Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
JULES
The coral wall stretched before me like a living carpet, the vibrant hues pulsing with life.
I hovered, mesmerized by the delicate dance of fish darting in and out of branching corals and sponges.
A gentle tap on my shoulder drew my attention.
Eli pointed to a tiny crevice, his eyes crinkling behind his mask.
I squinted, trying to decipher what had caught his interest, but couldn’t see anything. I looked back at him and shrugged.
This time I could see his smile as he reached out a hand and rested it gently on the rock.
My breath froze in my lungs momentarily as an octopus slowly emerged from the crack in the reef, its tentacles unfurling in a graceful ballet.
I gasped, my exhaled bubbles racing to the surface as it reached out and gently stroked one arm across Eli’s still hand.
After probing for a long moment, it withdrew the leg and slid across the coral.
Eli reached his hand to mine, giving it a squeeze as we watched the octopus glide over the reef, changing color and texture as it went.
I was dumfounded. Both at the octopus’s display and the fact that Eli had spotted it in its hidey-hole.
The animal was a smooth brown, then as the coral color changed, it instantly developed mottled white nubs all over its body.
Eventually, the creature disappeared back within the reef, leaving Eli and me to drift on together, exploring this underwater world he’d shared with me.
As we finned along the coral wall, I marveled at the sheer verticality of it.
I’d always imagined coral reefs as sprawling underwater gardens like the one I’d seen on my check-out dive, but this was like a living skyscraper.
When I’d mentioned I wanted to go diving again, Eli had suggested taking Sunset Diver out to this spot, promising me a sight I’d never forget.
He wasn’t wrong. This dive was just the two of us, the late afternoon sun bathing the busy scene before us.
The wall stretched as far as I could see in either direction, disappearing into the misty blue depths below.
Every inch was covered in a riot of coral formations—delicate fans waving in the current, bulbous brain corals nestled in narrow valleys.
Eli tugged gently on my hand, guiding me along the wall.
We drifted through a school of creole wrasse, their bodies flashing a brilliant blue in the diffused light.
As we ascended slowly, careful not to rise too quickly, I felt a pang of regret that our dive was coming to an end. I was saddened that Lacey hadn’t finished the class and couldn’t experience what I was. But then again, I didn’t feel like sharing Eli right now. This special display was just for me.
After surfacing, I pulled my mask down around my neck and grinned. “That was incredible! I’ve never seen anything like it. That wall just went on and on.”
Eli’s laugh was infectious. “Just wait until you see where we’re headed next.”
As we climbed back into the boat, I sat next to him and patted the picnic packed inside an insulated cooler next to me. “I can’t wait. I never knew diving worked up such an appetite. It seems like you’re not working at all the whole time you’re down there.”
Eli started the engine and nodded. “It’s deceiving. Though in challenging conditions, you definitely feel it.”
“Guess you’ve earned those muscles.”
“Never needed to hit the gym. Work keeps me in shape.”
As we motored across the waves, I studied him. The way the saltwater beaded on his tanned skin, how his eyes lit up when he talked about the reef.
Eli shot a glance at me. “You planning on gawking at me all day, or are you ready for our next adventure?”
I laughed at getting caught. “I wasn’t gawking. I was… cataloging your features. For future reference.”
“Uh-huh. And how many did you find?”
“Oh, hundreds,” I deadpanned. “I may need to start a spreadsheet.”
His laughter carried on the wind as we sped across the waves. I closed my eyes, relishing the sun on my face and the salt spray on my skin.
The boat slowed, and I opened my eyes to a new paradise. A pristine white beach stretched before us, bordered by swaying palms. It was a tiny island that looked to be deserted. The water was so clear I could see fish darting beneath the surface.
“Welcome to Rumrunner Key,” Eli announced, guiding us to a wooden dock. “What do you think?”
I drank in the view. “It’s breathtaking. How did you find this place?”
“Dive shops come here sometimes for surface intervals, but it’s late enough in the day that we have it to ourselves. Our own private slice of paradise.”
After snugging up against the wooden dock, Eli helped me off. As we made our way down the dock, I studied the thick brush behind the palm trees. The island was flat but looked densely covered in foliage.
Eli pointed toward the tree line. “Want to see something cool?”
I squinted, following his gaze to a darker area. “Is that… a cabin?”
