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"I'm stealing it." I press my palms against her board, push myself enough to plant a kiss on her lips.
She tastes good. Like salt and sunscreen and Iris.
A wave breaks and crashes into the sand. "You ready?"
"Yeah."
"I'll tell you when." The next wave isn't big enough. I watch it crest, break, pound the sand. There. The next. Almost. "Now." I push her in the right direction.
She starts paddling.
And just keeps paddling.
She rides the wave all the way to the sand, but she's on her stomach the whole time.
Reasonable for a first attempt. Fuck knows it took me forever to actually get on my feet.
I swim out to meet her, help her bring the board back.
She climbs on. Shoots me a sheepish expression. "I chickened out."
"It takes time to get comfortable."
"Yeah. A long time."
A long fucking time. "Go for it when you're ready."
"No. I want to be ready. Now."
"There's no secret. You just have to do it."
She nods with understanding. Presses herself into sphinx position. Looks me in the eyes. "What do you think you're going to do about your sister?"
"I don't know."
"It's tough."
"You can still walk, you know."
"I know. I don't want to."
"You don't think I'm pathetic?"
"No."
"Merciless?"
"No. I get it. You do cut her off, she dies. You try to help, she might take you with her. And if your parents aren't following through on their threats…" Her voice gets low. Soft. "How can anyone choose between those options?"
"What would you do?"
"Honestly?"
"Yeah."
She presses her index finger into her thumb. Stares at her purple nails. "I'd give her one chance then cut her off."
"Forever?"
