Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Eventually, we reached the cove. The cliffs around us formed a C-shape, disintegrating into rocks and boulders that tumbled into the Pacific on either side of the sandy beach. “I always love being at the ocean, but there are two things that make this place extra special,” Devon said, as he spread out the red picnic blanket and placed the bag on top of it. “First, it’s totally private. Come with me, and I’ll show you the second thing.”
I followed him as he climbed up onto a boulder and held out his hand for me. After he helped me up, he said, “We’re in luck. It’s close to low tide.”
“Is the beach under water at high tide?”
“No, but this is.” He gestured at the rocky outcropping, which formed a relatively flat surface punctuated by little pools of water.
I didn’t get why that would matter, until something orange caught my eye and I exclaimed, “Oh wow, it’s a starfish!” I hurried over to it, and Devon chuckled and followed me. “That’s so cool. I’ve never seen one out in nature like that.”
“Does that mean you’ve never gone tidepooling?” I turned to him and shook my head, and he smiled at me. “I’m so glad I get to be here to share this with you.”
I followed him to a pool of water, and we both crouched down to get a better look. It was filled with things that looked like puffy, lime green flowers, and when I asked what they were, he said, “Sea anemones.”
There was a large one directly beneath me, and I asked, “Will I hurt it if I touch it?”
“Not if you do it lightly.”
I gently brushed one of the creature’s tentacles and said, “It feels sticky.”
“That sensation is actually the anemone trying to sting you.” I yanked my hand back, and he explained, “They use venom to paralyze their tiny prey, but our skin is way too tough for them to harm us.”
“Why do you know that?”
“I learned it at the aquarium in my hometown when I was twelve or thirteen. I used to spend a lot of time there.”
We spent the next hour or so climbing over rocks and making all sorts of discoveries. At one point, I glanced up at Devon and said, “I feel like you’re watching me more than the sea creatures.”
“Oh, I am. I’m thoroughly enjoying your reactions.”
When we finally returned to the blanket, Devon started to strip, and I asked, “What are you doing? It’s cold out here.”
“It’s probably sixty-eight or so.”
“Which is cold!”
“It’s not that bad. I’m going to take a quick plunge.”
“In the ocean?”
“Yup. Want to join me?”
Was he serious? “Absolutely not. You shouldn’t do it, either.”
“Why not?”
“Because you might have a heart attack, or get hypothermia, or something.”
“A lot of oceanside communities do winter polar bear plunges. This isn’t nearly as cold as those are,” he said, as if that made his idea more rational somehow. “Some people even believe plunging into cold water has health benefits.”
“Do you believe that?”
He smiled at me. “Nah. I just think it’ll be fun.”
With that, he jumped up, shucked the last of his clothes, and ran naked to the water’s edge. While I admired his total lack of inhibitions—and enjoyed the view of his butt—this had to be a bad idea. I got up and was going to try to talk him out of it, but he let loose with a primal yell and splashed into the water.
I muttered, “Oh, hell,” and grabbed a towel before hurrying toward him.
He dove under a small wave, then immediately popped up and yelled, “Fucking hell, it’s cold!”
“No shit!”
Devon darted out of the water and exclaimed, “That was amazing!”
“Was it?” I unfolded the towel and practically tackled him with it.
“Absolutely. It made me feel alive.” He shook his head like a dog, sending water droplets flying everywhere, and I laughed and leapt back.
He returned to the blanket and took a seat. As he dried his arms and legs, I draped the other big, thick towel around him like a shawl. Then I sat down next to him and put my arm around his shoulders in an effort to warm him up.
Devon was grinning as he closed his eyes and tilted his face toward the sunlight. He looked so blissfully happy that I whispered, mostly to myself, “I kind of wish I’d said yes.”
His lids instantly flew open, and he met my gaze. I could see the true color of his eyes in the bright light—moss green, with flecks of gold and brown. They were as beautiful as the rest of him.
“There’s still time,” he said, tilting his head toward the ocean.
“But you said it was really cold.”
“It was also exhilarating. If you want to take a dip, I’ll go with you.” The fact that he was willing to do it again made me (wrongly) assume it must not be as bad as I thought. I peeled off my T-shirt and sweatshirt in one move and tossed them aside, and he said, “Really? You’re doing it?”