20 Minute Trip to Put in Bay

I hate the water. I hate everything about it. The hidden dangers in the form of poisonous sea creatures, rip tides, pollution, seaweed fingers waiting to wrap around your ankle and pull you to Davy Jones' Locker. In fact, I can barely tolerate showering, and a bath is out of the question.

I wrap my arms around my stomach as I stare at the inky depths of Lake Erie. The wind picks up at that moment, making me wish I'd stayed home in my fuzzy socks and sweats. Instead, here I am, waiting on my boyfriend's brother to get here with his boat. Along with Jake and Pauly, Pauly's girlfriend Cassie and I are all going to their parents' house on Put-in-Bay for the weekend to celebrate their sister's upcoming nuptials. Pauly and Jake are groomsmen; Cassie and I are along for the ride.

The loud roar of a Cummins diesel engine tears me from my thoughts. I don't have to look to know Pauly has arrived with his Ram 3500 truck pulling his parents' sleek, ridiculously stupid looking Bertram boat. Or yacht. Whatever.

After grabbing our luggage, Jake sidles up beside me to wrap an arm around my shoulders. "The waters are smooth as glass, babe," he says. I cut my eyes to the lake in front of me. The white caps popping up say otherwise.

Jake kisses my temple then goes to help Pauly guide the boat into the water. My eyes travel the length of the pearl white exterior, secretly hoping the antenna perched on top of the cockpit is enough to tip it over. Five minutes later, no such luck.

With a heavy sigh, I pick up my waterproof weekender bag, heft it over my shoulder, and trudge alongside Cassie to the sturdy-looking concrete dock built by the rich, for the rich. My wet soles squeak as I cross the grooved surface, my stomach knotting with each step.

Cassie, with her perfect ponytail, hips, and legs on display in the shortest pair of shorts I'd ever seen, hoists her messenger bag over her shoulder, then tightens a plastic windbreaker around her head and body. She gives me a bright smile as she practically pirouettes onto the boat with the help of Jack.

Cassie and I get along great--she's like the sister I wasn't blessed enough to have, and certainly a much better bargain than Pauly--but at this moment I want to scratch her face for being so cheerful and unafraid.

Having parked, Pauly nudges me and sneers as he passes by. "Still afraid of the water, eh?"

What a stupid question, I think. One doesn't simply "get over" a fear of water.

I smile sardonically and shuffle toward the rear of the boat. White caps lick the starboard side and my vision blurs. I reach toward the nearest mooring post as my knees give out. It takes a full minute before I recover, by which time Jake has joined me.

"Thank you," I whisper. He kisses my temple and sweeps my legs, picking up me and my bag in one fell swoop. In a moment of panic I twist and push away, but Jake keeps a firm grip.

"I've got you, babe," he says over the wind. "Relax against me."

"Put me down! I'm too big!"

"That's insulting." He carries me onto the boat and ushers me toward the front. "You'll be better there," he says as he sets me down, tucking my bag into the storage bin beneath the cockpit floor.

"L-life vest," I stammer, my eyes squeezed shut, my arms wrapped tightly around his waist. He holds me for a minute, rubbing my back. A gesture that usually soothes my anxiety but this time makes it worse.

Pauly hands Jack a life vest and he helps me into it. I tug tightly on the straps even after Jack pulls them taut. It feels too loose. I tug it down and try to pull the straps tighter. They tighten a half inch more but it still feels too loose, while simultaneously causing me to feel as if I can't breathe.

I glance at Pauly and Cassie; the former wearing an irritated smile that doesn't reach his eyes, the latter looking at him like Taylor looks at Travis. I'm pretty sure literal hearts were coming out of her eyes. My stomach roils again.

"C'mon, babe." Jack gently guides me to the front of the boat, where I sit as close to the cockpit as I can. I hold onto the railing with white-knuckled fear, my eyes closing so tightly I can see stars.

I feel Jack sit next to me and place a reassuring hand on my thigh. If my eyes were open, I'm sure he'd have nodded toward the cockpit because a second later, the boat comes to life. I blanche and tighten my fingers even more.

"We're underway!" Pauly shouts triumphantly. I feel the boat putter forward, gently riding the water in the no wake zone. My stomach tumbles with each rocking motion, until Pauly gives it a little power and we're officially cruising the waters of Lake Erie.

What feels like an eternity, but is probably only three minutes later, we break through the no wake zone and Pauly punches it. The bow of the boat leaves the water then slams back down, causing my butt to rise and fall hard onto the waterproof cushion. I scream and tighten my grip further. Jack's hand instantly finds my thigh and gives it a squeeze.

His deep voice fills my ear. "I've got you, babe."

