Page 2 of Out in the Surf

Zoe frowned, casting a WTF glance my way. I couldn’t blame her. I mentioned that I wasn’t shy, right? I was normally pretty gregarious and friendly. Not so much now.

I felt oddly self-conscious for no apparent reason. Sure, Cal was handsome, but I’d met plenty of good-looking guys—and slept with them too. That wasn’t an option here. Not only was Cal my instructor and someone I wasn’t destined to know after my three one-hour lessons were complete, he was probably straight.

Snap out of it, Luca.

Thankfully, Cal moved on quickly. He conferred with the owner, double-checking to ensure we’d signed all the waivers and were ready to roll.

“They’re all set,” the older man confirmed. “Have fun out there.”

Cal saluted him, then set his hands on his hips and turned to us with a broad grin. “Have either of you been on any kind of board? Paddleboard, surfboard, skim board?”

“I’ve never been erect in the ocean,” someone who sounded like me said.

“For fuck’s sake, Luca,” Zoe sputtered. “Sorry about him. He’s prone to weird outbursts when under-caffeinated. We’re newbies. Show us everything,maestro.”

Cal snorted. “All righty, then. Here’s the plan…we’re gonna head out to the sand. I’ll give you a brief intro and show you how to balance before we hop in the water. Grab your boards and follow me.”

I passed Zoe her board and tucked mine under my arm.

“Thanks. Hey, are you okay?” Zoe whispered. “You’re kind of jumpy.”

I shrugged. “I guess I’m nervous.”

That was the honest truth, but I wasn’t sure why.

I trudged through the sand, thinking it might have been a combination of sleep deprivation, the early hour, and even hunger. I’d snap out of it once we were in the water.

Or not.

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing sticks? My hearing was just fine, but my ability to absorb new information was sadly lacking. I nodded attentively, as if I were hanging on Cal’s every word when he gave us a spiel about learning curves and ocean safety.

“…one of those activities where you can’t be afraid to fall. It’s gonna happen, especially when you’re new. It’s important to know how to read the elements and remember that you’re never really in charge. Mother Nature is. Winds, tides, and swells are always changing. It’s up to us to pay attention. Today is pretty mellow, but rip currents can form out of the blue.”

Zoe raised her hand like a kid in a classroom. “What’s a rip current again?”

“It’s a strong, narrow stream that pulls water from the shore out to sea. Emphasis on strong. You can’t swim against them. If you ever get caught in one, swim sideways—not toward the beach.” Cal clapped decisively and picked up the tether from his board. “You’re going to want to attach the leash to your back foot. If you’re right-handed, that’s generally going to be your right foot. Then lay flat on your stomach and start paddling.”

We practiced paddling and “popping up” in the sand for what felt like forever. I couldn’t decide if I was grateful for the close-proximity extra eye candy or if being too near this guy was bad for me. I’d never felt so dopey around a man in my life. I didn’t ask any of the questions I’d had planned. I just nodded and stared a lot. Thankfully Zoe was engaging enough that I doubted Cal noticed my fixation with his mouth or his ass.

“How do we know where to lay on the board? If you’re too far to any one side, you’re done-zo, right?” Zoe asked.

“True. A good reference is to have your toes touch the leash string.” Cal waited while Zoe demonstrated. “Good. Find your sweet spot, Luca. Nice. Now, when you’re in the water, remember to paddle with long, deep strokes.”

Sweet spot? Long, deep strokes?Fuck. Me.This was torture.

“Got it,” I choked.

Cal hopped to his feet. “Awesome. Let’s give it a shot.”

We spent twenty minutes or so transitioning from our stomachs to standing on the board in the water and let me assure you, it was comedy gold. I fell in over and over again. Theoretically, keeping my balance shouldn’t have been so damn challenging for me. I spent most of my life zipping around on a pair of steel blades on ice, for fuck’s sake. Why couldn’t I do this?

“You’re in your own head, Luca,” Zoe cautioned from her perch on her board. “Concentrate. If I can do it, so can you.”

I swiped at my eyes and heaved my chest on the narrow plank. I fixed my gaze on the horizon, but just as I was about to give it another go, Cal appeared at my side.

“Hey there. You’re too tense, man.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m not sure why,” I lied.