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“Okay, We’re going push off into the water on the count of- HEY!”
The cold water envelopes me and a spray of bubbles float back up to the surface. Andie jumps in next to me, rolling her eyes before she gives me a thumbs up. I return it and she motions for me to follow her.
I stay close to her for the next hour as we swim around the boat. We don’t go down too deep and I know that Andie is being cautious and trying to get me used to the equipment and swimming with it on before we dive deeper. I watch as she cuts through the water, her long, lithe body on display in her tight wetsuit. She swims like a fish or a mermaid, I think with a smile.
We swim past a few schools of fish and even some turtles before we head back to the boat. Andie climbs up first before she helps pull me off. I take off my fins and set them next to Andie’s as she helps me remove my tank. She sets the tank aside and then she calls my name.
I look to where she’s pointing and see a dolphin. He swims up along the boat, his fin dipping back down below the water before he swims back to his group. Andie is smiling and she looks like a goddess, her black hair tied up into a wet bun and a smile in her tan face as she watches the dolphins swim away.
I don’t know what comes over me, but the next thing I know, I’m cradling her face in my hands as our lips meet.
6
Andie
His lips meetmine and I gasp, shocked that he initiated anything. His mouth is soft and warm beneath mine and I find myself leaning into him, my hands resting on his chest. I nibble on his bottom lip, smoothing my tongue over the swell of his top lip and he moans.
The sound pulls me from getting completely lost in Owen and I jerk away from him, backing up a few steps so that there’s distance between us. My body wants to mold to his and I take an extra step back, trying to get myself under control.
“I’m sorry, Andie. I just- I, um, I was just excited,” he says and I can see a blush staining his cheeks.Why does that make him cuter to me?
“It’s fine,” I tell him, clearing my throat and moving to take care of the equipment.
He comes and helps me and soon we have everything stowed for our ride back to the marina. We’re silent as I steer us back to the dock but it’s not uncomfortable. Owen looks out over the ocean, his usual smile on his lips. He did really well today, especially for a beginner and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like exploring and swimming with him. He was so excited about every little thing and it made me realize that I’ve lost that excitement somewhere along the way.
I’ve been stuck in a rut lately, just going through the motions. I don’t know when I lost that wonder and excitement for the ocean but one day with Owen and I feel like I’m starting to get it back. It was cool to see everything through his eyes. He told me this morning over breakfast that he had never seen the ocean before and a little about growing up in Santa Fe.
“Let me take you out to dinner tonight,” Owen says as we pull up to the dock and he helps me tie up the boat.
“You don’t have to do that,” I try to tell him but before I can finish my sentence, he’s grabbing my hand and dragging me after him down the dock.
“I want to,” he says as we head out of the marina and down the sidewalk toward the main strip.
Owen sees some seafood restaurant on the other side of the street and he grips my hand tighter, starting to jog as we cross the road. I grin and laugh as he drags me through traffic before the light can change. He opens the door for me, both of us out of breath and grinning like lunatics at the other.
It’s still early so the place is mostly deserted but I’m starving. Swimming really works up an appetite and my stomach growls as we look over the menu. The restaurant is pretty kitschy with old fishing nets and fish on the walls. The food smells good though and when the waitress comes over, we both order water and the seafood platter.
“So tell me more about you,” Owen says, resting his elbows on the table.
He knocks his silverware off the table and I grin as he bends to pick it up. His clumsiness is starting to grow on me.
“What about me?”
“Where are you from? How did you wind up teaching scuba diving lessons? Do you like living on your boat? What’s your family like? Any brothers or sisters? What-”
“Whoa! Okay, slow down,” I say with a smile. He grins back at me and I try to ignore the way that makes me feel as I think back to what his questions had been.
“I’m from all over but I was born in Virginia. No brothers or sisters. My dad was in the Coast Guard so we moved around quite a bit. He teaches the cadets now. He’s the one who taught me about diving and I’ve always loved the ocean and being in the water. It was kind of a no brainer for me to teach others.”
“What about your mom? What does she do?” He asks, smiling as our waitress brings over our waters.
I clear my throat, taking a big drink of water before I answer his question.
“She passed away a few years ago,” I say quietly.
“I’m sorry,” he says and I can see he genuinely means it.
“Thanks.”