My arms ache to wrap around him, but I'm too afraid of letting go of the solid bars that wrap around the bow. My fingers scream in pain while my arms ache from the exertion. By my calculations, we have a full 10 minutes to go before reaching his parents' port. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

After another thirty seconds or so, the boat levels out and my grip loosens a fraction. My fingers have already grown numb, no doubt a combination of cold water in the early October air, and the strength with which they grip the metal bar.

The boat suddenly lurches, the shock sending me sprawling onto the floor.

Jack's voice roars over the sound of wind and water. He's yelling something to Pauly but the sudden rush of blood in my ears makes it hard to hear what he's saying. My forehead throbs and I gingerly reach up to touch it, my fingers protesting. No blood, but I'm sure I'll be sporting a goose egg soon.

I guess it's a good thing I'm not in the wedding party, I think stupidly.

Jack's strong arms help me up and settle me back onto the bench. He sits even closer, wedging me between him and the wall of the cockpit, then wraps an arm around my shoulders. I force my eyes open and peek up at him. Jack's face is twisted into an angry scowl while his brown eyes shoot daggers at Pauly. If looks could kill, Pauly would be dead. It makes me feel a little better.

Instead of gripping the bar this time, I wrap my arms around Jack, tucking my head beneath his chin. He pulls me closer and starts talking. I can't understand his words, but his voice and the low rumble from his chest are soothing. Somehow, I find myself relaxing against him.

Pauly suddenly cuts the engine, and like one controlled the other, Jack's voice suddenly stops. I squeeze him tightly and open one eye, hoping to see land. We're sitting in the middle of Lake Erie. A squeak bubbles out of me and I bury my face against Jack's shirt.

"Time for you two to get off this boat," Pauly sneers.

"Yeah, right," Jack says. "Stop playing, Pauly, and let's go."

Through the wind and waves, I hear the unmistakable sound of a gun being racked. My eyes fly open and my head twists around to see Pauly standing next to the cockpit, aiming a semi-automatic pistol at Jack and me.

Jack stands suddenly, shoving me down behind him.

"Pauly, what are you doing?!"

"I told you. It's time for you and your namby-pamby girlfriend to disembark."

"Why are you doing this?" he asks, his hands spread apart, in a slight surrender.

"Because-" he started. Cassie cut in with a shrill scream.

"Pauly, stop!"

"Shut up!" he hissed, slamming his hand against the windows of the cockpit next to her head. Her eyes grew large and she froze.

Pauly turned his attention back to Jack. "You and Trish are the perfect ones," Pauly started. "Trish always got the straight-A's, Dean's List, teacher's pet. You having the body of a Greek God, perfect job, your own house and car. Mom and Dad always preferred you two, and then, there's, Pauly." His voice took on a mocking tone.

"Now Trish is back in the spotlight with her wedding this weekend to the perfect CEO groom, and don't think I don't know that she wanted YOU," he jabbed the gun in Jack's direction, "to be the Best Man, but chose what's-his-name's cousin because it wouldn't be fair to me. I'm not stupid, Jacky.

"Now it's my turn. 'Oh, we hit a wave and the people who weren't safe in the cockpit accidentally flew overboard! Poor Pauly!' I'll get all the attention again! It's perfect!

"Now. Get. In. The. Water!" Pauly pointed the gun out toward the ocean and pulled the trigger.

The sound of the gun firing unleashes something deep within my soul and I leap up, screaming. Fear and anger combine, launching me up onto my feet. In one swift motion I step up on the bench, reach out, leap, and tackle Pauly. The gun fires again as we fall.

My arms are wrapped around him tightly as we plunge into the water. I hit my head against the side of the boat, or maybe Pauly swung the gun down, and an explosion of stars burst behind my eyes.

The icy splash of the water instantly breaks me out of my trance and I briefly realize how poorly thought out my attack was. A grip of panic seizes my entire body and I push away from Pauly, flailing. My foot connects with his stomach and my arms knock against his head, causing him to disappear beneath the water.

Somewhere behind me, Cassie screams.

After several long moments, I realize that a white and orange life saver is floating near my head. I stupidly glance around to see from where it's come and notice Jack on the side of the boat, gesturing to me to take the raft. His mouth is moving but I can't make sense of his words. I can't hear anything but my own heart beating erratically.

Finally, I gain enough sense to numbly hook my right arm around the side, and squeeze my eyes shut as Jack pulls me to the stern. His strong hands reach down and help me aboard where I collapse onto the floorboards, coughing, gasping, spitting up water.

Cassie is beside me a second later, putting a towel under my head and talking to me. I look up at her perfect mouth forming words that I can't hear. I think maybe I have a concussion.

I'm aware of the clouds overhead whipping by quickly and I think we're moving again. When the cold air hits my body seconds later, I know for sure we're heading to Put in Bay.

Jack holds my hand, almost painfully, but I don't mind. I close my eyes and slip into unconsciousness.