Page 90 of Class Clown

“Getting back into a watercraft is worse than when you use the bathroom at the swimming pool and have to pull your wet, shrunken suit back on to your cold, damp body,” she groaned as she pulled herself up. “Top three reasons not to capsize.”

“But, hey, nobody drowned or had to get towed to shore today.” I gave a little cheer as Aryn helped me heave up into the canoe. It required some wiggling and grunting, and I didn’t appreciate some of my softer body parts trying to mold to the canoe, but I made it. “Hooray.”

Aryn, of course, gracefully pulled up and into the canoe like she’d had a trampoline to jump off of.

“Athletic people,” I scoffed and she grinned.

Meredith shivered and hugged her arms to her sides, her bright red swimwear clinging to her small frame. “Row us back to shore, Aryn. I’m done for the day.”

“Where’s your sense of adventure?” I teased.

“At the bottom of this lake,” she replied.

Aryn had us across the reservoir before too long. Meredith stayed quiet, but I hummed some camp songs while we moved peacefully across the water. When we reached the canoe dock, Nico was standing there holding our towels.

“He’s a keeper,” Aryn said under her breath to me.

I didn’t reply, and didn’t even try to stop the swoon rising up in my chest at his thoughtful gesture. He was full of those. Where had he learned to be this way? Or was it simply his nature to be a care-giver? It was something I could relate to, as it had been that very thing that had led me to nursing.

He leaned down and held onto the canoe to stabilize it as I helped Aryn tie it to the dock. He then held out a hand to all of us, making it easier to climb out and up onto the wooden platform.

“What happened out there?” he asked as he backed up to make room for us near him.

“We had to break up a raccoon gang fight,” I answered as I worked to get out of my life jacket.

“Ruby stood up in the canoe, which is against all canoeing rules, and then she leaned over and used the oar to slap the water. No regard for safetyprotocols.” Meredith grumped as she threw her life jacket back into the canoe and reached for her towel.

“I care about the interpersonal relationships of woodland creatures,” I responded regally, tossing my life jacket and taking my towel from Nico.

“Raccoon gang fights?” he questioned, his expression amused.

Aryn nodded and reached for her towel with a thank you. “It got pretty intense, but Ruby showed them who was boss.”

“She did, huh?” Nico looked at me and smiled.

I smiled back.

“Don’t be surprised if the gang shows up at your cabin to challenge her for leadership of the group. They’ve gotten a good look at her now,” Aryn said with a grin. “With the way she slapped the water, they probably assume she’s in league with the beavers. Rumor has it, they’ve been at war for years.”

Nico laughed, which had me laughing too.

Meredith’s lips tugged up. “Stupid nature gangs.”

I leaned toward Nico and stage-whispered, “She had a plan to save my life if the canoe tipped over, but it didn’t work out that way and now she’s mad.”

Nico looked to Meredith who shrugged. “I’m cynical enough to expect disaster, and prepared enough to go in with a plan.”

Nico nodded. “I like that. What was your plan?”

To my surprise, Meredith gestured for him to follow her up the dock and onto the sand, where they found some free beach chairs and sat side-by-side. Aryn and I took up residence on our towels nearby and allowed the sun to warm us up as we laid down.

“I didn’t think Nico knew how to sit on the beach,” I commented when we were settled. “He’s usually pacing around, watching for danger, and ready to jump in at any second.”

Aryn made a humming noise. “That might be a good thing for someone like you.”

“What does that mean?”

“I mean, you are also ready to jump in at any second, but it’s into the danger,” she giggled and tapped my shoulder. “Be honest.”

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