She was relentless. And she was right. My back was already starting to ache from the tension. I slowly extended my legs and rested my boots on the edge of the dock. It felt instantly better, but I kept my arms locked across my chest.
"Arms down," she ordered, without even turning the page. "You're blocking the sun."
I glared at the back of her head, but she was ignoring me. I let my arms drop, resting them along the sides of the chair. It felt stupid and exposed.
"Better," she murmured. "Now, close your eyes for five minutes. Seriously. Just five minutes of quiet, or I'm going to start talking about my college essays."
That was the only threat that got to me. I closed my eyes.
The silence was huge. I could hear the tiny waves, the sound of a bird far away, and the subtle sound of pape
