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We shouldn’t have worried about the paddling. The lead kayak takes its time around the peninsula, and the leader pauses often to talk about ocean life and give us a moment to rest.
It’s full dark by the time we reach the bay.
Kayla asks, “Do we know when we’ll ...” She trails off because the water under our kayak is suddenly a swirl of blue light. “Did you see that?”
Drew and Ensley move close to us, aligning their kayak with ours.
“This is wild,” Ensley says.
Each motion of our paddle leaves a trail of blue.
“Such beautiful creatures,” Drew says. “It’s simple plankton, and our movement ignites their bioluminescence.”
“Does it hurt them?” Kayla asks.
“No,” Drew says. “It’s part of their physiology, like our blood turning red with oxygen.”
“Drew’s a veterinarian,” I tell her.
More kayaks enter the bay. A few larger boats glide along the edges.
I lean over and run my hand through the ocean. It lights up, but I don’t sense anything different about the water. The creatures are too small to feel against my fingertips.
I wish Gabe were here.
“Who’s Gabe?” Ensley asks.
Oooh. I said it out loud.
This is a huge mistake. They don’t know what’s happened the last week. They’ve been cut off.
“No one.” The moment I say it, I know the denial won’t fly with my sister.
“He doesn’t sound like no one.”
I think fast. I’ll have to downplay him or Ensley will freak. “A bartender at the hut near the condo.”
Ensley exchanges a look with Drew. “Have you been hanging out there?”
“Some.”
“Enough to wish he was here?” Her voice is slightly shrill, and Drew lays his hand on her arm.
“We bonded over cocktails.” My throat feels thick.
Her voice sounds exactly like it used to when I did something wrong as a kid. “Tillie, have you been seeing this guy?”
Her older-sister radar is too good.
“Maybe a little.”
Ensley leans so hard toward my kayak that her own threatens to tilt. “Are youseeingseeing him?”
Kayla gets wide-eyed.
I decide silence is my best recourse, running my hands through the water to avoid having to look at her.
“Tillie!” Ensley prompts.
