Chapter 14

I can hear Derek’s voice next to my ear, but it’s very difficult to focus on it. The world around me is glassy, and I find my head swimming—no pun intended.

It’s not until a few seconds have passed that I notice what Derek is shouting.

It’s my name.

“Esme! Can you hear me?” He’s calling, worry laced through each syllable, each breath. I’ve never heard such a fear inside of him.

“Lifeguard! Help!” He shouts out as well.

His hands reach my chest, and the compressions come in quick succession. I know I should be focused on the fact that I nearly drowned, but his touch makes my body tingle in a way I haven’t thought of before.

Holy shit.

Then, water comes spewing out of my mouth as I start coughing heavily. The water runs down my chin and off my face, but I start taking large gulps of air.

Tastes better than chlorine, that’s for sure.

“Thank God,” Derek sighs in relief, falling back on his legs as he takes a moment to collect himself.

He just saved my life without a second thought. It’s one of the bravest actions I’ve ever witnessed.

And as I fully focus back on the moment, I realize my boss has my arm in a tight grip, letting go as soon as I let my eyes wander to his hand on me.

As the touch of his hand disappears, I see the red marks left on my arm. His grip was so rough, so afraid. I made Derek fearful?

“Thank you,” I choke out as I slowly sit back up.

Derek nods once, looking right into my eyes as he does. His chocolate-brown stare sends electricity through my body, leaving me buzzing with excess energy.

That, or I’m just feeling the adrenaline hit from nearly drowning.

“Derek! Help me!” A voice shouts from behind him. I don’t have to look to know Natalie’s fake cries.

Derek, however, doesn’t take his gaze off of me. I try reading the expression etched into the lines on his face, the creases in his forehead. His fear is real, but so is his determination to make sure I’m okay.

The lifeguard Derek had called on jumps into the water to save Natalie. Wait, aren’t they in a relationship? Why isn’t he saving her?

“Thank you, but Derek was going to save me,” Natalie insists as she’s pulled out of the water nearby.

“I’m sure he was, ma’am,” the lifeguard deadpans, looking down at Derek and me. “Sir, is she alright?”

Derek, for his part, finally looks away from me and up at the young gentleman. He nods, then turns to look at Bea and Tris waiting in the shallow end with their eyes nearly popping out of their heads.

“I need you to take the kids back downstairs,” he instructs. “I know your partner will cover for you for the next five minutes.”

The kid looks bewildered for a moment, but something in Derek's expression must change his mind. “Of course, Mr. Anderson. I’ll just let her know I’ll be right back.”

“Bea! Tris! Out of the water, please,” Derek orders. His voice is still wobbly, but the girls must know the severity of the situation because they don’t argue.

Derek gives each girl a hug and a kiss and states that he’s sorry. “Daddy must hit pause on playtime today, okay? We’ll continue this a little later.”

Each girl looks slightly disappointed, but I also see that they wear their worry the same way as their father. The eyes, the eyebrows raised. The little ones really do take after their dad.

“Say goodbye to Miss Esme, okay?”

The girls both look at me, and I have no clue what to do.

Do I smile? Thank them? Cry?

“Bye Miss Esme,” they chorus, though sad to be saying so.

The lifeguard returns and escorts Derek’s girls downstairs in the elevator. But as soon as the two are out of sight, Derek’s worry turns to rage, gritting his teeth as he turns to face the woman who nearly killed me.

Natalie, for her part, immediately bursts into tears. “Der-Bear! Did you see what she did? She pushed me into the pool!”

The model points a finger at me as if this is somehow my fault. The fake tears and cries are honestly pathetic, and for once, I refuse to hold back.

“Me? You threw my phone in the pool! Then you jumped in and tried to drown me!” I say this in between coughing, clearly still not back to normal yet.

“Natalie, I saw what happened here. You think that just because you’re successful, you can continue to treat others as a means to an end?”

Derek has started flaring his nostrils at her, and for the first time, even I somewhat fear him.

“That’s not true!” The model whines.

“How much longer do you plan to continue with this madness?” He growls at her. “I have told you before to stop bothering me, and now you’ve gone too far.”

His eyes shoot daggers at the model, who looks pretty rough at the moment.

“She’s the one bothering you!” Natalie cries out. “She has ulterior motives!”

“What?” Derek asks, and I can tell he’s had it with her bullshit.

“She moved in next door to you! She took pictures of you, she stares at you, all of it! I saw it with my own eyes, Der-Bear!”

Derek rolls his eyes, but I’m the first to speak up.

“Your baseless accusations make you sound crazy!” I shoot back at her.

But that’s not how I expect the conversation to stop being normal. Because then, to my utter shock and confusion, Derek speaks.

“You’re right, Natalie. Our relationship is indeed not simple.”

What the fuck is he saying right now? Wait, is he talking about me? Why me? I thought he and Natalie were a thing.

I think my head is beginning to spin from all that water.

“Don’t lie to me! As long as I’m around, I’m the only one you get to have. You know that!”

I want to roll my eyes at the stupidity of this woman because when is she going to get it through that thick skull that all I want is to live my life?

“Don’t lie?” Derek asks with mock sincerity.

“Yes! You can’t like any other woman, Derek. I thought that was obvious.”

He breathes out through his nose with a subtle laugh before his eyes pull away from Natalie and make their way to me.

Oh God, what’s happening? Am I actually dead, and this is an elaborate scheme made up to keep me from coping with death?

Please, universe, this isn’t funny. Why is Derek making such fierce eye contact with me?

“Well, if you insist,” my boss starts to say before suddenly, his lips come in so fast I almost scream.

They crash together like waves on the shore, warmth on warmth, and a feeling so low in my belly that I swear it isn’t real. What is happening? Is this real? Am I actually kissing my boss right now?

His breath comes from his nose and hits my face, melting my already-fried brain as I kiss him back subtly.

Oh boy. I’m in deep shit.