Page 103 of Love ad Lib
‘Fuck!’ Estelle yelled, her arms flailing.
‘Estelle! Sit down!’
She threw the oar away, dropping to the bottom of the boat and placing her hands on the sides. The oar floated away.
‘Henry!’
He sighed. ‘I’ll get it. Hang on.’
He manoeuvred their boat to reach the oar, pulled it out of the water, then rowed back to his sister.
He tried to pass one end to her, but she was standing again and making her boat rock.
‘Fuck’s sake, Estelle. Why are you being such a muppet? You’ve been in these things a million times.’
She snorted. ‘I may have had a bit too much Pimms.’
Henry stood, his footing sure, holding out the oar for his sister.
She took the other end in both hands.
‘Thanks!’ She yanked it towards her, pulling an unsuspecting Henry straight into the water with a loud splash.
‘Oh my god!’ Libby stared at Estelle in shock. Estelle responded with a wink.
Henry spluttered as he re-surfaced. ‘What the fuck, Estelle!’
‘Shit! I’m so sorry,’ she replied. ‘I didn’t know that would happen. Thank god you didn’t have your phone on you.’
Henry swam to the side of their boat and Libby held out her hand.
He shook his head. ‘You’ll capsize us if you help me. Go to the other side and lean over to counterbalance the weight.’
She did and he hauled himself back in.
They both glanced over at Estelle, who was already halfway back to the bank.
‘I don’t know why she did that,’ Henry said. ‘She’s mental.’
‘I’m afraid it’s my fault,’ Libby replied, quietly.
‘How?’
‘I told her my favourite bit from the first Pride and Prejudice TV series was when Mr Darcy swam in a lake and met Lizzie wearing a wet white shirt.’ She stared at her feet. ‘I think Estelle tried to make my fantasy come true.’
Silence.
Eventually Henry cleared his throat. ‘Ah.’
More silence. Her mortification was complete.
‘Do you mind helping me navigate back to the jetty?’ he asked. ‘I need to get out of these clothes.’
Gah!She kept her eyes on the bottom of the boat. ‘What do you want me to do?’ she mumbled.
‘Well, my back is to the bank, so I need you to look at me and tell me whether to go left or right.’ His voice was mild.
Oh god.She slowly raised her eyes, then wished she hadn’t. His wet shirt clung to him. He pulled on the oars and his muscles rippled in response.
