Page 12 of Meet You in the Waves
I cleared my throat. “You want to come out with me or would you rather just familiarise yourself with the board today?” I asked, turning to glance at Ajay.
Big mistake. His big brown eyes were on me, reflecting the hint of golden sun rising on the horizon and I swallowed as I got a little lost in them. I never actually thought it was possible to get lost in someone’s eyes. But there you go. Maybe you did learn something new each day.
“I might just take the easy road today. Maybe tomorrow you can show me your break.”
“Say the word and I’ll make the introductions,” I grinned. He just smiled back at me until I realised I was just standing there staring at him. The guy must have thought I was a total weirdo by now what with how often he caught me out just looking.
I cleared my throat again, did some weird head bob at Ajay and then ran out into the water, ducking under the first wave as it rolled to the shore. The waves were pumping this morning and it wasn’t long until I got the drop on a gorgeous curving wave and I was right where I belonged.
I caught a few more sets, riding them out until they died in the whitewash and then I caught a few more. I kept one eye on Ajay the whole time, watching him navigate his board in the shallower water. He caught a couple of easy waves and I sent him a fist pump when he looked my way. The smile on his face just went and hit itself right into my guts and I found myself grinning back at him, completely missing the awesome set of incoming waves as my board bobbed helplessly over the edge.
The call became too hard to ignore and I eventually paddled in closer to Ajay.
“You look like you’re doing all right over here,” I said to him as I dropped to my feet.
“I’m doing okay,” he shrugged. “Better than I expected. The board’s great by the way.”
“Yeah, she sure is,” I sighed, glancing at the board underneath Ajay.
“Let me know if you two need a moment,” he returned. I glanced up at him as he grinned back at me.
“She looks perfectly happy with you on top,” I noted. “Not that I’m jealous or anything.”
That faint flush was back on Ajay’s cheeks and God help me how I wanted to lick it up.
“Well, you did leave her for a newer model,” Ajay helpfully reminded me.
“True. But we were so good while we lasted,” I returned solemnly. Ajay laughed and I made myself a vow that I would do everything I could to make him laugh like that again. He looked so free when he let himself laugh, lifting those cares that seemed to weigh his perfectly trim shoulders down.
I knew another few useful tricks to loosen a guy up but I decided to keep those ideas to myself for now.
I stayed in the shallows with Ajay while we surfed the whitewash until we both seemed to decide it was time to go in. The sun was up and was already warming the air, a hot day in the making and the break was getting crowded.
Ajay planted his board in the soft sand in a spot not far from the path back up to the house. I followed, unsure why I was so pleased that he wanted to stay out a little longer. I expected it was past nine already and Dane would be up soon but I was happy to volunteer as tribute to entertain his best buddy a little longer.
Ajay sank onto his elbows, his smooth stomach snagging my attention momentarily. I could just make out the shape of his muscles there, couldn’t help wondering if his skin was as soft to touch as it looked.
“So, what’s the story with you and your girl?” I ventured to ask, pulling my eyes away from his stomach to his eyes. I wasn’t sure which was less distracting.
“What do you mean?” Ajay asked, one quizzical eye on me.
“Just wondering why you looked about as excited as a trip to the dentist about her coming down?”
Ajay bit down on his lower lip, a scrutinising gaze on me. “Was I that obvious?”
“Dude, you looked like you’d just been told your favourite pet had died.”
He barked out a laugh. “Me and Kira are kind of complicated,” he finally ventured.
“Complicated how?” I pressed. Nobody could ever callmeshy. Ajay said nothing for a moment but I could see the thoughts parading across his face.
“Just not quite sure if we still fit. Or if we ever really did.” I admired his honesty. I admired the sentiment even more.
“That doesn’t sound so complicated to me,” I offered instead.
“Trust me. It’s complicated.”
“Sounds to me, Ajay, like you don’t really want to be with her anymore. That’s where the uncomplication lies. Just tell her and move on.”
