Page 23 of Mister Daddy
Now we’re getting somewhere. “And what is your passion?”
Abby’s eyes dart back to the ocean view once more. “It’s ridiculous.”
“It’s okay, Abby. You can tell me; I won’t judge you.” I squeeze her shoulder for reassurance, letting my fingertips linger against her soft skin.
“I love the water,” she admits after a long pause. “When I was a senior in high school, my parents let me skip school one day. They took me to the beach. There was a place there where you could learn to scuba dive, and my parents agreed to let us try it. The company took us out on a boat away from shore and taught us the basics. We didn’t go deep or anything, but we got to see the amazing life underwater just off the coast of our town. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever experienced. At that moment, I decided I wanted to be a scuba instructor. But that wasn’t a practical job choice, and I’d already been accepted to school as an accounting major.”
“I’ve been scuba diving a few times. I got certified a few years after we started the ocean cruise line. I get what you mean. There’s nothing like being underwater.”
She looks longingly out the window once again.
“I’ve gone scuba diving over fifty times already, and I’m certified. Part of me was bitter that it would never be my job, so I avoided the formal certification process until last year. It’s a little sad, really. I kept dilly-dallying and between the stress of my job and all sorts of other things, I kept putting it off. Finally, I couldn’t though. Something in my heart just kept telling me this was right, so I went back to my first diving school and asked if they could help me with my certification. Fortunately, they were really nice and the instructors walked me through the process and made sure I stayed on track. The certificate now sits in a folder at my house, taunting me, actually. Opening my own scuba training company is my dream, and that certification was the first step to getting there, but I haven’t done anything more. Maybe someday, I’ll take the dive,” I chuckle morosely.
“You should do it,” I say. “Look at me. If I hadn’t followed my passion, we wouldn’t be here right now.”
“That’s true. But honestly, I’m not you. Who would want to take scuba lessons from a chubby girl like me? I’m lucky I got clearance from my doctor to go through with the certification.”
I rake my eyes over her fantastic body. “What are you talking about? You’re gorgeous.”
She rolls her deep brown eyes. “You’re just saying that. I know I’m a bigger girl. Scuba instructors are usually skinny because diving is an extreme sport. I’m a really good swimmer, though. We had a pool in the backyard growing up, and I used to do laps every morning before school, even when I was in elementary school. But that doesn’t matter. One look at me, and clients will want to go elsewhere.”
I stroke her shoulder gently. “I think you’re wrong. People will surprise you.”
Abby shakes her head. “The worst part is, water is where I feel most comfortable. I’m weightless out there.”
“You can do it, Abby. I believe in you. You should at least take the next steps in being certified as an instructor.”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. It all sounds great in theory, but I’d be crazy to quit my job for the possibility of opening a scuba business.”
“Hey, look at me! People told me I was crazy when I quit school and bought a river boat, and now I’m rich. You never know what might happen.”
Abby smiles, but it’s strained. “Thanks, Carter. I’ll think about it.”
I want to keep telling her to go for her dream, but the dealer comes back to the table, signaling the start of the next round. Abby moves back to her standing position behind me. Her absence leaves a cold feeling throughout my body, and she’s only a few feet away.
I’ve really got it bad for this girl already.
The dealer tosses our cards, and I check my hand. A ten and a jack, different colors and suits. Not bad. I stay in when the dealer asks. The flop shows a seven, a nine, and another jack. When the guy next to me goes all in, I call. The turn is a ten. We both call. The river is an eight. Another excellent hand for me.
The other guy shows his cards first. An eight and a king. Not a bad hand, but mine is better with two pairs and a flush.
He huffs as his chips are pushed toward me. The guy walks away angry, but I’m not worried about him. I’ve seen him around at other tournaments like this. He’s probably got just as much money as I do burning a hole in his pocket.
The dealer pauses our game to consolidate tables. Out of twenty-five original players, only four remain. The other two, a guy and a woman, join our table.
After a few more hands, the two guys are out, leaving just me and the woman. She goes all in on a hand and loses, making me the big winner of the tournament.
Abby claps excitedly behind me, earning her a dirty look from all of the losers who have gathered around to watch the final hands. She throws her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek. “You were incredible.”
“Thanks, babe,” I say easily. My eyes widen at the term of endearment, but neither of us points it out. “You ready to check out the island?”
Her eyes brighten. “Yes! I can’t wait to see it.”
“I was thinking that tomorrow, we’ll be in the Bahamas, and there are a bunch of shore excursions. Are you signed up for any?”
“No. The girls and I just planned on visiting a public beach or something.”
“How about you and I go scuba diving?”