“You got this, Oaklee.”
I move it to the hook and stick the hook into the end. “I’m a nurse. I touch gross stuff all the time.”
He snickers, reaching over to help guide me. “Yes, but this is different than what you do on a daily basis.”
When the task is complete, I exhale dramatically. “I did it,” I whisper, looking up at Cade.
He’s grinning from ear to ear. “You sure did. You’re a total badass.”
I bark out a laugh. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“No, you are. Most people won’t do that.”
Just then, I glance over to watch my pole move. “Did you see that?” I murmur.
Cade sets his pole down on the ground and takes the seat beside me. “Very slowly, lift the pole from the stand. Try not to jostle it.”
I do as instructed, carefully lifting the pole. When it’s firmly in my hand, I feel the bounce. “I think it’s on there.”
“We’re gonna set the hook and reel it in, all right? You’re gonna give it a little jerk up and start reeling. Not too far,” he coaches. “When you feel it jerk, give it a tug and reel.”
I nod, my eyes wide as I watch the tip of my pole for movement, despite being able to feel it. Just then, I feel the now-familiar yank and lurch the pole up. The end of the pole bends down hard as I try to reel in the fish.
“Keep it steady. Pull your pole up and then reel as you bring it back down, like this,” he says, reaching over and demonstrating what he’s saying.
I do that a few times, and gasp when I hear the splash and see the fish pop up from the water. “Oh my God! It’s huge,” I holler.
“That’s what she said!” Cade bellows, reaching for a net and moving to the edge of the water. “Slowly reel it in, and I’m gonna grab it with the net.”
He does, scooping up the fish and carrying it toward me. I’m standing, trying to hold the pole up as he reaches into the net and grabs the fish. Glancing at me, he asks, “Wanna take the hook out?”
I shake my head, making him chuckle.
“Wait, are you gonna hold it?”
My eyebrows draw together. “Are we still talking about the fish?”
He laughs. “For now, yes. We need a picture to document your first time fishing and first catch. So, do you want to hold the pole and line or the fish.”
I think about my options, not really liking the idea of grabbing the fish directly. That’s why I choose the other. “The pole and line.”
He nods and moves to the side. “Come stand here.” He hands over the pole and line.
“It’s heavier than I expected.”
“It’s a good-sized fish,” he replies, grabbing his phone from his pocket. “Smile.”
I do, proudly holding my catch as he snaps a few pics.
Cade drops his phone on the chair and takes the fish from me. I watch as he maneuvers the hook out and carefully sets the pole aside. With the fish in his bare hand, he holds it up and asks, “Wanna give it a kiss before we set it free?”
“We’re not keeping it?”
“Not this time. If we were fishing for the freezer, it would be a keeper, but since we’re just having fun, drowning worms, we’ll let this guy go.”
“Okay. And no, I don’t want to kiss him.”
Cade moves to the edge and lowers the fish before giving him a gentle toss into the water. He swims away, making me smile. My fishing partner drops down to the water and dips his hands in to clean them off. Then, he heads to his tackle box and grabs a container of wipes. Finally, he turns his attention to me and smiles. “Not bad, Miss Fisherwoman. Probably about a three-pound channel cat.”
