Chapter 40 40: Drowning Differently
Without thinking to remove his clothes or shoes, he jumped into the pool, diving right under and swimming with speed toward Baby's sinking body.
"Everyone, look! Baby is drowning!" The girl called after the crowd, pointing at the pool while still recording.
Saint didn't hear the girl screaming.
Or the music.
Or Jae yelling "free Molly!" like a demented DJ.
He only heard the sound of Baby's body hitting the water.
The world funnelled to a single point.
Baby.
Sinking.
Silent.
Not moving.
Saint cut through the pool like a blade, catching Baby under the arms and dragging him up, his breath burning, his mind white-hot with panic.
"Baby! Baby!" he barked when they broke the surface, shaking him once.
Baby's only reaction was a weak pull on Saint's arm, as if his unconscious mind was still trying to escape the water.
"Fuck," Saint muttered, swimming toward the edge with Baby.
The duck lay half-deflated against the wall like a corpse.
Cam and Rode were ready there, waiting to take Baby from him, and the moment they did, Saint was right out of the pool, water splashing everywhere as he knelt beside Baby, shoving Rode aside.
He didn't care who was watching.
He didn't care what they were thinking.
The only thing he cared about was lying unconscious in front of him and he was about to do whatever it took to get those fucking blue eyes open again.
"He needs...that..." Cam froze as he stared at Saint's mouth covering Baby in a mouth-to-mouth.
He was shocked, and he was fuckibg sure he wasn't the only one.
Everyone froze, holding their breaths, both for Baby's safety and Saint's brazen action.
They understood it was for Baby's good, yet, Saint with Baby... the chemistry was visible to even the blind.
Saint slightly pulled away for the third time to drag fresh air in and then lowered his mouth right back on Baby's, breathing the air into his lungs.
He felt it when Baby moved under him. He should have gotten up immediately, instead, he pressed his lips firmer on Baby's lips, giving him one desperate kiss before pulling away and kneeling beside him.
To others, it looked like a resuscitation, to Baby, Saint made sure he felt his fear through that fleeting, barely-there kiss.
Baby gasped, coughing violently as his throat burned. He opened his red, stinging eyes, his vision blurry at first before it settled on the person beside him.
Steel-grey eyes stared at him with utter, devastated worry.
"Are you okay," Saint asked as he reached out to help Baby up.
"Don't touch me," Baby shoved a hand weakly against Saint's chest. "Move," he rasped, coughing water, eyes burning with embarrassment and anger.
Saint pretended he didn't hear him and gently put his hands under Baby's arms, helping him stand on his feet, his hands holding Bauo by the waist
"Saint—" Baby tried again.
"Shut up," Saint cut sharply, not looking at him, fighting the urge to scoop Baby in his arms and walk out of this darned pool party.
Baby's breath hitched.
Cam finally snapped out of his shock and moved closer to Baby across the tiles like a panicked golden retriever.
"Baby?" Cam called, holding Baby's arm as Saint tightened his hold.
"Let him go," Cam demanded, tugging.
"No," Saint snapped, stepping back, holding Baby higher in his arms.
Baby went rigid — not from fear.
From fury.
"Saint," Baby snarled, voice rough from water and cigarettes, "get your hands off me."
Saint finally looked at him.
Really looked at him.
Chest heaving.
Hair dripping.
Eyes blazing with steel fire.
Cold. Humiliated. Cornered.
Saint's arms tightened.
"No," he repeated, quieter this time. A whisper sharpened by fear he'd never admit.
Cam shoved Saint's shoulder. "Dude! He almost drowned! Let me—"
Saint whipped his head toward Cam.
"Back. Off."
Cam froze, hands lifted.
Saint looked unhinged.
That cold, calm type of unhinged that made even his own teammates take a step back.
Baby glared at them both, chest rising and falling in angry, uneven breaths.
"I said. Let. Me. Go."
He shoved Saint's chest again, harder this time.
Saint clenched his jaw.
His nostrils flared.
But he released Baby — carefully, reluctantly — until Baby's sneakers moved across the wet tiles.
Baby pulled free instantly, wiping water from his face with shaking hands.
"What the hell is wrong with both of you?" he hissed, voice cracking from the shock. "I'm not a damn child. I'm not your responsibility. I didn't ask to be saved—"
"You were drowning," Saint said quietly.
"And?" Baby snapped. "If you hadn't been stalking me around the party, I wouldn't have been near the pool in the first place!"
Cam's eyes widened.
Saint's jaw twitched.
Baby pointed at him, chest heaving.
"You corner me behind the house, you show up where you're not supposed to, you keep—" he swallowed hard, voice shaking, "—you keep confusing me and then acting like nothing happened. And now you want to play hero?"
Saint didn't breathe.
Didn't blink.
He looked like he'd been punched.
Baby stepped back, dripping, shaking, humiliated, furious.
"Stay away from me," he whispered.
"You make everything worse."
Saint's fingers curled at his sides, knuckles bone-white.
Cam grabbed Baby's shoulder protectively, pulling him back.
Saint's eyes snapped to Cam's hand.
Baby didn't see it — but Cam did.
That instant flare of something dark.
Possessive.
Lethal.
Cam swallowed hard. "Let's get you a towel," he murmured, guiding Baby away.
Saint watched them go.
Silent.
Saturated.
A man drowning in a different way.
Baby didn't look back.
Saint didn't move.
Not even when the girl who caused the whole mess drunkenly laughed and said, "Relax, he's fine—"
Saint was across the tiles in two steps.
And the look he gave her?
Made her shut up mid-breath.
Made her lower her phone.
Made her stumble back.
Saint didn't touch her.
He didn't need to.
His voice was ice.
"Delete the video."
She nodded instantly.
Saint turned away.
His eyes locked on Baby's retreating figure.
Jaw clenched.
Hands trembling.
He'd almost lost him.
And Baby didn't even realise it.