In and Out of Love

3

We sneak outside past Grandma Joan. I lead Finn down to the wooden shed where we keep our surfboards. Mostly all of them are my parents old ones but I have two. I bought them two years ago when they were having a sale down at the flea market. Tony, the seller is one of my old friends. He's kinda like my uncle I never had. By now we have reached the shed. I unlock it with the key under the mat.

"That's so obvious!" Finn says motioning to the key under the mat. I roll my eyes at him. Note to self. Rehide the key later.

I slowly open the shed and we both go inside. The golden rays of the sun filter through the cracks in the wood. Finn's hair shines in the afternoon sun. I pick an old board of my dad's for Finn. It's quite dusty and Finn scowls at it.

"Don't worry, once it's clean you'll love it." I reassure him. He smiles. I grab my board.

🔹🔹

"Here we are!" I say. We are standing in the grass just at the beginning of the sand. He runs away from me and jumps into the ocean. I giggle and race after him. When I reach him, he is standing staring at his board. I knew he would like it. It is beautifully made...with beach wood. My dad used to tell me about each of his boards. This one was one of his favorites. It's a tan color with an engraving of a Hawaiian Flower.

"Wow..." Is all he can breathe out. I had had the same reaction when I saw it the first time. I'm a little scared to let him use it. It means a lot to me. But I'm pretty sure Dad would want it to be put to good use.

"You know how to surf?" I ask him. He shakes his head no.

"Well I'm gonna teach you then." I say confidently. He looks a little nervous. I reassure him that's he's gonna do great. "First let's work on paddling on the board on your belly. After a few minutes, he is paddling confidentially.

"Great job Finn!" I praise him. "Now let's practice standing on your board in the sand." We exit the water and Finn puts his board in the sand. I step on it.

"Place your feet evenly apart so you have good balance. Also use your hands to steady yourself. You can lean side to side by placing more weight on either side of the board. Don't overdose though." I explain. Finn eagerly steps onto the board ready to learn. He follows each step but I notice he isn't shifting properly on the board so without thinking I grasp his waist and pull him over to the other side of the board. He turns to me.

"You have warm hands." He says, his voice low and husky. I shiver. Then retract my hands to my sides. He smiles at me.

"Iris can you show me how to get up onto the board once I have a good wave?" Finn asks. He isn't ready.

"Let's make that our main focus for tomorrow. Would you like to see me surf?" I say itching to surf. He nods. I grab my board and paddle out to find a wave. Come on Iris. You can do this. I see the wave coming and I start paddling faster and faster. Then I'm up on the board and riding a huge wave. It curls around me. I look to the end and steady my board. Then I each the end and do a trick off the end of the wave. Finn is now standing up his hands in the air cheering me on. I realize that I could really like Finn...more than a friend.