CHAPTER 12: WORRIED

One, two, three minutes passed, and then I felt Max's strong arms pulling me back up to the surface. When we emerged from the water, both of us panting heavily and with him holding me in a bridal-style embrace, Max frantically called my name over and over.

"Isabella! Isabella, wake up... Damn it, please wake up, Isabella Isabella?" His voice trembles with concern.

Only when I sense him hastily carrying me back to shore do I open my eyes, startling him once again. Out of surprise, his hands slip, and he drops me in the shallow water near the shore. I burst into laughter at Max's expense, clearly not sharing his amusement.

"You were pretending?" He exclaims in disbelief, but I can't stop laughing.

"Isabella, wake up," I mockingly mimic him between laughs. "Please wake up, Isabella."

He maintains his serious demeanor for a few more seconds before a smile finally escapes him. He shakes his head and extends a hand to help me stand. I take it, pushing the strands of hair clinging to my face