Chapter 3

"She's choking!" I heard someone scream.

I coughed violently, my entire body jerking as water forced its way out of my mouth. My lungs burned like someone had set them on fire. 

“Breathe,” a voice said. “Stay with me.”

I sucked in a sharp breath, only to choke again, more water spilling out as I gasped. 

“Fuck…” I wheezed, clutching at the sand beneath me. I was alive. I blinked rapidly, my vision spinning. 

Everything started to come into focus. There were people hovering around me… too many faces. Why were there so many people?

My head hurts. 

I covered my face. 

“Hey, give her some space,” the same voice snapped. A shadow moved in front of me, blocking out most of the faces. 

“Back up!” he screamed at them. 

The crowd started to scatter. Good. Because if one more person stared at me like I was some kind of roadside accident, I was going to lose my shit. 

I coughed again, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. I finally looked up. I swallowed. He was not what I expected. 

Tall. Broad shoulders. Dark hair that looked slightly messy, like he couldn’t be stressed about it. 

He crouched in front of me as his brown eyes roamed my body. “Are you okay?”

I nodded. 

“Someone you can call?”

I almost laughed at that. I couldn’t call Ronan, of course. The only person I had left to call was Maya and yeah, she would have answered if only we weren't quarrelling. 

We usually had some misunderstandings but this last one? It had been going on for two months. 

So, I couldn't call her. I didn't know if that decision came from pride or shame. Whatever. 

I remembered the day we fought just as clearly as daylight.

“You are being stupid, Lyra.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m serious. That guy is just using you, and you are letting him.”

“Using me? Maya, that’s wild,” I had argued. “Just because you’ve been used and dumped your whole life doesn’t mean he would do the same with me.”

Yeah, that was our last discussion and she never called me again. 

“You can leave,” I said after a while. “I’d be fine, really.”

How else would I tell him that I had someone and I pushed her away for a man who just…

I clenched my jaw. 

He stood and offered me his hand. “You are stuck with me.”

I laughed. “I don’t even know you.”

His eyes narrowed, hurt flashing through his eyes for a moment. “I’m Victor….”

Wait…

I looked at him properly this time. 

“Oh shit,” I said. “You’re Ronan’s friend?”

He smiled. 

I knew the both of them were entirely separate beings but then a twinge of hurt spread across my chest as it reminded me of Ronan again. 

Before I could ask anything else because I had lots of them, he gestured toward the packing area. 

“Let’s go,” he murmured. “You need to get out of these wet clothes before you catch something”

“I’m f…”

“Don’t dare tell me that you are fine again,” he leaned closer. “Can’t you accept help for once?”

I stiffened. 

Reluctantly, I had to get in his car. I was worried that I would get his car wet but then he told me not to worry about it. 

His car was as ridiculous as you’d expect. Sleek, expensive, probably worth more than my entire existence. 

I wasn’t really so close to Victor. Ronan never really introduced me to most of his friends, he only talked about them to me. I didn’t know he was this freaking rich. 

He drove me home and he allowed me to take a shower and gave me a loose gown that might probably be for his girlfriend or his sister. I didn’t ask because I didn’t want to hear the answer. 

I quickly put on the dress and went to join him downstairs. He was sitting down at the dining table, I joined him and he pushed a cup of juice to me. 

I shook my head. 

“Vodka?”

He smiled and went to get it for me. 

“So,” he said as he took his seat. “You gonna tell me what really happened?”

I stared out the window. “I slipped.”

“Right.”

I rolled my eyes. “What do you want me to say? That I dramatically ran into the ocean because my life is falling apart?”

He shrugged. “That would be a start.”

Damn him. I sighed. 

“Fine, I left Ronan’s house.”

His hands tightened around the cup like he already knew what happened. “I’m sorry.”

“About what?”

“C’mon drop the act now,” he said, tilting his head. “He told me yesterday that he was going to propose to Elara. I guess he finally broke the news to you.”

I looked away from him. 

“I knew you loved him.”

I froze. 

“What…” I scoffed. “I…”

He walked closer to me and my heart began to beat faster. He stopped in front of me, barely an inch between us now. 

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ears. “He’s a fool you know.”

I frowned. 

“Ronan,” he said. “He’s a fool for not realizing the gem that he has with him.”

My chest tightened as I took another sip of the vodka. I let out a breath. 

“You can stay here”

My jaw dropped. “What?”

“I know you need…”

I shook my head. “No…I’m not doing that. I’m not relying on anyone again.”

“Who said anything about relying?” he asked, his lips curving up. “You’ll pay rent.”