Page 1 of Skate the Line

One

SUNNY

“Say it with me.”The woman’s voice calms me. I find myself nodding. “This is the start of the most soul-nourishing year of my life.”

I repeat her. “This is the start of the most soul-nourishing year of my life.”

A deep breath escapes my mouth as if I’m blowing all my worries away. I slowly peel my eyes open and stare at the crashing waves. The taste of salty water lands on the tip of my tongue, and the ocean breeze wisps at the tendrils of hair hanging from my messy braid.

“This is the start of the most soul-nourishing year of my life,” I say again because, just maybe, if I continue saying it and nodding along, I’ll actually manifest it into the universe.

I snort and rip an earbud from my ear.

The podcaster continues on, but I find myself focusing on the sounds of the sea instead. I bury my toes into the sand and try to ground myself. I have to get used to my new normal,but no matter how far my feet dig into the granules, something feels off.

The ringing inside my ear pulls me back to reality, cutting off the self-help podcast. I slip my other earbud back in place and answer Ruby’s ringtone.

“Hello?”

“Hey, surfer girl.”

I roll my eyes. I’ve been in California for three days, and she’s already calling me surfer girl.

“What’s u—” She pauses. “Where the hell are you? Sounds like you’re standing in the middle of a hurricane.”

I unbury my feet and sit cross-legged on a blanket. “I’m at the beach.”

“Ohhhh,” she drags the word out with jealousy. “That’s right. I forgot. My bestie is just out there living her best life at the beach.”

I laugh sarcastically. “Yep. I’m just out here living the dream. All alone on the beach with a self-help podcast in my ear and nothing but a quickly depleting bank account to my name.”

“That’s exactly why I called you.”

I pick up a seashell and observe the tiny cracks along the edge. “Did my nana bribe you to call me and tell me to go back home?”

Ruby pauses. “She did call me but only to have me check on you.”

I knew it.My nana told me to “spread my wings and follow my dreams,” but she knows that something isn’t quite right. I can’t fool her, and I think we both know that my sudden departure from Washington has nothing to do with following my dreams.

“That’s not why I’m calling, though. I have a job opportunity.”

My heart goes out with the tide. “Ruby,” I warn.

She cuts me off. “Hear me out.”

Ruby and I are best friends. We don’t have that we-grew-up-with-each-other friendship, considering we’ve only known one another for a few years, but she knows me better than anyone. We met through TEN: The Elite Nanny agency.

It’s an elite, privately owned nanny placement agency dedicated to high-profile athletes and their families. The pay is exceptional, and once you’re placed with the right family, it’s a dream job. I’ve traveled, gotten free vacations, Christmas bonuses, and I’ve gained life-long friendships, like with Ruby. I’ve gained some trauma too, but never mind that.

I throw the broken seashell into the ocean and sigh into the phone. “Fine. What’s your job proposition?”

Ruby is well-aware that I’ve closed a chapter on Washington and with TEN, so I’m interested to hear what this so-called jobcould be.

“Well, you know TEN?”

I give the phone a strange look. “You mean the nanny agency where we met? No. I’ve never heard of it.”

Ruby ignores my sarcasm. “They’ve opened up another agency. It’s a branch of TEN.”

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