Page 64 of Kai
“You? An idiot? No way,” I said. “You’re the smartest person I know. I was the dumbass who interrupted your Zen. Did you know you floated for over six minutes all on your own?”
“Over six minutes?”Her eyes widened, sparkling with excitement. “Really?”
“I timed it.” I showed her my watch. “Very impressive for one lesson.”
She fought a smile and lost, dazzling me with her grin. “I’ve never done that before.”
“Like I said.” I smiled and cocked two thumbs at myself.“I’m good.”
Her peals of laughter were the best gift she could ever give me.
“I think you can do ten minutes, maybe more.”
She cocked her head and lowered her chin. “Is that a dare I hear?”
“It could be.”
“Did you know I can’t resist a dare?”
“I heard about that.”
“My sisters strike again.” She flashed a knowing smirk. “What’s at the end of this dare?”
“Lunch?”
She shook her head. “A decent dare needs to have a reward.”
“Okay.” I shrugged. “What would you like?”
“Let me think about that.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “What are your terms?”
“If your feet touch the bottom before ten minutes of floating, you lose. No reward for you. If you hit the ten-minute mark, you win. You get to choose your prize.”
“Ten minutes is a long time.” She flashed me a sexy pout. “You’re a hellish taskmaster, you know that?”
“Those are my terms.” I dared her pout with a lift of my eyebrows. “Unless you’re ready to give up now. If that’s the case, we can just move on to lunch.”
“Not a chance, you cruel, demanding Marine.” Her chin whipped up, and she pointed at my watch. “Set a ten-minute alarm. We’re on.”
“That’s the spirit.” I perched my fingertip on my watch. “Ready?”
“Ready.” She leaned back in the water.
“Go.”
***
Cece
Nothing like a dare to get me going. Focusing on my breathing, I closed my eyes and worked at relaxing my limbs.
“Find your center of buoyancy,” Kai reminded me, ever the thorough instructor. “Fill your lungs with air. Let your fear and worries flow out with each breath and allow the sea to take care of you.”
His calm voice comforted me. My arms drifted to my sides. My toes bobbed in the water. A slight breeze blew over my face and the parts of the skin that were not submerged. In contrast, the ocean felt warm and welcoming.
“You’re amazing.” His praise lifted me higher in the water. “You’re doing great.”
A pleasant sensation settled over me. I loved the gentle way in which the water held me, the subtle sensation of my hair waving in the current, the occasional brush of a timid wave passing by. My ears floated below the surface, and the water muted the sounds of all things above the surf. But under the water, the ocean was anything but silent. I sensed the quiet melody of the sea, the discreet song of the currents, and the notes of life that added bubbles, splashes, and ripples to the world beneath me.
