Sing You Home by Ava Hunter

Seth twists in his seat, watching as Jenny races out the door. Exhaling one long breath, he leans back and looks at Jace. Frustrated, he bangs his palms on the lip of the table.

He needs an answer. Now.

“What do you think?”

Jace laughs. “Oh, that’s Sal. No one else could polish off so many fries.” Affection knots his voice. It’s the one thing they always gave Sal shit for. A runner, she could always put them under the table when it came to food.

Making a decision, Seth shoves up from the table.

“I’m going after her.”

“Go.” Jace rips a hand through his hair. He’s decided. “Now.”

With those words, Seth bolts out of the diner and takes off running. His body moves with the instinct of finding something precious, with the knowledge that something so lost might not be found again. Seth scans the scenery in front of him. The patio, the overlook is empty. There’s no sign of Jenny anywhere. Dread curdles Seth’s stomach, twining with panic.

She’s gone. He had his chance and he lost her.

Breathing hard, he reaches the lookout point.

He swears, spying Jenny down below the railing. She’s climbing over the small fence separating the boardwalk from the beach. She hops over carefully, wobbles once, rights herself, then heads toward the water. Seth watches as she sheds her shoes, cardigan, wedding ring, messenger bag.

He frowns.

What the fuck?

Unease has Seth running again. This time for the beach.

He makes it to her right as she begins wading in the water.

“Hey!” Seth shouts to be heard over the crash of a wave. “Hold up!”

Jenny whirls around and freezes at the lip of the surf. She looks frightened for a moment, but seeing that it’s Seth, her eyes clear before darting nervously to the ocean. “What do you want?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“You shouldn’t be here, okay?” The wind’s picked up. She stands there shivering on the beach, the hem of her white dress whipping in the breeze, the waves lapping at her bare feet. “Look, I want to be alone. Please, just leave me alone.”

“I can’t.”

Her eyes narrow, and Seth realizes how it sounds. Creepy as goddamn hell, that’s how it sounds.

For a moment, Seth balks.

What the hell does he tell her?

That he thinks she’s a dead woman?

It’s crazy, but crazy it’ll have to be because she’s already moving away from him. “Goddamnit, Sal,” he swears, their old banter raging in his mind.

She pauses, turns. Her expression curious. “Sal? Who’s Sal?”

“Someone I used to know. Someone very special to me.” Then, uncaring how crazy he sounds, he blurts, “I think you’re her.”

Her eyes go wide, so wide and wild. She scoffs. “You’re out-of-your-mind nuts.”

Jenny turns away again, and Seth moves to follow.

“Don’t!”

The shout that comes from the woman in front of him is a hoarse, red-tinged rage. She sounds so fierce, Seth blinks in surprise. The familiar spark of anger in her eyes shakes him to his core.

It’s Sal. He’d bet his life on it. And if he takes one more step, he just might because she’ll rip him a new one.

“Don’t follow me.”

That’s when she throws a hand up to ward him off.

Seth’s sharp gaze locks on her palm, zeroing in on the tattoo she shares with Luke.

He nearly falls over where he stands. The confirmation that it’s Sal hits him like a sledgehammer.

But his excitement is short-lived, sideswiped by Sal, who’s wading deeper into the ocean. The water swallows up her feet, her calves, her knees.

“Please,” she whispers. She smears her face in her hands, practically drills a finger into her temple. Lifts her face to stare at him. The fear in her voice, the defiance that’s given way to utter defeat, socks him hard in the gut. “Go away . . . just let me go . . .”

A chill zips up Seth’s spine. The way she’s talking . . .

He watches warily as she wades further into the ocean. She winces at the coldness but strides forward. She looks uncaring if she drowns or is swept away by a wave.

Seth drops his eyes, unsettled by how far out she’s going.

The water’s at her hips now.

Fuck it. He’s going in.

Seth’s heart pounding in his chest, he wades into the ocean. He keeps his voice low and calm like he’s talking to a wounded animal, ready to flee. “I can’t let you go because I think you’re confused as hell, and I think you need some help.”

“No one can help me.”

The desperation on her face strangles his heart. Seth takes another step forward, eyeing the distance between them. She’s about a foot away. If he moved fast he could grab her, haul her back to shore. Although, yeah, she’d probably kick his ass.

“Now that’s where you’re wrong.” Seth puts a hand out, palm up. “Listen, let’s go back to the diner and I’ll explain everything.” He gives her a grin. “It’s cold. I got sand in my boots.”

She sob-laughs.

“I don’t think you wanna be here anymore than I do. I’ll buy you a coffee. I’ll help you.”

“You will?” The look she throws him is one of relief. “You’ll help me?”

Seth nods, his heart hammering in his chest. “I will. You got my word.”

With a turn of her head, she glances back toward the ocean. For a minute, Seth thinks he’s lost her, and adrenaline and fear kick in, tensing his body to go after her.

That’s when Sal’s beautiful face crumples. Her shoulders sag and she covers her face in defeat. Her voice barely more than a whisper, she says, “I don’t want to do this.”

“So don’t,” Seth soothes, inching forward, a hand out. “Come out of the water now, okay? Please, get the fuck out of there.”

She opens her mouth. “I . . . oh . . .”

Seth strains to hear, but the remainder of her sentence is lost to the wind.

Raising a hand to her temple, Sal lets out a strangled gasp. Seth’s horrified as he watches her eyes roll back in her head and her knees buckle. Springing into action, Seth clears the distance between them whip-quick. He catches her before she can sink beneath the waves.

“Shit,” he swears, hooking her into the curve of his arm. Cupping her pale cheek, Seth scans Sal, hanging limp in his arms, with immense worry.

Her eyelids rest half-mast, the eyes beneath unfocused. Her head lolls on her shoulders, her mouth open in a soundless gasp. The ends of her long, wild hair trail the water. Carefully, he hoists Sal high into his arms. His muscles tighten as he pulls her into his chest tightly, protectively, not wanting to crush her. He carries her body out of the water, and even though she’s unconscious, he can feel her shivering.

Seth staggers onto the beach and lays Sal on the sand. With shaky hands, he wipes dark hair from her face, presses frantic fingers to her throat.

Thank God, thank Christ.

Seth bows his head in relief. The heartbeat is thin and thready, but it’s there. As he scans her unconscious form, he zeroes in on more bruises dotting her slender white neck.

Rage tightens his jaw, but before anger can take over, Seth checks it. Sal’s priority. Nothing and no one else.

His head jerks up at the crunch of sand. It’s Jace, hurrying down the sloped path to the beach. “Call an ambulance,” Seth shouts. “Now!”

His gaze moves back to Sal, lying still and unconscious. She’s breathing unevenly, her body trembling with a pain Seth can’t fathom. Quickly, he shucks off his thin overshirt and covers her soaked dress, wanting to keep her warm.

Keeping his eyes on her expressionless face, Seth slides a hand into Sal’s cold one and squeezes. “You’re gonna be okay, Sal,” he tells her fiercely. “I promise. We won’t let anything happen to you. We’re gonna get you home to Luke.”