Page 25 of F*ck You

My fingers fumbled with the keys as I failed to unlock the door the first two times, finally finding success on the third. I worried a hole into my lip, hoping he didn’t notice how nervous I was. I didn’t know exactly what happened in the water a few minutes ago, but it made my heart beat again, and I felt the pull to explore this feeling some more.

Reminders knocked at the edge of my mind about how I only recently got out of a relationship, but I brushed it off. It wasn’t like I was finding a husband right off the bat. I should be able to enjoy the butterflies without feeling the obligatory crushing guilt.

We leaned the boards against the side of the condo and went inside. In repayment for the surfing lesson, and hopefully more of them to come, I was going to treat him to breakfast before his next appointment showed up.

“You can sit down, and I’ll whip something up.” I washed my hands and began to move around the kitchen. I pulled out some bacon and eggs from the fridge when I heard the water at the kitchen sink turn on. Surprised, I turned around and saw Chase shut the water off and dry his hands before pulling out pans and a spatula.

He looked at me and shrugged. “I’d rather help than to sit down and watch you do all the work.”

A crazy grin crossed my face, adding to the smile that wouldn’t go away. I closed the refrigerator door with my foot as he worked on getting the coffee pot going, before setting a kettle filled with water on the stove.

We worked as a team to make bacon, eggs, and toast, and before long, we were sitting down at the kitchen table with full plates plus mugs filled with our preferred coffee and tea.

The food was extra delicious, and I soon found I was surprisingly ravenous. It didn’t go unnoticed.

“Surfing can work up quite the appetite,” Chase said before taking a bite of toast as I devoured the last of my eggs. “Just wait until you’re out in the water for hours, catching one wave after another, then you might not go anywhere without a sandwich in your hand. On second thought, we may need to make a grocery store run before that.”

“So, we’re going to continue the lessons?” I asked, unable to keep the hope from my voice.

“Of course. For as long as you want to. I told you I’d show you what fun things there are to do around here and why being here is worth it.”

“I’m definitely starting to see that.” I flashed him a toothy grin before taking a huge bite of my toast.

“Although if you want to see more of the water, you should probably talk to Larsen.”

“Why, does he give surfing lessons too?”

“Not exactly. He does scuba and snorkeling lessons and tours. You would have to be licensed to scuba dive, which he could help you with if you really wanted to, but at least check out the snorkeling first. There are some amazing views, and if you have an underwater camera, you could get great pictures.”

I snorted. “I’ll have to check out the cameras. I did just get a job, so we’ll see.”

“Oh yeah?” he inquired, interested. “Where at?”

“This boat. Cleaning it, serving tourists, I’m not entirely sure. I only started yesterday, and I’m being paid under the table until he decides to officially add me on and go through the paperwork. Today will be my second day.” I finished my food and leaned back in the chair with my knee up. Pulling the mug of coffee to my mouth, I sipped it slowly while he finished his food.

“That’s great. Do you think you’ll be here for a while then?”

I didn’t miss the note of worry or the hint of hope in his voice when he asked the question while looking down at his plate, and I grinned. “Well, there isn’t anywhere else I want to go. I don’t have a reason to leave here right now, so guess I’ll be staying longer.”

He blew out a breath of relief so quiet that if I hadn’t been watching every slightest move, I would have missed it.

“You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

His lips twisted into a vague smile, and his words were so low I nearly didn’t hear them. “I didn’t want to.”

“But, yeah, I mean, I don’t have the rest of my life planned out or anything. I’m pretty much winging it all.”

“That’s the best way to live. It’s fun, and it’s free.” He finished his food and leaned back in his chair with his mug and looked at me. “If you knew exactly what you were doing, I’d be worried.”

“Yeah?”

“Oh yeah. Hell, I still don’t know what I’m doing.”

“You’re teaching surfing though.”

“Well, yeah. It pays the bills and gets me by, but I set my own schedule rather than doing what someone else tells me to. There’s nothing that I actually have to do, no boss to tell me what needs to be done by a certain time, and if I want to leave here, which I don’t, then I can go anywhere with a coast and teach there. I get through my days by doing what makes me happy, and that’s why I refuse to take another job, no matter how much more money it could possibly bring in.” He took a sip of the steaming liquid. “I’m not limited quite as much, and the freedom is intoxicating. The possibilities are endless, and that’s where the magic happens.”

I nodded in agreement. “Well, for what it’s worth, you’re a pretty good teacher.”

He smirked. “You’re a pretty good student.”

My stomach flipped, and I lowered my voice to a whisper, unable to keep the stupid grin from my face. “I even liked the after-hours course.”

I didn’t know when I got so bold, but I locked my eyes on his. No matter what reaction he had, I wouldn’t take the words back. Take chances and all that shit.

“So did I.” His voice was lowered to match mine before he took another sip of his drink. “Same time tomorrow, pretty girl?”

This time I didn’t even argue the endearment. “Works for me.”

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