Page 69 of Our Little Moments

I join Hazel and Nate, who have wicked grins on their faces.

“Uh oh. What’s going on in those heads of yours?” I ask with a laugh.

Hazel and Nate’s eyes clash. Then, they turn in my direction, so full of determination it makes my heart freeze.What do they have planned?

“Let’s show them what a race really means,” Nate says and as he does, the trees from the islands start moving.

Oh. We might have a chance at winning after all.

I grin wickedly at them. “Let’s show them.”

Adrian

We’re getting closer and closer to the finish line.

But . . . It feels wrong.

The other team had very little chance of winning because none of them could use their powers to their advantage.

Jay’s close to the finish line, with his ability to control the wind pushing us close to the end. Although, he could barely use his magic to help us because Isabella was always close to us.

I sigh internally at the reminder. These two really do everything to make sure not to help each other. Sometimes, it drives me crazy. How did their animosity get so strong?

Sam’s right behind me when he suddenly stops moving. I stop along with him.

“Pass me your paddle,” I tell him.

He looks at me with confused eyes.

“Extend your paddle to me and I’ll push you forward.”

He smiles a small smile and extends it.

But before I can grab it, trees suddenly grab a hold of both extremities of our kayaks, effectively locking them in.

What the hell?

We both get up and try to free our kayaks.

“What is this?!” a scream from far ahead rings.

Jay.

So it’s not just both of us stuck.

Looking behind me, I see Hazel, Nate, and Stella quickly approaching.

Understanding dawns as I see branches from trees around the island dragging their kayaks across the water.

I can’t help the honest laugh from escaping me. I guess I was wrong.They can fight back.

A proud smile lights up my face when I see Hazel’s joyous face, the relief in Stella’s smile, and the proud gleam in Nate’s eyes as they speed by me.

In a second that seems to last a minute, I notice that Stella’s hands have a death grip on her kayak and her eyes meet mine. She waves at me with a finger and I chuckle.

She grins andpoofshe’s speeding away.

Sam laughs from behind me and I turn around. “And here I thought we had an advantage.”

---