Lovesick Little Page 5

  “Oh my God, gross if you’re dead but please don’t be . . . ” she mumbled to herself as she got closer and leaned in, not knowing what to do. She tried shouting for help but there was no one around to hear her, except for the mermaid who was hiding from her. She knelt at his side and put her ear to his mouth like the princess had done. She had taken a CPR course once, but all she could really remember learning was that if a baby is choking, you’re supposed to use your pinkie to check its mouth for lodged food. Once she felt his breath on her face and was sure he was alive, she gripped his collar with her left hand and pulled him up to sitting. As his head drooped to the side, she could tell that he was probably cute when he was conscious. So she wound up her right hand and slapped him, open-palm, hard across the face.

  “JESUS!!!” he exclaimed as his dark eyes flew open, startled to death (or, in this case, to life.) As the girl backed away, she began to laugh nervously as the guy scrambled to his feet and then dizzily fell back down, discombobulated and confused by his surroundings. “Where am I?” he asked the girl whose palm was still throbbing from the slap. Her cheeks were rosy from the coastal winds and her hair was an unholy mess, but she was beautiful and full of life and such a sight for sore, waking eyes. She was like an angel. “Who are you?” he asked, scratching his head.

  “Just glad you’re not dead!” she replied excitedly, jumping to her knees to hug him. “I do apologize for slapping you, but I didn’t know how else to wake you up! What are you doing sleeping on the beach so close to the water, anyway? What if that rip tide dragged you out?”

  Gabriel looked around, puzzled. “I have no idea how I got here; I think the tide might have dragged me in. Unless … did you bring me here?” he asked her. She shook her head no, and so groggily, he attempted to piece together the events of the night. She giggled as she watched him because the concentration he wore on his face made him look like a slow kid doing math homework. “I was on the boat partying with all of my friends . . .” He squinted his eyes to the bright sun as he struggled to recollect. “ . . . And then suddenly, a massive storm hit.”

  “I’ll say!” the girl remarked. “The damn thing came out of nowhere, too; I swore it was going to blow the roof off the barn!” She took the reins of her mare and pat her on her big, dappled nose. “It sure scared the crap out of poor Savannah!”

  “Well it was even scarier out in the water, let me tell you,” said Gabriel. “I was untying one of the lifeboats when something big fell from a high shelf and cracked me on the head …”

  “Where?” she asked, coming closer to inspect his face for injuries. His eyebrows were manly yet pretty. “I don’t see anything,” she said, not entirely believing him.

  “Right here on my temple!” he said, stretching out the skin of his face to show her. The one thing he definitely did recollect in his final lucid moment was being smashed on the temple by a giant vodka bottle. She stepped in to look closely, but found hardly a blemish across his evenly-tanned forehead. “There are no fresh wounds or bruises here,” she said.

  “That’s impossible!” he said, tilting his head so she could see it better. “I saw it fall towards me and felt its blunt crack on my skull, and I remember it all fading to black as I fell head-first into stormy waters.”

  The girl shrugged her shoulders. “Well that’s weird,” she said, “’cause all I see is a tiny old scar that looks like it healed over some time in the nineties. And it looks more like a chicken pock anyway.”

  “Weird,” he concurred, running his fingers over it and beginning to wonder if he had dreamt the whole thing. “So was there a lot of storm damage? Clearly I napped through the worst of it!”

  “Not really,” she said, thinking about the beaches she just rode by. “A few lawn chairs were upturned and some guy lost a kayak but that’s about it for this area. Although, I did hear on the barn radio that there was a big party yacht that got tossed ‘til it busted and some of the people on board had to be airlifted to shore!”

  Gabriel started panicking. “Did they get everyone in okay? Did you hear if anyone was badly hurt?” Suddenly he became very worried about all his party guests.

