Page 59 of The Maine Event

Chloe doesn’t seem to notice my turmoil. She’s too busy running her hands over the oars, making sure everything is in place. “It’s totally safe,” she reassures me, pulling out life jackets from a wooden crate and holding one up with a flourish. “Let’s go out on the river. We’ve got all the safety gear.”

I force a smile, trying to match her enthusiasm, but my insides feel twisted up and uncomfortable. It’s not just the thought of going out on the water, although that doesn’t exactly thrill me either. It’s more the lingering echo of last night—of Dan’s touch and his anger and my own crushing guilt.

Chloe notices my hesitation and frowns. “You don’t like boats?”

I clear my throat, trying to sound casual. “It’s not that. I just… I don’t really like being out on the water. I’m more of a… solid ground kind of person.”

She cocks her head, like she’s trying to figure out how anyone could possibly feel that way.

“But it’s fun! And it’s not scary. We could just go out for a few minutes. Just over to that buoy and back. You’ll see, it’s easy.”

I bite my lip, torn between telling her no and not wanting to disappoint her. Chloe’s been through enough, and the last thing I want is to be another person in her life who lets her down. Besides, what’s the point of playing it safe all the time? Maybe it’s time to take a chance, even on something small. Maybe I need to push myself out of my comfort zone—rock the boat a little.

I nod. “Alright. Let’s do it.”

Chloe’s face lights up with pure delight, and she practically bounces as she fastens the life jackets on both of us.

“You’ll see,” she promises. “It’s super fun.”

Chloe winds the winch a few turns, and the boat lowers into the water. She hops in with the grace of someone who’s done thisa hundred times, while I take a little more time to gingerly lower myself onto the bench seat, gripping the sides.

She giggles. “You look like you’re bracing for a hurricane.”

“I just don’t want to tip us over before we even start,” I mumble, trying to find my balance.

Once we’re settled, Chloe picks up the oars and gives me a reassuring smile. “See? Totally easy. You just have to find your sea legs.”

The boat skims out of the boathouse with a soft push, and I feel my heart race a little as the gentle waves rock us. But Chloe’s movements are steady and confident, and slowly—much to my surprise—I relax.

“See?” Chloe says proudly. “You’re not gonna puke or anything, are you?”

I laugh, more at myself than anything else. “No. I think I’m okay.”

She grins and dips the oars into the water, finding a rhythm that sends us gliding towards the buoy. I let myself relax a little, the tension in my shoulders easing as the boat rocks gently under us. There’s something peaceful about it—something calming that I didn’t expect. Maybe it’s Chloe’s confidence. Or maybe it’s just that being out here feels like a break from reality—a bubble of calm away from all the mess I’ve made.

Chloe looks at me, her face thoughtful. “You’re good at this,” she says.

I arch a brow. “Good at what? Sitting still and not freaking out?”

She giggles. “No, just… going along with things. Not everybody does that. Some people just say no right away without even trying.”

Her words hit a little deeper than I expect, and I wonder if that’s what I’ve been doing my whole life—saying no to anything that seemed risky or uncomfortable. Always playing it safe.Always doing the sensible thing. Maybe I’ve missed out on a lot because of that.

“Yeah,” I say softly, more to myself than to her. “I guess it’s about time I learned to just… go with it.”

Chloe smiles, satisfied, and dips the oars again, steering us smoothly forward. I close my eyes for a moment, just breathing in the fresh air and letting the sound of the river fill my ears.

The rhythm of the oars cutting through the water becomes almost soothing, and I allow myself to just… be. The river stretches out around us, calm and quiet, and for the first time in a while, I feel like I can actually slow down. No deadlines. No pitches. No pressure to prove myself. Just… being here.

As the boat glides further from the shore, Chloe hums to herself—a melody I don’t recognize, but it’s soft and sweet, and it suits the mood perfectly.

“You know,” I say, trying to keep my tone light, “you’re pretty brave, taking me out on a boat when I’m totally useless at this.”

Chloe giggles again. “You’re not useless. You just needed a little push. Besides, you didn’t freak out, so that’s pretty cool.”

I smile at that. Maybe she’s right. Maybe I’ve spent so long convincing myself I couldn’t handle certain things that I never bothered to actually try.

“Next time,” I say, glancing around at the stillness of the water, “I’ll take the oars. Deal?”

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