sparing her a second glance.
Mazey forced herself to leave McKenna’s side, her heart feeling heavier with every step. She replayed McKenna’s words in her mind, the tone so cold and distant. The past connection, the playful banter, they all felt like distant memories, foggy and blurred. She hadn’t been prepared for this version of McKenna, who seemed completely indifferent, like Mazey was just another actress needing supervision. As she headed back to the set, Mazey clenched her fists, swallowing the disappointment. Shecouldn’t shake the longing to see a flicker of warmth in McKenna’s eyes.
The director called her back over, gesturing toward the river. “Alright, everyone, let’s reset and run the scene again. Mazey, take your mark on the bank, and we’ll go from the top.”
Mazey took a deep breath and returned to the starting position by the edge of the river. The crew scurried around, making sure everything was in place, while the stunt coordinators reviewed the safety measures. McKenna was nearby, speaking quietly with the safety team. Despite her earlier cool demeanor, Mazey noticed McKenna watching her closely from across the set, her gaze sharp. There was something in McKenna’s stance, however, that conveyed readiness, prepared to step in if things went wrong. That thought gave Mazey a small comfort, even if McKenna wouldn’t let her see it.
Once the crew signaled the all-clear, the director called action. Mazey fell into character, playing the panicked, desperate struggle to survive. She moved along the riverbank, stumbling, scrambling, reaching for stability while her feet teetered on the wet rocks. She could feel the water rushing beside her, hear the roar of the current, but she stayed focused, determined not to slip again.
But just as she reached the critical point in the scene, her foot caught on a jagged rock, and this time, she couldn’t regain her balance. Her arms flailed as she lost her footing again, and she felt herself tipping forward and sliding down the embankment. Before she knew it, she was tumbling back toward the river, the roar of the current growing louder.
The river swallowed her, and the current gripped her body, dragging her downstream faster than she could react. She tried to steady herself, to fight against the relentless pull, but the water was too strong. She twisted and turned, struggling for air, her breaths coming in shallow, desperate gulps.
In the midst of the chaos, she caught a glimpse of movement along the riverbank. Her vision was blurred, but she saw a figure moving swiftly, a familiar form cutting through the crowd. McKenna. Her heart surged with a mix of fear and hope, knowing McKenna was there, knowing that she would act.
The cold seeped into her bones as she fought to keep her head above the water. Each breath felt like a battle, and just as she felt herself being pulled under again, strong hands gripped her. The grip was a steady lifeline.
“Hold on,” McKenna’s voice came, commanding and close.
Mazey clung to McKenna’s arm, feeling the solid warmth despite the icy water surrounding them. McKenna’s other hand was around her waist, holding her tightly as they fought against the current together. For a brief moment, Mazey forgot about the scene, the cameras, the crew. All she could feel was the strength in McKenna’s arms, the steady rhythm of her breathing, the way McKenna’s gaze remained focused and fierce.
McKenna navigated them back toward the bank, her grip never faltering. Finally, she hoisted Mazey onto solid ground, guiding her up onto the bank before pulling herself up beside her. “Are you okay?” McKenna’s voice cut through the sound of the rushing water, edged with a hint of anger. She looked down at Mazey, her eyes blazing with an intensity that took Mazey’s breath away.
Mazey struggled to catch her breath, nodding as she managed a faint smile. “Guess I still need saving after all.”
McKenna’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, it looked like she was going to snap back with a retort. But she only shook her head, glancing away, a look of exasperation flickering across her face.
“You could’ve been seriously hurt, Mazey,” she said, her voice low but intense. “This isn’t something to brush off.”
Mazey looked down, a pang of guilt twisting inside her. She knew McKenna was right. She’d been careless and more focused on seeing McKenna’s reaction than on her own safety. But as she looked back at McKenna, her heart ached with the realization that she was here, that she’d saved her without a moment’s hesitation. Despite everything, despite the cold professionalism she’d tried to put up between them, McKenna had still jumped in.
“Thank you,” Mazey whispered, her voice barely audible over the rush of the water.
McKenna looked back at her, her expression unreadable, water dripping from her face and hair, and for a moment, Mazey thought she saw a flash of the woman she knew, the one who used to laugh with her, who’d once held her with a tenderness that felt like coming home. But the moment passed quickly, and McKenna’s face hardened again, her professionalism sliding back into place like armor.
“Get to the medic tent,” she said, her tone all business once more. “Make sure you’re cleared before you go back to set.”
Mazey nodded, pushing herself up, her body exhausted and sore from the ordeal. She took one last look at McKenna, who had already turned away, focused on ensuring the safety protocols were adjusted. It was as if the rescue had been just another part of her job, just another task to check off her list.
As Mazey walked away, she couldn’t help but feel a tug in her chest, the ache of unresolved words and unsaid apologies weighing heavily on her. She’d felt McKenna’s strength and presence, and for a brief, fleeting moment, it had been like old times. But now, standing on the riverbank, she realized that if she wanted McKenna back, she’d have to fight for it.
Because even if McKenna acted like she’d moved on, today had proven that the connection between them was still there,buried under layers of hurt and hesitation. And Mazey knew she was done letting it slip through her fingers.
This time, she’d find a way to make it right, no matter how hard she’d have to work for it.
14
MCKENNA
McKenna lay on the worn leather couch in the station, her mind replaying the river rescue in excruciating detail. She’d managed to keep her composure and keep things strictly professional, but now, in the stillness, she couldn’t avoid the feelings that had surfaced during those intense moments. Despite every effort to distance herself from Mazey, she hadn’t been able to ignore the familiar surge of protectiveness that had gripped her as she watched Mazey slip into the rushing water.
At first, she’d considered declining the set supervision request. She had told herself that stepping in for Mazey’s sake would complicate things, that she had no business getting involved again. But the thought of someone else making a mistake that could put Mazey in danger gnawed at her in a way she couldn’t shake. Against her better judgment, she’d accepted. And then, as if fate had conspired against her, Mazey had fallen again, right before her eyes.
The memory of the rescue unfolded in her mind like a scene she couldn’t escape. She hadn’t hesitated for a second. The moment she’d seen Mazey go under, instinct had taken over. Shecould still feel the cold rush of the water and surge of adrenaline that drowned out everything but the determination to reach her. Her arms had locked around Mazey’s waist, steady and firm, and for those few brief moments, holding her had felt like the most natural thing in the world. Too natural. Too close.
She closed her eyes, fighting the images crowding her thoughts. She didn’t want to dwell on the way Mazey’s body had felt against hers or the softness of her voice when she’d whispered that faint, shaken "thank you." McKenna had tried to shut it all down and respond with curt professionalism, but it hadn’t been enough to push away the familiar feelings that clung to her even now. Being that close to her had stirred up everything she’d been trying so hard to suppress.
As she lay on the couch, McKenna’s mind flickered back to the last time they’d been together when things had been easier, lighthearted even. She could almost hear the echo of their laughter, the way Mazey had once looked at her with such trust and warmth. And today, despite everything that had happened between them, she’d been right back at Mazey’s side. Even with the distance Mazey had put between them, even though they weren’t together, there was still something that bound her to that woman with a force she couldn’t seem to break.