Page 60 of Unmoored
Things change as soon as we get through the breakers. Calvin’s strokes have him keeping up with Easton. Haley and I are evenly pacing. Dante and Zane pull up the rear. But holy hell, it’s a lot farther than I thought. Running is one thing, but swimming it? My lungs are burning, but Haley’s next to me, and for a second her eyes twinkle at mine in the sunlight.
I’m gasping for air as we head out onto the beach. There’s a line of palm fronds where we’re supposed to change to carrying. Zane and Dante are just rounding the corner, coming out of the water. Calvin and Easton are waiting for them.
“Ready?” I ask Haley.
“Yes.” She jumps onto my back. We have to run down to the spot where we entered the water.
I’m half a dozen steps down the beach before Calvin has Dante on his back and Zane and Easton are having a standoff about who’s carrying who. We pace three strides for every two of Calvin’s but we’re not losing ground. Haley’s holding on tightly to my shoulders. I’m not sure what Dante’s doing to Calvin, but he’s grunting at him. Easton and Zane have figured it out.
“Easton is carrying Zane, and they’re catching us,” Haley squeals. And it pushes me to pick up the pace. “You’ve got this, Sam.”
We’re close to the finish line, but Easton and Zane are right on our heels. But we’re over the line first.
I swing Haley around to my chest and kiss her. Her wet hair’s plastered to the side of her head. We’re both covered in sand from it kicking up at us. I let her slide to the sand.
“We won.” She jumps up and gives me another hug.
“We did.”
“We’re all winners with you, Sassy.” Dante’s sitting on the sand, his legs caked in it.
“No, they are the winners,” Easton says. And I can’t read what he’s thinking.
Haley collapses down next to him. “Are you okay?”
He laughs. “The earth didn’t open up and swallow me whole?”
Haley furrows her forehead.
“That’s the first race I’ve lost in ten years. Of any kind.” He lies back in the sand.
“It was just for fun.” Haley’s hand lands on his chest.
“I know.” He lifts his head and takes her hand in his. “But a loss is a loss. You won it.” He kisses her. “Good game, Sam.” He shakes my hand.
“Thanks.” I nod at him. “I had a good teammate.”
“You did,” Easton says.
“Hey, I was a good teammate. I could barely swim before I started boating. Shit, I wasn’t any good at it six months ago,” Zane says.
“You did great, Zane.” Easton stands up and pats Zane’s back. “We’ll get them next time. I can teach you how to improve your strokes and do something about your scissor kicks.”
“Your shoulder and arm are okay?” Haley smooths sand from Easton’s back. It’s something she does for all of us. Taking care of us, making every day a little better.
“Yeah, Firefly. I’m good. Now we need to get you your medal.” Easton cranes his neck like he’s trying to find something for her to have.
“I’ve got that taken care of, Rockwell.” Calvin jogs to where his shirt and towel sit on the big rock. From a bag, he pulls two circles of wood on a vine cord. “I’ve got the hardware.” Calvin places one over Haley’s neck and then one over mine.
I’m too busy looking at Haley smiling up at Calvin to examine the wood hanging around my neck.
“You’ve carved a map of the island.” Her mouth falls into an O as she gawks at Calvin.
“Shit, if I’d known this was the prize, I would have found another gear.” Dante laughs.
“We’ve got two more events,” Calvin says. He points to the hurdles and the nets down the beach.
Zane and Easton each have two medals around their necks by the time we settle down at the table.
