Swipe Right

Chapter 10: Loose Lips Sink Ships

Loch pulled her kayak to the launch and gestured for the boys to do the same.

“I can help you with that.” Holden said dragging his behind him. Lochlyn rolled her eyes and laughed.

“That’s real kind of you Holden but I’ve been dragging my own since I was 6.” She informed him. “Alright get in and I’ll help you launch and then we’ll go out.” She said pointing towards the shallow water. All the boys gave her a concerned look. As if she, some weak female was going to be helping them.

Three of the group started off immediately, it looked like they weren’t lying when they said they had done this before. Loch didn’t bother to explain but just helped the one guy who seemed to have never been in a yak in his life. “Just stay in your kayak and you’ll be okay.” She told him with a smiled. He nodded and put his paddle in the water.

“Alright push off.” She said showing him how to dig and push off the bottom with his paddle. She wished she had remembered to get all the guys names but it was too late at this point. Maybe they had said it and she had been too busy thinking about John to even let them sink in.

She got in her own kayak and went out to meet them. The bay was calm today since there was little wind. It would be a nice trip.

“Don’t tell anyone but we’re going off book.” She said sending Holden a wink.

Lochlyn started to paddle towards the iron ships that had been intentionally sank out in the bay to create the beach. It helped block the waves and made sure the sand collected instead of dragged back into the Chesapeake.

“Dude we’re going there?” One of the blonde haired guys asked as he paddled up next to her.

“It’ll get a bit rougher since we’re getting closer to them. Is that alright with you all?” She asked looking back at the other three. They all nodded.

“So tide looks good we’re going to get close and if we’re lucky we’ll be able to go inside.” She smiled and started to paddle to the furthest ship. The salty bay water splashed up against the side of her kayak spilling into her lap. It was still a bit chilly and as the summer went on the warmer the water would get. Lochlyn loved the thrill of paddling out towards the boats. Of course it was not approved or probably legal and definitely against all of the guidelines especially when taking a tour but she was pretty sure that this group was going to enjoy it.

She beat the boys to the ship and turned her kayak around to make sure they weren’t too far behind. They were staggered. She was sure it was Holden in the front of the pack with the blonde near him. She should have stayed in the back to make sure they were okay but they had told her that they were proficient swimmers and all but one supposedly kayaked before. They signed the waivers.

She watched them for a minute before dipping her hand in the water and smiling wide. It was a beautiful day for a swim. She was glad that Holden had come in when he did. She loved being able to be out in the bay. Once all the boys caught up she moved them to the opening.

“Tides low enough so we’re going to go in. Just be careful.” She told them and showed them how to slip through the hole of the ship. She got through and then moved so all four of them could make their way through as well. They started to explore the ship going through all the different crevasses. They looked mesmerized which was what she was hoping for.

One of the guys pulled out his phone and started to record. She was sure it would happen and as long as they didn’t get her in it she didn’t care. When he put his phone down, she told him just that.

“Kyle knows how to keep things on the downlow don’t you Kyle?” Holden said laughing at his friend. Kyle nodded and held up two fingers like a boy scout.

“Scout’s honor.” He promised before winking at her. Why did all of AJ’s friends just exude stupid male confidence. It made her feel like she was dealing with 12 year olds and not 18-20 year olds.  

They spent the next house exploring and going around the barrier ships. Her timer went off on her watch and she waved to them.

“Guys it’s time to get back.” She called out. Lochlyn was a bit nervous tide had come in a little bit making it a bit more difficult to exit but it should be okay.

One…two…three… She said to herself as she counted her group and then stopped. Where was what’s his name…Kyle. She frowned and paddled around.

“Guy’s look!” The voice was coming from above. Lochlyn’s heart jumped. No no. She paddled to the back where there was some places that people had stood and Kyle was up there smiling at her with his phone out. Well s**t. She thought groaning.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay in your kayak.” She told him giving him a stern look. She could hear the three guys on the other side of the iron ship.

“Lochlyn you better hurry we barely got out of that opening.” Holden called out over the wind.

