Throwing on a casual but covering dress I deem suitable for the beach, I prepare myself for a hot viewing on the sand.At least I can palm off any hot flushes on the Summer sun.
Koby steps out of his side of the landing in black boardshorts and a red t-shirt, a waterproof wetsuit bag slung over his shoulder, and throws a smile over at me before heading down the stairs.
Exhaling, I recompose myself and follow suit.
The day is spectacular.For the time of the year and school holidays have not started yet, it’s still quite busy out on the streets.
We decide to drive to a beach that has better parking and a better chance of getting a spot on the sand.Gathering bags from the boot, the sun is already beating unrelentingly down on us, and we’ve been in it for mere minutes.I throw on a wide brim hat to protect my face and am grateful I lathered sunscreen on myself before we left, but I can always reapply.
Koby emits a loud and long exhale.“Didn’t happen to bring some sunscreen with, did you?I forgot.”
“I have sunscreen pretty much throughout the entire house, and you still forgot to apply?”I crook a hand on my hip with a head tilt for good measure.
“Some things never change, hey?”
He’s referring to when we used to go to the beach throughout uni days and yes, he would never bring sunscreen, and then ask me to apply mine to his back.
“What would you do without me?”
“Burn to a crisp.”
“Evidently.”I roll my eyes at him and turn to face the direction of the beach.“Old spot?”
His hand reaches for the tote bag over my shoulder and removes it.Placing it on his shoulder along with his bag.Something he used to always do.
“Lead the way, Raven.”He playfully smiles in my direction, using the nickname he gave me the first time we met.
A flutter surges at my old nickname on his tongue.It’s been part of our gentle ribbing for the last twenty years, and it feels nice to fall so easily back into old, comfortable habits.
Convincing my legs to move, I negotiate the first step towards our old spot on the sand, which is a short walk from where the car is parked.Fortunately, our spot is to the right of the surf lifesaving flags.
“Nice and calm today,” Koby remarks as he removes my bag from his shoulder and opens it up for me to pull my towel out.Enduring a struggle with the wind that is strong enough to flap it around as I wrestle it to the ground and sitting on it to keep it put.Koby pulls out the sunscreen out of my bag before placing it on the towel next to me, then plops his own bag straight on the sand next to me, pulling his t-shirt off and throwing it on top of said bag.Sitting down here, watching him spread the cream down his tattooed arms, across the firm lines of his body, I’m mesmerised and grateful my hat and sunglasses hide my gawking.The glimmering sparks of the ocean behind him not helping this view framing him so spectacularly.
Kneeling down next to me, he waves my sunscreen tube around.“Do you mind?”
Unable to muster any words, I nod and outstretch my hand for him to hand the tube over.He turns away from me, and I squirt the thick, white liquid into my hand, placing the tube in my lap.Twisting a little more towards him, I rub my hands together and place them onto his upper back, spreading the liquid across, then down.Applying firm pressure against muscles that spring back at my touch.His skin is smooth aside from several incision scars peppered across his left shoulder.Multiple surgeries after his crash on track when he was eighteen.How does he have muscles like this at our age?I’m rubbing in the sunscreen probably a little too long when I realised I have nothing left on my hands, and promptly take them off his skin.
“All set.”I fuss with the sunscreen tube that has leaked a few dots on my legs and rub them in.
“Thanks.Sure you aren’t coming in?”He presses.
“Mmm-hmm.”Still focusing on my lap, and rubbing in the now non-existent cream.
“Okay, but I’ll be back to drag you in.Gotta have a dip and get that salt water on your skin.”And he takes off towards the water.
I watch him run into the water with carefree enthusiasm.Water splashing around his legs as he makes contact, flicking up to sprinkle salt water on his back and shoulders.He halts suddenly as two children run in front of him.One on a boogie board and the other pulling them across the water.They stop and say something to Koby.He replies, they laugh and run off.He shakes his head and continues into the ocean until he is submerged mid-torso.
A small wave rolls in and breaks a few metres in front of him.He ducks under it as it passes, returning to the surface, shaking his head and then running his hand through his hair.It does look quite refreshing.He dives under some more waves until some bigger ones roll in.He moves with the waves, body surfing back to the shore then walking back out for the next thirty minutes, and it’s my own private show until he heads back towards me.Enough time for me to regain a normal breathing pattern.
Water dripped down his body.Glistening droplets falling as he approaches me.I keep my head down, watching the water collect and pool on the sand.“Okay, come on in.It’s beautiful in there.You’ll feel great.”He encourages, raising a wet hand down to me.
I open my mouth to protest, but he shakes his head, sending droplets down on me.“No, no.We’re not leaving here until you’ve headed in.Even just for a few minutes.It’ll help you cool down.”
Knowing he won’t leave this alone, I roll my eyes and put my warm hand in his water-cooled palm for him to help me up.He pulls my arm up a little too high, and I trip forward into him.My hand still in his, as my other hand presses against his stomach.His firm torso under my fingertips and I ache to move them around.Trace the water drops through the deep ridges from every angle across his stomach.Dig my nails into his chest, drag them down as my tongue trails across his abs, biting down on the sides of his hip.
“Ready?”he asks.My hand was still in his, hovering over his shoulder.
“Yup,” I say, slipping my hand out of his and step back.Putting some distance between us while I remove my dress.
