Shattered Ties(24)

I was enjoying the easy banter between the two of us. Jesse wasn’t a big talker, but I could tell that he was more relaxed and open out here than he was at school.

“Are you getting used to our school now?” I asked.

“I guess. It’s just school.”

“Yeah, but I know it has to be hard to be the new kid.”

“Being the new kid isn’t a big deal. It’s dealing with spoiled brats all day that gets annoying.”

“Do you think I’m a spoiled brat?” I asked.

He hesitated for a second. “I think you could be if you wanted to. I do think you’re spoiled, but you’re not a brat. When we met, I assumed that you were, but I was wrong.”

That wasn’t the answer I’d expected. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what his answer would be. “Thanks, I think.”

He laughed as another wave approached us, and I gripped my board with my knees and hands. It pushed us back a bit as it slipped under our boards.

“It was a compliment, I promise. You’re different from the rest of them.” “How so?”

“I don’t know. You’re just...you. You aren’t stuck-up, and you’re easy to talk with. Everyone else gave up on talking to me when they figured out that I didn’t want anything to do with them, but not you. You kept talking until I had to talk back.”

“Well, I do talk a lot,” I joked.

“It’s endearing. Kind of.”

“Sure it is,” I said as I watched another wave approach us.

It was bigger than the last, but I wasn’t sure if it was big enough. I studied it closely, chewing on my lip as I debated. If it weren’t big enough, I’d fail before I even tried.

“What has you in such deep thought over there?” Jesse asked.

“I’m debating on whether or not that wave is the right one.”

“Well? Is it?”

“I don’t know. I think so, but I’m not sure.”

“There’s only one way to find out. Try to surf it.”

I knew right then that it was the one. If Jesse suggested I try it, I was going to try it.

“Let’s do it.”

He smiled. “Good. Now, turn your board around and start paddling.”

I did as he’d said, and I turned my board so that it was facing the shore. I started paddling as the wave closed the gap between us.

“You’re going to feel it start to push you. When it does, keep paddling for a minute, and then stand up. Okay?” “Okay,” I said nervously.

My stomach was in knots over the prospect of trying to stand up on this thing. I was normally pretty graceful, but I felt out of my element out here. The wave was on us before I even realized it was close, and I felt myself sailing forward with my board. It was an incredible feeling. I smiled as I paddled a few more times, and then I prepared myself to stand up. I pushed up and pulled my legs toward my chest, just like Jesse had told me to. I took one last deep breath before standing up, careful to keep my body crouched down low. I wobbled a bit as I put my right foot in front of me, but I didn’t fall. So far, so good.

“You’ve got it! Just move with the wave!” Jesse yelled from beside me.

I glanced over to see him standing on his own board, looking completely at ease. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him as he maneuvered his board on the wave, causing the muscles in his stomach and arms to tighten. I was so caught up with watching him that I’d stopped paying attention to what I was doing, and before I knew what was happening, I was being thrown off my board.

I crashed into the water and slipped under the surface. Shocked and confused, I tried to kick my way to the surface, but I wasn’t sure which way was up. I hadn’t had time to grab a breath before going under, and my lungs were already starting to burn.

Suddenly, I felt myself being pulled up by my arm. My head broke the surface, and I took a deep breath just before a wave crashed over my head. I was pushed back under, but I felt someone holding on to my arm still. I was pulled back up again, but without any waves crashing into me this time. My board was a foot in front of me, and I grabbed it.

“Holy shit, are you okay?” Jesse asked from beside me.

I nodded, unable to speak. I’d spent most of my life out in the ocean, and I’d never once been afraid—until today. The terror I’d felt when I couldn’t find the surface was like nothing else I’d ever experienced.

“You scared the crap out of me, Emma.”

“Sorry,” I said as I held on to my board for dear life.

“What happened?” Jesse asked with concern.

“I don’t know. I guess I got distracted.”

“By what?”

Oh shit. “Uh, I was watching you and not paying attention.”

“Why were you watching me? You always have to pay attention when you’re on a board, or you’ll fall off.”

“You were distracting. Sorry.” The words slipped out before I could stop them. I wanted to hit myself over the head when a grin crept across his face.

“Why am I distracting?”

“Are you really going to make me spell it out? You were all wet and shirtless, and I was distracted. Okay? There, I said it.”

His grin widened as he listened to me embarrass myself. “So, I’m distracting when I’m shirtless?”