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Chuckling at her audacity, I obliged by steering the boat slightly away to give her privacy, but not before stealing a quick glance in the mirror.
After a moment of shuffling and adjusting, she called out that she was ready. As I turned back, I found her confidently perched on the tube with a victorious smile on her face.
"Now that you've got everything sorted out," I began with amusement dancing in my eyes, "ready for another round?"
“Bring it on,” she challenged, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I picked up speed, watching her hold on tight as we flew across the water. There was something exhilarating about the way she handled herself—fearless and full of life, even in the face of unexpected moments like this one.
After a few more rounds, we switched places. “Your turn,” I said, tossing her the keys as I climbed into the tube. “Think you can handle it?”
She caught the keys effortlessly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Oh, I’ll handle it alright. Just don’t complain if you end up in the water.”
“Fair enough,” I laughed, settling into the tube. “Just keep it steady.”
But as I watched her take the wheel, I had a feeling she had other plans, and I was looking forward to whatever happened next.
Natalie started the engine and, after a bit of hesitation, began to pull away. At first, she was cautious, keeping the speed low as she got used to the feel of the boat. But as she gained confidence, the boat began to pick up speed, and I found myself holding on a little tighter.
“Not bad!” I called out, giving her a thumbs-up as we cruised across the lake.
She flashed me a grin, clearly enjoying herself. But just as I was starting to relax, she made a sharp turn—too sharp—and the tube whipped around, sending me flying off into the water.
I hit the lake with a splash, the cold water shocking my system. When I surfaced, sputtering and wiping the water from my face, I saw the boat drifting a short distance away, with Natalie standing at the wheel, her hand covering her mouth in shock.
“Ethan! Are you okay?” she shouted, her voice tinged with panic.
I waved at her, trying to keep the mood light. “I’m fine! Just remember to take it easy on the turns.”
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded, visibly steeling herself as she maneuvered the boat back toward me. I could see the determination on her face as she carefully guided the boat closer, her earlier panic giving way to concentration.
When she finally pulled up alongside me, I grabbed the ladder and hoisted myself back onto the boat, water dripping everywhere. Natalie looked relieved but also a bit sheepish.
“Sorry about that,” she said, biting her lip.
I laughed, shaking the water from my hair. “Don’t worry about it. You did great—just a little too enthusiastic on that turn.”
She let out a nervous laugh, the angst easing between us. “I guess I got a bit carried away.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” I said, giving her a reassuring smile. “Besides, now you know what not to do.”
We spent the rest of the afternoon switching between tubing and driving the boat, with Natalie gaining more confidence each time she took the wheel. The more she relaxed, the more I found myself drawn to her—not just because of her looks but because of the way she approached everything with a mix of determination and vulnerability. It was impossible not to admire that.
As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, we decided to call it a day. Natalie drove us back to the dock, her movementsnow fluid and sure, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in how far she’d come in just a few hours.
As we neared the dock, I secured the boat while Natalie gathered our things. Just as we were about to head home, I caught sight of a familiar boat in the distance, coming straight toward us. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized Liam, my friend from Dallas, waving at me from his speedboat.
“Hey, Ethan!” Liam called out, his voice carrying over the water.
Natalie glanced up, noticing the sudden shift in my demeanor. “Who’s that?” she asked, curious.
I forced a casual smile. “Just a customer of Joe’s,” I lied smoothly, hoping to deflect any further questions.
As Liam’s boat continued to approach, I grabbed my phone and quickly shot him a text:
ETHAN: Steer clear, man. Not a good time.
Within moments, I saw Liam check his phone, then wave again with a wide grin before turning his boat in the opposite direction. I let out a silent sigh of relief, thankful that the close call had been averted.
