Chapter 121: Chapter 121
Cheers erupted and I could see the happiness on people’s faces. It was a huge house but it was obvious they were all a family. I saw the Xavier Hug Lily and the twins jumping around her and bickering about something. But my eyes of course went to Adrian as he hugged her, she whispered something in his ear and he pulled away with a roll of his eyes.
I walked over to Lily and as soon as she saw me she beamed "Congratulations" I said grinning
"Thanks" she said putting a hand to her stomach "it was a surprise, but a good surprise"
"I’ll say" Ethan said once again wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, it was obvious he couldn’t not touch her. "Pretty soon you’ll be Mrs. Lytton too, my life is absolutely perfect now. All because you’re in it"
Lily turned around in his arms and looked up at him "Well it would be hard without me I men, I’d like to see you try to make a baby by yourself" Lily teased and I turned away feeling as if I was looking in on something private.
"Celebratory drink" I heard Dave say as he handed me a punch glass Jim standing beside him "I’m going to be godfather"
"He’s just joking we both know I’m going to be godfather" Jim interjected and Dave rolled his eyes. I put my punch cup on the table beside me after taking a sip
"he’s an idiot don’t listen to him" Dave told me "You know I haven’t seen you have fun since we met" I shrugged and he added "Well that won’t do will it Jim?"
"It sure won’t" Jim said and they both looked at each other with mischievous grins. I took a step back as they looked at me
"What are you--"
"Cannonball" They screamed interrupting me. Suddenly Jim threw me over his shoulder and ran to the lake and then threw me in as soon as he was close to it.
I can’t swim The words were almost out of my mouth when I felt my body hit the cold water, I instantly started kicking my legs and flailing my arms in panic. I was swallowing water and I felt myself get weaker and weaker as I struggled. I was so panicked, trying to swim that I didn’t feel the muscled arm wrapping around my waist and leading me to the edge of the lake.
I felt myself being lifted and placed on a solid ground, I struggled to breath as a coughing fit took over, water escaping my lips as I desperately tried to regain my breathing. Once the coughing stopped I slumped on the ground, faintly aware of my name being calling.
"Nate, Nate open your eyes for me" Adrian’s familiar voice reached "She’s not answering Miranda I’m going to give her CPR"
I forced my heavy eyelids to open and looked up to see a woman looking on me and then my eyes found Adrian who looked panicked, and worried.
"Oh thank god" Adrian said letting out a breath "Thank god"
The woman turned my head so I can face her and told me put a finger in front of my eyes and told me to follow her finger as she moved it from one side to the other.
"Okay that’s good, can you tell me your name?"
"Ken.." I started but found it hard to talk "K-Nate T-tatum"
"Okay Nate, can you tell me what day it is?"
"S-saturday"
"Okay she’s stable and responsive. Now Nate you need to rest today, and you might cough a lot due to the water you swallowed but other than that you’ll be fine."
As soon as the woman moved away I was immediately lifted from the floor by someone and carried bridal-style, and I didn’t need to look to know it was Adrian, I felt it. I noticed he was tense his posture stiff as he walked me inside to the house and sat in the living room on the couch with me on his lap.
His arms were tight around me in protective manner as he buried his face in my hair and took deep breaths. I basked in the warmth and protection emitted from his embrace.
Adrian finally pulled away and brought my face up, he searched my face and then let his eyes roam over my body, feeling me but not in an erotic way, more like as a reassurance that I wasn’t hurt, that I was here. His eyes went back to my face and he leaned his forehead against mine "You scared me to death" he whispered burying his face back in my hair. And just like that I was snapped to reality.
I tried to break free of his hold but it wouldn’t loosen as I struggled. "Don’t fight him" I heard a familiar voice say from the doorway, I looked up at Lily and she was looking at me and Adrian "He needs this now, Nate. He needs to know you’re okay."
"B-but"
"No questions" Ethan said as he walked behind Lily and wrapped his arms around her waist "Just let him hold you, believe me I know" He glanced at Lily " After what just happened, he just can’t let you go" and with that they both turned and walked away.
"Adrian" I said softly once they were gone and he pulled his face away to look at me and the words I was about to say died on my lips as I saw the pained expression in his eyes, the fear.
"My heart literally stopped when I saw you fighting to stay above the water" he said in a hoarse voice "Please just...just tonight" his voice broke "Stay with me, just tonight"