Page 20 of Adrift

“Here goes nothing…” I groan, striding further into the water without letting myself stop. Thank God nobody’s around to hear the yelping noises I didn’t even know I could make. “Shitting fuckweasels. It’s supposed to be spring!”

My legs are numb, and the water’s up to my thighs. There’s no bracing myself for what’s next. All I can do is groan at the top of my lungs.“Ooh, oh, oh—fuckingfuckme!”

At least that’s the worst part over with… and I’m no longer in danger of flashing anyone who’s out for an evening stroll.

The rain seems louder, pattering against the swell of the tide. When I’m in up to my chest, I close my eyes and duck under the water to rinse my hair and face.

Is it totally weird if the water feels… comfortable now? I’m not a masochist, I swear. I’ve probably just KO’d every nerve ending in my body. But I’m not in as much of a rush to get out as I thought.

It sounds cheesy, but the cold is life-affirming. I feel awake—alive, in a way I’d forgotten was possible throughout the rush of the last few years of life. I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.

I swim a little deeper, enough that my feet are no longer touching bottom and I can tread water. Then I turn to look at Sunrise Island again, and I find myself smiling.

The island’s shoreline looks so different from here, even though I’m not that far out. The rocks and the beach loom largest, and the trees beyond tower above them. Beyond, thickclouds streak the darkening night sky, painting it every shade of purple and blue.

It’s breathtaking.

I tread water, turning in slow circles to take in the view.

There’s just one thing missing.

I’m so lucky to have such awe-inspiring scenery to myself. But a part of me I’d almost forgotten until today—this moment, I guess—is awake again. And I can’t help wishing I had someone to share it with.

Someone else to fall into this spell right by my side. I could look at him one day and just say,Remember that first night on Sunrise Island?And I wouldn’t have to explain a thing. He’d just smile back at me and take my hand and look at me the way my great-grandfather’s watching my great-grandmother in the one precious photo I have from their wedding, a week before they moved here.

I’m doing the same thing they did and throwing myself headlong into a dream I’ve always not-so-secretly had, ever since I was a kid. Trusting that, even if I don’t yet have anyone to catch me like they had each other, someone will be there for me when I need it.

If that makes me crazy, so be it.

The rain is picking up, pounding into the water so noisily that it splashes up against me. I’m wiping water out of my eyes.

I’m laughing, and I don’t even know why.

How wild is this? It’s actually happening.

Whatever lies ahead, however long and lonely the time before I find someone to share my path…I’llremember this first night on Sunrise Island. And I hope it’ll still make me smile.

I breathe out deep, before swimming back to the beach. The chill is starting to get to me, and I’m clean as I’m going to get. Time to huddle over a hot can of soup to warm up.

My feet slip against the pebbles as I find my footing and push my way out of the water until I’m only ankle-deep in the surf.

Wait. What’s that?

A figure in the orchard, cloaked by darkness and standing by the boulders at the top of the beach. There’s just enough light for me to see a bright pink umbrella—and bright pink hair.

Oh, shit. It’s Kieran.

He’s watching me stride out of the ocean dripping wet, totally naked—and so cold that my package is trying to retreat right back inside me.

I’m never gonna live this down.

Chapter

Eight

KIERAN

Thankgoodness I was clutching the bag of food against my chest as I searched for Gage, or I would have dropped the whole thing.

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