  “Yeah, they got everyone,” she replied reassuringly. “Except … they did say the search was still out for the birthday boy who fell overboard and disappeared…” she looked him up and down, noting how his ripped, tattered clothes had probably looked really fresh and crisp when he first put them on. She realized then what she had found. “Wait… the birthday boy was YOU, wasn’t it?” she asked, almost laughing at the rare and unexpected situation.

  He nodded gravely. “My family must be throwing conniptions right now!”

  She shook her head in disbelief. “As if you’re the guy they’ve been searching for all night!” she said incredulously. “They’ve had divers combing the reefs for your waterlogged corpse since midnight and all the while, you were right here, napping peacefully in the sand.” Her eyes blurred as she recollected the tempestuous night he had survived. “That was the most hectic summer storm I’ve ever seen . . . but that still doesn’t explain how you ended up all the way over here when they pulled all of your friends out of the waters just South of Chesterman Beach,” she said, amazed and confused at the same time.

  Gabriel stood dumbfounded. “Where is here?” he asked.

  “More than halfway to Effingham Inlet! Probably like twenty miles down the coast.”

  Gabriel looked down at his body. He checked out his arms and was mildly happy to see the garish Audemars Piguet watch his aunt had given him was still on his wrist. He wondered how it could be possible that he could have swum that far with no recollection of it. He shuddered at a flashback of his terrified friends jumping from the rocking, busting ship.

  “Are you going to be okay?” she asked with concern.

  “I think so. But I have to get home now!” he answered. “What time is it?”

  “Almost five a.m.” she answered.

  “What are you even doing awake?” he asked, looking at her funny.

  “Well I went out to the barn to hang with Savannah last night ‘cause she trips out during storms. I could hear her bucking and rearing from my room; she’s a savage!

  “Eventually she chilled out and the next thing I know, it’s morning and I’m waking up to her nudging me with those massive, steamy nostrils aimed at my sleepy face. So we went for a ride to assess the local damage and spend our raucous exuberance. And then we found you!” she said ardently, clapping her hands. “I can tell this is going to make a lot of people very happy!”

  “Thank you,” said Gabriel, humbly but appreciatively.

  “Happy birthday,” she replied sweetly. “So did all your wishes come true?” she asked facetiously, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a handful of oats to feed her horse. Gabriel thought about that for a second and then smiled to himself.

  “Pretty much!” he said, looking her up and down and noticing how pretty she was. “Except when I pictured this whole scenario, I didn’t look like a shabby beach derelict and you hadn’t just woken up in a barn.”

  “Well I try not to make a habit of it!” said the girl, mockdefensively. “But Savvy was freaking out, and I couldn’t exactly bring her into my bed!”

  Gabriel laughed. “Fierce equestrian loyalty; I respect that. So where do you live?”

  “Right now, my residence is the Genevieve Meredith Ranch,” she said.

  “I’ve heard of that place. Isn’t that an orphanage?” he asked, confused.

  “Kind of,” she answered. “I went to live there after my parents died and now I just spend my summers there. It’s more of a sleepaway camp than anything.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  “Yeah, me too,” she said softly. “My parents were really cool. But, I’ve had a great life; I’ve never needed for anything, and in just a few days, I’ll be taking off to go explore a chunk of this big, beautiful world!”

  “That’s wicked!” he said. They caught themselves gazing
into each other’s eyes, and both shyly looked away.

  “Anyway, I should help you get home!” she said. “We can borrow a Sea-Doo from the marina and I could zip you home so they can call off the search party…”

  “Uh, that won’t be necessary,” he said. “After the aquatic adventure I just had, I’d rather just keep this show on solid ground, at least for today.”

  “Fair enough,” she said in agreement. “But it’ll be a long walk!”

  “Yeah really,” he said, looking down at his feet with one shoe missing and the other filled with water, sand, and seaweed. “Crap.”

