𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆

𝟱. 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿

Sand bars littered the waters within the protective walls of the reef—areas where the tides lifted the sand into small isles where the depth only met a few inches at a time. That's where you took me. Or rather, that's where I followed you blindly like a lost puppy.

"You can ride tsurak," you said mostly to yourself, pulling yourself onto the sandy ledge and folding your legs underneath you. It was only a short swim and for you, it must have been nothing, but I was doing everything in my power to hide how much that journey took out of me. "...but you have yet to learn how to breathe with the water. Someone is skipping some very important steps."

"Wait—" I heaved, mirroring the way you sat with the tops of your knees barely breaking the water's surface. "Can you breathe underwater?"

"No, Jake," you paused, laughing at the absurdity of my question. "You breathe with the water. When you create a balance between your mind and your heart, the sea will respect it and you will not drown."

"Oh." The reality of what I was supposed to be learning from you was significantly less cool than what I had first imagined. "So I just hold my breath?"

You shot me a quick challenging look and my shoulders tightened. Take this seriously, Sully. Pretty girls don't accept ikran rides from assholes who don't listen.

Despite how hard I tried to fight it, I lost myself for a moment imagining what it would be like to show you what your island looked like from above for the very first time. Maybe I could fly you someplace else—anyplace else. I would have taken you wherever you wanted to go.

I thought about what it would feel like to ride with one arm wrapped securely around your middle. You would be riding in front of me, of course. You were precious cargo. I knew I wouldn't be able to take my eyes off of you for a minute unless to steer. It was hard to determine then and there if you would love it or hate it, if you would laugh or scream and beg me to let you back down onto solid ground.

"Breathe with me," you instructed firmly and I instantly pulled myself out of it. I hated when you were mad at me, even though it was my own damn fault most of the time. "You must slow your heart for your body to follow."

You sucked in a deep breath, watching closely and waiting for me to do the very same. I tried to mimic the way your cheeks puffed out the slightest bit as you welcomed fresh air into your lungs, but mine reached maximum capacity in seconds flat.

Coughing, I pounded my fist against my chest to clear my airway. Survival in the rainforests relied on stamina, agility, and very little else. Finding inner calm and making peace with my body was never on the checklist.

You shot me a pitying look and bit your tongue in thought for a moment as you considered how to proceed. Somehow, I figured this song and dance were going much differently than you envisioned. "Okay," you said, sounding sure of yourself as you painted a fresh smile over your face. You scooted closer, closing the foot of space between us. The cold water lapped at my torso, creating small waves that rocked between our two bodies.

I was deadly focused on every small move you made, down to the way your fingers traced the tide that pushed and pulled the sands below us. With one hand, you reached toward me but stopped right before my lower abdomen. Glancing up at me through your eyelashes, you seemed to silently ask for my permission. I nodded frantically, gulping dryly.

Yes. Touch me, please.

Your palm flattened over the space right above my waistline. "Breathe from down here. Call upon the bottom of your lungs."

While I had no fucking clue what 'calling upon my lungs' meant, I somehow understood exactly what you were asking of me. On your count, I sucked in a deep, full breath of salty sea air.