Chapter Eighteen
JULES
The coral wallstretched before me like a living carpet, the vibrant hues pulsing with life. I hovered, mesmerized by the delicate dance of fish darting in and out of branching corals and sponges. A gentle tap on my shoulder drew my attention. Eli pointed to a tiny crevice, his eyes crinkling behind his mask. I squinted, trying to decipher what had caught his interest, but couldn’t see anything. I looked back at him and shrugged.
This time I could see his smile as he reached out a hand and rested it gently on the rock. My breath froze in my lungs momentarily as an octopus slowly emerged from the crack in the reef, its tentacles unfurling in a graceful ballet. I gasped, my exhaled bubbles racing to the surface as it reached out and gently stroked one arm across Eli’s still hand. After probing for a long moment, it withdrew the leg and slid across the coral. Eli reached his hand to mine, giving it a squeeze as we watched the octopus glide over the reef, changing color and texture as it went.
I was dumfounded. Both at the octopus’s display and the fact that Eli had spotted it in its hidey-hole. The animal was a smooth brown, then as the coral color changed, it instantly developed mottled white nubs all over its body. Eventually, the creature disappeared back within the reef, leaving Eli and me to drift on together, exploring this underwater world he’d shared with me.
As we finned along the coral wall, I marveled at the sheer verticality of it. I’d always imagined coral reefs as sprawling underwater gardens like the one I’d seen on my check-out dive, but this was like a living skyscraper. When I’d mentioned I wanted to go diving again, Eli had suggested takingSunset Diverout to this spot, promising me a sight I’d never forget. He wasn’t wrong. This dive was just the two of us, the late afternoon sun bathing the busy scene before us.
The wall stretched as far as I could see in either direction, disappearing into the misty blue depths below. Every inch was covered in a riot of coral formations—delicate fans waving in the current, bulbous brain corals nestled in narrow valleys. Eli tugged gently on my hand, guiding me along the wall. We drifted through a school of creole wrasse, their bodies flashing a brilliant blue in the diffused light.
As we ascended slowly, careful not to rise too quickly, I felt a pang of regret that our dive was coming to an end. I was saddened that Lacey hadn’t finished the class and couldn’t experience what I was. But then again, I didn’t feel like sharing Eli right now. This special display was just for me.
After surfacing, I pulled my mask down around my neck and grinned. “That was incredible! I’ve never seen anything like it. That wall just went on and on.”
Eli’s laugh was infectious. “Just wait until you see where we’re headed next.”
As we climbed back into the boat, I sat next to him and patted the picnic packed inside an insulated cooler next to me. “I can’t wait. I never knew diving worked up such an appetite. It seems like you’re not working at all the whole time you’re down there.”
Eli started the engine and nodded. “It’s deceiving. Though in challenging conditions, you definitely feel it.”
“Guess you’ve earned those muscles.”
“Never needed to hit the gym. Work keeps me in shape.”
As we motored across the waves, I studied him. The way the saltwater beaded on his tanned skin, how his eyes lit up when he talked about the reef.
Eli shot a glance at me. “You planning on gawking at me all day, or are you ready for our next adventure?”
I laughed at getting caught. “I wasn’t gawking. I was… cataloging your features. For future reference.”
“Uh-huh. And how many did you find?”
“Oh, hundreds,” I deadpanned. “I may need to start a spreadsheet.”
His laughter carried on the wind as we sped across the waves. I closed my eyes, relishing the sun on my face and the salt spray on my skin.
The boat slowed, and I opened my eyes to a new paradise. A pristine white beach stretched before us, bordered by swaying palms. It was a tiny island that looked to be deserted. The water was so clear I could see fish darting beneath the surface.
“Welcome to Rumrunner Key,” Eli announced, guiding us to a wooden dock. “What do you think?”
I drank in the view. “It’s breathtaking. How did you find this place?”
“Dive shops come here sometimes for surface intervals, but it’s late enough in the day that we have it to ourselves. Our own private slice of paradise.”
After snugging up against the wooden dock, Eli helped me off. As we made our way down the dock, I studied the thick brush behind the palm trees. The island was flat but looked densely covered in foliage.
Eli pointed toward the tree line. “Want to see something cool?”
I squinted, following his gaze to a darker area. “Is that… a cabin?”
“Good eye, Verne.” He grinned. “Rumor has it, it’s got quite the history.”
My curiosity piqued, I moved toward the structure. “That sounds intriguing. What kind of history?”
Eli fell into step beside me, his shoulder brushing mine. “Oh, you know. Bootleggers, hidden treasure, star-crossed lovers—take your pick.”
