I heard Mason’s muffled response before Lottie repeated, “Five minutes. Just wait on the dock. We’ll see you soon!”
The excitement in her voice made me almost smile as I stepped out of my car and locked it. It was warm as I crossed the sunny gravel lot, and I was hoping with the wind on the boat, I wouldn’t regret wearing so many layers. I kept my jacket folded over my arm and slung my bag over my shoulder.
The small campsite that I walked through after paying the parking toll was busy with loud music and the smell of food grilling. I was happy that at least out on the boat it wouldn’t be too loud or overwhelming. My stomach was filled with nervous butterflies. I didn’t know how to swim and being on a boat ona large body of water sounded like an easy way to drown. I wasn’t too keen on dying today, even though the thought usually crossed my mind on the daily. But death by drowning sounded horrifying, and not just for me, but for everyone who had to witness it.
I stood on the wooden dock, keeping to the area closest to land as I watched a family disembark a boat. I gave a polite smile to them as they passed by me. I scanned the waters, looking for any signs of my friends. Several minutes passed before I saw them. A chuckle escaped me as Cole stood waving his hands like a goof to greet meet.
“You came!” Lottie squealed as the boat slowed to a stop at the edge of the dock. The sound of pop music playing through a speaker system on the boat played softly in the background. I smiled, trying not to seem too scared as I stepped closer to their boat.
“Yep! I’m here,” I muttered, giving everyone a wave. Hannah, Cole, Lottie, and Mason were all smiling at me, and I tried to shake off any negative energy. I didn’t want them to be concerned or ask questions.
Cole pushed to the edge of the boat, leaning over and holding his hand out to me. I eyed the way the boat swayed with the movements of the water and swallowed.
I gripped Cole’s hand tightly and didn’t mind when he held me by the elbow to lower me into the boat. Lottie pulled me into a hug, the smell of her perfume and sunscreen surrounding me.
She held on for maybe longer than necessary and I gently patted her exposed shoulder, “Okay. You just saw me two days ago.”
Lottie chuckled. “Shut up,” she scolded as she finally released me.
“Here,” Mason said, holding out a lifejacket for me to wear. I noticed everyone was wearing significantly less clothing thanI was, and only one person was wearing a life jacket. The boys were in swim shorts, Mason in a t-shirt and Cole shirtless beneath his life jacket, all of his upper body tattoos exposed. Hannah and Lottie were both wearing tank tops and flowy pants, revealing bathing suits beneath them.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, accepting the life vest. “In the interest of everyone not having to save me from drowning, I’m going to put this on right now.”
They laughed like I was joking, but I was dead serious. Hannah pulled me to sit beside her, raising the empty bench next to her to reveal their concealed bags. “Here. To keep your things dry.”
I nodded and shoved my bag down on top before she closed the lid.
I slipped into the life vest, feeling completely awkward and returned a thumbs up to Mason who asked if I was ready. Lottie and Cole took the bench directly across from us.
The boat rocked as Mason pulled away from the dock and out into the open waters.
“How long have y’all been out here?”
“A few hours. But we took a break to eat lunch on the shore,” Lottie answered. “Cole was just about to try out the wakeboard.”
“The what?”
Cole bugged his eyes, “The wakeboard. It’s like surfing but the boat pulls you through the water.” He studied my face for a sign of recognition. “Nothing?”
I shook my head. “Nope. Sorry. I’ve never been on a boat before. I haven’t even been in a swimming pool before.”
“You’re kidding,” Hannah balked.
Lottie kicked Hannah in the shin. “She’s from Oklahoma. Do they even have lakes there?”
I racked my brain for an answer. “Uh, yeah. Just not any that I’ve ever been to.”
Hannah gave her sister a glare and Lottie waved her off.
“Well, if you want to swim, any of us would be happy to help you learn,” Hannah said with a smile in my direction. “And you’ll have the life vest, so nothing will happen.”
I shook my head as my nose scrunched in disinterest. “That’s okay. I’m still healing from the accident.”
“Shit,” Hannah cursed. “Sorry. I totally didn’t think of that. Are you feeling okay?”
I nodded, giving her hand a squeeze that she had placed on my leg. “Yeah, I’m good. Enough about me. How are you doing? How’s the new job?”
Hannah groaned. “You’re not gonna believe who I just got assigned to work with.”
