Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
“Not at all.”
“Alright then.” I pointed out the back windows, to the lake beyond. “Do you know where the trail starts on the other side?”
He nodded. “It’s on my way. I’ll drop you.”
Twenty minutes later, I hopped down from Fox’s truck. I had my hand on the door to close it when he stopped me.
“Hey. Hang on a second.”
“Yeah?”
“Rehnquist is a good school, about a twenty-five-minute drive.” We locked eyes, and he smiled. “Knowing you, you’ll be doing some deep thinking while you’re walking on that trail. I think you’d like it down here. I know I’d like you down here.”
My heart went pitter-patter as I smiled back. “Okay.”
***
That evening, Fox walked up behind me while I stood at the lake’s edge. After my walk, I’d spent a few hours painting outside, using the supplies Porter had dropped off weeks ago. My half-finished handiwork was drying in the sun. He wrapped his hands around my waist, locking them in front.
“Wow. You’re good.”
“Not really. But I forgot how much I enjoy painting nature. I haven’t done it since college. My mom’s house is on a beautiful piece of property. I used to like to sit outside and paint the trees and stuff. I find it peaceful. Lets my brain unwind.”
He kissed the top of my head. “You should do it more often.”
I turned in his arms and clasped my hands around his neck. “I think I will. I don’t know what it is about this place, but I feel like it’s reminding me of who I used to be.”
“Maybe you should stick around.”
I pushed up on my tippy-toes and planted a kiss on his lips. “Maybe I will.”
A duck quacked behind us, so I twisted around to look at the lake. But it wasn’t my little buddy. I frowned. “I’m worried something happened to Daisy.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. What if her wound opened up again and she got an infection, or she was attacked by a bear?”
“I’ve never seen a bear around here. Maybe a coyote, though.”
My eyes widened. “You think a coyote ate her? They sense when another animal is injured and easy prey.”
“Didn’t say that. Was just telling you who the natural threats to ducks are locally. I’m sure he’s fine.”
“I think I’m going to go out on the lake and look for her. Earlier I saw ducks hanging out on that island in the middle. Maybe she’s there and she’s injured. Would you come with me on your kayak?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
Fox looked over at his yard, to the water’s edge. His face was serious. “It’s dangerous.”
My brows shot to my hairline. “To kayak? I can swim, you know.”
When he didn’t respond, something dawned on me. “Oh my God. Do you not swim? Is that why you never go in the lake?”
“I can swim.”
“Are you nervous because it’s going to get dark soon?”
“Just…I’ll go take a look at the island and see if the duck is there. Alright?”
“Is it only a one-person kayak?”
“No.”
“Then come on…” I walked toward Fox’s yard. “The island isn’t far. We’ll be back in twenty minutes.”
At the water’s edge, I turned to ask where the paddles were kept and realized Fox hadn’t moved. I laughed. “Are you coming or not?”
He didn’t look too happy about it, but eventually he walked over. He wiped away a few cobwebs and lifted the kayak off the wooden stand.
“Paddles are under the back deck,” he grumbled.
“Okay! I’ll get them while you put that in the water.”
I jogged to the deck and ducked under, grabbing the paddles off the top of a pile of water stuff I hadn’t realized was under here. “You have a floating mat and paddleboards?” I said, walking back. “Why don’t you ever use that stuff? I’ve never tried a stand-up paddleboard. I bet it’s great exercise.”
Fox took a paddle from my hand. “Get in, and I’ll push us off.”
I took off my socks and shoes and left them on the dock. “Alright, thanks.”
Once I was seated, Fox climbed in. The narrow boat rocked back and forth a few times, which I thought was funny. Fox, not so much. He had such a serious look on his face as he started to paddle. We’d made it about thirty feet from shore when I realized my feet were getting wet.
“Was there water in here when you put the kayak in?”
Fox looked down. “What the fuck?”
Water was coming in from somewhere, and my end seemed to be floating lower. Not to mention, my feet were almost covered now. I leaned up to look at the floor behind me. “Oh shit. There’s a hole under this seat cushion!”
Fox started to paddle fast, attempting to turn the kayak around and head back to shore. But the hunk of plastic wasn’t going anywhere but down. The lake quickly filled up the hole we were seated on, and my side tilted down.