Page 27 of Girls Will Be Girls
I wonder if that’s from experience.
Without much further ado, he launches us out into the water, following behind and already standing on his board just a few feet off the beach. I follow his instructions, find a good, steady spot on my knees, and paddle myself further onto the shimmering lake. The two girls next to me seem pretty wobbly on their knees at first, so they move slowly, just taking in the views, while the dad-cationers seem to be playing a game of who can fall the fastest.
It’s hard to keep a straight face watching them fail so spectacularly.
“That’s one way to do it,” Buck yells out.
While giggling to myself, I take in the surroundings. The pine tree-lined beaches, the distant mountains, the rocky shores. This water that is probably the bluest I’ve ever seen. I feel I can see all the way down to the bottom.
It’s hard to feel anything but bliss while out here.
“Do you need a hand?”
I’m startled out of my daydreaming by Buck floating alongside me, perched on his board.
“First time?” He continues.
“Oh, no, thanks.” I chuckle. “I’ve done it before a couple of times. I was just taking in the view.”
“She’s a beaut.” He nods, looking out to the horizon. “There a reason you’re taking a class if you’re a pro?” He smiles.
“Definitely didn’t use the word pro.” I laugh.
“You solo traveling?” He asks.
“No, I’m actually here for work,” I say. “I’m writing an article about this place. About the activities.”
“No shit.” He grins. “Do I get to be included?”
“You wanna be?”
“Fuck yeah.” He plops down onto his board, legs hanging off either side.
“Okay then.” I grin back. “Got any good stories?”
He leans forward, looking to the sky like he’s thinking really hard. “Oh.” He shoots up. “We once lost someone for like four hours.”
I almost snort. “What great advertising.” I tease.
He laughs. “It was this hungover frat guy who went out by himself one morning. We went out on the boat to look for him after a while, and turns out he’d fallen asleep on the board and the wind blew him to the middle of the lake.” He grins wider. “He was so freaked and sunburnt when we woke him.” He continues as I laugh. “We had to add a clause about being hungover into our waiver.”
“Does it count if I was tipsy last night?”
“Mm.” He bobs his head from side to side. “I saw how much sunscreen you put on, so if you fall asleep, I think you’ll be fine for a few hours.” He jokes.
“You say that, but I have the skin of a translucent jellyfish.” He barks out a laugh as I continue. “I would come back looking more like a lobster after four hours.”
“How long are you here? Maybe we can upgrade your tan level.”
“Two weeks.”
He nods. “Surely that’s enough time for a freckle or two.”
I give him a disappointed shake of my head, and he laughs.
Buck has that kind of energy, that you just know he’s helped an old lady cross the street or carried her groceries home. He has an infectious smile that makes you want to smile back. Kind of like Lou’s, but Buck definitely doesn’t make my stomach swirl like just the thought of Lou does.
“So where’d you get tipsy last night?” Buck spins his board to stay opposite me. “Somewhere in town?”
