Page 30 of Fake Coral and Keys

Justine laughs. “I thought we were going snorkeling.”

“You are,” the Captain says. “We are lucky today. The visibility should be spectacular. The water is clear thanks to such beautiful weather.”

“Are there sharks?” Kane asks.

“Nurse sharks.” The Captain waves a hand, like sharks swimming around is no big deal. “They rarely bother people.”

“Rarely?” Lily asks, touching her throat.

The Captain nods. “Don’t mess with them. They won’t mess with you.”

Kane lets out a loud cackle. “I’m used to swimming with sharks.” He nudges Lily’s side. “I’ll keep you safe.”

“Money sharks and bitey sharks are two different things, Kane,” Justine says. She leans forward and pats Lily on the knee. “We’ll be fine.”

After a while, the boat slows, and the Captain shuts off the engine and hits a few buttons, answering Justine’s many questions as he anchors the boat. We all take the snorkeling equipment he offers as he explains the delicate ecosystem. He reminds us not to touch the coral, not to break the coral, and not to disrupt the marine life.

The Captain lowers his sunglasses and levels us each with an intense stare. “Snorkeling is about observing. Not invading.”

Lily and Kane are first down to the swim platform. They don their flippers and mask, jumping in without hesitation. Justine and Erin follow with a shriek and a loud splash. Blakepositions his mask on his head and holds the flippers in his hand, eyeing the water.

I move down the steps to the swim platform, keeping an eye on Blake. Now that we aren’t speeding along, he seems better. “Ready?”

Blake follows me down the few steps and joins me on the small platform. He moves slowly, each step careful.

He slides his mask over his head. I notice that his movements seem uncertain. “Have you been snorkeling before?”

He pauses and gives me a half smile. “No.”

I look back at the Captain. I’m pretty sure he had asked everyone before we even boarded the charter if we had snorkeled before. Now that I think about it, I don’t remember Blake answering. Shielding my eyes from the bright sun, I watch the rest of our group swim away, then turn to Blake. “The water is shallow. We can cover the basics once we’re in.”

Blake nods and eyes the water, then me.

I step in close so that the Captain doesn’t overhear. “You know how to swim, right?”

Blake gives me another nod and a tight smile, then slides the flippers on. I step off the swim deck and fall into the water. Blake follows me with an ungraceful splash.

Once he’s next to me, I adjust his face mask like an anxious mother, giving him an encouraging smile. “You’re basically floating on the surface.”

Blake smiles back and sinks into the water. “I think I’ll be able to figure it out.”

We take a few minutes until he floats on the surface, diving under and clearing his snorkel. After we’ve swum a few feet away from the boat, Blake grabs my hand, and we set a lazy pace. Bright fish swim underneath us, and each time one comes close, Blake tugs at my hand. Every time I catch a glimpse of his face, he’s grinning so widely that he keeps having to clear the water from his snorkel. He’s like a giant kid, pointing to vibrant orange coral below and the small Blue Tang that darts between the rocks as we swim over them.

When the water becomes too deep, we circle back. When we reach a shallow spot and can stand, I pull the mask down, looking for the rest of our group. I don’t spot my parents, but I see Kane and Lily swimming near the metal tower.

Blake pulls the snorkel from his mouth, and sputters out a laugh. “That was amazing.” He grins ear to ear, making my heart seize in my chest. He looks so ecstatic that he’s barely recognizable.

I gaze out at the crystal-clear water. “It’s beautiful here.”

Blake slides up close to me. “I’m really glad you asked me to join you.”

“Me too,” I say. “I’m glad I got to experience your first snorkeling adventure. With you.”

Blake grins. “And boat ride, and trip to the Keys.”

“You’ve never been on a boat?” I ask.

Blake blinks and looks back at the charter boat.

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