Chapter 18

• Freckles dot the bridge of her nose, and she has full lips. Her face is heart-shaped, and her long, chestnut hair floats on the surface of the water, swirling around her arms.
• “Holy shit!” She clutches my shoulders and looks around. “What the fuck? Who are you? Where am I?”
• “I’m Maverick, currently your buoy and possible knight in a wet bathing suit. As for where you’re in Pearl Lake. I think you must have fallen asleep on your paddleboard.” I nod toward the board, which is now floating about fifteen feet away from us, but slowly heading back in our direction. “I’m sorry I scared you.”