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Life’s an adventure, Tea bear.

She smiled. “Yeah. Let’s do it.”

They hopped on. Archer sat in the front, Tea next to him at the back. She positioned her hands on the tiller behind her as Archer handed her the rope.

“Life’s an adventure, Tea bear.”

Her eyes swelled with tears. “Are you trying to kill me?”

He smiled, but it was sad. “No. Just giving you a nudge.”

She wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands, then she let out some of the sail to catch the wind, and they were off.

The boat moved quickly across the water, cresting the waves with ease. Archer’s boat was much lighter than her father’s. It moved fast. She kept a tight hold on the rope, having to control the wind in the sail as much as she could. She pointed the boat northwest, the sail catching at the perfect angle. The boat tilted to the side and soared, making her belly flop.

“Still a daredevil, huh?!” Archer called out to her.

She grinned. They continued like that for she wasn’t sure how long, riding each gust of wind with a grace she knew her father would be proud of. When she had the boat at the perfect forty-five-degree angle, she tilted her head back and howled with delight. Water splashed her face and hair, but she didn’t care. Sitting behind the wheel of her father’s Chevy Classic was nothing compared to how sailing made her feel. For the first time in eight years, she could truly sense her father’s joy. Hear his booming laugh.

Tea could see Archer grinning, his eyes out on the lake. Then his face fell as he looked up at the sky. Thick charcoal clouds moved from the east, the sky looking angrier as the clouds traveled quickly in their direction.

“I forgot how fast the storms can roll through here,” Tea said.

“Huh?” Archer shouted.

She attempted to say it again, but the wind picked up, drowning out her words.

“Maybe we should head back?!” Archer suggested with a yell.

Tea nodded and loosened the sail, allowing some of the wind to catch as she angled the tiller for a turn. A powerful gust came out of nowhere. She pulled the rope to tighten the sail, but it was useless. The wind pushed the sail out and pulled the rope with it, slipping from her hands.

“Shit!” she screamed, grasping for purchase.

“PULL!” Archer yelled back at her.

She tried, but the pressure of the wind was too great. She pulled, then a sharp rip came from the sail. The boat swung far to the left, then completely tipped on its side.

Tea tumbled out of the boat. She held onto her life jacket as she came up for air.

The clouds boomed above them, followed by sheets of rain.

Chapter 20

Archer

“TEA! WHERE ARE YOU?”

Archer screamed in the dark, frantically swimming around the boat. The storm that came out of nowhere had blanketed everything in darkness. He couldn’t see her pale skin or wild red hair. Panic climbed up his chest as he swam.

“TEA!”

“Right here!”

He whipped around and saw her clutching the mast.

Relief flooded his body.

“Are you okay?! Are you hurt?” He had to shout at her above the booming thunder.