Chapter 4
Brad
I couldn’t believemy luck. Seeing her standing there, looking a bit lost and confused. My shit morning was finally turning around. After waking up feeling like a freight train steamrolled my ass, I decided to go catch some early sunrise waves.
But there weren’t any. Surfing always cheers me up yet the sea was calm and did nothing for my mood instead. I paddled back after an hour feeling more irritated than when I arrived.
A warm shower and breakfast didn’t help my mood much and I almost skipped out on snorkeling. What I wanted to do was go back to hiding in my room. Why leave if it doesn’t help? But I knew that was the wrong choice.
So, I dragged my ass down the beach to the snorkel shack. I didn’t think I’d see her again nor did I think about what I’d do if I did, but there she was. Plan or not.
I couldn’t help but offer her assistance. I’ve been snorkeling before, several times actually, and I figured why not help the girl out?
Now as we practice putting on the gear and adjusting it to our face, I look over and notice her struggling. She’s bent over at the waist and moving up and down like she’s fighting with something.
“Zara? You okay?” I ask and she jerks upright and whips around. I can’t help but chuckle as she points to the mask, only half of it over her head. She yanks at it but nothing.
“How the hell did you get stuck in the damn mask?” I laugh as I loosen the strap on the side and easily slide it off her.
Her face is bright red, and I can’t tell if she’s laughing or crying until finally, I hear the loud giggles which only makes me laugh harder.
“It’s okay, you tried.” I watch her fix her messed up ponytail while she still giggles hysterically.
“Oh my God!” Zara gasps as she places her hands on her cheeks. “How fucking embarrassing. I think I’m done here.”
“No, you’re not getting off that easy. You just needed to loosen the straps. Here, let me show you.” I show her how to pull it tighter or extend it and help her size it comfortably to her head. “How does that feel?”
The mask is now snug on her face, her eyes and nose covered. The snorkel piece dangles on the side. I pick up my mask and slide it on. I grasp the snorkel. “Now this bottom piece fits all the way inside your mouth. You keep the very top out of the water, and boom, done.”
“All the way inside my mouth, huh?” She grins.
“Oh yeah baby.” I smirk.
Her grin widens. I love this playful side of her. She must be feeling more at ease, and I hope I’m the cause.
As much as the annoying nagging voice in my head wants to be heard, wants to tell me I shouldn’t be spending time with her, that I’m stupid and only asking for trouble, but I block it out. I don’t fucking care anymore what I should be doing. It never got me anywhere I wanted to be. So why?
Why can’t I just do what makes me happy? Isn’t that the entire point of life anyway?
“Okay, this isn’t as bad as I thought.” Zara says.
“Yep. It’s much easier to do than say scuba diving.”
“Have you gone scuba diving?”
I nod. “I’ve done pretty much everything there is to do at a beach. But I have yet to swim with the dolphins. So, I’m kinda stoked about that one.”
“I bet it’ll be amazing.” Zara says.
We store our belongings in a locker rental inside the shack. When Zara walks over to me in only her bikini, I try hard not to run my eyes over her near naked body, but it’s damn near impossible.
I beg my dick to behave. Now is not the time to spring up in a pair of swim trunks where it’s hard as hell to disguise. Keeping my eyes forward, we hand in our paperwork and walk onto the dock.
“Alright, folks. We’re going to walk a little way down the beach to the coral reef. That’s the best spot to see all kinds of fish and other ocean creatures. You have two hours with the snorkeling gear. Feel free to go anywhere between the dock here and where we begin at the reef. Any problems, let us know right away. Have fun and stay safe.” The instructor announces before we make our way to the reef.
Wanting to keep the mood light, I crack my best dad jokes. I might not be a dad yet, but lame jokes are one of my specialties.
“Don’t quit your day job.” Zara says between giggles.
“But you’re laughing, aren’t you?”
“Yes, at how corny these jokes are.”
“Doesn’t matter.” I wink at her, and she smiles up at me, her beautiful eyes shining in the morning sun. I notice a few freckles along her nose and the urge to kiss them hits me out of nowhere.
