Page 74 of March 5

"Yeah."

"In the water, Dio will be lighter. I can keep his head above water and let the next wave take us over the dune." When she saw his reluctance, she grabbed Brett's vest. "I can do this but can't save both of you. The wave is going to hit us. You'll need to swim hard. Don't panic when the tide takes you backand it seems like you're going in the wrong direction. You can catch the next surge."

"I'll take Dio," said Brett.

Brett had no training in saving someone in the water. If Dio regained consciousness and fought the water, fought her, she'd know what to do and how to hold him to keep him from drowning. There was no time to instruct Brett on what to do. He needed experience, and she'd done this many times through the years.

The water took the sand out from under her. She cradled Dio's head, keeping his face clear of the salt water.

"Get ready," she yelled.

The water pulled Brett away from her. He grabbed her wrist. "Don't you fucking die on me."

"You, too." She met his gaze. "Mariah will kill me if something happens to you."

It was the truth. Her best friend had fallen in love. Hard. Fast. Deeply. And she couldn't wait to see where they both ended up.

Brett slipped into the water, struggling to stand on the sand. She looked down at Dio and promised to get him to safety and seek help.

The next wave threatened to take everything away from her. She held on to Dio's floating body and willed herself to remain calm. The water would work for her. She only had to be patient. The tide would get her and Dio over the dune. Once over, they could float to the field.

Dio gave her no struggles, no fight. The freezing temperature of the Pacific Ocean would hopefully slow Dio's bleeding. She had to thinkpositive.

Determined to save him, she braced when the wave slammed them against the dune. She held on to Dio. Unable to feel her fingers, she fisted his leather vest, thankful there was no give in the material, and she could keep him close.

They were getting higher. One more surge, and they'd gain ground. She looked around for Brett, but the next wave came faster than expected, and she lost sight of him.

Dio floated on his back. She had her arms wrapped underneath his armpits. Her feet no longer bumped into the sand. The water was getting higher.

"Hold on, babe," she whispered. "Look at the sky."

The water went over her head. She held her breath, keeping her eyes closed. Trying not to panic, she kept her sense of direction and kicked, bringing them both out of the water.

She gasped for air.

Dio sputtered. She held on to him tighter.

Her foot hit the marsh bottom. Using the water to carry Dio's weight, she dug in and walked through the water, ignoring the tangle of grass trying to stop her progress. They were over the dune. All she had to do was get him closer to the others.

"Skye!"

She looked toward the field and cried with relief. "They came, Dio. They're here. Hold on. I'm going to get help."

The next several minutes were a rush of chaos. Ruger pulled Dio out of the water. Her dad grabbed and picked her up, taking her onto dry land.

Her arms fell limp, and yet her body shook from the cold water. "You have to save him, Dad. I can't lose him."

"We'll do whatever we need to do." Her dad held her tighter.

Dio was put in the Havlin truck and taken away. She pushed to be put down to follow, but her dad carried her across the marsh. Over his shoulder, she watched the waves continue to come for them. But she had no fear. Her dad was there to protect her, and Dio was going to the hospital.

"Brett?" She struggled to keep her eyes open. "Did Brett make it?"

"A minute before you showed up. It was the longest fucking minute of my life." Her dad's deep voice rolled through her. "Brett's waiting for you."

She opened her eyes, seeing they'd reached the parking area behind the old fishing shack. Mariah stood beside Brett, who sat on the bumper of her car, wrapped in the blanket she kept in the backseat.

She reached out for Brett, squeezing his hand. "Thank you."