ISLAND LOVE

The water shot up my nose so fast I thought my brain had short-circuited. When I chose to study marine biology, I pictured sunlit dives and coral reefs.... I never imagined I'd be in the open ocean, hauling a fully grown man like he was my personal charity project. "Maya! Help!!!" Liam's voice wasn't so much a call for help as it was a full-on screech. I'd expected chaos the moment we jumped into the water, maybe huge waves, deafening wind, the kind of storm you only see in disaster movies. Instead, the water was... calm. Mostly. Just a lazy swell and a breeze brushing against my ears, which made zero sense. Because logically? This wasn't the kind of weather that could rip a luxury cruise ship apart. But I didn't have time to solve that mystery. I had a billionaire flailing beside me, throwing water everywhere except in the direction we needed to go. "Paddle!" I yelled, choking as a wave slapped me in the face. "Push the water behind you!" He coughed, sputtered, and kicked... if you could call that kicking. "I can't feel my legs! Please, don't let me go!" he begged, his voice almost sounding like a baby crying for his mother. If eye-rolling worked underwater, my pupils would've done a full gymnastics routine. Why was I even doing this? My own survival wasn't guaranteed. Hell, it was barely possible. And here I am, hauling Mr. Can't-Swim-But-Owns-A-Yacht. "I won't let you go," I said, forcing the words through gritted teeth. "Just float. Let the water carry you. We just need somewhere to rest until help comes." Lie. I didn't believe help was coming. But for once, I hoped being tangled up with a billionaire would actually pay off. I don't know how long I swam. Or dragged. Or half-drowned. Every second stretched into an hour. My arms trembled, my shoulders screamed, and each kick of my legs felt heavier than the last. I could feel the tremor in my grip on Liam's wrist, but I didn't dare loosen it. He was my ticket out of here. I can be forgotten easily, but certainly not the heir to the Ashford empire. The water's pull was relentless, tugging at my clothes, dragging me under if I let my guard down. Every breath felt stolen, bought at the price of another burning stroke forward. I scanned the horizon for any resting place, but nothing. Absofuckenlutely nothing. No land. No boats. Just blue swallowing blue. "Do you see anything?" I asked. Maybe I was the one who was just too blind to see... But before he could respond, "BOOM..." Something slammed into my head. Not enough to end me, but enough to send the world spinning. The edges of my vision went fuzzy. I couldn't tell if it was metal, wood, or just the universe giving me one final slap for bad life choices. "Maya!" Liam's voice was muffled, panicked. I felt his grip tighten on my arm. Probably finally realizing I wasn't gonna let go... And then... darkness, and water gushing into my mouth and nostrils. The fucken water hadn't killed me, nor had the storm.  A fucken  table did... Where was it when we needed a resting spot?  In the world of unlucky, I'd be the queen. ********* When I woke up, it was to sand scraping against my cheek and the rhythmic slap of waves against my legs. I coughed until my ribs ached, spitting out a mouthful of seawater. My lungs burned. My head pounded with every beat of my heart. "I'm alive." The words scraped out of me. Then, louder... "I'm fucking alive." The ocean had spat me out like it was done playing with its food. And hell, I was grateful. But then... "Liam," I called out like my brain was finally resetting. I sat up fast, scanning the shoreline. "Liam?" No answer. Just the whisper of waves and... trees. Tall palms. Thick undergrowth. A jagged cliff in the distance. The realization landed on me like a punch. "I'm alone." On an island. Was he dead? Did someone save him and ditch me? "Oh my God, if he left me here after everything..." I muttered. "I will haunt him till his death..." I forced myself upright, my entire muscle aching like hell itself.  The summer dress and jacket cling to my skin.  My knees were shaking. Hell, my body just wanted to collapse.  But I have to get out of here, I have to find someone, or something.  Finally turning around to gauge my surroundings, I contemplated where to head.  The cliff, or the bush?  After so much consideration, I chose the cliff. The cliff loomed ahead of me like a dare, so I started climbing. One hand after another, ignoring the sting in my scraped palms. "Hello?" My voice cracked halfway up. "Anybody here?" I called out, hoping anyone would hear me and come to my rescue. But only my own desperation echoed back at me. The climb felt like forever, I scraped my knee against rock, warm blood trailing down my shin, but I didn't stop. Just when I thought I'd finally pass out and fall to my death from this cliff, my fingers touched the flat surface. Using all of the strength I had left, I pulled myself up, lying on my back.  I lay there on the grass, gulping air like it was luxury.  When I finally stood, the view stole whatever hope I had left. No houses. No boats. No movement. Just endless water on all sides and me with  the sickening realization that there was no way off this island. My eyes caught something, just a little distance from the shore. I squinted my eyes to get a better look, it wasn't just something. It was someone. Face down. Limbs slack. "Liam?" My heart stuttered. I didn't think.  Adrenaline shot through my veins, and I ran. Half-slid down the cliffside, hitting the sand hard before splashing into the water. The cold bit into my legs, but I kept going until I reached him. His skin was pale, his lips tinged blue. "Come on, come on..." I yelled like that would automatically bring him back to life. Hooking my arm under his, I hauled him towards shore. By the time we hit the sand, my lungs were on fire and my arms were jelly. He wasn't breathing. "No. No, no, no. You don't get to die after all that." I pressed my palms to his chest, counting under my breath. Nothing. I leaned down, forcing air into his lungs. His chest rose, but still no response. I did it again. And again. And again... "God please, do not let him die..."  I sat by his side, not sure what other additional method I knew that could revive him.  His usually black perfect hair now colored with sand, framing his sharp jawline, even now as he lay lifeless, he still looked like he was competing for the most perfect face... "You can't die," I said. "I need to take revenge for all the things you've done to me, I can't let you die," Like that was my awakening call, I climbed over him and started putting pressure on his chest over again. Leaning down, I forced more air into his lungs like my life depended on it.  Then...he coughed. Hard. Water gushed from his mouth, splattering my face. "OMG!! You're.." I screamed in excitement, almost hugging him. But shoved me back in full force, still coughing. "Were you.." cough.. " trying to take advantage of me?"