Page 46 of Body Shot

The lights on the boards become brighter as the sun disappears, all different colors, lighting up circles around the boards about forty feet in circumference.

“It feels incredible.” Hayden looks around. “Like we’re standing on light. It feels really . . . intimate.”

“Yeah.”

That’s a good description. With darkness just beyond the colored glow of our boards there’s a sense of being alone on top of the water, even though we’re with others, and the voices carry over the calm water.

“It’s so peaceful.” Hayden looks over at me. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Itispeaceful. Intimate. Even romantic.

“It’d be better if I was over there on that board with you.”

She gives a low laugh and another paddle. “Tandem paddleboarding? Not sure if that would work.”

“It can totally work. But I was thinking you’d be lying on the board. On your back. And I’d be inside you.”

Her board wobbles. “And we’d be in the water.”

I let out a low laugh and stroke my paddle harder through the water. I move ahead of her and turn my board so I face her.

“Show-off.”

I grin.

“Don’t get too close. Seriously. My balance is a precarious thing. Also I’m not great at steering.”

“I won’t dump you in the bay.”

I continue to paddle lazy circles around her, watching her face in the soft glow, the muscles in her slender arms flexing as she paddles.

“I love the ocean,” I comment.

“Yeah? Why?”

I think a moment before answering. “Because it’s somewhere you can have adventures. But also somewhere you can escape, and just be quiet and think. It’s deep. Obviously, but I mean, it hides so much. So much life.”

“Is that why you wanted to join the Navy?”

“Um, no. My love of the ocean developed during training. Even though BUD/S training was brutal. I definitely learned to respect the ocean.”

“I love it, too. I always have. There’s actually science as to why humans love the ocean.”

I smile. “Of course there is.”

She rolls her eyes. “Never mind.”

“No, tell me.”

“There’s a scientist who says humans have blue minds and water can trigger a meditative state. Our brains are hardwired to react positively to water. Which is why being near it calms us. Connects us. Heals us.”

“Yeah.”

We paddle quietly for a moment.

“I have a feeling my abs will be sore tomorrow,” she comments.

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