Page 2 of Lowering His Guard

The kid beams at me. “Yep. And this is my dad, Brock.”

“Hi, Dad!” I beam at the grumpy giant. “You don’t need to stay for the lesson.”

“I’m good,” he grumbles and I have to give my nipples a stern lesson. No getting hard when you’re teaching a bunch of teenagers how to surf.

I whistle. “Gather round!”

The kids separate from their parents and join me by the surfboards. “Welcome to your first day!”

They cheer. My smile stretches from ear to ear. Is there anything better than a bunch of kids excited to learn a new skill? I think not.

“I’m May, and I’ll be your instructor. Let’s go around in a circle and introduce ourselves. Tell me if you’ve ever surfed before, can you swim, any injuries I should be aware of, and is anyone nervous.”

After everyone introduces themselves, I give them the safety talk. Then, it’s time to hand out the boards. I explain how to carry it, what the leash is, and the paddling position.

“All right, future surfers! Are you ready to surf?”

They nod and clap.

“Oops! I forgot. We need to practice on the beach first.”

They groan and I smirk.

“Pay attention and we’ll be out in the water causing your parents to have heart attacks in no time!”

Brock’s eyes widen and he steps forward but I shake my head. He stares at me for a long second before nodding and retreating.

I demonstrate lying on the board, paddling, popping up, foot placement, and balance.

“Now, it’s your turn.” I barely have a chance to get the words out before the kids tackle their boards.

I make my way through the group correcting them.

“Come on, Dad,” Jace urges. “You try it if you’re such an expert.”

Brock lays on the board and it groans.

“Easy there,” I say. “The board didn’t insult your mother.”

“These boards are not normal sized,” he complains.

I rake my gaze over him. “The boards aren’t normal sized, or you’re not normal sized?”

He narrows his eyes at me. “I’m average-sized for my profession.”

“What is your profession? Picking apples from trees without a ladder?”

He scowls. “I’m a football player.”

I know perfectly well he’s a football player. The Hideaway Haven Resort where I work is hosting the Steel City Seals football team this summer while they attend training camp at Coastal State University. Hudson – aka the bossman – sat us down before their arrival and laid down the law.

Don’t ask me what the law is. I didn’t listen. Rules and me aren’t friends.

I clap my hands to get everyone’s attention. “Let’s get in the water!”

I show them how to get on the board. “Feel the waves. Test your balance.”

I wade through the water, helping everyone to stand and balance. Once I’m confident in their standing abilities, we move on to the next topic.