"Hey, they snooze they lose," he said, tugging on my ponytail before he grabbed a third cookie.
"Ooh, cookies," John said, spotting the tray of cookies. "Please tell me these are Grace's famous double chocolate chips," he said, grabbing several.
Before I could answer him, everyone crowded around the tray making a mad grab and within seconds, only crumbs remained.
"Hey, I didn't get any," I complained loudly, watching all the delicious chocolate walking away.
"That's why I always make a triple batch," Grace said laughing, coming up behind me with a second overflowing tray in one hand a stack of plastic cups in the other. Thomas brought up the rear, carrying an oversized glass jug of ice cold lemonade with fresh lemon slices floating on the top.
"Here," she said, handing me several cookies.
"Thanks," I said taking a bite out of one of them. "Oh my God, Grace, these are fantastic," I said, savoring the mouthwatering bite in my mouth. I sat down in one of the padded chairs across from Grace.
"I know, right. It's a good thing we train so much or Thomas and I would be huge," she said, laughing as she helped herself to several of her own delicious creations.
Grace's sweet nature and easy laughter took my mind off my worries, and by the time Haniel returned for our afternoon training session I was ready to tackle it head on.
"How was it at your mom's?" Mark asked as we walked on the beach later that night with Sam and Shawn. Having the other bands here was cool, but the crowded space had us seeking refuge in our nightly strolls.
"The same," I said, sighing deeply. "I had to send Haniel over there."
"Really?" he asked, knowing my feelings on the issue.
"I just couldn’t see any other way. She was harping heavily on the time I'm spending here. I was afraid that an ultimatum wasn't far behind."
"I'm sorry babe. I know you hate deceiving her like that," he said, dropping a kiss on my brow. "I wish I could send you away to some place safe. It seems like every time I turn around your life is in jeopardy."
"Such is the life of a Guide," I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Having no comment, he wrapped his arm around me as we continued to trail Sam and Shawn along the tide line. I could hear their easy laughter ahead of us and smiled at their antics as Shawn threatened to throw a squealing Sam into the churning waves.
"Hey guys, up for some more company?" Lynn asked as she and Robert joined us.
"Sure," I said, pleased that my whole group was together again.
"My sister's something else, isn’t she?" Robert asked with obvious affection, watching her scoop up handfuls of water in her hands to throw at Shawn.
"She sure is," I said, jogging away to assist my friend in her quest to drench my brother. Kicking off my flip-flops, I snuck up behind him swallowing a gasp as the cold water lapped over my bare feet. I kicked the top of the water with my toes sending a spray up Shawn's t-shirt-clad back. The cascade of water hit its mark dead-on, drenching Shawn's entire backside.
"What the hell?" Shawn asked, yelping when the cold spray hit him full force. Turning toward me, he slowly stalked me. "Oh, I get it. You choose your BFF over your own blood," he said in mock anger.
Backing up through the water, I turned to flee a moment before he reached me, counting on my extra speed abilities to carry me a safe distance, away. What I wasn't counting on was Robert and Mark joining forces with Shawn. Darting to the left, I tried to pass around Robert's outstretched arms. Misjudging the distance however, I tripped over his foot, as his hands made a grab for me, sending me tumbling into the ice-cold water head first. An unexpected wave tossed and turned me as I tried to break through to the surface. The force of the wave pressed my face into the rough sand. Gasping for a breath that wasn’t water-filled, I sat in the chilly water shivering from the cold.
"Oh, Krista, I am so sorry," Robert said mortified as water dripped into my eyes. He reached a hand out to help me up.
Using the uneven ground to my advantage, I pulled Robert down with me. Lynn and Sam whooped with laughter as Robert came up swearing from the cold water.
"Soorrrrrrrrryy, I cccoouldn't resssist," I said between giggles and my chattering teeth. Using each other for support, we staggered out of the freezing ocean with our water-laden clothes hampering our movements. "Wooooowww, thaaaat wattttter is freeezzingg," I said through chattering lips as we finally joined our laughing friends on the safety of the dry sand.
"See Sis, you mess with the bull, you get the horns," Shawn joked.
"Haha veeerry funnnny," I said as my teeth clattered together painfully. A breeze off the water blew across my already chilled body, making my skin take on a light blue shade.
Robert swore again as the same breeze hit him. "Holy flipping cow, how the Hell do people actually surf in that?" He said, with his own teeth chattering slightly.
"It's called a wetsuit, man," Shawn said chuckling.
"Har har," Robert said, shaking his wet head in Shawn's direction, sending droplets of icy cold water flying in all directions.