  “Savannah could get us there in under an hour, though!” she said, climbing onto her horse and motioning for Gabriel to climb on behind her. “Jump on, we’ll take you!” Gabriel gave her an unsure look. “She’s a good girl, I promise,” she said, offering her hand and moving her foot out of the stirrup so he could step up and climb on. As he jumped on behind her, he steadied his arms around her waist and off they dashed down the beach towards his family’s place. “Hold on tight, she’s a spirited one!” she said as they took off, kicking up sand in their wake.

  The little mermaid, still watching, was glad that someone had found Gabriel and that he was alive and well. However, it saddened her that he had no idea that she was the one who’d saved his life and kept him safe through the night. She followed them from the water all the way.

  They arrived at his home after about an hour of riding, just like the girl had promised. They would have had him there in even better time, she swore, if only he hadn’t needed to stop for a pee on five separate occasions along the way.

  “This is it,” he said as they approached the edge of his family’s property. “Thanks so much for the ride, and the slap. How can I ever thank you?”

  “I guess you could always slap me back,” the girl said with a naughty wink, followed by a giggle. Again they held a stare for a moment, connecting in an indescribable way. “I should get back, though, and you should get inside! My people will be wondering where I’ve run off to with the horse, and your people are probably dying to know you’re alive!”

  Gabriel laughed a little and rubbed some sand out of his eyes. “Thanks a million; I mean it,” he said. “I’m really glad you’re okay, and it was really nice meeting you,” she replied. Gabriel extended his hand to meet hers. “I don’t think we technically did meet yet; I’m Gabriel.”

  “Erica,” she said as she fit her hand into his. He squeezed her hand tightly and it sent shivers up her arm. For a second her imagination went wild and she pictured ripping off his torn shirt and taking him down in a passionate embrace.

  “Well, Erica, it’s not every day my birthday boat gets shipwrecked and I’m rescued by a mystery woman on horseback!” he said.

  “Well, Gabriel, aren’t we fortunate that the storm spit you out right onto my path?” She grinned at him as she lifted herself back into the saddle, having trouble holding back a huge, goofy smile.

  “It was a bit of good fortune, all things considered!” he agreed. “Now I’d like the opportunity to show you my gratitude, both for the slap and for the ride home . . . ”

  The girl turned away from him and inwardly rejoiced while pretending to be adjusting something on the other side of the saddle. Then, impulsively, she pulled her foot out of the stirrup and hopped off to stand facing Gabriel. “Come here then,” she said, pointing to her cheek and motioning for him to kiss her there.

  “Love to,” he said quietly to himself as he stepped forward to kiss his heroine on the cheek. As his lips made contact with her soft skin, she swiftly turned her head so that her lips met his. This caught him by surprise and he opened his eyes but held the kiss. Her warm breath on his face made him tingle, and after a long moment locking lips with this beautiful stranger, Gabriel pulled away and smirked. “You smell like barn,” he said.

  Instead of being shy and embarrassed about it, Erica pinched her shirt and held it to her nose, taking in a big whiff of her smelly clothes. “Yes, yes I do,” she said with a laugh. “Well, good luck to you, Gabriel. Hopefully we’ll catch each other on the flipside,” she said as she jumped back onto her horse.

  “When?” he asked, quite obviously intrigued by her.

  “I don’t know,” she said with a smile as she turned her horse back the way they came. “I really have to go now, though.”

  “Why the rush?” he asked, confused.

  “Because you have to get back inside to your family,” she answered. “Remember that right now, they probably think you’re dead. And Savvy and I have to get back to our smelly barn!”

  “Can’t they all just wait a minute?” he asked. “At least give me a number or an email address so we can stay in touch!”

  Ericas sighed. “To tell you the truth, Gabriel, I know we just met, but I think I might like you. So what I need to do right now is get out of here now before I’m sure I do.”

  Gabriel shook his head. “But that makes no sense! At least let me call you so I can take you to dinner,” he insisted. She shook her head. “Lunch then?” he asked. She shook her head again. “Coffee?!”

  Erica smiled, flattered. “I’m sorry. You are so incredibly handsome, but going on a date with you would be against my plan!” she said. “I’m on this tip where I’m not trying to like anyone right now. I have a big year of traveling ahead of me and I promised myself that I wouldn’t get involved with anyone that could potentially slow me down.”

