Page 13 of OneTime Lovers
His words throw down a challenge and as usual I’m not about to back down. Even if he’s expecting me to––and I probably should avoid spending more time alone with him after the episode by the pool.
But I love a challenge, so I say clearly and firmly, “Absolutely.”
To be honest, sitting around the pool for hours at a time bores me. I like being active. While I wish the others were coming too, I can handle Scott for one afternoon. In fact, it might even be fun. Besides, we will have our faces in the water most of the time, which means no talking and no touching.
As we collect the gear, Scott says we should walk across the island today to the more sheltered reef on the other side. I clench my teeth but this time I’m determined to be more tolerant of his bossy ways, so I graciously agree. Besides, there is a slight onshore sea breeze this afternoon and it makes sense.
It’s about a fifteen-minute walk along the winding gravel path, past bungalows that will soon be filled by wedding guests and through shady palm groves with a lush undergrowth of ferns and the occasional brilliant bunch of flowers. Small lizards sunning themselves on the path skitter away into the gardens as we come across them. This island has an abundance of wildlife.
As we emerge onto a tiny, secluded beach, I can see Scott was right, the crystal-clear waveless waters of the reef lagoon are much calmer over here. The varying shades of blue turn darker further out until the horizon meets the sky in a line of fluffy white clouds. A perfect snorkeler’s cove based on the partial and intact seashells strewn along the tideline.
Dropping our towels on the beach, I pretend not to notice as Scott removes his T-shirt displaying those toned, bronzed abs again. Instead, I try to busy myself by applying a liberal coating of sun lotion before we pick up our gear and stroll down to the water’s edge.
In the shallows, I bend to rinse out my mask with seawater and Scott asks, “Would you like me to adjust the straps again?”
I glare back and he bursts out laughing. “Hey I get it, you’re fine.” My words from yesterday repeated back to me have me looking at him more closely. Of course, he’s teasing me again.
“Seriously though, you can lean on me to put your fins on.”
Yes, definite teasing. “Thank you, I think I will.”
My fins go on surprisingly quickly when I’m not over-balanced.
Fins on, we bend to rinse out our masks and Scott asks, “How comfortable would you feel about going out a bit further to the reef edge?”
“Sure, that’s fine,” I reply readily. Swimming in deep water has never bothered me.
On the walk over, we talked about our previous reef experiences and finally he learned I know how to do this. When he told me he’s a qualified open water scuba diver, I admitted to him that I was too. Thanks again to my two older brothers who always included me in all their adventures, even if they bossed me about doing it. Family summer vacations were spent at our beach house or on some idyllic tropical island swimming, diving, or snorkeling.
“Great, but we need to stay close together. Do you agree?”
“Of course, no swimming off without letting you know.” While I may not appreciate Scott’s bossy words, I understand the safety message behind it. And this time he even asked for my opinion. This is progress.
“Let’s get amongst it then,’’ he says before adjusting his mask and diving in.
I follow close behind and soon I’m immersed in the wonder of the silent underwater world filled with an abundance of fish that are all the colors of the rainbow. My favorite are the baby fish that dart in and around the larger clumps of coral.
Scott and I swim together silently pointing out interesting fish to each other. Then when we reach deeper water, we dive down every so often for a close-up look at something interesting like a ray or an eel. I’m really enjoying myself and time slips by unnoticed.
It’s a long while before we finally stop to pop our heads out of the water, bobbing about in the ocean swell quite a way from where we started. The distance from shore doesn’t bother me much, but the ominous dark clouds spreading quickly across the sky certainly do.
A tropical storm is brewing, and I’m terrified of storms. I had a bad experience getting stuck out in the full force of an electrical storm when I was ten, and now the mere mention of a storm throws me into a panic. Not a full-blown panic attack … unless of course I am bobbing about in deep water a long way from shore and a storm is imminent.
I imagine my face registers the fear I’m feeling as Scott asks, “Are you okay?”
Shaking my head, I manage to gasp out, “Not really. Storms scare me.”
I’m having difficulty catching my breath, which is not a good thing when I have to swim back to the beach. Scott quickly assesses my panicked state and calmly takes control.
“Jas, we’re going to swim back to shore together now. You can easily do this, you’re an excellent swimmer. Now, listen to me carefully. You need to get your breathing under control and not let the fear overwhelm you. You got this and I’m right here beside you.” His voice commands my attention, and it helps to reduce my fear a little.
Right now, I’m loving his bossy commanding voice as it penetrates through my fog of panic.
“Good. Now take my hand, put your snorkel in, and we’ll swim back together.”
I continue to tread water, eyes wide, glued to his face as I reach out to hold onto Scott’s large hand. Already it’s making me feel safer and soon my racing heart and rapid breathing slows enough for me to say, “I’m ready.”
We adjust our masks back into place and start to swim toward shore holding hands. My grip white knuckle tight on Scott’s hand. It feels like it is taking an eternity and I’m no longer looking at the fish but concentrating on keeping my breathing steady.
