Beach Glass by Suzan Colón Read Free Book Online Page B

like the way I travel light. My luggage is just one carry-on and my giant handbag.
    Daniel, by contrast, was always an over-packer and a bag-checker, which forced us to wait by the luggage-go-round. He took so much “Just in case” and “You never know” stuff that he ended up bringing almost his entire apartment with him wherever we went. I never called him on it, because I knew why he did it. He’d spent most of his childhood being tossed back and forth between his parents after every custody battle, never knowing where he was going to live or for how long. He just got used to taking everything he had with him. And that was nothing compared to the emotional baggage he’s still carrying around.
    But as I empty my suitcase, and then my bag, I see I may have traveled too light this time. Not only have I left my alarm clock at home, I can’t find my cell phone, either. Right then, an image flits into my brain of my phone, plugged into its charger, sitting on my desk at home. Great .
    Then again, I noticed a public phone at the front office, and I have my laptop for email. Besides, who do I have to call? The website won’t be contacting me about the assignment. My family knows where I am. And my boyfriend  . . . is not my boyfriend anymore.
    Whenever I went away to visit Bethy, Daniel would say, “Call the minute you touch down so I know you got there okay.” How could someone who cared about me so much not care about us having a future together?
    The ocean air here is so warm I can barely feel the tears slipping down my face.

8.
     
    Emerald Cove Surf & Yoga Camp Schedule
    Day 1: Meet Your Surfboard! And your fellow campers :)
    Note: Morning yoga class is cancelled today.
    8:00 a.m.—9:00 a.m.
Group breakfast on the veranda at the Main House
    9:30 a.m.—10:00 a.m.
Meet instructors Carson Richardson, Evan Jennings, and Randy Caruso
    10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.
Orientation & practice on the beach
    12:00 noon—1:30 p.m.
Lunch
    2 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
Let’s hit the waves!
    6:30 p.m.—9:00 p.m.
Dinner on the veranda at the Main House
    “OOOOOOOOUUUUUUURRRRGGH!
    OGH OGH OOOOOOOOUURRRRRGHHHH!!”
    My heart thuds as I sit bolt upright in my bed. I don’t know what that crazy hooting sound is until I remember reading something about this area being home to howler monkeys. A howl would be positively soothing compared to these crazy monkey shouts. Looks like I didn’t need my alarm clock after all.
    Tired and emotionally hung over, I put on my glasses, thankful that I didn’t forget those, and see a bright blue piece of paper on the floor. It’s the schedule for the day’s events. Because I’m at a surf camp. In Costa Rica. Surrounded by creeping spiders and howling monkeys. In a tentalow, of all things. And there’s no yoga class, and I’m supposed to get on a surfboard today and learn how to ride waves. Suddenly, being home alone doesn’t seem so bad. Grumbling and in dire need of coffee, I shuffle over to my tent flap, unzip it, and step outside.
    Gentle morning sunlight filters through the sky, gradually pushing the dark blue night away with orange and scarlet fingers. A cool breeze caresses my cheeks and ruffles my hair and makes a soothing swishing sound through the palm fronds above me. The air smells both sweet and salty, a combination of lush tropical flowers and the ocean. I look around in wonder. It’s absolutely gorgeous here.
    Last night I hadn’t been able to see the beach, but I could hear that it wasn’t far away. Now I follow the sound of waves, walking slowly down a sandy path that’s soft on my bare feet, past thick, leafy bushes. Big pink flowers are opening up, happy to see the sun.
    When I get to the edge of the beach, I can see surfers riding the early morning waves. I’m still in my jammies, not exactly ready to say good morning, but I want to watch them to see how tough this surfing thing might be. I stand behind the trunk of a palm tree and peek out. A short, muscular dude has just left