The Misadventures of Anna Cabbot

Open Water

Carson planned to meet them at Jamie's dad's marina slip. Anna had taken Jamie up on his offer to drive her, and they sat cross-legged on the dock waiting for him to arrive. She had one of those small cinch packs on, this one emblazoned with her high school and mascot, and it crinkled every time she moved. Her left hand was tangled securely with Jamie's right, his thumb rubbing periodically over her knuckles.

"Is this the part where you tell me this is really dangerous and I shouldn't do it?" She looked up at the sliver of moon still left in the sky. It was going to be goddamn dark out there.

"If I thought that would actually work, sure, I would have tried." His tone was dry as dust. "Right about now, too."

Anna snorted. "The no interference thing?"

"You're a grown woman who's in sound mind and can make her own damn decisions."

She rested her head on his shoulder.

"You weren't too late for work this morning, were you?" he mumbled into her hair.

"I honestly didn't give a shit what time I showed up. I had enough issues remembering to put pants on this morning to go out the door because somebody thought it was a good idea to operate the Keurig wearing a bed sheet like a toga."

"I couldn't find my boxers!"

"Under the bed, I think." She side-eyed him. "They're still there, aren't they?"

There was a sound like Jamie was sucking on his teeth before he finally said, "...maybe."

She cackled.

"It's not funny!" Jamie threw his arms up; she'd let go of him to wrap her own around her midsection. "Have you ever ridden a motorcycle without them?"

Anna tipped over onto her side and laughed so hard she stopped making any other noise except for the great gulping breaths of air she needed.

Jamie scrubbed a hand over his face. "Jesus Christ."

She sat up again and wiped tears of mirth from her face. Leaning back on her hands, she finally got her breathing under control.

"But seriously," Jamie said quietly, reaching over and resting his palm on her thigh, "you'll be careful, right? You'll come back?"

"Yeah." She turned her head to look at him, meeting his eyes through the darkness. "I will. We'll come back."

He squeezed her leg gently. "I'm holding you to that."

"I know."

She was going to do her damndest to see it through.

They sat in amicable silence and listened to the calm lap of water on the pilings until the hum of a motor grew louder.

Carson cut the engine about 15 feet out and floated the rest of the way in. He tossed a line to Jamie, who pulled the boat in close enough for Anna to scramble aboard. He handed the line back; Carson held onto the dock plants to keep them stationary.

Anna had the suspicion Jamie was trying not to look too closely at the glorified rowboat lest it spontaneously sink.

"For good luck?" Jamie asked, kneeling on the dock.

She tilted her head up and obliged him with a long, slow kiss.

Carson whistled lowly, eyebrows raised. "You got one of those for me?"

Jamie reached out to shake Carson's hand and instead pulled him closer in order to peck him on the cheek. Anna smiled widely; Carson pretended to swoon.