Page 90 of Places I've Never Been

Piper’s seed of doubt took root in Mattie’s stomach and grew tendrils of uncertainty. “I told him if I came it would be just about the songs. He agreed.”

“Of course he did. He wanted you to say yes. Out of curiosity, in a strictly scientific experiment, askthem about their other writing retreats. If they do this kind of thing all the time, they’ll have stories, right?”

The phone buzzed, and a text from Adam popped up on the screen.Ready to go?

He was probably waiting for her outside her bedroom door. “I have to go. Adam’s waiting.”

“Okay. I’ll let you know what I find out about the camera guy. Love you.” Piper waved.

“Love you more.” Mattie ended the call, picked up her bag, and hurried out to meet Adam.

After a morning spent hashing over the same four lines until Mattie thought her ears might bleed, even she had to admit it was time for a break.

She didn’t understand why that break had to involve windsurfing. She clung to the boom with both hands while the board wobbled in what felt like ten-foot waves and wished she were anywhere,anywhere, other than here.

“Turn into the wind,” Adam shouted as he zipped past her for the fourth time.

“Iamturning into the stupid wind,” Mattie muttered.

She pulled on the boom. It moved a few inches, and the wind caught. The sail billowed, and her feet shifted and slid. The sail tilted toward the water in slow, horrifying motion. She squealed as it dumped her into the ocean for the fifth time.

“Ten out of ten for style, Mattie!” Cooper shouted from the top of a wave. He rode it almost back to the shore before he caught the wind and zipped off in the opposite direction.

Sputtering salt water and swear words, Mattie draped her upper body across the board and let the waves push her wherever they wanted. She’d never understand why they found swallowing gallons of salt water and getting beat up by fabric so exciting.

Adam splashed into the water nearby and swam over to her. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Why did he look so exhilarated when she felt so exhausted? “My arms are going to fall off and I can’t feel my legs, but that’s okay. I don’t need them.”

“Ouch,” Adam said with a hint of laughter. He patted her back in what he probably thought was a reassuring manner but came off as mostly condescending. “You’ll get the hang of it. You’ve already mastered getting up on your feet.”

“That’s not mastery. That’s panic.” She clung to the scrap of wood harder as a gentle wave rocked past. “My whole body is shaking. I need a break from this break.”

“Come on, I’ll tow you back to shore.”

“No, no, no. You’re having fun. I can get myself back.”

“Hey, brother!” Brandon called out. “Race you to the buoy over there.”

Adam gave Mattie a questioning look. “You sure?”

She waved him off. “Go kick his ass. I’ll be camped out on a lounge chair with an enormous adult beverage when you’re done.”

“Save me one.” He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and pushed away from her. “Loser buys the first round at O’Brians when we get back.”

Brandon whooped and promptly fell into the water.

It took a second for Mattie to realize he’d done it on purpose. Adam, Brandon, and Cooper all lined up in a row in the water next to their boards.

Flynn sat on his board in front of them with his hand high in the air. “Okay, men, keep it clean and wet. On your marks. Get set. Go!”

The three racers lifted their sails up out of the water. Brandon was the first one to get his sail up over hishead and into the wind. He stepped out of the water and onto the board with casual ease and shot out ahead of the other two.

“Eat my wake!” Brandon shouted, already a good distance out in front.

Adam was the next one to right himself and take off, with Cooper close behind him.

Mattie would have cheered them on, but she was too tired to lift her arms. She watched for a few seconds, then paddled her way to shore. LT waved encouragingly at her from the shore, then disappeared into the tree line with Malika.

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