River sat across from me, preparing his line as Kianu instructed. The reels were bigger and heavier than the ones we’d used to fish at the lake in Stillwater with my dad.
While I struggled to set mine up, River seemed like he’d been doing it for years. My gaze was fixed on his capable hands and the way the muscles in his forearms moved. He had corded muscles going all the way up to where his tattoos disappeared under the sleeves of his T-shirt.
“Adam? You all right there?” Lex’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.
“Yeah, just…I don’t think this is an activity I’ll excel at.”
“Here. I’ll set yours up for you,” River said, placing his rod beside him and taking mine.
The boat bobbed gently on the undulating waves, and I found myself staring again at River’s hands as he worked. When I looked up at his face, he was smiling to himself. His tongue peeked out a little from between his lips. He was so focused on the task that he didn’t even notice, which made me smile because it brought back memories of when we were kids playing or trying to figure out the rules of a game and River would do the same thing.
When both our reels were set up, we cast our lines into the water.
My fingers wrapped around the fishing rod with faux confidence. Mostly, I hoped I wouldn’t get a bite because the fish would probably pull me out of the boat and into the sea, where I’d get eaten alive.
“All right, guys,” Noah declared, “let’s see who can catch the biggest fish! Loser buys drinks at karaoke tonight!”
Lex whooped, his competitive spark igniting instantly, and Lior shot me a grin while keeping a protective arm around Noah. Probably in case he decided to catch a shark with his bare hands.
“May the best angler win,” River said.
The ocean stretched before us, a vast unknown full of possibility and hidden currents. “Deal!” I replied. Fake it ’til you make it, right? “I’m going to claim that title. Get ready for the tales of my legendary catch!”
“Legendary?” Lex’s voice cut through the sound of the waves slapping against the hull. “Please, Adam! Remember that fishing trip we took with Dad when we were fifteen? You nearly fell out of the boat over that tiny fish!”
I punched River’s arm as he laughed so hard he nearly fell off his seat before I focused back on my reel, willing it to bring me a good one.
For a while, all I could hear was the sound of the waves and a seagull or two in the distance. I lost myself in thoughts, but for once, it wasn’t my failed relationship, the embarrassment of being jilted just before the wedding, or the bill I’d been left with.
As my hands gripped the reel, I glanced around at my family, and all I could feel was peace. The sun warmed my face so I closed my eyes, seeing the bright orange through my eyelids.
We were still at the beginning of the vacation, but I already knew it had been a good idea to bring everyone along. In their individual ways, they were all helping me feel a little more like myself. And even though I was still very emotionally sore from what happened only days ago, I was also starting to see where I’d lost myself a little to my relationship with Victoria.
Something pulled on my rod. “Can you guys feel that?” I asked, more to myself than anyone else, as I sensed the subtle pull beneath the surface. “Guys, I think I’ve got a bite!” The shout left my lips before I processed the tingle of excitement rushing up the rod.
My heart thumped erratically as I tried to reel in whatever was caught on the line. “It must be huge.” I declared, more out of hope than certainty, gripping the rod with all my strength.
“Come on, Adam,” River encouraged. “You’ve got this.”
My arms ached as I gave a final tug, and with a splash that sprayed cold droplets across my face, a small fish landed on the deck. It flopped pitifully, its scales catching the sunlight.
“Look at this beauty!” I held it up high, filled with pride.
The moment of cheers gave into an eruption of laughter.
“That’s dinner sorted,” Noah said.
“We’re gonna need a big fire for that,” Lex added.
“Hey, I’m not seeing your big catches,” River said, coming to my defense. He didn’t need to because I wasn’t taking my brothers’ ribbing seriously, but I liked that he did.
Kianu surfaced from the cabin with a camera.
“Okay, guys. Time to pose. You’re going on my wall.”
They all gathered around me and the fish, and at Kianu’s signal, everyone shouted “Fishy!” as he took the photo.
“What are you going to do with it?” River asked.
