“Lou—” But he quickly caught himself. Probably realizing they weren’t friends anymore and calling her by any nickname was a little too familiar for two people who’d split twelve years prior and had never spoken again.

He appeared to take a deep cleansing breath. “I’m sorry,” he said—much more levelheaded this time. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said.

“You do know you could’ve died.”

She stilled. “I know.”

He was staring at her. She wasn’t looking at him, but she could feel him studying her. Her face flushed with heat.

“Thanks for saving my life, I guess.”

“You guess?”

She forced herself to look at him then. “Thanks for saving my life. I would’ve hated to have to tell my parents that I drowned. Especially since I wasn’t wearing a life vest. My father would’ve killed me.”

He kept his eyes trained on her for several seconds, then looked away. “This isn’t funny, you know.”

“I know,” she said. “I’m sorry.”

Then he was looking at her again, and as soon as she realized it, her toes tingled. Traitors! “It was pretty scary.”

He wore that serious expression again, like an angry principal who’d just found out she was the one who’d vandalized the girls’ locker room.

What was she supposed to say? That she’d been terrified out there? That she was panicked and counting the minutes before a big wave hit and took her under for good? That she wasn’t so sure she deserved to be saved and, oh, wasn’t it ironic he’d been the one to pull her from the water when her actions had inadvertently led to his father’s death?

Did he wish he could throw her back?

“So you’re in the Coast Guard now,” she said dumbly.

He pressed his lips together as if trying to decide whether or not to respond to her statement of obviousness. In the end, he didn’t get the chance because the door opened and Doogie walked back in.

“How are we feeling?” He gave his boyish smile, and Louisa glanced at Cody, who showed no sign of emotion. Did they teach them that in Coast Guard school? Good afternoon, men. Today we’re going to learn how to affix a permanent scowl to your face and double as a robot.

“Just ready to go home, Doc,” she said.

“I’m told we have you to thank for saving this one.” Doogie turned to Cody, who shifted uncomfortably but gave a firm nod.

At least he wasn’t denying he was the one who’d done the saving. That was something, she supposed.

“We sure are grateful, aren’t we, Louisa?”

Eyes back to Cody. “Yes, we are.”