Page 66 of Our Little Moments

When I look back, Hazel and Nate are back to their task, both of their faces lit up by their smiles.

I turn to Isabella. “So, where’s the finish line, Isa?” I ask her, trying to map out the path I’ll have to take. At the beach in town,I could see the city’s distant shape. But here? This lake seems to be endless water and it’s as intimidating as it is soothing.

“There’s a pretty nice spot where Jay and I used to race. It’s between two islands, a bit away from here. We’ll all start at the beginning of the path and the finish line is the dock of one of the islands.” She pats my arm with a smile while anticipation is thrumming in my veins. How am I supposed to prepare if I don’t have any idea where to go? Going through a race without any kind of plan is foreign to me and it makes me feel like I’m doomed to lose.

“Don’t worry, Stella.” Layla walks over to me, draping an arm over my shoulder. Her presence soothes away a bit of the stress. “I won’t let you win, therefore you don’t have to overthink where the finish line is.”

Laughing, I push her away. “Stop it. What happened tonot letting the tension between these two spread between us, huh? You know, your words from this morning as we came here.”

Layla giggles softly. “At least it worked. Your shoulders aren’t tense anymore. If anything, I erased the tension between us,” she replies with a wink.

She’d noticed.She saw I was worried and joked to ease it.

I smile at her as my heart warms.These people . . .

“We’re all done over here!!” Hazel calls from the other end of the dock as she and Nate walk to join us.

Everyone gets ready to settle in their kayaks.

Taking a deep breath I step in the kayak and—

Oh shit, I’m about to fall.

I expected the kayak to be unsteady, but the way I lost my balance with barely a foot in makes my heart race.

I quickly glance around me, the others all settling in.

How are they doing it?

“Need a hand?” Adrian asks me from next to me. He and Hazel are the only ones who are not already settled in.

My pride is screaming at me to do it myself, but I know none of the people around me will judge me for needing help.

Which is why I smile with relief at him. “Yes, please.”

Gosh, who is this woman?

The person I was barely a month ago would have a heart attack knowing I asked for help for something so simple.

Adrian chuckles as he gets on his knees, holding out a hand for me to hold on to.

Grabbing it tightly, I push my weight on the foot inside the kayak and it starts shaking uncontrollably.

Deep breath, deep breath, deep breath.

I hold on to Adrian’s arm more tightly as I push myself off the dock.

Shit, shit, shit, shit.

I’m going to fall, I’m going to fall, I’m going to fall.

Adrian’s arm follows my movement, supporting most of my weight, which I’m grateful for because I would probably knock the kayak over without his help.

I start crouching to sit inside and can finally breathe again.

You’re fine. You’re fine. You’re fine.

I turn over to Adrian, who’s still holding onto my hand, and shoot him a grateful smile.

---