And One Makes Three (Carnal Coeds) (10 page)

There was just one problem, however. As close as both he and Becca had become to Lane, there was some part of Lane that he held back. He refused to answer any questions about his past. Besides knowing that he was once in a threesome, Gabe knew nothing of Lane’s family, his friends or his life’s ambitions. All he knew was that Lane was from down South and would most likely return to school there come fall. Just the thought of Lane leaving left a giant hole in his chest.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Lane asked as he leaned closer to Gabe.

“Yeah.” Becca had insisted on trying paddleboarding on her own. Lane wasn’t so keen on the idea, but Gabe knew that they did all that they could do for her. She wanted her independence, and Gabe knew from experience that it was better to let her do what she wanted.

“I really appreciate you two letting me hang out with you.”

Gabe frowned at Lane.
Hang out with them?
“You’re an integral part of this relationship, Lane, you know that.”

Lane shrugged.

Gabe crossed his arms and frowned. “Look at me.”

Lane kept his gaze fixed on the surf.

“Lane…”

Gabe waited until Lane turned to face him. “You’ve brought Becca and me closer together.”

“Yeah, I kind of gathered that.”

“No, you don’t understand.” Gabe uncrossed his arms and took his hand. “Our relationship wouldn’t have survived without you. You’re the glue that keeps us together.”

Lane frowned and pulled his fingers from Gabe’s. “Glad I could be of help.”

His words were coming out all wrong. Gabe let out a sigh of frustration and ran his hand through his hair. “No, that’s not what I mean. You brought us together, but it’s more than that. You’ve become a part of us. An important part.”

“Yeah, right.”

“No, it’s true.” Gabe shook his head. “Everything works while you’re around.” Gabe saw something flash through Lane’s eyes, something that made him feel uneasy. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Lane sighed and turned his attention back to the water. “Believe me, you’re better without me.”

“No, we aren’t. What can I do to make you see that?”

Lane rubbed a hand over his face. “You don’t understand. I’m broken. I don’t deserve happiness. I certainly don’t deserve this.” He waved his hand at Becca and Gabe.

“We’re all broken.” Gabe put a hand on Lane’s arm and waited until their gazes met. “What happened to you down in Virginia?”

Lane hesitated a moment before responding. “Nothing.”

“Tell me.”

Something flashed through Lane’s gaze, as if he was struggling with some inner demons. Gabe inched closer. “What happened in your life that was so horrible, that you feel like you have to keep it hidden from us?”

Lane stared at him for a long moment then let out a sigh. “I killed a woman.”

“What?”

“Well, I didn’t exactly kill her, but I couldn’t save her. It’s the same thing.”

“Like hell it is.”

“You don’t understand.” Lane rubbed his arms as memories flooded to the surface. “I was working as a lifeguard and on duty that day. She and her boyfriend were swimming close to the rocks, but still well within beach limits. It was summer and the middle of a heat wave. The place was packed. I turned away from them for a moment to scan the rest of the beach…” He shook his head.

“What happened?” Gabe’s voice was barely more than a whisper.

“The next thing I knew, her boyfriend was racing toward me, waving his hands in the air. I looked beyond him and saw her face-down in the surf.” Tears filled his eyes at the memory. “I grabbed my board and ran out after her. Within minutes I had her on the sand and was performing CPR.” He took in a ragged breath. “She was gone before the paramedics came.”

“I’m so sorry.” Gabe put his arm on his shoulder. “But it wasn’t your fault.”

“Yes it was. I should have done more. They were too close to the rocks.”

“The beach was full. You had others to look out for.”

“She had a nasty gash on her temple. She must have gotten caught up in the current and hit the shore.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

Lane wiped away the tears with the back of his hand. “I worked through it and eventually resumed my position as a lifeguard, but that woman still haunts me, Gabe.”

“I know. But you don’t have to deal with it alone anymore. You have us to lean on.” Gabe rubbed Lane’s back and glanced the ocean. “Where’s Becca?”

“I don’t see her.”

Panic swelled in Gabe’s chest as he spotted her. She was bobbing along the surface, face-down in the icy lake. “Oh fuck.”

