“So? That doesn’t mean anything.” Rico brought a piece of fresh yellowtail to his mouth. “You know what’s weird? None of my brother’s friends ever dated seriously in the past, and then, you come into their lives and everyone’s paired off. You and Roman. Parker and Adri. And, if things go according to plan, Zack and—“
“Venice!”
I whipped around just as a loud splash interrupted the quiet atmosphere. My jaw dropped when I saw Zack standing at the only part of the patio that wasn’t guarded by a railing. At least, he was standing for about two seconds, before he whipped his shirt over his head and dove into the pond.
Rico and I exchanged baffled glances.
That was definitely not part of the plan.
* * *
“I can’t believe we’re stalking her. Again.” Venice hid her face with the side of her menu as she glared at Zack.
“We’re not stalking,” he insisted. “We’re…acting as bodyguards.”
“Against who? James is in jail.”
“Well, you never know. Rico did use to be a gang,” he mumbled, trying to make out what Maya and Rico were saying. Why were they on a date on the first place? Wasn’t she dating Roman? Was she so mad at him about the hospital prank that she’d broken up with him? Or was she cheating on him?
Zack felt a bit dizzy from all the possible reasons running through his mind. He also felt more than a little terrified at the thought of Roman’s reaction if any of those reasons turned out to be true.
“You’re always dragging me into this,” Venice complained. “I was supposed to go to the movies tonight!”
He returned his gaze to her direction. “With who?” The question came out a bit sharper than he’d intended.
“With Grant.” Venice’s eyes lit up. “You know, I got an A on my calculus test because of him? He’s so smart. It’s amazing.”
Zack frowned. Grant. That stupid skinny kid with the stupid skinny name and the stupid skinny glasses and the stupid—
“Zack?” Venice gave him an odd look. “Why do you keep saying ‘skinny’?”
He blushed. “No reason. What’s so amazing about that kid anyway?” He sniffed. “I could’ve helped you get an A on that test too.”
“But you don’t even take calculus.”
“How do you know that?” he challenged.
Venice’s cheeks turned pink. “I don’t know,” she mumbled. Then her face brightened again. “Puppy!” she cried.
He groaned. Not this again! “Venice, no!”
But it was too late. The tiny redhead jumped up to follow the tiny dog who had jumped out from an elegant older woman’s handbag. The woman didn’t seem to notice.
Zack couldn’t believe it. Did she have a disease or something? Because that type of fascination and blind following of puppies could not be normal.
Suddenly, he realized with horror that Venice was racing straight towards the section of the deck that had no railing.
Zack jumped up, forgetting about spying on Maya and Rico for the moment. Hadn’t Venice said something about not being able to swim? Crap.
“Venice!” he shouted.
Too late. He watched in horror as she tipped over the edge and…onto the dock. But his sigh of relief was cut short when Venice stood up, only to slip and fall into the pond with a splash, just as he reached the dock.
Without even thinking, Zack pulled his shirt off his head, jumped onto the dock, then dived into the water.
Within five minutes, he’d pulled Venice out of the water and back onto the deck, where the other diners had gathered, gaping at the scene in front of them—including Maya and Rico, who had concerned looks on their faces.
“Zack! What happened?” Maya exclaimed.
“She fell!” Obviously, his mind whispered, unusually sarcastic.
“Oh my god, she’s not conscious.” Maya’s eyes were wide. “Does anyone know CPR?”
“I got it.” With those three words, Zack leaned down and covered Venice’s mouth with his.
* * *
I had hoped Zack and Venice would end up kissing after tonight, but this was not what I had in mind. Plus, I’m not sure CPR qualified as kissing.
I instinctively gripped Rico’s hand, my heart thudding nervously. I knew Venice couldn’t swim, and though I doubted she was in mortal danger, considering the short amount of time she’d been submerged, I was still worried.
Therefore, when her eyes blinked open and she began to cough up water, I breathed a sigh of relief.