Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Victory is so close.
And then . . .
She lets go.
It happens in slow motion, my grip slipping as she lets my fingers fall through hers, and I fall backward again with another loud—
Splash.
My back hits the water with a flop, and I sink like a lead weight, flailing as I disappear under the surface.
Blub, blub, blub.
I’m shocked for the second time, bubbles rising out of my nostrils before I push up and out, gasping. Toss my hair back.
Glare.
She’s doubled over now, too, her hands on her knees, laughing so hard she can barely breathe. It’s not the polite laugh she held back during class—it’s full-on, bellyaching laughter.
With the back of my hand, I splash her—and my friends, too, those dicks—spraying water as far as I can to give her a taste of her own medicine.
“The fuck?” I shout, wiping water out of my eyes so I can see. “You said I can trust you!”
“Did I?” she gulps between laughs, brushing at the corners of her eyes. “Today is not your day, I guess.”
“You little liar!”
By now, the entire yoga class has gathered around, everyone amused and staring, including two women who look old enough to be my grandmother. They’re positively delighted.
“Did you see that?” Elijah yells to the crowd. “She straight-up dropped him, dude!”
“I’m posting this to X,” Miles adds, holding up his phone, which has unquestionably recorded the whole thing. “This is fucking fantastic.”
I groan, flopping backward into the water so I’m floating, arms outstretched. Stare up at the blue sky.
“You’re such assholes.” I sulk. I want to look cool in front of chicks—not be caught with my dick in my hand.
“Oh, come on,” her voice calls down to me as I float. “It was a joke. This is how I flirt.”
I lift my head. “You’re flirting with me?” ’Cause that would be awesome.
“Actually no—I’m fucking with you.”
I roll, letting my feet reach the sandy bottom of the lake. “Wow.”
The audacity.
Water drips from my clothes, which are weighed down, my hair plastered to my forehead. I give my head another shake, much like a dog would after a bath, and stray to the edge of the dock. Plant my hands against the wood, pushing down to lift myself out.
One, two—
My feet slip, hands scrabbling against the slick dock, and I crash back into the water with a splash that echoes across the lake.
Laughter erupts again, Elijah practically choking as he doubles over, and Lucy? She’s holding her stomach, shoulders shaking, unable to hide her delight.
I surface, glaring. “I hope you’re proud of yourself.”
“Extremely.” She wipes at her eyes, breathless from laughing. “You’re making my entire morning.”
“Well. I’m a swamp monster now,” I announce to them all, accepting my fate. “Forever damp.”
This time I’m successful, planting my hands more carefully on the dock and then hauling myself up in one determined motion. I flop onto my stomach first like a seal—real graceful—before rolling onto my back, clothes dripping, water pooling around me.
Kind of like I’m bleeding out.
“I am never coming here again,” I grumble. “And you can’t make me.”
Lucy stands over me now, hands on her hips. “If you’re this horrible in the water, how on earth are you going to perform in a logrolling competition? You can barely hoist yourself up!”
Oh shit.
“You ever seen a professional logroller?”
“No.”
“Well, there’s your problem—we come in all shapes and sizes.” I get to my feet, pushing my soggy hair back. “My grandpa was a legend—three-time logrolling champion of the Midwest.”
I am such an amazing storyteller!
Her lips twitch, and she’s trying to look impressed. “Three-time champion?”
“Yep.” I nod solemnly, tapping my chest. “It’s in my blood.”
“What’s in your blood?” Elijah looks up from his phone, catching the tail end of the conversation. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Nothing, you pipe down.” I shoot him a glare before turning back to Lucy. “Traitor.”
“The wilderness is making you crazy, dude, I swear,” he mutters.
“Some people appreciate talent, Elijah,” I fire back so he zips his yap. “Like my new friend Lucy here.”
I smile down at her. She’s so super talented, especially twisting and turning that lithe little body of hers.
She sure is gorgeous.
Lucy bites down on her bottom lip as I try to keep my eyes off her cleavage. “Is that what you’re doing today? Rehearsing with Annabelle and the guys?”
Rehearsing?
The word hits me like a slap to the face. Then when I think I have no idea what she’s talking about, it hits me: She’s talking about lumberjack practice down at the marina.
I nod enthusiastically. “Absolutely. Big day.”
She tilts her head, squinting up at me like she’s sniffing bullshit. “What events do you rehearse?”
Miles snorts. “Yeah, Harris. What events do you rehearse? Tell us.”
I shoot him a warning glare, mentally willing him to shut the fuck up. I need my friends to disappear, but they’re hanging around, lingering like farts in the wind.