I stepped out onto wood planks with my prosthetic, finding my balance before I followed with my good leg. The number of bodies there made walking more of a challenge, but it wasn’t the end of the world. Tucker waved from one of the row boats.
“Right here.” He reached his arms out. “Give me your stuff.”
I handed it over and slid into the boat, finding my seat.
“Ace, bro,” Tucker said.
We secured our life jackets, and he handed me an oar. I pushed us off, and we rowed in tandem, like it was what we were made for.
“You would’ve been a good marine.”
Water splashed over my shoulders, spraying my hot skin with an icy chill and soaking me so much that my swim trunks clung. I shivered and grunted, turning to see where it came from.
Lauren and her roommate June were in a boat ten yards away. Lauren was covering her mouth, shoulders shaking, and both were laughing their butts off. Lauren was wearing ’50s-style red sunglasses, her hair up in some wrap that looked like Rosie the Riveter’s, and her life jacket was covering a striped swimsuit that peeked out from the sides.
“Real funny, cowgirl!” I shouted, digging my paddle into the water to send some back.
They screamed and rowed farther out. June leaned over saying something, her hair in a wrap too, matching Lauren’s. Lauren smiled over her shoulder at June, and I decided to get my revenge later. She needed some solid friends around her, and after our conversation yesterday, I had a feeling that June was a prime candidate.
Tucker sighed.
“All right, man. What’s your deal with Lauren?” I asked.
“We dated last summer.”
“Yeah, I know. Do you feel like I’m stepping on your game? Cause we’re just friends.”
“No. We’re done. But I meant it. She’s a rebound queen. And, you’re not exactly in the best place either. I mean, no offense, but you’re dealing with some major life changes. You should be focusing on your own health, right?”
“We’ve just been hanging out,” I said. “She’s not dating right now anyway. You don’t have to worry.”
Tucker scoffed.
“You’re not getting it. Lauren bounces from guy to guy.”
I got it completely. Lauren couldn’t bounce from guy to guy anymore though, even if she wanted to. But I couldn’t come out and tell Tucker she was pregnant. Romantic history between them or not, unless she wanted him knowing, it was none of his business.
“Look, Tucker, I’m going through my stuff. She’s going through her own stuff. We’re just friends helping each other out. All right? And, you should go easy on her from now on. She has enough stress without you adding to it.”
We paddled in silence for a while.
“Think Cory brought some poles out with him?” Tucker asked.
“I think he’d die before he’d leave shore without one.”
-LAUREN-
The day was totally perfect for laying out in the sun and just relaxing for a while. There were a bunch of activities set up; the floating volleyball net was the most popular so far. Staffers out in the lake shrieked and giggled, volleying the beach ball back and forth. I was completely fine on my massive towel, looking through the newest edition of Vogue that Kellie mailed me.
When I called Kel to thank her, I told her that I wanted to make a trip down for a visit soon, and she was buzzing. I didn’t tell her why. Even now, my heart pounded just thinking about telling her the truth. I wouldn’t be able to deal if she saw me as a huge embarrassment and left me behind.
I drew a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before I released it. There was no point freaking myself out over something that hadn’t happened yet.
If everything went okay, we’d have a good six months to worry about it all anyway. I didn’t realize that tomorrow was the eleven-week mark until I checked the work schedule for August’s shifts.
Eleven weeks.
How was it possible that I was almost through the first trimester already?
I turned the page, studying the asymmetric lines on the runway images, the tight choker necklaces, the spiked buns. The women’s shoes all had a vintage ’30s vibe, and there were more knit fabrics than furs. I made a mental note as the crowd cheered in the lake behind me.
The smoky scent of grilling hot dogs swirled past my nose and my stomach growled. I had no idea why. They normally made me super nauseous. Not today, though. My mouth watered and I glanced over my shoulder to see if any were ready. My eyes met June’s. She was in the back of the line beside Hailey.
I set my magazine facedown on my towel and stood, making sure my beach wrap was covering my stomach. Hailey was talking. June smiled when I joined them. The story Hailey was telling seemed to be about one of the church camp counselors she’d met on her run yesterday morning.
“I literally almost ran into him,” she said, adjusting her ponytail, her light brown hair shining in the sunlight, freckles highlighted by the glow of the lake. “He had it coming, though, just stopping in the middle of the trail and kneeling.”
“What the heck was he doing?” June asked.
Hailey’s half-grin turned up, and I knew that smile. The I-met-a-cute-guy kind. It made me weirdly jealous. Not that I needed to meet a guy, but if this was any other summer, I would have.
“He was praying,” Hailey said, blue eyes glowing.
June gasped. “Aww. Seriously?”
Hailey nodded. “I almost fell, trying not to bulldoze him. He apologized a million times and then he started asking me all these questions about Bridgeport. We walked the lake together and he got my number after. Not that he can call while I’m up here, but who knows?” She shrugged and fixed her ponytail again. “Maybe I’ll have some new texts when I’m back in town.” She dipped her head, smiling again. June couldn’t stop smiling either, and I felt like
