Page 58

Well.

Ididwant dramatic.

SIXTEENMaya

About a minute into the swim, I realize just how bad an idea this is. The water is freakingcold.I am going to freeze and sink to the bottom of the lake in a human-shaped ice cube, and Jordy is going to get a disgustingly romanticized TV special about the exquisite grief of watching an ex-girlfriend die right in front of him.

Potentially two ex-girlfriends, if I don’t reach Skye soon.

Skye watches me with amused exasperation, one eyebrow quirked, as I gradually inch closer and closer. “Do you need help?” she calls.

“Youneed help,” I pant.

She looks around her with her lower lip stuck out. “I’m actually doing pretty well. It’s a lovely day for it.”

Gee, I’m gladoneof us has the energy to make jokes right now. This would be a lot easier if the kayak weren’t drifting almost as fast as I can swim. With a burst of effort, I launch into a freestyle stroke with my head down. Hell yeah,nowI’m moving. I swim for about thirty seconds at full speed before I peek up to check my progress. I’d fully expected to have reached the kayak by now, but to my frustration, I’m still about twenty feet out. “Stopmoving,” I groan between gasps.

“Sorry,” Skye says drily. “I’ll try harder.”

Gradually, I manage to close in on the kayak. By the time I slap a hand on the plastic side, my vision is starting to close in on the edges.

Skye props her chin on laced fingers. “My hero.”

“You know, a little less sarcasm and a little more gratitude wouldn’t go astray here,” I get out.

The corner of Skye’s mouth twitches. “I’ll work on that, but first, just quickly, what was your plan here? Given that, yet again, you’re strayed from the one we agreed on?”

I pause. “What?”

“Are you going to pull me back to shore?”

Water is streaming from my hair into my eyes, so I slick it back off my forehead, agitated. “If you jump in, I can swim us back.”

She bursts out laughing. “That’s not happening.”

“It’s fine, I promise. I’ve got you.”

“Can you touch the bottom?”

“Well, no, but—”

“Maya, listen to me closely. I would not join you in there if you offered me a million dollars and Jordy’s head on a platter.”

“Okay.” I rest my forearms gently on the bow of her kayak. The weight tilts the kayak a little, and she looks over at the water in alarm. “So, now what?”

“Great question.” Her brow furrows as her gaze trails over my head. “Oh. Apparently we’re saved. Magnificent.”

I look over my shoulder. Two boats are speeding our way, one carrying Isaac, Gwendolyn, and the camera crew (who are currently filming us, so, at least that part worked out), and the other carrying Jordy. Gwendolyn must have told him to pose, because he’s standing with his legs planted apart, holding onto the windshield to steady himself with one hand, and shielding his eyes from the sun with the other as he staresout to us. It’s too far away to tell, but I can only assume he’s wearing a dramatically concerned expression.

Also, his shirt’s unbuttoned again.

Gwendolyn pulls out a megaphone. “Maya! Get back in the water!”

“I’m already in the water,” I say to Skye. “Does she have us mixed up?”

“I think she means let go of the kayak,” Skye supplies helpfully.

“Let go of the kayak!” Gwendolyn clarifies, her muddied, metallic voice booming across the water.