Page 43 of Flyboy

“Well, I was afraid of running into the fish.”

“True.” The depth beneath them suddenly felt very deep and unknown. He peered down into the water. Seeing everything helped. Then he lifted his face back up. “It’s better when I can see. Snorkel and mask was a good call.”

“Do you want to look around some more?” Her eyes told him she was ready to stay there awhile.

“Okay, sure.” They put their snorkels back in their mouths and moved along the surface away from the wreck and toward the reef. It had grown into the old ship and spread into a thick, green, and floral living thing, teeming with life. Smaller fish swam lazily, the kinds he saw in aquariums. He’d been snorkeling before. He’d been scuba diving once. None of this was that new. Something about being here with Ivy made it all seem . . . made him feel something he hadn’t felt in a long time—vulnerable. He felt the risk to her. Of course, they were perfectly safe, he told himself. People snorkeled all the time. But he couldn’t help his unease.

He ignored the depth of the water just off the ledge. And he swam closer to the reef. They went up for air and then down to the shallow reef over and over, and he began to feel more comfortable. They discovered an eel and a sea anemone that just barely opened after a long time of their patiently watching one particular ledge when a dark shadow swam overhead.

Colton almost sucked in water through his snorkel when a medium-sized shark hovered over them.

And then Ivy swam closer. She held out an underwater camera she had attached to her waist belt and must have been clicking away on it. He raced to her, yanking on her ankle and tugging her until they were hiding behind a portion of the reef, further from the shark.

When he was almost desperate for air, and he hoped the shark was far enough away, he gestured they rise, and he kicked furiously for the surface.

He waved to Tiago, who thankfully saw them right away and moved closer. When Ivy’s head popped above the surface, she pulled the snorkel out of her mouth. “Colton. It’s gone. It didn’t even notice us or care.”

“Are you out of your freaking mind?” He didn’t even try to temper his tone. “That was just plain dangerous. You trying to prove something? Because whatever it is, all you did just now is prove to me that you’re dangerous. Why would anyone let you up in a plane? Someone who takes risks like that belongs behind a desk, or with that clipboard, on the ground.” He turned from her toward Tiago, who had sent down a ladder. “We’re getting back onboard.”

She didn’t respond. Her face had gone completely blank. And Colton was even more frustrated that he couldn’t tell what she thought. But he didn’t care anymore. He wanted them both out of the water and away from the shark.

“Boss. I think we’ve got company.” Tiago pointed behind them.

A dorsal fin surfaced.

Colton felt battle training click on. He pushed Ivy ahead of him, nearly shoving her skyward and onto the ladder. He reached up and joined her. The fact that he hugged her with his face at her thighs didn’t even register as something enjoyable. “Go! Go! Go!” He muttered.

“I’m going. Look, Flyboy. Relax.”

“Says the woman who was afraid of a fish. Look, Ivy, who even are you right now? There is a shark in the water. Can you pick up the pace?”

“I think he’s after the tuna.”

Colton groaned. “Of course.”

They climbed back on deck. And all three of them moved to the back of the boat where the fishing line seemed more slack.

“We should let him go.”

The dorsal fin circled.

And then the line went taut and started moving through the water.

“I think our tuna noticed the visitor.”

Tiago studied the water for only a moment and then took his knife to the line. “Tchao, tuna.”

The fin submerged.

Then Colton turned away. “We’re ready to get back.”

“Right. Are we sailing? A nice sunset cruise all the way back?”

“No. Motor is fine. Look. I’m kind of tired. I’ll be below.”

Chapter 16

Ivy fumed, pacing on the deck while the boat picked up speed. Had she just heard him correctly? He was accusing her of reckless behavior? Warning her she didn’t belong up in a plane? Flyboy? Had he heard himself? Had he looked in the mirror lately? Or seen his own flying record?

---