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“I’m not trying to make you mad,” she replied quickly. “If this is what you want, then I’m happy for you.”
“It is.”
“Okay.” She smiled, even though it was a bit forced. “Then congratulations. I can’t wait to be the maid of honor and throw you a bomb-ass bachelorette party.”
I laughed as our conversation lost the tension. “I can’t wait.”
“I’m going back. My arms are killing me,” Lacey said while she started turning the kayak around. “Are you coming?”
“You go. I’m going to check out the cliff first. I’ll be fine. It’s not far,” I replied. My body was starting to hurt too, but I was enjoying being on the water and didn’t want to turn around before finishing what I’d set out to do. And I wanted to think about what Lacey had said. I wasn’t marrying Alex because of my fear of being alone. Yet, her words wouldn’t leave my head.
I watched her head back before facing the cliff again. I was already more than halfway there. Ignoring the aches throughout my body, I slowly started paddling again. I got lost in my thoughts, and it didn’t take long until I was close enough to reach out and touch the rocks of the cliff. Letting my kayak drift, I took in the view. I loved Alex. That’s why I’d said yes.
Running a hand down my face, I realized the sun was setting. I sighed as I turned the kayak around and looked at how far the campsite was. I needed to get back before it got dark. Being on the water when it was pitch black was not a good idea. As I paddled faster, my arm muscles burned. I made a mental note to seriously start working out when we were done with vacation.
As I got closer to the campsite, I spotted the red kayak floating in the water about ten feet from the beach. Squinting my eyes, I searched for Lacey. The sun was reflecting off the water, making it nearly impossible to see anything. With renewed energy, I quickly paddled closer to the abandoned kayak.
“Lacey?” I yelled, panic creeping into my voice. I shouldn’t have left her alone. The currents in the lake were nothing to mess with. I frantically looked up and down the beach but saw no one. With my heart rate climbing, I scanned the water around the kayak. Nothing.
My aching muscles were now locked in fear. I looked at the beach again and saw someone standing there looking at me. Paddling closer, I realized it was Jamie. Maybe he was looking for Lacey too.
I treaded water as fast as the oar allowed, splashing water all over myself. Once I was a few feet from the beach, I jumped out, ignoring the frigid water. Pulling my kayak onto the sand, I was still searching the water for any sign of my sister.
“Where’s Lacey?” I yelled to Jamie, who was over by the trees.
He just stared at me before stepping closer.
“Where’s Lacey?” I repeated, clutching to my last shred of calm.
“What’s wrong?” asked Lacey, who walked onto the beach from the campsite trail.
My knees almost buckled from relief. Rushing across the sand, I wrapped her in a hug. My heart was still racing, and I tried to stop my hands from shaking.
“Why is your kayak in the water? I thought you got pulled away by the current.” I said with my arms still tight around her.
“Oh…I guess I didn’t pull it on the beach enough. It must have drifted back out.” Lacey pulled out of the embrace and shrugged.
That answer would have usually annoyed me, but I was so happy that Lacey was fine I didn’t even care.
“Well, someone has to get it. We have to return the kayaks to Bud.” I gazed at the kayak floating farther away from the beach.
“It’s not going to be me. That water is freezing,” Lacey replied as she turned to Jamie.
He let out a defeated sigh. “I’ll do it. A little cold water won’t hurt.”
He slowly walked into the water and abruptly stopped when it reached his knees. Lacey and I both started laughing, knowing firsthand how cold the water was. It barely ever hit sixty degrees, even on the hottest days of summer. Jamie glanced back at us, looking even more determined to get the kayak.
“It’s okay. It’s not that bad,” he insisted as he grabbed the kayak and rushed back to shore. Pulling the kayak onto the beach, he was covered in goosebumps, and a shiver ripped through him as he headed back to the trail. We followed him, and I could smell the bonfire before getting to the campsite. Alex was sitting next to the fire cooking hotdogs. He caught my eye and smiled.
“Have fun?” he asked, arching an eyebrow when Jamie stood inches from the fire, rubbing his hands together.
I laughed. “Yes. And I also learned I need to start working out with you. I’m so out of shape.”
“I can help with that.” He winked, making it obvious he wasn’t talking about going to the gym.
“Sage told me about the engagement,” Lacey spoke up, keeping her voice cheerful. “Congratulations. You make her happy, Alex.”
“Wow.” Jamie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Congratulations.”
We talked about it for a while as we ate. Alex had brought beer, but after last night, no one felt like drinking. I swallowed a yawn as Alex wrapped his arm around me. It wasn’t that late, but we were all about to pass out. We let the fire die, and Alex dumped water on it before we headed toward the six-person tent.
I slid into my sleeping bag and lay down between Lacey and Alex. Slowly drifting to sleep, I listened to the soft chirp of the crickets and the waves rolling onto the beach as I thought about how amazing today had been.
“You hear that?”
I was pulled from sleep to hear Alex and Jamie talking in hushed tones.
“What’s wrong?” I asked groggily while I sat up.
I froze when I heard it. Someone—or something was outside the tent. Scratching at the side. Something brushed up against the tent wall, and I whipped my head toward the noise. Another sound came from the other side of the tent at the same time.
I held my breath, trying to be as quiet as possible. There was nothing that could be seen through the darkness. Suddenly, part of the tent moved, like something was pushing on it from the outside. My mouth went dry, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
This vacation wasn’t going how I’d expected at all.
