Chapter 24

Andi awoke spitting out sand, “What...?” She was lying face down on the white sand, her hair a mess, and sand stuck to her face where the drool had run from her mouth. She looked around blearily and realized she was on the women’s beach; Andi had rolled off her beach mat and ended up face down in the sand. She looked around and the other beach mats were empty. Sitting up, she found her head was woozy, her vision spinning, but she recognized Macy and Nicoletta with Yi at the surf line, looking at something the twins and Bitty were doing in the sand.

Just then, Lucy said into her microphone, “Hang on Gus, she’s awake.” She dropped to one knee next to Andi and said, “Hey buddy, are you recovering?”

“Where’s Paul? I need to see Paul!” Andi’s eyes were wide in panic, and she grabbed the neckline of Lucy’s t-shirt.

“He went back out on the boat,” Lucy explained, “you were passed out, so he decided to get a little more experience...”

“Is he ok?” Andi gasped, “his leg, he was bleeding so much!”

“His leg? What blood?”

“Paul! When he cut me free, you know, from the anchor!”

Lucy adjusted her microphone. “Gus honey, did Paul slice open his leg with an anchor?” She rolled her eyes and then laughed. She turned to Andi and said, “Gus said no, but he’ll be glad to do it for you if the money is right.”

Andi was angry. Paul could die, and they’re making fun of the situation. She tried to get to her feet, but she couldn’t keep her balance and fell on her bum and started crying, “Where’s Paul? Paul needs me!”

Lucy saw Andi’s glass of Special Lemonade and took a sip. “Damn girl! Do you like a little lemonade in your tequila?”

“Where’s Paul!”

“Andi, listen to me. How much of this have you had?”

Andi focused on the glass of Special Lemonade and reached for it. “Just two.” Lucy kept the twelve-ounce glass out of Andi’s reach as Andi said, “Or three.” Lucy spoke to Gus on the radio. “Are you still at the dock? Get Paul over here ASAP. Andi’s had way too much to drink, and she’s freaking out. Something about a concussion to Paul ... other than drunk, she appears to be fine...”

“What’s going on?” Nicoletta strolled up to see what the shouting was about.

“Any idea how much she had?” said Lucy as she handed the glass of Special Lemonade to Nicoletta.

“Oh, my goodness,” groaned Nicoletta as she sniffed the lemonade, “I didn’t realize she had gotten the hard stuff.” She reached in the cooler and lifted out the half-gallon container marked ‘Special’ and found that it was three-quarters empty. “She got quite a bit.”

“Where’s Paul?” Andi demanded and started crying.

“He’s on his way honey, he’ll be here in a moment,” assured Lucy.

“No! He shhhouldn’t be moving in hish condishion.”

“She’s been lying in the sun too,” said Nicoletta. “Should we move her to the shade?”