Page 42 of After the Storm

“We kissed,” I admit with a sigh because I’m supposed to be keeping this big mouth shut. I can’t contain the feeling of kissing her though. I’m boiling over.

“Congrats, dude. You’ve been into her for like… Ever,” he says, patting me on the shoulder. I just roll my eyes and walk past him to leave like I was supposed to as soon as he got here.

I should be leaving here to catch up on some sleep considering I can’t remember the last night of good sleep I got. Every night of the lake trip Audra and I stayed up far later than we should have been. Then last night was the first night home and instead of catching up on sleep, I drove her 45 minutes away to the beach and stayed up talking half of the night despite both of us having to work today. Which is why the last thing I should be doing is taking her out to night surf tonight. Still, as soon as I leave here, I’m picking her up to do just that.

I pull into her driveway and get out to open her door before even telling her I’m here. I shoot her a text letting her know I’m outside. Audra comes jogging off her porch and out to the Jeep in nothing but her all black bikini that covers damn near nothing. The sides of the bottoms press into the flesh on her hips and it’s all I can do not to ask to peel them right off of her. She always looks perfect but tonight she looks dangerously irresistible. That bathing suit is nothing but trouble.Sheis nothing but trouble. Trouble I can’t wait to get into. Just as I’m pulling out of her driveway and onto the road, she turns to me.

“Can I tell you something?” she asks and before I even get the chance to answer her, she blurts it out anyway. “I missed you. I don’t know if missing you is allowed in whatever we’re doing here.” It’s adorable of her to think there’s anything she’s not allowed to do in my eyes. She’d be hard pressed to find something I’d say no to when it comes to her.

“Missing me is allowed. I missed you too,” I say, leaning over and kissing her on the top of the head. I don’t know how I ended up being the one with the privilege of spending time with Audra but I know I’m the luckiest fucker on the planet. I know it best when I get to put my lips on her. I don’t think kissing her will ever stop feeling like a dream. The kind of dream you feel hollow when you wake up from because it’s so good. I’m living that kind of dream right now.

“I always miss you when you aren’t around.” She sighs like it’s a relief to get the information off of her chest. It’s a relief to me to know she feels that way about me. I think I’ve felt that way about her since middle school.

“Me too,” I assure her, taking her hand. For the rest of the drive she looks out the window and I try damn hard to keep my eyes on the road despite the bikini she has on.

I hop out of the Jeep and make my way to her door to open it for her. I hold out a hand and she takes it, hopping out onto the blacktop of the parking lot. I walk around the back of the shop and she follows close behind me. I pull out my keys and unlock the shed that has the wetsuits in it. Pushing through the rack I finally find one I think will fit her and pull it down.

“Put this on,” I say, handing it to her. Soft green eyes turn to big green orbs.

“What? I thought we were just night swimming?” she says and there is anxiety evident in her voice.

“Nightsurfing,Auds,” I correct.

“No,” she says, pushing the wetsuit back toward me. “No. I can’t. I don’t know how.” She shakes her head rapidly.

“I know, but I teach people everyday,” I assure her, attempting to hand the wetsuit back to her. She yanks her hands away like she’s allergic to the fabric.

“Not at night. No, I don’t think this is a good idea.” She steps away like she’s going to walk out of here.

“Auds.” I step forward, reaching for her hand and to my surprise she willingly places it in mine. “Do you really think I’d let something happen to you?” I ask. She sighs before answering.

“No.”

“And has anything ever happened to you while you were with me?”

“No.”

“So will you put the wetsuit on and trust me?” I ask, making one last attempt at handing it to her. She looks at the wetsuit then at me, then finally takes it from my hand.

“It just goes on over your suit, I’ll help you get it on and then we’ll head out.”

* * *

I stepinto the water holding my board tucked under one arm and on the other, Audra grips me tightly. She’s scared and it’s obvious but I’m hellbent on showing her that it’s okay to be scared and do it anyway. Mostly because it’s a lesson she could benefit from.

I’d be lying though if I said there wasn’t a selfish piece of me that hopes she’ll apply it to other places in her life. Like, me for example. I lead her out to the deeper water and she follows me, trusting me to guide her, which I do. Waves crash higher and higher on our bodies until we’re far enough out that we can let the boards float rather than holding them under our arms.

“I’m going to put you on your board, to sit on it, okay?” I ask her. She looks at me nervous for a moment before giving me a reluctant nod. I lift her, helping her straddle the board. I hadn’t considered how attractive she might look on a surf board butholy fucking fuck.The two things I love most in the world mashed into one. Surfing and Audra freaking Hart. Immediately I know what image will be flashing in my head next time I’m in the shower.

“I’m scared, what if I get like… sucked out to sea or something?” All I can do is laugh.

“Auds. You’re going to be just fine. I’ll make sure of it.” I assure her. She takes a deep breath and looks down at the water then back at me. She gives me a weak nod. “On your stomach,” I instruct, and I follow my own direction on my board to show her. She follows suit and lays flat on the board.

“Move down, you’re up too far, it pushes the nose in the water,” I say gesturing to where I’m at on my board. She shimmies her body down the board until she’s in the perfect spot.

“You see how little these waves are, Auds? I’m going to have you ride one but if you fall you’ll be okay.”

“I’m scared. I don’t know if I can.”

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