Octavia wore an oversized green cable net sweater that made her look like a fisherman and paired it with baggy jeans. The way air caught in my throat whenever she looked my way was a cause for concern.
Rainwoods’ nephew, Jacob, was an earlier riser, too. He’d met us in his front yard, knees damp from morning gardening. Jacob gave us permission to take his canoe out as long as we wanted. As long as we got it in before sunset, because the woman he was seeing wanted to have a photoshoot.
“No? As in never learning how to swim?” I asked, and when she shook her head, I added, “Why not?”
“I don’t need to.”
“So?”
“So, what would be the point?” Octavia’s brows knitted.She watched in silence for a moment as I tugged off the tan canvas covering of a rusty metal canoe. There were two plastic paddles in the boat. I grabbed both.
“You would have a better chance of surviving a riptide,” I noted.
“Why would I get caught in one if I never went into the water?”
“You could increase your odds of surviving a gator attack.”
“Where the hell would I get into a situation with a gator?”
“Florida. Australia. The San Diego Zoo.”
“I’ve never been to any of those places, nor do I have any plans to go to any of them.” A smile played on her lips. “You know, both your reasons involved surviving something.”
“Is that so?” I tossed my coat into the canoe and stood up straight with my hands on my hips as I thought. “Huh.”
I gestured for her to help me push the canoe closer to the lake’s edge. The water’s gentle disturbance licked at the sides of the canoe.
“You’re always thinking about getting out of something you’re not yet in?” Octavia was stronger than me, so as we pushed the canoe out, I barely helped. I like that she could probably beat me in any and every physical activity despite my commitment to fitness ever since I had to run over five miles from a pack of wolf shifters last summer.
I grabbed the canoe’s side before it could float out into the water without us. “What can I say? I love daydreaming about life-altering danger.”
I offered Octavia my hand. She stared at it for a second.
“Me first?” She pointed to herchest.
“I figured I’d have an easier time keeping it steady for you. You’re a bit skittish.”
Octavia laughed. With each word I coaxed out of her, a wrinkle on her forehead disappeared. She was also unconsciously preoccupied with the thought of survival. Maybe even more so than me.
“You disagree?” I smiled at her.
“No, even though I want to.” Octavia accepted my hand. Her fingers were dry and cold. They wrapped around mine, stealing some of my warmth. I’d give her all of it and then some if it came down to it.
She made a small squeak of panic as she climbed into the boat. It rocked under her weight. The water rippled, minuscule waves lapping up the edge of the land and kissing the edge of my boots—which were also borrowed from Octavia. Not as cozy as the sweater, but still something that tugged me closer to her. We just barely wore the same size, so my toe pressed against the leather curve. The boots had been barely broken in, hinting at a couple of months of use. Far nicer and newer than the ones she wore.
“Careful.” I tried to keep the boat steady. “Balance your weight.”
Octavia lowered herself onto the bench. I waited for her to get settled before climbing in myself and using my foot to push us away from the edge.
“Shouldn’t we have put these on first?” Octavia tugged out a couple of dirty life vests that’d been shoved underneath her bench.
I shrugged and sat opposite her as I started rowing. “Up to you.”
“Even swimmers are expected to wear life vests.” Octavia raised an unamused brow at me as she tugged on the vest. “You never know what might happen.”
“I’ll take my chances.” I winked at her.
She struggled to get the vest comfortably over her coat. I watched, biting back a laugh as she went to battle with the broken straps. I slowly rowed us away from the shore and into the middle of the lake.
