Free Rising Tides by Maria Rachel Hooley Page A

keeping us at the right angle to the wind.”
    “How long have you been sailing?” I asked, gripping the stick tightly as though I were afraid the boat would  take off.
    “Four years.”  Tyler touched my hand, stroking gently.  “Loosen up.  This boat isn’t going anywhere.”
    “Then why am I steering?”
    He rolled his eyes.  “Okay, this boat isn’t going anywhere you don’t want it to go.”
    “Fair enough.”  I peered at his neck, searching for the leather strap he usually wore.
    After a few seconds of feeling my gaze, he finally said, “What are you looking at?”  He leveled his eyes and smiled at me.  “You should be paying attention to where we’re going.”  He patted my knee.
    “I was just wondering if you were wearing the sand dollar.”
    His shoulders sti