Page 10 of Triton

4

Aria

I wokeup at six a.m. after a restful night in my beach cottage. I loved this place and hoped to buy one just like it if I was stationed here. I hopped out of bed to let Flounder out and made myself a quick cup of coffee. Sitting on the porch, I appreciated the cool, ocean breeze blowing on my face. Flounder sniffed around the fragrant yellow rose bushes, and I imagined how amazing it would be to live here. Maybe after I became settled as a SEAL, I could make some time for hobbies. Take up gardening, enjoy reading a book on the beach, finally get over my irrational fear and learn how to ride a bicycle.

Maybe even find a boyfriend.

My mind immediately returned to Erik. What had he meant by saying that he would stop by tomorrow? I was nervous enough about my first-day teaching. Performing had always been easy, but interacting with the public always filled me with anxiety.

I slathered my body with sunscreen and then put the purple bikini on and then pulled up my sweats. My hair was a mess, so I secured it into a braid and made my way to theDel.

As I strolled along Ocean Boulevard a group of BUD/S candidates ran by in a pack, like hungry wolves. Their instructors drove in a truck behind them, blasting Mariachi music and yelling at them on a megaphone. I gasped, maybe this full idea was insane. These men, all of them, were massive. Tough, strong, muscular, in perfect shape. Could I possibly compete with them? Or would I just be making a fool out of myself?

As much as I yearned to be the first female SEAL, trying and failing with the whole world watching would be humiliating. And believe me, I knew what it was like to fail, and fail big, when everyone was relying onyou.

But back then, I wasn’t famous.

Now, everyone had expectations ofme.

I had redeemed myself with gold; most people didn’t bring up the time I’d let my team down. Most people except my mother.

I went straight to the pool and found Isa waiting for me with a big smile on her face and a wide-brimmed hat shielding her from the sun. The lush landscaping of the Del contrasted with the cloth bungalows adorning the side of the pool. With the view of the sparkling blue ocean in the background, I knew I was in paradise.

Isa removed her hat. “Hey! The guests are going to arrive any minute.” She handed me a clipboard and then pointed at a bunch of papers on a kiosk. “Could you check them in while I set up the tails and pool noodles?”

“Sure.”

She walked over to the side of thepool.

I scanned the list of students. But my heart stopped when I saw the final name on thelist.

Erik Anderson.

Oh my god! Was Erik on the list the same person as Erik the SEAL I’d met yesterday? Is that what he meant by I’ll stop by tomorrow?

I hurried to Isa’s side. “We have a problem. Are men allowed in this class?”

Her face twisted. “Hmm. Well, they aren’t banned. We haven’t had any guys show up before. Is there a guy on thelist?”

“Yeah. You didn’t see? Erik. Isn’t that the name of the SEAL we met yesterday?”

“Sure is. And I think his last name is Anderson—that’s the name tape on his cammies. Damn, he must really be intoyou.”

Dying. I was dying. I took a deep breath. “We’re not actually going to let him take this class, arewe?”

“I mean we can’t discriminate against men. It’ll be fine. He’s a SEAL. I bet he will look fabulous in atail.”

I bet.I bit my lip. It was my first day, and I didn’t want to argue. Especially because my whole philosophy on life was that a woman could do anything a man could do. Why shouldn’t it be true in reverse?

I stood by the pool gate as the guests arrived. A few teen girls, a mother and daughter, and a couple of college-age women. And then, my heart skipped abeat.

Walking toward the pool was Erik, alongside a teenage girl who resembled him, and an older woman.

His dark hair shone in the morning sun, and his strong jaw framed his handsome face. He wore board shorts which showed off his muscular thighs and his incredible ass. How was I going to teach a class with this man in mypool?

Erik’s mouth spread into a devilish grin. “Nice to see you again, Aria.” He leaned into me and gave me a hug. “I told you I’m not giving up that easily, sweetheart,” he whispered in myear.

My heart palpitated. Did this man really want to go out with me this desperately? He was fine as hell—surely he could get any woman he wanted. Feminine brunette beauties like Isa. Or blonde bombshells like some of the ladies in the pool, who were clearly checking him out, not that I could blame them. Why would he want someone as awkward asme?