Page 13 (1/2)

“I don’t knohy”

I take my paddle out of the water The kayak turns a little bit I scoot to one side, praying we don’t capsize, and look at Dane

He’s watching me with concern etched over his face and I’ the way I do or for hiasket What I also can’t work out is why he’s asking me this

Dane is a personal trainer, so why hasn’t he brought up nutrition—I hope he doesn’t—or the necessity of exercise—again, a preferred no—and all things fitness? So far, we’ve only discussed e … and love

Why?

“Look, Kaylee, you are an intelligent woent, spunky, beautiful woman” His Adam’s apple bobs as he looks at uilty about that”

Suddenly, the life jacket is too tight The sun is too hot The space between Dane and ot into this freaking kayak

I unlatch my belt and stand

“Kaylee, wait Slon,” Dane warns

“I just need some air”

I turn around but as soon as I twist, the kayak wobbles

“Oh!” I say, bending to grab the side

Dane grips the sides with both hands, but as I move one way, the kayak moves the other The topsy-turvy of it all sends a streak of panic through ain

And fall over the side and into the water

Five

Kaylee

The water is cold

That’s ht is a quick assess in the water It’s ridiculous and pointless since there are no sharks in Kissirl who lives somewhere inside my head chooses this moment to pop out with her fears

Buoyed by the life jacket that’s now pressing up against my face, I wipe strands of hair off my cheek

Dane sits in the kayak chuckling

“You, Mr McDaniels, just ter out a piece of water debris

He rests his elbows on his knees, grinning “How do you figure?”

“You proh at me”