“Good eye, Verne.” He grinned. “Rumor has it, it’s got quite the history.”
My curiosity piqued, I moved toward the structure. “That sounds intriguing. What kind of history?”
Eli fell into step beside me, his shoulder brushing mine. “Oh, you know. Bootleggers, hidden treasure, star-crossed lovers—take your pick.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “You’re making that up.”
“Maybe,” he admitted with a laugh. “But isn’t it more fun to imagine?”
As we approached the cabin, I looked more closely. The old building spoke of time and the elements, its gray cypress planks bleached silver-gray by countless days of sun and salty air. The tin roof, rusted and pitted, sagged slightly in the middle, as if bearing the weight of untold stories.
A small porch jutted out from the front, its floorboards warped and uneven. The railing had long since collapsed. The wooden planks creaked under our feet as we stepped inside. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the walls, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air.
After taking in the dry interior, I glanced up at the beams stretching across the ceiling. “The roof is still holding.”
Eli nodded as he ran a foot over a large area rug that lay in the center of the room. “It’s still watertight, just a little musty.”
I took in the sparse furnishings arranged around the perimeter. “It’s like stepping back in time.”
He ran his hand along an old table. “I always wondered about the people who sat here, what stories they might’ve told.”
I turned to him, surprised by the wistfulness in his voice. “I didn’t peg you for a history buff.”
He shrugged. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Jules.”
That was a fair point. “You’re right. And I didn’t give you enough credit for what I did know.”
He shot me that adorable grin. “Well, I didn’t cover myself in glory where you were concerned, either. So let’s call it even.”
After nodding in agreement, I inhaled the dry air of the cabin. “You’re right, though. It does make you wonder who has been in this cabin and what they were trying to escape from.”
Eli moved back to the entry and opened the door, gesturing to me. “Maybe that’s an adventure for another day. Let’s get some fresh air before we get swallowed by the mystery of the past.”
“Good call. I’d prefer to avoid any ghostly encounters today.” I sent him a smile as I crossed the creaky floor.
As we emerged from the cabin’s shadowy interior, the brilliant sunshine momentarily dazzled my eyes.
The beach stretched before us, a pristine expanse of white sand that seemed to glow in the afternoon light.
A gentle breeze rustled through the palm fronds, carrying with it the salty tang of the ocean.
“You know,” Eli mused as he swept his gaze across the idyllic scene, “as intriguing as that old cabin is, it’d be a crime to waste this perfect weather cooped up inside.”
I nodded in agreement. “Agreed.”
He gestured to the boat. “Why don’t you pick out the spot while I grab the picnic stuff?”
I found a flat area near the trees that threw dappled shade over us as he quickly returned from the boat, cooler in his arms. We spread out a blanket on the sand, and I sighed in sheer happiness. The sun warmed my skin as Eli unpacked sandwiches and drinks.
“This is perfect,” I said before taking a bite of my sandwich.
Eli nudged my leg with his. “Yeah, doesn’t get much better than a great dive followed by a picnic on a perfect beach with my girl.”
As we ate, a sense of contentment washed over me.
The gentle lapping of waves, the rustling palms, the easy companionship—it was all so far removed from spreadsheets and bottom lines.
All something I never knew I was missing.
And all because my best friend wanted to get certified for an underwater wedding that wasn’t going to happen now.
I grinned at the irony, though the whole thing was Lacey to a tee. Which reminded me. “I had breakfast with Lacey yesterday at Sweet Dreams.”
“Oh yeah? How’s the bride-to-be?”
“She never changes.” I laughed, shaking my head fondly. “I swear, that girl could find a silver lining in a hurricane. But she was worried about me, if you can believe it.”
“About you?” His hand froze as he was lifting a chip to his mouth. “Why?”
I sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. “The venue change. She was convinced I was upset about it.”
“And were you?”
I leaned back, resting my hands on the blanket.
“Honestly? At first, maybe. But seeing the relief on her face when I assured her it was fine… It was like this weight just lifted.” I laughed, remembering the rest of our conversation.
“Even when the plan was for the underwater ceremony, I never actually canceled my bridesmaid dress order.”
Eli’s face filled with satisfaction. “That’s the Jules I know. Plan A and Plan B both in effect.”