Gabe started running. The crowded beach dissolved into the background as he sprinted to the water’s edge.
 Becca…

Gabe was fast, but Lane was faster. Before Gabe could stick his foot into the water, Lane was waist deep and swimming toward Becca.

Gabe pulled himself up short, knowing Lane was the trained professional. He’d only get in the way. Gabe’s heart pounded, and tears stung his eyes. A crowd had begun to gather along the water’s edge. Their murmurs of concern washed over him and made his chest tighten.

“Does someone have a phone?” Gabe called out. “Someone please call an ambulance.”

Oh God, Becca.
He only hoped that Lane could make it to her in time.

Lane swam until he thought his lungs were going to burst, then swam a little more. He had to reach Becca in time. Anything less would be unacceptable.

Flashbacks shot through his mind of that fateful day, taunting him.
Shit.
If Becca died, Lane would never forgive himself.

Becca falling off her board just confirmed his worst fears—he was a terrible lifeguard. His attention wasn’t on what he was supposed to be doing. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t on duty, once a lifeguard, always a lifeguard. He should’ve known better than to let himself be distracted. Now it looked like Becca would suffer the consequences for his lapse of judgment.

Tears stung his eyes as Lane made his way to her body. He had no idea where her paddleboard went and didn’t care. That piece of garbage was a lost cause. He’d probably destroy the thing if it ever made its way toward shore.

He rolled Becca’s body over in the water until she was face-up. Oh hell, she looked blue. He pushed his emotions aside and let his training take over as he went through the motions of saving her life. As they made their way back to shore, he refused to think morbid thoughts. She’d survive this. She had to.

He didn’t know what he’d do without her.

By the time he made it back to the beach, his coworkers, Mason and Reese, were waiting.

“We can take it from here,” Mason said.

“No, this was my mistake. I’ll fix it,” Lane said.

His coworkers glanced at each other. “We can help.”

Lane didn’t have the energy to refuse. Together, the three of them worked on getting Becca to breathe again. As each long, agonizing second passed, Lane’s heart filled with despair.
Come on, Becca. Come on.

“Is she going to be okay?” Gabe asked from behind. Sirens sounded in the distance.

Lane couldn’t answer, mostly because he didn’t know himself. If she died, Lane knew he’d die with her. Not physically die, but he’d lose his sense of self. When he had first arrived up North, he didn’t have a sense of who he was or where he was going. Thanks to Becca, Lane had found a wonderful relationship with her and Gabe. He had discovered purpose in his life by helping Gabe out with his business. He was just starting to gain his self-confidence back. Now with one accident all of that would be destroyed.
Come on, Becca.
Come on.

Suddenly Becca jerked forward and started coughing. Mason and Reese helped Lane turn her over onto her side. Water poured out of her mouth as she curled up into a ball.

“It’s going to be okay, honey. Everything is going to be fine.” Lane brushed hair from her face as the adrenaline drained from his body. She was alive.

“Lane.” Becca coughed and looked up to meet Lane’s gaze. “You saved me.” She reached up for him and Lane gathered her in his arms.

“Oh thank God.” Gabe fell to his knees beside Becca and wrapped his arms around both her and Lane. “You had us so scared.”

Lane buried his head in Becca’s soft hair and let the tears flow. They had come so close to losing her…Lane was never going to forgive himself for his lapse of judgment.

“You did a good job, man,” Reese said.

“I always knew you were a good lifeguard,” Mason agreed.

Lane leaned back and met Mason’s gaze. A good lifeguard? But he had been distracted. If he had seen Becca sooner, he might have prevented the accident.

“A
good
lifeguard? He’s the best,” Gabe said as he tapped Lane on the arm.

Becca kissed his cheek. “Yeah, the best.”

The paramedics arrived to a flurry of activity. Becca didn’t want to go to the hospital, but Lane and Gabe convinced her it was for the best. She had hurt her leg during the accident and while it looked like a surface wound, they wanted to make sure nothing was broken. The paramedics laid her out on the stretcher and carried her back to the ambulance. Lane watched as they lifted her into the back.

“You ride with her,” Gabe said as he came up alongside Lane.

“What? No, you ride. She’s your girlfriend.”

