Page 26 of Moonlight Feels Right
"Emmalyn?" Paige prompted.
"It was fine."
"Fine doesn’t sound hot."
"He was nice. Maybe my expectations are too high."
"They should be high, especially on a first date. No sparks at all?"
"Not really."
Paige gave her a sympathetic look. "Too bad. Hopefully, you at least got a good dinner out of it."
"I did. What about you? Are you seeing anyone?"
"I’ve been on a few dates, but it’s tough to find time as a single mom. And I’m not introducing anyone to Henry unless I know it’s serious."
"I’m happy to babysit whenever."
"Thanks. But I might take a break from dating unless someone amazing pops up."
Liam called the group together, and they moved over to join the rest of the class.
Liam planted his surfboard in the sand like a flag. At thirty-two, he had the sun-lined skin and easy confidence of someone who’d spent more time in water than on land. "Welcome to Little Wave Riders!" he said. "Rule one: Respect the ocean. Rule two: Look out for each other. Rule three: Have fun!"
The kids giggled. Liam grinned.
"We’re starting with boogie boards," he continued. "These little beauties will catch your first waves. Who’s been in the ocean before?"
Olivia raised her hand proudly. "I went with my daddy. He held me real high!"
Hunter’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. But when Olivia looked at him, he smiled and nodded.
"That’s brilliant," Liam said. "You're already mates with the ocean."
Henry flailed beside Olivia. "I know how to splash!"
"Love that energy!" Liam said with a laugh. Then he demonstrated how to lie on the board and paddle.
As the kids and parents followed his directions, Hunter knelt to adjust Olivia's position. "Just like we practiced, Liv."
Emmalyn’s heart squeezed at how gentle and enthusiastic he was. Hunter was definitely putting his heart into this surf lesson, which surprised her, since one, she hadn't known he had a heart, and two, she couldn't have imagined he'd be so interested in a kid's lesson.
"Adults too," Liam called, catching her eye. "No spectators!"
Hunter appeared moments later with two boards, holding one out to her.
"Don’t be scared," Olivia told her. "It’s fun."
Hunter smiled. "What she said."
She took the board because, apparently, she was weak in the face of encouragement from six-year-olds and men with devastating smiles.
They practiced on land, then moved into the water. Foam lapped at their ankles. Liam explained how to read the ocean. Then they waded in. Everyone but her.
She sat on her board just above the water line, content to watch.
Hunter positioned Olivia on her board and then gave her a gentle push with the first gentle swell. Olivia rode the wave all the way to shore, beaming.