“Just out past the jetty, the reef begins and extends further out. Please don’t go past the buoys we have set up. The water only gets deeper from there and your visibility goes way down. Also remember, as far out you swim, you’ll have to swim that far back.”
“Shit, I didn’t think about how far I’d go out.” Zara says as she stares out at the ocean.
“You don’t have to. There’s plenty to see in the shallower water. Come on, I’ll show you.” I take her hand in mine. She pulls back but then quickly changes course and intertwines her fingers with mine.
It’s instant heat as soon as our skin touches.
I tell myself it’s nothing.
But I know I’m lying.
It’s everything.
* * *
I’ve always been asucker for love. While I was crushing on girls, my friends were playing in the dirt. They’d tease me I was a lovesick puppy, or I was girl crazy. When we became teenagers, they swore I’d be a womanizer or a player.
But nope. I wanted the romance. The flowers and chocolates. The hugs and kisses. The hand holding and sneaky looks. I was a one-woman kinda guy and always will be.
Then life happened. And my foundation was rocked. I found out some hard truths about love.
I thought that part of me was lost forever.
Until I laid eyes on Zara.
I want it all with her. The flowers, the chocolate, the hugs and kisses.
Maybe it still is somewhere deep inside me. That’s something I need to figure out on my own.
As we swim and snorkel together, she keeps her hand in mine until she feels comfortable enough to swim on her own. Soon she’s drifting further from me and pointing out fish she wants me to see. We spot a couple of sting rays and a few jellyfish. We swim back towards the dock, exploring every part of the reef along the path.
The two hours pass by in a blink of an eye. When we reach the dock, we use the ladder to climb out of the water. Both of us sit on the edge and I dangle my feet over the side while she crosses her legs. The snorkel and goggles come off next and I let out a loud puff of air. “That was a good time.”
“It was...wow. Better than I expected.”
“Not as hard as you thought?”
“That and I saw so much ocean life. Like being at the aquarium but actually in the water. Unreal.”
“Breathtaking, honestly. I’ve loved the ocean since I was a little boy. Probably because I spent most of my childhood at the beach, but I find it so fascinating. So much of it unexplored, so massive and powerful. Pretty mind-blowing stuff.”
Zara’s watching me with a curious look on her face, a playful smile on her lips. Her hair is slicked back and damp yet already drying in the hot Florida sun. Her skin glistens in the sun, color visible on her face, arms, and chest.
“I love that.”
I chuckle. “Love what?”
Zara shrugs and sits up straighter. “It must be the teacher in me, but I love learning and sharing fun information, especially about our world and the ocean. God, I sound like such a geek right now.” She covers her face with her hands, but I can tell she’s laughing.
I remove her hands from her face, a bold move, but I want to see her. Her stunning eyes, so easy to lose myself in...
“No reason to hide. I love nerdy shit, too. What grade do you teach?”
“Kindergarten. Their minds are like little sponges. Their curiosity is endless. And it’s fun.”
Fuck, this girl. What is she doing to me? I love the way she makes me feel. Like my old self again. It’s crazy to think...but could I possibly be falling for her?
I swallow hard as my thoughts click into place.
I want her to be mine.
“Please everyone, begin returning your gear inside. We need to mark off your name and check you out. Thank you and we hope you come again.” The instructor from earlier says and I rise to my feet. I hold a hand out to Zara and help her to her feet.
“What are you up to for the rest of the day?” I ask her. We’re now standing on the beach, outside the shack, after having returned our gear and gathered our own things.
She’s back in her sundress with her hair in a messy bun on top of her head. “No plans. Since it’s only ten am, I think I’ll just lay on the beach.”
“Would you mind some company?” The question is out before I have a chance to stop myself. But the last thing I want is for her to walk away.
Besides, my day is clear so why not lay out with her? What’s the harm in that?
You should walk away before things get too complicated.
But isn’t it already a little too late for that?
“Not at all.” She smiles and nods towards the beach. “Let’s go.”