As time flowed by, their electric boat advanced steadily through the tranquil waters. Georgia's gaze wandered over the picturesque surroundings, and a sense of relaxation slowly enveloped her.
During this serene journey, words remained suspended in the air, unspoken. It wasn't until a while had passed that Jack, with a slight turn of his head, broke the silence, his voice carrying a hint of intrigue, "Would you like to give it a try?"
Georgia's attention shifted to the man as he took hold of the boat's steering wheel. Suddenly, her interest was piqued. "May I? Can I give it a shot?"
"Come closer," he beckoned.
Georgia carefully moved towards Jack's row. The boat's bow was relatively snug, and as she sidled up next to him, the space grew a tad cramped.
Observing her hesitant posture, Jack gently offered, "Give me your hand."
Georgia obediently complied, extending her hand toward him. His fingers enveloped hers, guiding her to grasp the steering wheel.
With patience, Jack instructed, "Step here, left is reverse, right is forward, release to stop. Do you understand?"
Georgia mentally echoed his words, nodded, and gingerly pressed on the accelerator. The boat responded promptly, accelerating and surging forward.
His voice resonated in her ear, "That's it, you've got it. Now, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel."
Their proximity amplified the intimacy of the moment. Georgia could feel the warmth of his breath brushing against her ear, and her cheeks involuntarily blushed.
Jack turned his gaze to the woman beside him, his voice tender as he called her name, "Georgia."
Earlier, by the lakeside, he had strategically arranged their groupings based on yesterday's to ensure her safety and create an opportunity for them to be alone. He had something important to convey.
Georgia maintained her focus on steering the boat, her curiosity aroused. "Yes, what is it?"
"If one day I require your assistance, will you stand by me?" He asked, his tone grave and sincere.
Taken aback for a moment, Georgia quickly nodded with determination, her voice resolute, "Absolutely!"
His expression softened with relief, and he continued in a deep voice, "In fact, I need your help now..."
Suddenly, the boat's bow veered off course and collided with the nearby reeds. Before he could complete his sentence, a sense of urgency gripped him. In a swift reaction, he reached out, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
The wheel was brought back into alignment, but the boat rocked violently. Due to the sudden maneuver, Georgia's body swayed and bumped into Jack.
A loud "thud" resonated through the air, and Georgia was momentarily stunned. After a couple of seconds, she realized the boat had abruptly changed direction. Something had gone wrong!
"I... I'm sorry," she stammered out an apology, her eyes darting between the damaged steering wheel and Jack's furrowed brow.
"What happened?" she inquired, concerned. Recollecting the recent collision, she turned to examine the iron railing beside the boat, then back to Jack. "Did you hit your head? Let me take a look."
However, Jack swiftly evaded her touch, his voice remaining steady, though tinged with a hint of annoyance, "I'm fine."
It became apparent to him that today was not the right moment to reveal the truth.
Georgia chastised herself silently, realizing her mistake. Just then, another boat approached. It was Dadong and another male colleague. They let out a boisterous whistle and waved a red flag in their direction.
Seeing them, Georgia suddenly remembered that they were still in the middle of the race. Despite being in the lead, they had forgotten to collect a small red flag hanging from Dadong's boat!