"Are in the big bag in the center," Effy pointed out, the small smile on her face widening as she looked over her shoulder, using her paddle to slowly ease them out further into the water, waiting for the moment when the bottom of the canoe would finally break away from the sand and hoping they hadn't packed the boat with too much to stay readily afloat. "The island's fucking magic, okay? I'm not going to head out without making sure that we can bob our way back." Although her tone was light and glib, there was truth to what Effy said— the last thing that any one of her friends and family on the island needed was for her to disappear, and not necessarily back to Bristol.

It wasn't enough to stop taking risks, but it was enough to encourage her to be smarter about which risks she chose.

"You can thank me later," she added, tone smug.