We walk towards the shimmering ocean in silence.Swimmers and splashers have thinned out and are sunning or playing on the sand.The moment my feet hit the water, I'm instantly cool.The salt water spattered around my legs as I walked further in.Hiding myself in the water.
“Hey!How far you going in?”I hear Koby behind me.
I stop, the water hitting my midsection.Guess I did walk in a bit deeper than intended.Koby stops next to me as we both face out towards the ocean.He’s taller than me, so more of his damn torso is staying out of the water.
Distracted by my side-eyeing his body, I’m taken by surprise.A large wave incoming.Missing a jump with the wave, it barrels over me.However, instead of getting pulled further under, I feel Koby’s hand wrap around my bicep, and pull me out of the water.Once I break the water and the air hits my face, I gasp and open my eyes.
“You okay?”Koby asks.Both of his hands, squeezing my arms, looking into my face.His sturdy shoulders beneath my palms.My body against his.The water running between us.“Rayna?”
“Yeah.I’m fine.”
“I’ll just move us to the shallower water.”As he moves us a metre or so closer towards the shore.I know we are in the water, but it’s a nice feeling to be picked up and moved around.
As soon as my feet are back on the sandy bank, I let go of Koby and back away from him.Staring out towards the ocean, no side-eyeing him.“Thanks,” I rush out.
“Too much on your mind?”
“Something like that,” I mutter.
We bob in the water over a few waves.
“Anything you want to chat about?”
Argh, no.You’re the one person I can’t talk to about this.
“I just want to enjoy the water.”
“Told you it’s great in here.”He smiles, and it almost ends me.
“You’re right.It’s perfect.”
8
Koby
Well,fuckme,thatwas an intense moment at the beach.If I wasn’t so immersed in her presence, I would have missed her arm as the wave took her under.But,fuck, it was nice feeling her pressed against me.Holding her in my arms.Her hands on my shoulders, and her stunning face mere inches from mine.I almost kissed her.Almost ruined everything.Wanted to run my hand down the side of her face and brush the hair behind her ear, then devour her mouth.Let the ocean sweep us away, because I could have died a happy man with her entwined in my embrace.But I refocused.Moved us to safety, and she couldn’t get away from me quickly enough.I must have freaked her out.Stared too long, held her too tight.
So now we are standing in the ocean.Watching the waves come in.Jumping with them as they roll over us.
“Well, I'm getting hungry, thirsty, and tired.I’m heading in,” Rayna announces and starts making her way to the shore as I follow her.
We dry as much as we can and head to her car.The drive back to her place is quiet.Both comfortable and awkward silence fills the car.We don’t need to talk to fill the space, but I’m at a loss to what to say for the twenty-minute drive.Is not talking making this more awkward?
“Oh!Was Aria going to spend Christmas with you or Courtney?I’m just thinking of rooms and who needs to go where.Jill will stay in my room, and Teddy can stay with Declan.Louie has his room, which I’m sure he will offer to Aria.Jill said Marla would have no issues sharing a room too?”
“I’ll chat with her and let you know.She was due to call me today to fill me in on what she’s up to.She might even be staying at a friend’s house.I told her to do what she wanted.Hang with friends, be with Court.”
“I’m sure she’ll want to spend time with you too, though.”
“Perhaps.I don’t want her to feel like she needs to.”
“Well, you both are welcome for Christmas Day.Oh shit, what about Joey and Mack?Are they back here or in Paris with your folks?”
My parents have been retired in Paris for well over a decade, and we all try to take turns between the countries every few years.Joey and Mack, my twin brothers, are heavily involved in the motocross championship, running a successful team themselves and setting up shop in Queensland.Their season is coming to an end, as they start a little later in the year than us, so I won’t have concrete plans from them for another week or so.This cyclone season was causing them havoc already.
“Parents are getting a little on for a trip these days, and Joey and Mack will confirm what they are doing in a week or so.Probably depends how they finish their season and how this cyclone season goes.”
“Well, they are all welcome to visit or stay through the Christmas period.We’ll find the room.”
