He wasamazing.
Watching Riddick surf felt like I was witnessing something sacred. The complete look of serenity that took over his expression each time he caught a wave was mesmerizing to me.
Then he would lock eyes with me, and that look would disappear and immediately be replaced with a hard, grouchy scowl.
I didn’t think he liked me very much, which was unusual for me. Most people loved me, so it bothered me that Riddick didn’t.
He ignored me every time I tried to chat him up and rolled his eyes whenever I tried to ask him a question about himself.
And I hada lotof questions.
How long have you been surfing?
Have you surfed in Hawaii?
Who taught you to hang ten?
Can you teach me to hang ten?
Have you been in any surfing competitions?
You’re good enough to be in surfing competitions. Do you think I’m good enough to be in surfing competitions? There’s one I’ve always wanted to go to in Australia.
Ever been to Australia?
I’ve heard surfing is sick there. Do you think that’s true? They have a lot of sharks, though.
Ever seen a shark?
What would you do if you saw a shark?
Are you scared of sharks? I don’t really know what it feels like to be scared of stuff, but sometimes I wonder what would happen if a shark tried to chomp on me, but then I forget about them once I’m riding… Does that happen to you, too? Do you ever think about sharks chomping on you?
“ENOUGH!” he finally snarled at me as he rode his last wave onto the beach.
We got out of the water, and I trotted after him, slinging my board under my arm. He was quite a bit taller than me, so I had to take two steps for every step he tookto keep up.
“Where are you going? Do you have a ride home? How did you get here? Where do you live? I can call my friend Turtle, and he can give you a lift if you need one…” I babbled happily as he ripped off his ankle strap and shook his head roughly as if trying to get water out of his ears.
“Do you evershut up?”he snapped, whirling on me, and I grinned.
“Nuh-uh,” I replied honestly.
He stared at me for a long moment, and I just stood there, grinning at him.
C’mon big guy. Admit I’m adorable. No one can resist these dimples.
That’s what my mom used to always say.
She said my dimples would be my key to taking over the world one day, and so far, they haven’t let me down.
Riddick was stubborn, sure, but he couldn’t resist me forever. I was loveable as fuck, and I knew it.
“No, I don’t need a ride,” he finally said, his blue eyes flashing with something I didn’t understand.
“I’ll be back here in the morning. Five AM. Be ready.”
“Five AM?! Dude, I have a shift tonight at Sharkies. It’s a close; I won’t be done till two.”
