Page 84 of Knot Your Sunshine
The wind hits. One moment still, the next screaming past, whipping my hair into my face. The yacht rocks hard to starboard.
"Everyone hold on!" Noa's already moving. "Life jackets, now!"
The rain starts, hard, cold drops like ice pellets. Then the sky opens and water falls in sheets.
Keanu shoves a life jacket at me. "Arms up!" His fingers work the buckles with urgent efficiency. "Cockpit, before you're completely soaked!"
"Why not go inside?" I have to yell over the rain.
"Too risky to open the hatch with the boat rocking! You could fall and crack your head!"
We stumble toward the covered cockpit, the deck tilting wildly. Keanu's arm locks around my waist as the boat bucks. A wave crashes over the side, leaving me drenched, gasping, spitting salt water.
"This is insane!" I shriek as we duck into shelter.
"Best kind!" Keanu yells back, grinning maniacally despite water streaming down his face. "Noa! How far back to the bay?"
"Five minutes!" His hands never waver on the wheel.
Through the rain, I can barely make out the dark smudge of the bay we just left. The yacht rolls with massive swells, making my stomach swoop.
"The wave dynamics are fascinating!" Josh, still making his way over, has to shout. "See how they're forming those—"
The boat hits a trough at an angle. Josh squeaks, grabbing the rail.
"Still fascinating?" Keanu laughs.
"Absolutely!" Josh's glasses are useless, completely fogged, but his grin is huge. "Did you know waves can reach speeds of—"
Another swell. This time I'm squeaking, clutching Keanu hard enough to bruise.
"Almost there!" Noa's voice cuts through everything, steady and sure.
The bay appears like salvation. One moment we're in chaos, the next we slide between protective cliffs and everything calms. Rain still pounds the roof, but the water here just rolls gently.
"Holy shit." My legs wobble as the yacht stops its wild dance. "Holy actual shit."
"Eloquent," Josh chuckles, wringing out his shirt.
Noa guides us to anchor near the beach, then cuts the engine, leaving only rain drumming and thunder rumbling.
I look around at the deserted beach, the wall of jungle, the protective cliffs. "So what now? Are we... stuck?"
"Until it passes." Noa's scanning our surroundings. "Should be a few hours at most."
"A few hours?" My voice comes out higher than intended. "Noa, it'll get dark in a few hours. What if it takes longer? What if—"
"Hey." His hands cup my face, thumbs stroking my cheekbones. "The yacht's fine. We have supplies, full quarters below with beds, satellite phone if needed."
"We have a satellite phone? Why don't we call for help?"
"No one will sail in this." He jerks his head toward the storm beyond the cliffs. "But I'll call the resort, let them know our position. They'll have rescue on standby if needed. Though honestly? This'll probably blow through by midnight. We'll motor back ourselves."
"But the franchise data—" The thought hits me like another wave. "The end-of-day report—"
"I'll have my assistant have our phones ready at reception." His eyes hold mine steady. "The second we arrive, we check everything. Promise."
"Nothing implodes in a few hours," Josh adds, squeezing my shoulder.
