Page 57 of Famous for a Living

It’s both startling and amusing, watching Peggy thrash and yell, “Don’t splash so much, Lilly, you’ll ruin my curls!” Jax and Zaiah struggle to hold on to the buoys while dragging her along, and for a full thirty seconds my body fights between wanting to laugh and wanting to hightail it as fast as I can to the car.

Their heads and shoulders are the only things visible above the inky waters, not even a hint of visibility of Peggy’s veiny legs or the mildly impressive six-pack Jax was so keen to show off earlier.

By the time Jax has hopped out and is pulling Peggy up while Zaiah bobs in the water, helping from behind, I’ve decided running away is the best option here.

“You’re up, roomie.” Mina holds her hand out as though chauffeuring me to my limo instead of what it really is: the solo jump into black-water-above-haunted-town death.

I stare at the lapping water. Hear the hum of chatter of those in line behind me. Feel their eyes on me. The impatient, get-on-with-it stares.

I can do this.

An eighty-year-old with a cane just did this.

I can do this.

“C’mon, Cat!” Jax yells from the other side. His call is good-natured as he dances in place left-to-right, water dripping off his shivering body.

My eyes shift from him back to the water.

I know I can do this.

I want to do this.

I blink over to the group, all in their T-shirts, cheering me on. Welcoming me into their circle, into their world. Wanting me to share in their unity, their joy. Choosing me.

I want this.

I just . . . have to . . .

Despite the cold covering my body, stinging heat is radiating off my neck, cheeks, palms.

Everybody is watching me.

Oh, I can’t. I can’t.

My fingers curl into fists as I realize this is really happening. This really is going to be how it goes down.

Cat Cranwell failing again. Cat Cranwell so truly incapable of anything besides a lifetime of sitting there looking pretty.

“I’ll do it.”

I look up to see Zaiah striding toward me, barefoot over the ice. Water drips from his beard as he walks, eyes on me.

There’s a question in my own eyes as I look from him to Mina, to the group, then back again. Do what? What is he trying to do?

“I’m already wet. I’ll take the newbie.”

As he steps up to me, it’s not me he’s looking at but Mina. “You can take the next one.”

“Next one? What—?” I begin, but before I can finish asking he turns me by the shoulder to face the water. “First-timers’ protocol. Our way of making sure you don’t die. Ready?”

I look at the water. “Well, I—”

“Twenty seconds and then it’s done. Get set—”

“Well, hang on—” I begin, then feel his hand grip mine.

“Go.”