The Deepest Blue by Kim Williams Justesen Read Free Book Online Page A

I hop on the board and fight gravity to stand as the wave swells and begins folding overon top of itself. Spray hits my face and my skin. I push with my legs, guiding the board upward to stay inside the curl, then coast off the edge and head behind the churning froth as the wave breaks and rolls into the shore. I drop back down to my stomach and paddle out again.
    For about an hour, I paddle out and surf in. A few more good waves arrive as the tide comes in, but most of them are weak and shallow. I ride a few more, loving the smooth feel of the water and the summer sun on my back. I’m trying to decide if I might luck into another big one, when I spot someone waving from the shore. I sit up, shielding my eyes against the sun reflecting off the water. It’s Rachel. I ride a wimpy little swell most of the way in before I pick up my board and cross the sand.
    â€œWhat’re you doing here?”
    Rachel has on a red bikini top and white shorts.
    â€œLooking for you,” she says. “I figured this is where you’d come if you were mad at me.” She stands with her arms folded across her bare stomach. “Besides, my dad’s home again.”
    I spike my board in the sand again. Rachel’s dad has a drinking problem, so she doesn’t spend much time at home. My anger eases a little, and I drop down on the towel. She sits next to me.
    â€œI’m sorry if I got you in trouble,” she says. She sounds genuine.
    â€œWhy do you have to be so pushy?” I ask. “I mean, you know I care about you, but it’s like you’re in some sort of race or something.”
    â€œI don’t know,” she says in a soft voice.
    â€œYou do, too, Rachel.”
    She sits in silence. A breeze plays with her hair.
    â€œThe other night at the arcade you were complaining because I didn’t kiss you soon enough. Then you find out my dad’s gone for the day, and you’re in this big rush to come over to my house.” I let out a sharp breath.
    Her skin is pale except for the rush of color to her cheeks. I’ve embarrassed her, and I sort of feel bad. Maybe Maggie is right and girls don’t know what they want any more than guys do. I feel stupid for getting mad at her.
    â€œMaybe we should just do it right here on the beach,” I say, trying to sound casual. “We could give the tourists a few vacation memories.” I waggle my eyebrow at her. Rachel’s eyes fly wide open as I untie the drawstring on my still-wet trunks and start sliding them down. I manage to get them to just about mid-hip when she grabs my hands.
    â€œStop it, Michael. Right now.” She laughs, but her face flushes a deeper red.
    â€œAw, come on,” I say. “They won’t even notice.” I nod over my shoulder at the pale bodies slowly roasting in the sun.
    She giggles and then tries to pull up my trunks. “You’ll get us in trouble. And the last thing I need today is to have a beach cop call my dad.”
    I laugh and sit beside her. I brush a strand of hair from her face. The waves crash and whisper at our feet. I want this girl, I think, but fear of the unknown stops me. Fear of the consequences, of not being any good at this,of disappointing this girl and having her tell the whole island what a failure I am.
    â€œI’m sorry,” I tell her.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she says. “I love you,” she adds.
    â€œI love you, too,” I say before I realize what I’m saying. But it’s mostly true. I’ll figure out the rest later. We lie on the beach, listening to the water and the occasional gull, and little kids who run into the waves and shriek as the water races up to meet them. Rachel drifts off to sleep, and I watch her breathe. She is so beautiful, and she can make me so insane. I lie next to her. The sun bakes our skin, but the breeze cools the air around us.
    After a while she stirs and sort of blinks her eyes. I smile at her.