My Best Friend's Dad || J.A.

Chapter Nine

   Caleb swims Calen's unconscious body on her board to shore, yelling for someone to get help. By the time he has her on shore and off the board, there's a lifeguard right beside her asking him what happened and Caleb explains it all.

   The lifeguard gets straight to doing his job as people start to crowd around and Caleb's on the verge of tears. He can't lose his other half. The lifeguard performs CPR on Calen for what feels like forever to Caleb, Calen starts spitting out water and coughing.

   "Calen." Caleb pushes the lifeguard away as he picks up his sister and holds her. "You're not allowed to die on me." He holds her tight and Calen hugs him back. The last thing she remembers is her foot stuck in coral, her lungs starting to fail enough oxygen and her accepting that this is one funny way to go out.

   "Next time we do a brother-sister hangout, let's not compete on the waves." Calen snuggles her face into her brother's neck. "I can't beat your ass at everything if I'm dead." Her jokes don't make Caleb laugh. "C'mon, you have to admit that was kinda funny."

   "You almost fucking drowned to death, Calen," Caleb hugs her tighter at the thought of losing her. "Don't joke about dying right now or I'll tell the whole family this happened and they'll ride your ass like tomorrow isn't gonna happen." His threat makes Calen keep her mouth shut. "That's what I thought."

   "I'm not dying on you any time soon, Cal," Calen tells him. "I have to make a toast at your wedding." She knocks his shoulder with hers and they both share a laugh. "And it's going to be embarrassing."

   "I'll strangle you with the veil my wife will be wearing." His harmless threat makes them chuckle again.

   "What about that 'don't joke about dying' comment from a few seconds ago?" She points out and he shakes his head with a smile. "I'm serious, Caleb. If I'm going out this young it's by something cool, not by getting my foot stuck in some stupid coral and drowning."

   "Yeah, and what's your definition of cool?" Caleb questions.

   "Skydiving and my parachute won't open." Her answer is quick like she's thought of this already. "It'd be a stupid yet cool way to go out because I'd finally be going skydiving which is cool but jumping out of a plane without making sure the parachute will actually work is stupid."

   "Where do you get the time to think of these things?" Caleb shakes his head with a laugh and Calen stays silent as she remembers all the times she stayed up late with Hardin and they talked about random stuff like this.

   "It doesn't matter." She shakes her head and Caleb automatically knows. Calen and Caleb are one. It's like twin telepathy but in their own weird Calen and Caleb way. "I deserve ice cream for surviving an almost near-death experience." She changes the subject back to her drowning not too long ago.

   "I'm paying with the money my cartel boss gave me." Caleb messes with her and her joke about his job occupation. "First let's take the boards back to the house." Calen nods her head in agreement.

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   "Calen Elizabeth Walker!" Calen hears her mother yell her full name as she walks onto the porch. The twins look at each other with fear before their mother steps out. "Are you okay?" Lauren's tone suddenly changes to her concerning motherly tone as she cups her daughter's face. "So many people took videos and it's been over the local news." Her eyes swarm with worry. "Dad and Char are on their way home now."

"I'm fine, Mama." Calen gives her mom a warm smile as she tries to give her a consoling hug. "Caleb saved me per usual." She eyed her brother with a genuine grin.