  Gabriel waved that comment off. “I’m not looking to slow you down; I’m just trying to thank the girl who saved my life by taking her out for a nice meal. Won’t you let me?” he asked as he stared hopefully into her eyes. She smiled.

  “You’re very sweet but here’s the thing: I know that my next great love is already on its way to me. I’ve felt it coming for quite some time and I’ll be ready for it very soon, just not yet. I don’t want to meet the right guy at the wrong time, you see. I hope you understand.”

  “Then let me be the wrong guy at the right time!” he pleaded, feeling like a desperate man whose dream girl was about to take off on horseback. He looked and felt disheveled and kind of crazy in his torn clothing while he begged her for a date. He had never begged for anything before in his life.

  While she considered his tempting offer, she looked over his shoulder at the house behind him. Then suddenly, her face dropped and she looked like she had seen a ghost. She realized she recognized it, like it was a place she had once known very well, long ago. Then she looked down at Gabriel and in spite of the rough shape he was in, she began to realize she recognized him too. “Wait—you’re not—Gabriel O’Faolain?” she asked in disbelief. He nodded, wearing an unsure look upon his face. “Ok, now I really have to go,” she said with a stunned laugh. “Very nice to see you Gabriel, it is so good that you’re alive, I’m so glad I could be a part of that, good day to you sir!” With that, she clicked her tongue a couple times and her horse gladly took off into a spirited canter before he could even begin to ask her how she knew his last name. “Wear a lifejacket!” she yelled back to him while he stood in her dust with a dumbfounded face.

  Gabriel, still stunned by the impromptu kiss, put his fingers to his lips as he watched her ride away. Once she had disappeared around the sandy bend, he adjusted his boxers, as they still felt a bit tight in the crotch since their kiss, and there was a lot of sand in there, chafing him. He waited a few moments, vainly hoping she might reconsider and come back around but when she didn’t, he turned to walk up the steps to his family.

  As he wearily walked up to the house, the little mermaid pulled herself up onto the rock she had been hiding behind. She imagined how wonderful it would be to walk up those steps beside him.

  As he approached the front door and reached for its handle, it flew open wide and his petite mother, Lucia, jumped up into his arms and administered the most suffocating hug she could muster, shellacking his face with the plasma of a hundred teary kisses and holding her son like she planned t
o never let him go again. Her dark hair and her usually pretty middle-aged face looked puffy and tired, like that of a mother who had been up all night worrying about her baby. Pulling him gregariously into the house, she let the screen door fall shut behind them and just like that, the mermaid was left out all on her lonesome. His home had wood and stone steps from the front terrace all the way down into the sea, as if the ocean was merely the south-west wing of the family’s lovely home. She felt a cool breeze blow over her, so she slid back off the rock and sunk herself low into the shallow waters. She was chilled to the bone; it was as if even the air itself was taunting her, letting her know just how out-of-her-element she was in loving a human. With her heart feeling strangely heavy, she slumped herself into the soft mud in quiet contemplation of her day’s events, and of the new soul she had just found to love.

  “Gabriel’s home! Everybody, he’s here!” His mom screamed as they stepped into the living room where the family was gathered. His youngest sister Demetra jumped up and ran to her beloved only brother.

  “You’re alive! You’re alive!” she shouted gleefully, jumping up into his arms. He held his sister close as she sniffled. “We thought we lost you, too,” she whispered.

  Gabriel looked around at the tired, worried faces of his loved ones that all looked relieved but amazed to see him standing right in front of them. His dad, mom, and two sisters looked like they had just spent the night camped out on the living room couches, as they were all still wearing the clothes he last saw them in and there were crumpled tissues, pillows and throw blankets in piles around them. He tried to lighten the mood by laughing. “No one lost me; I’m here and I’m fine! Don’t tell me you were actually worried …”