“Like skydiving, bungee jumping, or paragliding.”
“Those all sound very extreme. You literally taught me how to snorkel and paddle board since I’ve been here. You really think extreme outdoor activities are just sitting in my brain waiting to happen?”
“Fair point. There has to be something though. What’s on your bucket list?”
“The Northern Lights. I’ve always wanted to see them in person.”
“Me too.”
“Don’t you do a lot of adventurous things?”
“I try to. I really like hiking, exploring, adventure, some extreme sports.”
“What’s the most extreme thing you’ve done?”
“Definitely swimming with sharks. It was wild”
“You swam with sharks? Like in the same water at the same time?”
“I did. I was in a cage but it was still very risky.”
“Nope, no thanks. Don’t sign me up for that.”
I laugh again and get lost in an easy back and forth of questions. She’s great company and I find myself enchanted by everything she is and everything she does.
“You’re kicking my ass. You didn’t tell me you were a walking dictionary-thesaurus combo.”
“Luck of the draw, baby,” Ivory says, and then freezes when the word crosses her lips.
I don’t hate it.
Deciding to let it slide, I ask, “What do you miss most about real life?”
“What do you mean”
“Like from your normal routine, outside of this quarantine bubble we are living in.”
“Oh man, a lot of things, I guess. The convenience of everything. Not being able to order delivery.” She gives me a pointedglare causing me to laugh. “At the risk of feeding the stereotype, I really miss the spa. Getting my nails done, getting a facial, a massage; the modern conveniences that we don’t get down here. What do you miss?”
“Baseball.” She laughs. “Hanging with my friends. Being able to hit up the bar to watch a game or get a bite to eat. I don’t have much of a life during the season so those answers sound lame.”
“It’s not lame. It’s your normal. I get it.”
And I know she does. We’re more alike than I thought. Both hardworking and dedicated to our busy lives. But we both yearn for the simplicities of life. The game nights. The lazy days by the pool.
“I win!” Ivory surges to her feet and does a little victory dance, shaking her hips and waving her arms in the air.
It’s the cutest and silliest thing I have ever seen but her joy is infectious.
More and more, I am wanting Ivory Crenshaw.
Today, tomorrow, next week, long after we get off this island.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ivory
April 21
