“You’ve probably got a mild concussion,” Cole said. “Which means we definitely want to get you home and into bed. You’re not going to drive; I’ll drive you back, and we can figure out how to get your car later.”
He stood up and then leaned down and scooped me up. Amy and the other teachers were there, looking on with worried expressions, as were the rest of the parents, but it was the children that I felt bad about; they looked terrified, and I wished that they hadn’t seen that happen.
“You don’t have to carry me,” I said.
“I know, but I’m going to.”
And he carried me up the beach to the parking lot, a few of the kids trailing after, Declan right there, looking on anxiously. Cole set me down when we got to his car, and I got in slowly, my head still throbbing. Declan climbed into the backseat, and then Cole went back down to the beach to talk to Becca and Kris. Amy had gone over to my car and retrieved my keys and my purse, which she set on the floor by my feet.
“You sure you’re all right?” she said.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I think it was probably a lot worse than it looked. I just need to go home and rest a little bit, and I bet I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”
She looked as though she wanted to believe me but didn’t quite. “And Cole’s a doctor, remember?” I said. “If there’s any issue, he’ll be right there.”
“That’s true,” she said. “You’re in good hands. Okay, well, I’ll check in with you later, okay?”
“That sounds good.”
Cole came back to the car. He climbed in and we drove off. I leaned my head back against the headrest and closed my eyes.
“I’m wondering if we should go to the hospital,” Cole said under his breath, almost more to himself.
“I don’t think we need to do that.”
“You got knocked out, though.”
“I know, but... I don’t feel like I need to go to the hospital. I don’t want to make a bigger deal out of this than it already is.”
“I’d like you to stay at my place tonight, then,” Cole said after a minute. “If you don’t want to go into the hospital, then the least you can do is that. We’ve got a guest room with a comfortable bed, and that will give me peace of mind, okay? Is that a deal?”
“Sure,” I said, even though I knew I would be fine if I went home.
“Good.” He smiled. “Thank you for not making me resort to saying ‘doctor’s orders.’ Because that was my next move.”
I didn’t feel any worse by the time we got to Cole’s house, but I certainly wasn’t feeling great. I managed to get out of the car on my own, though, and walk inside, where I followed Cole to the guest bedroom. He pulled the sheets back on the double bed, and I climbed in. Declan followed us into the room and stood at the foot of the bed.
“Are you okay, Miss Allie?” Declan asked, his eyes wide.
“I’m okay,” I said. “I promise. Accidents happen sometimes, and that’s why we need to use caution around water.”
“I’m glad you’re okay,” he said. He looked at his dad. “You promise you’ll check on her?”
“I promise,” Cole said. Declan nodded and then left, but not before giving me another worried look.
“Poor thing,” I said. “I feel awful about them having to see that.”
“Don’t worry about that. Everyone’s just glad that you’re okay.”
“I really wish that whole thing never even happened, though.”
“Lily should not have been allowed anywhere near that jet ski.”
“Probably not. She’s all right?”
“She’s fine. You should rest. I’ll check on you in a little bit. Can I get you anything?”
“No, I’m good for now. Thank you.”