“She’s
our
girlfriend.” Gabe patted him on the back. “Besides, this is your moment. You saved her life. I think you deserve to ride with her.”

Lane’s head spun with the realization.
Girlfriend
. “What about you?”

“I’ll follow in my car and meet you at the hospital.

Emotion welled up inside Lane’s chest, making it hard for a coherent thought. He nodded and met Gabe’s gaze. “Thank you.”

“No, thank
you
.” Gabe enveloped him in a fierce bear hug. “You saved her life. I’ll never forget that.” He took a step back and nodded toward the ambulance. “Neither will she.” He slapped Lane on the arm. “Now go on. She’s waiting for you.”

Lane smiled through his tears and headed toward the ambulance. After all, Becca was waiting.

Chapter Ten

When the doorbell rang, Lane was ready. He raced to the door and threw it open before the bell finished ringing.

“Good, you’re here.” He glanced from Gabe to Becca and offered her a nervous smile. “Come on in.”

Becca narrowed her gaze at Gabe. “What are you two up to?”

“Nothing,” Gabe said as he swept her into her apartment.

Lane watched Becca’s eyes go wide as she stared at the large banner strung across her living room. ‘Welcome Home’ was spelled out in rainbow colors. Helium balloons filled the room, as well as fresh flowers.

“Wow,” she said. “You guys didn’t have to do this.”

“We wanted to,” Lane replied as he moved to stand next to her.

She shook her head as Gabe put her back on the ground. “You two are unbelievable. I should have known you were up to no good when you asked for my apartment keys at the hospital.”

“That’s not all,” Gabe said. “Lane made a welcome home dinner.”

She glanced at him. “You cooked?”

“Well, not exactly.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I ordered takeout. But that’s only because it’s much better than anything I could make in the kitchen.”

Becca giggled. “I’m not so sure about that.” She rounded into the kitchen, and Lane heard her gasp of surprise. “You cleaned.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Gabe said.

“Do you like it?” Lane asked as he followed in her wake.

“Thank you,” she said as Lane entered the kitchen. She threw her arms around him and kissed him breathless.

“You really like it?” Lane asked when he finally came up for air.

“It’s overwhelming.” She let go of Lane and kissed Gabe. “I don’t know when you two found the time to do this.”

“Lane still blames himself for what happened,” Gabe said. “He wanted to make it up to you.”

Lane had a lot of time to think while Becca was in the hospital. They had kept her overnight because the board had hit her in the head and she had suffered a mild concussion. Just thinking about it made Lane’s gut tighten with guilt. “If I wasn’t distracted—”

“If you weren’t distracted, I still would have fallen off the board,” she said.

“Yeah, but I could have made it to you sooner.”

Becca shook her head as she closed the distance between them. “Don’t beat yourself up over this. You did fine. It was your quick thinking that saved my life.”

He avoided her gaze. “Not really. The paramedics—”

“The paramedics helped, yes, but they weren’t there at the beginning.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “You were.”

“She’s right, you know.” Gabe came up on the other side of Lane.

“But—”

“Just take the compliment, big guy. You deserve it.” Gabe ran his fingers along Lane’s biceps.

“No, I don’t. I don’t deserve any of this.” Lane broke away from the pair and put some distance between them. “This wasn’t the first time something like this has happened.”

“Something like what?”

“I’ve made mistakes before, back in…” He swallowed hard as memories of that day flooded his head.

“Gabe already told me,” Becca said as she took a step forward. “And I agree with him. It was that woman’s fault for not staying in the safe areas of the beach. There was nothing more you could have done for her.”

Lane to Gabe for help. “You have to make her understand. It was my fault.”

“No, it wasn’t.” Gabe took a step closer. “You were responsible for an entire beach. You can’t be expected to be watching one couple the entire time. What about the other people?”

“I should have said something.”

“They were in the boundaries of the beach,” Becca said.

“Yeah, but I had a feeling.”

“You did what you thought was right. Don’t blame yourself for their poor lack of judgment,” Gabe said.

For the first time in his life, Lane saw the truth to Gabe’s words. He sat down in a nearby chair and put his face in his hands. “I just wish I could have done more.”

Becca moved over and ran her hand across his back. “You’re a good lifeguard, Lane. Don’t ever forget that.”