Page 57 of Say Something
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I had no idea why I’d agreed to go fishing. I hated fishing. I hated the smell, the silence, the waiting...don’t even get me started on baiting the hook or actually catching a fish and what that meant.
Actually, that was a lie. I knew why I’d agreed.
Because Danny asked me.
Damn him.
He showed up to my office looking all adorable in his khaki pants and dark green polo shirt with the high school logo over the breast pocket andCOACHembroidered directly below it. His hands were in his pockets and he looked so shy, so nervous. He might as well have saidaw, shucks.
I was a goner.
Of course, I couldn’t have turned him down. Who could have?
I probably would have gone skydiving if he had asked me. He’d reminded me so much of the nervous boy who’d asked me out fourteen years ago.
Splash.
“What was that?” I asked, looking around the lake. The small wooden rowboat we were in rocked back and forth as I looked over one shoulder, then the other. There was a small ripple to my left, but whatever had made that splash sounded a lot bigger than whatever caused that ripple.
“I don’t remember you being so squeamish last time we went fishing.”
“The last time we went fishing was over ten years ago.”And I was probably trying to impress you.
“It’s like riding a bike,” he teased with a smirk, and I wanted to knock that Oak River ballcap right off his head.
“There is nothing about fishing that is like riding a bike.Nothing.”
“Oh, come on, Jess. The reel spins, so do bike tires.” He spun his reel for emphasis.
I glared at him. “Riding my bike doesn’t smell, involve worms or fish-”
“I don’t remember you being so cranky, either.”
I sighed. He had a point. I used to be a bit more laid back about stuff like this, but I’d lost my familiarity with the great outdoors after all the years in the city. I used to go fishing with Danny all the time, and while I never actually fished, I’d lay on the dock/shore/boat and just enjoy the silence. Maybe read a book. Do homework. Daydream.
But now the silence was deafening, and I couldn’t sit still. Which was a real problem since we were on a boat. A small boat that rocked with every single movement either of us made, even the little ones.
“I’m sorry. I guess I’m a little too city for this,” I admitted, feeling embarrassed for being such a wet blanket about everything.
I’d be lying if I didn’t at least say it was beautiful out on the lake. It was peaceful, and the surface of the water was smooth, like a mirror that perfectly reflected the overcast sky. Near the shoreline, you could see reflections of the nearby trees, too. The lake hadn’t suffered from the drought the way the river had, which was a blessing for the wildlife. I hadn’t spotted any of the deer I remembered seeing as a kid, but there was an orchestra of birds chirping and frogs croaking.
“It’s no big deal, Jessie. I’ll make a country girl out of you in no time.” He winked, and I felt it ripple through my entire body. “In fact, I bet that girl is still in there, waiting for the opportunity to show herself.”
I shrugged, neither confirming nor denying his claims. That, and I was afraid if I tried to speak, I’d be the one croaking.
Lightning flashed across the sky, a crack of thunder following closely behind. I almost capsized the small boat when I jumped, startled by the loud bang.
“We’d better get back,” I said, stating the obvious.
Danny was already pulling in his fishing line. “Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t know it was supposed to rain.”
“Me either,” I said, running my hands up and down my arms to ward off the sudden chill. Judging by the dark clouds that were quickly approaching, it was going to be a doozy of a storm. “It just came out of nowhere.”
“Yeah. We’ll be back to the dock in about five minutes.” Danny worked quickly to get the fishing equipment into a manageable pile, then he got the oars in the water and began to row.
I did my best to clean up the fishing stuff while he got us back to land. I tried to ignore the way his t-shirt flexed across his pecs every time he pushed back. I hadn’t seen my ex-husband without a shirt in years, and fantasizing about him naked—shirtless—wasn’t a very productive use of my time at the moment. I managed to bring some order to the fishing poles and lures, and let out a sigh of relief when I looked up and saw the dock quickly approaching.
