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Jacob gave her a look, and Carla burst into laughter. “Well, let’s go again, then!”

“I’ll follow you!”

Rising back to her feet, Carla steered her surfboard, happy that she still had the momentum to make the turn and ride another wave.

Behind her, Jacob judged the speed of their course, along with the wave up ahead. He sailed next to her, and they took on the water together. Thankfully, it wasn’t as high as the last wave, so they rode it with ease, content in the breeze that circled them and the sun that kissed their melanin skin.

“One more!”

“Let’s do it!”

They turned, headed back to shore at an easy pace while they waited on the next wave to arrive. When it did, a cool burst of wind came with it.

Jacob glanced behind them, his gaze rising at the velocity of the water.

“Is it bad?” Carla glanced at him, then turned her eye back to the shore coming up.

“Bellissima.” She glanced at him. “Steady yourself.”

Carla followed his movements, balancing herself as much as possible, but when the wave lifted them, its unruly waters sent her board zigzagging out of control.

“Shit,” Jacob cursed, and as soon as she flipped, he dove into the ocean, grabbing her in the tight grip of his arms as their bodies were slung back and forth by the waters.

Seconds felt like minutes–Jacob held on to Carla tightly with their bodies curled together.

When the water began to calm, he straightened his limbs and swam to the surface. The sun hit their faces when they broke the surface, and Carla went into a coughing fit.

“Hold on to my neck, baby.”

His voice soothed her, but she wheezed until air filled her lungs again.

“Look at me, lift your head, and try to control your breathing.”

She did as he told her and, getting a grip, relaxed her forehead against his lips. “That was crazy.”

He kissed her forehead, then glanced around. They were floating, not far away from the beach.

“I’m going to swim us to shore. Can you hold on, sweetheart?”

Carla nodded. “Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

She smiled, lifting to look into his eyes. “I am.”

He turned while she held on to his neck from the back and rested while he guided them to the shore. When his feet touched the sand, Jacob swept Carla in his arms as soon as her toes sank into the cool grains.

She tightened her arms around his neck and smiled up at him. “I think I can walk now, Mr. Rose, my hero.”

His gaze was stern, and she could feel his heart palpitating like they were still near danger. It made her face soften, and a hand slid up his chest.

“Hey. I’m okay.”

He exhaled. “I know.” He kissed alongside her face.

“I had that wave, by the way. I think it was chaotic because I took on the others with ease.”

Jacob smiled. He knew she was trying to get him to relax, but Jacob couldn’t explain the way his heart sank to see her flip over, helpless, recklessly because of no fault of her own.