Wet: Part 1 by S. Jackson Rivera Read Free Book Online

shark.” Paul laughed. “If you’d fallen in, the splash would’ve scared him to Australia. I meant the germs. My cooties haven’t killed you.”
    “Oh. Yeah. Surprisingly!” She tried to laugh. “Since coming here, I’ve been forced to discover all sorts of germs aren’t quite as deadly as I once suspected, but I still don’t think I’ll ever get warm and fuzzy over the little critters.” She had to close her eyes and clear her thoughts on the matter before she needed another shower. She’d also discovered how much she didn’t like taking showers on the island. Apparently, news about the invention of water heaters hadn’t reached the island yet.
    The waitress, a young pretty girl, showed up and asked if Paul wanted to order. She ignored Rhees. Paul ordered a beer and looked at Rhees expectantly. “I’m buying. It’s the least I can do since it’s my fault your rent is higher than you anticipated.”
    “Um, a Diet Coke.”
    The waitress looked confused.
    “Coke Light,” Paul told the waitress. She lit up with recognition and walked away. “Coke? I thought I was a better teacher than that.”
    “Well, you asked if I was an alcoholic. I’m not, but only because I throw in a lemonade or a soda every once in a while.”
    She made him smile. “Why are you here—if you’re so afraid of the ocean?”
    She glanced down and pursed her lips, thinking of the easiest way to explain. “It’s a dull story.”
    “My favorite kind.” He flashed a warm smile. His eye appeared to wink again, but during dinner Rhees had figured out that his right eye twitched on its own, a kind of facial tick. Images of straight men and jealous boyfriends not taking kindly to stray winks from a man who looked like Paul made her smile for some reason. She’d also already figured out that he used his left eye when he winked on purpose.
    “I’m a good listener. Try me.”
    She laughed. “Okay, but remember as your eyes gloss over with boredom, it’s your own fault.”
    “I don’t do boredom very well. I’ll tell you to stop if it gets too unbearable.” He stared, waiting, and she realized that staring was also a normal thing for him. He had beautiful eyes and he obviously knew how to use them.
    “Well, when I was little, I was at a friend’s house when I saw this documentary on TV about diving and I thought, ‘Man. I wish I was that cool’. The problem is, I’m not cool, at all. I’m a big baby. I never do anything exciting because I’m always too chicken. When my mom died . . .” The pain of losing her mother felt fresh again, but she’d trained herself to work through it. “It forced me to think. I realized I didn’t want to die knowing I never did anything with my life. I remembered wanting to scuba dive, so I promised myself I’d go someplace exotic and do it . . . someday. But deep down, I knew I never really would.”
    “But here you are.”
    The waitress showed up and set their drinks on the table. She lingered momentarily, watching Paul, as if hoping to get his attention. When he didn’t give it, she finally walked away. She glanced back once more, and Rhees didn’t understand the dirty look she gave her.
    “Is the waitress mad at me for not knowing how to order a Diet Coke?”
    Paul finally glanced in the waitress’ direction and let out a sigh. “No. She’s mad at me. So, what happened to make you dive in?” He winked, purposely this time.
    “My dad died a few months ago.” Rhees looked down and tried not to let the sad thought ruin the rest of her night. “He named me the only beneficiary on his life insurance policy. It wasn’t much. Enough to bury him, put his affairs in order . . . and there was a little left over. I had a choice. I could either finish school, or come here—the cheapest exotic place I could find to learn to dive.” She laughed, though she felt more like crying. “I read online the rooms were cheap and you could eat for a dollar fifty a day here. I’m beginning to