WAKING UP TO YOU

CHAPTER TWO 

IAN'S POV 

My voice was cut short as I swallowed a mouthful of water, sinking deeper into the icy pool. My limbs grew heavy, and the muffled silence of the deep began to pull me under. Just as everything went dark, a loud splash broke through the surface, followed by strong arms wrapping around me.

That was the last thing I felt before the world faded out completely.

“Hey, can you hear me?”

The voice was faint, accompanied by the sudden press of lips against mine. I snapped awake, coughing up water and gasping for air.

When my vision cleared, I was staring up at a tall, handsome guy with ocean-blue eyes. Drops of water dripped from his wet hair onto his soft, pink lips—lips so captivating I found myself momentarily transfixed.

A single drop slid down his defined jawline as he let out a soft, relieved breath, his dark, clinging strands of wet hair framing a face that looked endearingly boyish despite his sharp features.

His chest rose and fell rapidly beneath his soaked shirt—betraying just how desperately he had fought to pull me out—before his intense worry melted into a warm, lopsided smile that sent a sudden flutter through my chest.

Even sitting in the dirt with water pooling around us, he carried a gentle, effortless charm as he murmured, "Thank goodness," in a voice so smooth and comforting it made my heart skip a beat.

“Hey!” the voice called out again, sounding as gentle as he looked. He has to be an angel, I thought, teeth chattering from the freezing cold.

In my daze, I temporarily forgot how soaked I was, clinging to the handsome stranger holding me like a child.

Even with wet hair clinging to my cheekbones, his gaze lingered on my features just long enough to let me know he saw more than just a soaked wreck—and that the freezing cold hadn't completely ruined my striking looks.

“I'm so cold,” I murmured, pulling myself closer to his chest.

“My bad. Gotta put my jacket on you—it's in the car, if you don't mind,” he said in a gentler tone, and I nodded in agreement.

He carried me over to his car, laid me across the back seat, wrapped me in warm clothes, and secured the door.

"Thanks for saving me," I said, my voice shaking and breaking from the cold. "Can I get your contact info so I can repay you for your kindness? I'd really appreciate it if you could tell me your name, too," I asked, unsure if he would actually give me an answer.

I was admiring his corded arms—shimmering under a cool sheen, radiating raw strength and quiet intensity—when Roy's voice echoed in the distance.

“Ian”

“Ian”

“Ian”

The stranger turned toward the sound, his jaw tightening slightly as he sized up the approaching figure.

"Is that your friend?" he asked softly, glancing back at me with a shadowed, unreadable expression.

Before I could answer, his boots crunched heavy against the gravel, taking a step back into the dimly lit fog.

He slipped a small, folded piece of paper into the crease of my seat cushion without making direct eye contact.

"Get home safe," he murmured, his voice barely louder than the night breeze—before speeding off into the darkness, leaving me safely on the ground.

Then, just as Roy burst into view out of the darkness, the man vanished into the shadows, leaving only the warmth of his jacket behind.

Roy’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the empty shadows behind me.

 A tense silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken questions and unvoiced accusations.

I stood rooted to the spot, acutely aware of how heavily the unfamiliar jacket weighed on my shoulders.

Roy’s eyes flicked downward, taking in the oversized coat draped over my shivering body. A dark flick of amusement crossed his face, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"I guess you're having a blast here—so much so that you forgot you came with someone. Or did you just want a night with a stranger?" Roy asked, his lips curving into a deliberate smirk.

I crossed my arms tightly, trying to match his cold composure despite the sharp racing of my pulse. "I didn't forget anything, Roy. And for the record, he wasn't a stranger."

"Right. That makes it so much better," he replied, his tone dripping with quiet irony as he took a slow, calculated step forward. "So, are we actually going back inside, or are you planning on standing out here dodging questions all night?”

Ignoring his jab, I turned on my heel and walked toward the pool, the cool night air biting at my exposed legs.

My mind drifted back to thirty minutes ago—the sudden warmth of my hand on mine, the low, steady voice that had cut through the noise of the party.

 A faint smile touched my lips as Roy’s sharp words faded into background noise, leaving me to wonder if I’d ever again meet the charming man I had claimed to know.

If only my well-meaning friend hadn't called out my name right at that moment. I could have gotten his number, sent him a text, and maybe given us a real shot at something. 

Instead, I was left clinging to a moment that had slipped through my fingers too soon. The silent sting of regret settled heavy in my chest as I watched the water shimmer under the glow of the patio lights. I let out a soft, defeated sigh, wishing I could turn back the clock just five minutes.

Still shivering slightly from the cold, I wrapped the jacket tightly around myself and moved with cautious steps. Roy trailed behind, keeping a thoughtful distance as he tried to process everything that had just happened.

As I neared the water's edge, my phone buzzed in my pocket. The screen lit up with a text message from an unknown number.“You dropped this by the bar,” it read, followed by a photo of my silver bracelet—and a second message right below it: “Look up.”