Chapter 3

Jenny gave the girl a swift kick and scolded her for her cluelessness.

"I need to hit the restroom." I stood up slowly, not wanting to make a scene, just trying to save face for us both.

Alice shot me a look, then Yoel, but she did not come after me.

When I returned, everyone was lounging on the beach, full and content.

Yoel and Alice were cozied up next to each other, their closeness speaking volumes. I quietly grabbed a seat off to the side, keeping to myself.

Jenny, ever the life of the party, piped up, "Alright, everyone's here. Game time! Truth or Dare, people."

Alice came out on top in the first round, with Yoel on the losing end.

He picked the truth, and Alice, playing nice, asked him about any recent joys.

Yoel's eyes twinkled as he looked at Alice with a tender gaze.

"I met this amazing woman, and just like that, I had it all—a house, a car. And get this, she even took me for a spin in her brand-new car to unwind."

Finishing his tale, Yoel shot me a smug grin.

The crowd knew the score with Yoel's sudden wealth, but it was an unspoken truth, seen but not discussed.

All that, and Yoel was flaunting it like that was a whole different ball game.

The mood turned icy, and even Jenny was startled.

With no outburst from me, Jenny had to tough it out and keep the peace.

"Let's keep it moving, second round—hey, it's our hunk Richard's turn."

Then it was my turn, and Yoel had the reins for my challenge.

"Truth," I stated calmly.

Yoel sauntered over, drink in hand. "Richard, let's up the ante, how about a dare?"

I scrunched my brow, feeling the warning bells. "I'll stick with the truth."

"Come on, live a little. Alice says you're a champ in the pool. Show us a lap."

Yoel's eyes lingered on my midsection, his lips curling with a hint of mischief.

I stood my ground, firmly declining: "I'm not up for it, feeling under the weather—I can't swim."

Yoel turned to Alice with a look of feigned innocence, but Alice was having none of it.

"You're a seasoned swimmer, Richard. Since when can't you swim?

"Just a few days back, everyone had already made their apologies, and now they were bending over backward to get on your good side. What's the harm in taking a quick dip to show them you're cool?" said Alice, paying no mind to my resistance as she and Yoel nudged me toward the shore.

Seizing the moment, Yoel shrugged off my jacket and took a hefty swig from a wine bottle.

"Richard, this one's to you. Your move, buddy."

His toast was like throwing me onto the grill. I snapped back, "I've told you, I'm not up for a swim. Your boozing isn't going to change my mind. And why can't I just pick Truth?"

Yoel's lips tightened, and he shot a wounded look at Alice, whose expression quickly soured.

She chucked her wine bottle onto the sand with a thud. "What's with the act? Swimming is your thing. They're not asking for the moon, and he's already downed a bottle for you! Why do you have to spurn their kindness?"

I glanced at Alice, the heroine in our little drama, and then at Yoel, his eyes brimming with tears. I could not help but sneer. "Who asked him to drink? I said no swimming, and he's pressuring me. How is that not a hassle?"

My sharp retort left Yoel in tears.

Alice's face darkened, and she rolled up her pants. "You won't swim? Alright, I'll join you!"

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Alice yanked my ear and plunged me into the chilly waves.

A shiver ran up from my feet, where the cold bit into my wounds, and in a flash, the sea flooded my nose, leaving me coughing and sputtering.

Alice was relentless, holding me down with Yoel's help.

My eyes reddened with the sting, tears and snot mingling as I struggled.

When it felt like my lungs would burst, I frantically pushed at Alice, and she finally released her grip.

However, as luck would have it, a rogue wave crashed over us just then, and when I reached for Alice's pant leg, she kicked me away with all her might.

I was dragged into the ocean, the freezing water swallowing me whole.

It felt like an eternity before I mustered the last ounce of my strength to reach the shore, taking deep, life-saving breaths of the crisp air.

Meanwhile, Alice was gently stroking Yoel's well-behaved head, soothing him, "Don't worry, I've dealt with him. He had it coming. I'll set him straight later."

With that, she approached me, looking down with an air of superiority. "Say you're sorry to Yoel! And as for you, down a bottle of wine as your punishment! Or else—"

In the midst of everyone's shocked stares and Alice's demanding gaze, my eyes brimming with tears, I cut her off.

"Alice, my lawyer will be in touch. We're done. We're getting a divorce."

At my words, Alice stared at me, her dark eyes wide with shock.

I stumbled forward, my body weak, and as I hit the busy street, darkness overtook me, and I collapsed.

Right before I blacked out, I could hear the panicked cries around me.

"Someone's down!"

"Get an ambulance, fast! God, he's bleeding from his stomach, there's so much blood!"