“I can’t remember the last time I had that much fun without a board,” Alex says, tilting her face up to grin at me.
I tsk. “People giving up the joy of jumping through waves is one of the world’s greatest travesties.”
I decided the best way to keep Alex from panicking was to keep our cold-water swim fun. Rather than just wade into the churning water, we jumped waves like kids. It didn’t take long for Alex’s competitive streak to kick in. Before long, we were throwing ourselves into the larger waves while splashing the other person. The whole time, I never let her go.
“Really? The greatest travesty? Not famine or wars?”
“Nope. It’s the loss of childlike wonder. Hands down.”
Alex shakes her head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Ridiculously correct.”
I hold open the little gate that separates my property from the dune cut-through and guide us through as if Alex is now as essential to me as my first baseman’s glove.
“You’re going to have to let go of me eventually,” she says through a giggle.
“Do I?” I squish up my face, pulling another laugh out of her.
“You do if you ever want to get your wetsuit off.”
We both pulled our hoods off on the beach, which in itself wasn’t an easy task. Everything else is stillfirmlyintact.
I groan. “It was such an ordeal to get this thing on. I think I’ll just live in this suit. It’ll be a nice base layer under my uniform.”
Alex chuckles as she tugs me beyond the pool area where there’s an enclosed outdoor shower. “Don’t be so dramatic. It’s a lot easier to get off than on.”
Letting go of me, Alex slips into the stall to turn on the water. Thanks to the impressive water heater that came with his house, it only takes a second before steam billows.
“Come on,” she says, pinching the wrist of her left glove so the shower water seeps into it. “The water will break the seal.”
I step into the snug space as the door clicks shut behind me.
“Then just roll it back.”
When I copy her instructions and my right glove comes off easily, a delighted sound escapes me.
“Told you,” Alex says through a smile. “Warm water makes the neoprene softer.”
Once both our gloves are off, she leans against the side of the shower stall. “Boots next. Same idea. Let the water soak them then roll them off, inside-out, like peeling a banana.”
I lean against the opposite side, pulling my boots off as easily.
“Now get under the water.” Her palms push me back into the steady stream of warmth, tiny droplets wetting her cheeks.
Water sluices down my neck and over my body, but the only thing I can feel is Alex’s nimble fingers sliding up my chest. Her mouth parts slightly as her fingertips slide beneath my collar, running the length on both sides until they meet at the nape of my neck.
“That, um…” When Alex tucks her bottom lip between her teeth, I nearly groan. “That should break the seal. You just need to grab the pull cord to unzip the top half.”
I don’t move. I’ve been given my instructions, but I’m too distracted by the sensation of Alex’s twitchy fingers at my nape. The way the water pulls her eyelashes into perfect glittery points is entirely too enchanting for me to do anything but stare, enamored.
“Thank you.” I hear the harsh scrape of my voice but can’t seem to care.
“You’re welcome,” she says, gaze trained on my Adam’s apple. “It should come off easily now.”
My shaking head sends water droplets careening over Alex’s suit, but she doesn’t flinch.
“No. For letting me take care of you out there.” I swallow against the swell in my chest, trying to rein my emotions in. “I know you’re incredibly capable and strong, but—” A sigh escapes me as my forehead drops to hover above hers. “I really like taking care of you.”
