Page 24 of F*ck You

Unlike the last time I was in the ocean, I didn’t see any jellyfish floating around. That was a relief. Getting stung and then needing to have someone pee on me wasn’t exactly what I wanted to have on the agenda for today.

As we waded in deeper, I laid the board on the water and threw myself on top. Straightening my legs behind me, I used my hands to paddle out to sea behind Chase, following his lead and making sure to do the motions he’d taught me.

The waves turned gentler the farther out we went, and we rose over the gentle swells with care. Once we got to a place where we could just float, we both sat up and let our legs dangle in the water while we waited for a wave I could ride.

It was so peaceful out here. The sounds of the water splashing against itself and moving me up and over each gentle swell greatly calmed the energy bristling inside me. Suddenly, I didn’t care about why I was here in the first place and what I was running from. It didn’t matter to me that someone I once trusted had fucked me over so badly that I was struggling to come back from it. All that mattered was me, and that I was out here doing something I never thought I would do.

A faint orange light covered the water from the sunrise, and it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I looked around and my eyes caught on Chase, who was sitting on his board as relaxed as could be despite a focused gleam in his gaze as he waited for the right wave.

Drops of water clung to his arms as his hands rested on his thighs. His dark hair had caught some splashes, and when one water droplet fell from the tip of his hair and landed on the back of his hand, it didn’t faze him. He was one with the ocean, and he looked more at home out here on the water than anywhere I’d seen him.

The man who faced the police so I wouldn’t have to reveal my identity and risk my past showing up, who carried my luggage across the sand without question and was now taking time away from clients to help me have a good morning for the first time since I could remember.

I wasn’t sure what I did to deserve the kindness I’d received from these two, but the butterflies in my stomach that I thought had died long ago began to flutter again.

“Here comes one.” Chase spun his board around to face the shore, and I did the same.

A strong wave came in, and we laid down on our boards and used our arms to paddle toward the shore. I was focused on myself and trying not to die.

Once the wave was upon me, I hopped to my feet and spread them the correct distance apart while putting enough of my weight on my back foot. Throwing my arms out to the side, I used them for balance while I was rushed toward shore. Adrenaline spiked and my mouth widened in a surprise grin.

My heart hammered so hard, I thought it might break through my chest. The sheer exhilaration was intense, and I wanted to ride it as hard and long as I could.

Trying to remember how Chase told me to steer, I did my best and managed to cut across the wave at a diagonal so I could stay up longer. Water sprayed out as I cut over, giving me the feeling that for once I actually knew what the hell I was doing.

With an overwhelming feeling of triumph, I pumped the air with my hands, threw my head back, and screamed my elation. It worked for a moment to release my excess energy until I was suddenly swallowing water and trying to figure out which way was up. My screams were muffled by the water as I was tossed around.

My elbow brush against the sand, catching on all the shells that were hidden beneath. I felt the tug of the cord around my ankle as the board somehow remained afloat, and I followed it to try and find the surface.

Hands grabbed me beneath my arms as my head broke the surface, and I took in large gulps of air to counter the ingested water.

“Lee, Lee, are you alright?” Chase’s voice was filled with worry as he dragged me a few feet away until we were sitting in the shallow area. The smaller waves crashed into us, spraying our faces, but it wasn’t strong enough to wipe the grin off my face.

“That was fucking amazing!” I exclaimed, as I sputtered and expelled water from my lungs while laughing my ass off. I didn’t even know what was so funny, I couldn’t seem to stop the carefree laughing that came out. “That’s seriously one of the greatest things I’ve ever done in my life.” I leaned my back against his chest, trying to catch my ragged breath.

His legs were on either side of mine, the cord to his own board still attached to his ankle. Our boards bobbed around in the water next to us, moving back and forth with the force of the slight waves.

“You’re bleeding.” His thumb trailed over my forearm, wiping away a small trickle of blood.

“Oh, yeah, I think there were some shells or something down there I rubbed against. It’ll be fine, it’s not bad.” I brushed away the small injury as nothing, but smirked with my secret pleasure that he was actually concerned.

“We can put some stuff on it later to make sure.” He glided his fingers gently over another wound, wiping away the blood from that too. I tilted to the side when a particularly strong wave came up and threatened to drag me under again, but he circled his arms around me to hold me in place. All I did was laugh like a maniac. I couldn’t seem to control the lighthearted feeling. This was the most actual fun I’d had in ages.

“You have a beautiful laugh,” he noted with a low chuckle. His voice grew thick as he grazed my skin with the tips of his fingers, making me shiver beneath his touch.

“You must be delirious. Most times I sound like a dying banshee.” I turned my head to correct him and figure out how insane he really was when my lips caught on his instead, silencing my words and pausing my thoughts.

It was so sudden, but also a long time coming all the same. His arms gave me a gentle squeeze before he rested his fingers against my jaw with his palm warming the side of my neck. I trembled under his touch, which was so gentle despite his kiss growing harder.

His lips pressed against mine, our mouths opening and closing for one another. I was lost, not only in the crashing waves of the ocean, but also the lips that belonged to a man with the most patience and kindness I’d seen in a long time. He wrapped one arm around my back, holding me close when another wave threatened to break us apart.

The moment engulfed me in our own little bubble the outside world couldn’t penetrate. The seconds stretched on and time no longer had meaning.

Warmth filled me despite the goosebumps on my skin from the water and cool morning air. I vaguely heard sounds of people splashing in the water not too far away, but it didn’t bother me. The only thing I cared about right now was the guy holding me in his arms like I was the only thing in his world.

* * *

We grabbedour stuff and carried our boards underneath one arm as we headed back up the beach to my condo. The sun was higher in the sky and more people were piling onto the beach. While it was a private area, there were still locals who brought friends and family to hang out on the beach. Chase had some more lessons to do today, and I did kind of want to explore some more before I had to be at the boat.

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