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I didn’t feel equipped enough to stand. The boat was swaying quite strongly, matching that of my stomach.
“What. Type. Of whale?” I kept my focus on him – tight sinewy muscles beneath the golden tan and whisps of dark hair on his well-defined calves. His polo shirt had rippled in the breeze as he drove and because he wasn’t wearing a life jacket, every so often I had a sneak peek of abs of steel.
“Pacific Grey. It’s what I’ve studied all my life. They migrate along the coast to Baja, California in the fall, and they return in the spring as they head up to Alaska.”
“And you’ve named them?” It seemed like such a silly thing to do but was something else to focus on. Hearing his voice over the waves smacking against the boat was like a life vest in and of itself.
“The bay area has identified over 200 Pacific Greys, and there’s a binder full of tail shots. The most popular ones, like Duke, are easier to spot. If we’re really lucky, we’ll also see humpback whales and orcas. It’s the big trifecta to see all three on a tour.”
“It doesn’t happen very often?”
The boat tipped from side to side as we floated along.
“Not as much as I’d like. It would be great for business if it did.” He rose from his knees on the seat and stood, twisting side to side. “The greys don’t breach quite so dramatically like the humpbacks do, but they’re still a sight to see. Come look.”
“Can I see them from here?”
He lowered the binoculars as he looked at me. “No.”
Hesitantly, I stood, balancing myself between his seat and mine, one hand in an intense death grip on the top of his seat, the other ready to latch onto any part of his body. “Where?”
He pointed and sure enough, along the horizon, something dark bobbed in the water.
“Is that? Was that a whale?” I was horrible at judging distances, but it seemed pretty close, but not near the boat close.
“Sure is. It’s spy-hopping – when it pokes above the water to see what’s going on. There must be a few of them around.” His voice pitched slightly.
“Is that dangerous?”
“Not at all. If they get closer, we’ll keep the boat powered off as we don’t want to frighten them. They are amazingly friendly and curious creatures.”
I’d take his word on that, and I sat back down, wrapping my fingers around the edge of the seat as Landon started the boat up and we motored along at a much slower pace.
He picked up the radio and clicked. “Ales, you there?”
“Roger.”
“Pod sighted.” He tapped on a screen and read out the location. “Slow as you approach.”
“Roger that. On our way.”
In the distance, a low hum circulated in the air, likely from the other approaching boat.
We rocked in the ocean, tipping from one side to the other, and each dip was met with a lift.
My stomach wasn’t going to hold out. “I’m going to be sick.”
I launched to the edge of the boat, holding on for dear life as I emptied the contents of my belly into the ocean. Sweaty and disgusted, I slumped back into my seat. “I’m sorry.”
Landon hunched down beside me. “Don’t apologize. You’re not the first to get sick, and you won’t be the last either. I shouldn’t have forced you into something you clearly didn’t want to do.”
“It’s not that I didn’t want to.”
He cocked an eyebrow.
“Okay, fine. I didn’t want to, but I did it anyway. I forced myself.”
“And was it worth it?”