“Kyle where is your kayak?” She paddled towards him looking around. What did this i***t do? Kyle looked down and frowned.

“I left it right there.” He pointed to an empty patch of water and Lochlyn groaned more.

“Right okay come on down. I’m going to get you on mine.” She said with a huff. Kyle frowned and started to climb down. “Please be careful.” She shouted at him as he slipped. This was why you didn’t bring idiots to the ships.

She would learn her lesson this time. Lochlyn pulled herself onto the small patch of ship trying to make sure she didn’t scratch herself.

“Shit.” Kyle cursed and slipped again this time he couldn’t catch himself. He fell hitting himself on the ship before going under the water. Well really double dammit. Lochlyn cursed and dived into the water after him. It wasn’t hard to find him. His life vest brought him back up to the top of the water. The hardest part was going to be getting him into the kayak and out without also being in the kayak. She was able to half prop him on the part of the ship he used to climb up on. His eyes were fluttering and he was coughing which meant he was at least alive. Lochlyn turned him on his side as he got all the water out of his lungs.

“I’m sorry.” He said through his coughing. Kyle closed his eyes again. Well at least she didn’t get someone killed yet.

“Lochlyn!” A terrified voiced called out. She was sure it one of the other guys in the group.

“We saw him fall what happened!” Another voiced called out.

“Kyle’s hurt, i***t hit his head. Can someone come back in?” She yelled out hoping they’d be quick about it.

“I’m here.” Holden yelled out from not far away. “I started when I saw that idiot.” He sighed and paddled over.

“I don’t know how to help.” He said placing his paddle in it’s lock.

Lochlyn was treading water while still holding Kyle on the ship.

“I’m going to bring him back in the water and over to you. You’re going to push down on his life vest and we’re going to pop him into the kayak.” She said.  This would work…right?

Lochlyn grabbed the rope attached to her kayak and threw it at Holden. “Pull it to you.” She said while she checked Kyle real quick shaking him a little bit.

“Kyle this will be easier if you’re awake.” She said to him getting his eyes to open. He blinked at her.

“I’m okay.” He said closing his eyes again. Well that was obviously a lie.

“Just try to stay awake okay?” She said sighing and pulling him over to the water. She wasn’t sure how this would work but she was hopeful. She slipped him in the water and with Holden’s help pushed Kyle down and used the energy of the life jacket to shove him into the kayak. She climbed in and pulled him into the best possible position.

“Alright we need to go.” She said adjusting her weight. Holden nodded at her and they made their way out of the inside of the ship. It was just high enough that with some bending she slid through it and into the open water. It took a lot more to paddle the both of them back.

“You.” She pointed to the blonde. “Paddle back and get them to call and ambulance now.” She yelled at him. The guy nodded and started to paddle towards shore. It was going to take her a bit longer, but Holden stayed by her side.

“Can we please switch?” He asked again. She shook her head.

“I’m sure you’re mighty strong but no.” Lochlyn gave him a look and after what seemed like forever, they made it to shore. Of course, by the time the made it there the a crowd had formed.

Lochlyn saw George who was a volunteer for the fire company. He was an EMT but obviously not working today. When she got close enough he was in the water helping her get Kyle out of the kayak.

“What happened.” He asked looking Kyle over.

“He fell and hit his head before hitting the water at like 15 feet.” She told him. George didn’t even bother asking her why or how he fell he just nodded and carried him with Holden’s help to the picnic table that was along the shoreline.

“Bus will be here in 2 minutes.” He said looking over at the road the ambulance was sure to come from.

He started to check his vitals and it took all Lochlyn had to get out of the kayak and follow them to the bench.

As they were standing there Kyle started to really wake up and talk more. Lochlyn heard George ask him his name and all those questions. She plopped down on the pavement and watched as the ambulance pulled up.

“I’m okay.” She heard Kyle insist. It didn’t work seeing as Kyle was loaded into the ambulance with Holden going in with him. The other two guys she hadn’t seen since she arrived on the shore.

Lochlyn closed her eyes and laid down letting the sun dry her off. She was so going to be in trouble for this. “I really hope he doesn’t die.” She said mostly to herself sighing.