Page 53 of Broken Secrets
“Tide pools can be surprisingly deep.”
“Some of them are like six inches.”
“That’s deep for a tide pool.”
Dr. Cole watches this exchange with amusement. “I can see some of you are already developing a more nuanced appreciation for marine ecosystems. That’s exactly what we’re hoping for.”
As we begin the process of rinsing and storing our gear, Derek and I work together with the easy coordination of people who’ve just shared something significant. We don’t talk much, but there’s a comfortable silence between us that feels different from before the dive.
“So,” he says as we hang our wetsuits on the drying racks, “what was your favorite part?”
I consider the question while wringing salt water from my hair. The ray was magnificent, the Garibaldi was entertaining, the school of fish was magical. But what I keep coming back to is the feeling of moving through that underwater world with Derek, the way we communicated without words, the shared moments of wonder and discovery.
“The whole thing,” I say finally. “But especially doing it with you.”
His smile is worth every awkward moment with diving gear, every drop of cold Pacific water, every red mark left by mask straps.
“Same,” he says. “Although I think my underwater hand signals need work.”
“They were very interpretive.”
“I prefer to think of them as artistic.”
“Like your sea urchin impression?”
“That was a masterpiece of underwater performance art.”
As we head back toward the research station for lunch and data recording, I realize something that surprises me. For the first time in days, I haven’t thought about Emma’s silence, about family complications, about any of the emotional turmoil that’s been consuming me. The kelp forest demanded complete presence, complete attention to the world around me rather than the world in my head.
It feels like a gift, this temporary reprieve from anxiety, this reminder that there are experiences so engaging they can pull you completely into the moment. And sharing it with Derek has added a dimension I didn’t expect, a depth to our relationship that goes beyond casual dating or high school romance.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Derek says as we walk along the wooden pathway.
“Just thinking about how different everything looks from underwater,” I tell him. “Like the whole world rearranged itself while we weren’t looking.”
“The best kind of rearrangement,” he agrees. “The kind that makes you see possibilities you didn’t know were there.”
He’s talking about the kelp forest, but his eyes suggest he might be talking about other things too. Things like us, like whatever this is becoming between us, like the way shared wonder can deepen a connection in unexpected ways.
“Come on,” I say, taking his hand as we approach the research station. “Let’s go figure out how to put what we just experienced into words.”
“Think that’s possible?”
“Probably not. But it’ll be fun trying.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The cabin feelsdifferent as evening settles over the research station, quieter somehow, with the kind of peaceful exhaustion that comes after a day spent discovering new worlds. Maya sits cross-legged on her narrow bunk, brushing sand out of her hair, while Sophie examines her disposable camera like it might reveal its secrets if she stares hard enough.
“I still can’t believe we swam through an actual kelp forest,” Jessica says, pulling a clean tank top over her head. “Like, that was a real ecosystem we were inside of.”
“I know, right? It felt like being in a nature documentary, except we were the ones swimming around instead of watching from our couches.” Maya holds up her swimsuit. “Anyone want to go for an evening swim? I’m too wired to sleep yet.”
The idea sounds perfect. My body is tired from the day’s diving, but my mind is still buzzing with images of rays gliding through filtered sunlight and schools of fish moving like living silver. A gentle evening swim might be exactly what I need to process everything we’ve experienced.
“Count me in,” I say, digging through my duffel bag for my swimsuit. “The water looks so calm from our window.”
Within minutes, we’re changed and heading down the wooden walkway toward the beach, flip-flops slapping against our feet and towels draped over our shoulders.
