Page 8 of Stolen Hearts
Saturday
“Slow down, babe, you’ll give yourself indigestion,” Daniel says to Kelly, reaching for her hand to pull away the pickled cucumber.
It’s the third one she’s devoured in as many minutes while lounging under the beach umbrella and reading the latest Lucy Score book. Her feet are dangling just off the end of the beach towel, heels dug into the sand.
“Fuck off. If it weren’t for that thing,” Kelly points at his dick. “I wouldn’t be in this position in the first place.”
Daniel's shoulders slump. He reaches into the cooler bag to get himself another bottle of water and wipes it across his forehead. The light ocean breeze isn’t enough to counter the heat of the afternoon sun.
Thankfully, Victoria Beach is much quieter than its neighbor, Laguna Beach, which is just up the road on the PCH. But it’s still in the same area, so Kelly can get a load of videos to send to her friends while nodding to two of her favorite old-school shows on Netflix,Selling the OCandLaguna Beach.
“I need to go cool off in the water,” I say and push myself up off the towel. I dust the sand from the backs of my legs. The sun is doing very little to help me sweat out all the alcohol Daniel made me consume last night. “Wanna join?”
“Can we recreate Baywatch and run in slow motion into the ocean?” Kelly asks. She drops her book onto the towel and grabs the suntan lotion, squirting some on her hands. I pull my navy-and-white striped swimming trunks slightly up to cover the emerging tan line around my waist.
“Sure,” I say, shrugging. Kelly applies the suntan lotion to her face.
“Will you film us?” Kelly asks Daniel, pointing at her phone on the towel.
Daniel shoots me acan-you-believe-herlook, then stretches over to get the phone before his eyes drift down toward her belly. Kelly meets his gaze while taking off her see-through turquoise sarong, revealing her matching blue bikini and the tiniest of bumps.
“From behind, and in slow motion,” she says.
Kelly waits for Daniel to get the phone ready, and he finally gives us both the thumbs-up.
“Last one in pays for dinner!” she shouts, already shooting off toward the ocean.
The competitive part of me wants to catch up with her. Thevain part of me wants to look good on camera. But the brother in me wants to see her happy, and I decide to let her win.
Joy washes over her face as one of the waves splashes her. The coldness of the water hits me as I enter, a refreshing change from the heat, and the smell of seaweed and salt from the ocean fills my nostrils.
“Looks like you owe me dinner at Nobu,” Kelly says, splashing water at me.
“Who said anything about Nobu?” I splash her back. “Plus, you’re not supposed to eat raw fish while you’re pregnant.”
“I swear, this pregnancy is taking all the joy from…” Kelly stops mid-sentence and winces. Her hands drop under the water to clutch her belly.
I break out in goosebumps as Daniel runs into the ocean at a thunderous speed, splashing us with his carefree entrance.
“What’s wrong?” I push against the current toward Kelly, panic rising in my chest.
“I don’t feel right.” She winces again and doubles over.
“Told you to lay off those pickled cucumbers,” Daniel laughs as he reaches us.
Kelly ignores Daniel, her face contorting with pain.
“Babe? What’s wrong?” Daniel moves toward her, grabbing her arm.
“I think it’s the baby.” She slowly lifts her chin up, her breath coming short.
Suddenly, the air filling my lungs becomes scarce and I start to panic. “Let’s get her back to the beach,” I shout at Daniel.
Daniel and I move to either side of Kelly and sling her arms over our shoulders, then reach under her knees to lift her and carry her quickly back to shore. Three specks of blood are barely visible at the lowest point on her bikini bottoms. I catch a look of sheer terror in Daniel’s eyes. A wave breaks against the shore, washing against our toes as we place Kelly down.
“We need to get you to the hospital straight away,” I say. “Daniel, you pack up everything. Kelly, let’s get you to my car.” I scoop Kelly up into my arms and head up the beach toward the parking lot.
“Daniel!” I shout, snapping him out of his daze.
