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While they fished, I lay on the deck, lazily tossing scraps to the seagulls. The sun was warm, and I was just about to drift off to sleep when my phone rang.
It was Nathaniel.
I shot up instantly.
I loved talking to Nathaniel. Whether it was on the phone, video chat, or just sending him silly, pointless messages. He was always patient, never making me feel like what I had to say was trivial. He didn’t care about my humble background or the calluses on my hands. In fact, he praised me for being a good fisher and a strong swimmer. In his eyes, it seemed like everything about me was wonderful. My confidence had skyrocketed.
“Nathaniel, I made so much money today!” I chirped as soon as he answered.
“Excellent. That sounds like a very profitable deal,” he said, his voice warm with amusement. “Sera, you’re becoming quite the businesswoman.”
I beamed, kicking my feet in the air as I lay on a blanket. “I know, right? All I have to do is sunbathe and cook some soup, and I get a huge tip. A few more deals like this a year, and I could retire.”
“Sera,” Nathaniel said, his tone shifting slightly.
“What is it?”
“Has it been a week since we last saw each other?”
I counted on my fingers. “You’re right, it has!”
“I’ll pick you up tonight.”
I glanced over at William and his friends a short distance away. “I don’t know if they’re planning on night fishing.”
Nathaniel chuckled on the other end. “Don’t worry. They won’t be.”
“Okay, great! Then come get me.”
“Good. I have some business to attend to now, but I’ll call you back later.”
“Okay.”
I hung up, feeling a little reluctant to end the call. But just as I did, one of William’s idiot friends suddenly toppled over the side and into the ocean.
I rushed over, joining the others in tossing him a life preserver. I untied the lifeboat from the side of our boat and pushed it toward him. But the guy
was panicking, flailing wildly in the water, swallowing mouthfuls of seawater, and drifting further away with every second.
I sighed, exasperated, and shrugged off my overalls.
“Seraphina, what are you doing?” William grabbed my arm.
I looked at him, confused. “What does it look like? I’m going to save him.”
“You’re going?”
Well, are you? Or any of you?” I shook off his hand. The guy in the water was about to be knocked out by the waves I didn’t have time to arque I
Chapter 2
08.48
“Well, are you? Or any of you?” I shook off his hand. The guy in the water was about to be knocked out by the waves. 1 didn’t have time to argue. I kicked off my boots, vaulted over the railing, and dove headfirst into the sea.
