Chapter 250
Nita patted her stomach with a grin. “Heh, then I’m not worried at all. Nobody in this world can out-eat me.”
Effie laughed. They were here for the experience, after all. If Nita was that confident, might as well let her have a go.
Worst case, they could always try again.
Nita waded into the water and made her way to the starting spot. She replayed the coach’s demonstration in her mind: lie back in the water, feet up on the board, grab the tow rope, and pull herself up—
“Effie, look! I did it!”
But before she could finish boasting, she toppled straight into the water.
“Nita!”
Effie jumped in alarm, almost dropping her phone, and rushed over, ready to jump
in and drag Nita out.
Just then, Nita’s head bobbed up, sputtering. “I’m fine!”
Her face was as pale as a sheet, though she tried to act tough.
Effie looked at her with concern. “Are you sure you want to keep going?”
Nita answered, “Of course! Why wouldn’t I?”
She kept at it, wiping out again and again, never managing to stand up. Nita had swallowed so much water she was practically full.
So much for “picking it up in one go.” For her, it was more like “one lesson and I’m done for.”
She sprawled on the side of the boat, dry heaving.
The coach asked, “Had enough water yet?”
Nita blushed. “Halfway there.”
She looked sheepish. “Coach, could you maybe walk me through it again?”
If she’d known it would be like this, she wouldn’t have bragged so much earlier.
This time, Nita listened to the coach’s instructions with the utmost attention, and Effie stood by, paying close attention too.
“Got it?” the coach asked.
Nita gave a mock salute. “Tiny surfboard, easy as pie.”
Effie nodded, pretending she’d understood it all too.
But whether execution would be as easy as it sounded that was another matter.
At first, Nita still couldn’t get to her feet. But after several more tries, she managed to slowly pull herself upright by the rope.
Thrilled with her progress, she lost her grip on the rope and tumbled back into the water, swallowing another mouthful before being hauled back on board.
“Ugh…”
Effie burst out laughing. “Chumming the water for fish?”
Nita grinned weakly. “That’s right. Just grab a net later-you’re bound to scoop up a haul.”
The coach chuckled at their banter. “You two are a riot.”
Effie and Nita exchanged a look and laughed. “We’ve had plenty of practice,” they said.
Who would’ve thought? Back in school, they were always fighting for first place- rivals at first sight, and now thick as thieves.
“Effie, your turn!” Nita called.
Effie hesitated. “I’m a little nervous.”
“No way. You’ve laughed at me enough times. It’s only fair I get to laugh at you too.”
Nita nudged her toward the water.
She knew Effie actually wanted to try, just needed a little push.
Effie was anxious, but she recalled the coach’s instructions and decided to give it a shot.
Suddenly, there was a loud snort from nearby. Vinson Elliott couldn’t hold back his laughter. “Look at those two over there-they look like a pair of drenched puppies, butts in the air, swallowing half the lake.”
He’d been distracted by his phone and hadn’t realized he was talking about Effie and Nita.
But he quickly realized his mistake.
“Alright,” Lyman cut in suddenly, “let’s talk numbers. How much are you looking to invest?”
Randell’s lips curled in a satisfied smirk. He’d worked hard to get Lyman to this meeting-now, finally, his chance had come.