I sprint towards the water, knowing that I might not make it in time. As I get closer, I see Sol swimming as fast as he can towards the shore, the majority of the stag party following, but one guy is still struggling in the water. I dive in and start paddling towards them, the adrenaline pumping through my veins.
The wave crashes down on us all, and I’m thrown under the water. I manage to hold my breath and keep my eyes closed until the wave passes over me. But salt still burns my sinuses as the current drags at my legs.
When I resurface, I see Sol helping most of the guys to shore, but the one guy is nowhere to be seen. I start scanning the water frantically, hoping to spot him.
Finally, I see him – he’s being dragged out to sea by the riptide. I swim towards him as fast as I can, feeling the burn in my arms and legs from the effort. When I reach him, he’spanicking and thrashing around, making it difficult for me to hold onto him.
“Calm down,” I yell over the crashing waves. “I’ve got you.”
I manage to get him onto the board and start paddling back towards shore. The others have made it out of the water and are standing on the beach, watching us.
When we finally make it back to shore, the guy is coughing up water and gasping for air. Sol and I help him to his feet and make sure he’s okay. He looks shaken but otherwise unharmed.
“Thanks,” he says to us, still coughing. “I didn’t think I was going to make it.”
Sol nods grimly, looking relieved that the situation didn’t end worse. Maybe the guy is being a little dramatic, but actually, riptides need to be taken seriously. Things can change in an instant in the water. I can tell he’s shaken up, but he’s trying to play it cool.
“Just another day in the office,” I say, trying to inject some levity into the situation. The guy laughs weakly, but I can tell he’s still in shock.
As we start to pack up the boards and head back to the hut, I can feel the adrenaline starting to wear off. My whole body is shaking, and I know it’s going to be a while before I can calm down. But as we walk down the beach, I can’t help but feel grateful that I was there to help. If I hadn’t been on duty, who knows what could have happened.
Responsibility always seems to win.
I just wish it didn’t cost me things I actually want.
BETA BAIT
Lani:profile name – BetaBeachBabe23
Beta Bait:Your profile name is now set as BetaBeachBabe23. Your adventure has a name and a face.
Beta Bait:You can view your live profile right here and add more details to make yourself stand out from the crowd:https://betabait.example.com/profile/BetaBeachBabe23. Take a moment to see how you shine in the chase!
Beta Bait:If you have any questions or need any clarifications about your profile or the process, just let us know. We’re here to ensure you have a seamless experience.
TEN
LANI
Old Pete catchesme as I’m leaving the beach. I waited outside the cafe for over an hour past the time we agreed to meet and there was no sign of Koa at all. I even took a stroll along the shore in the hopes of seeing him, but nothing.
I feel foolish. Embarrassed. Annoyed.
And, stupidly, a little disappointed.
He didn’t have to make plans to hang out if he didn’t really want to. If he was just being polite, why actually set a day and time to meet? Why not just keep things vague?
I guess being stood up by Koa goes a little way towards assuaging my guilt for sleeping with Finn last night. So much for focusing on one guy. And for taking things slow.
It’s probably for the best. The last thing I need is a messy summer. Even if it was fun for a hot minute.
“Lani, sorry to put you on the spot again like this, but is there any chance you can work the lunch shift today?” He smiles winningly, and it’s almost impossible to say no to him. “We’re not opening tonight.”
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“There’s a big storm forecast to roll in. It might all blow over and be nothing but a storm in a teacup, but we always take the weather warnings seriously.”
Great. I hate storms. My grandmother had warned me they get the occasional storm here but I wasn’t expecting one to hit so soon. And the restaurant closing probably means not getting paid.