AllFreeNovel
Share Us
* * *
Sara rubbed the back of her neck as she and Jack stopped next to one of the chaise lounges on the beach and deposited their towels on it. She brushed at her cover-up, delaying the inevitable. But Jack didn’t have the same hesitation and lifted his shirt off with ease, tossing it on top of his towel. He shaded his eyes with his hand, evaluating the water. “There might be a little current out there, so we’ll start off swimming into it. That way, the water will be pushing us the last half of the swim.”
She listened, but much of her attention was spent checking him out without being obvious about it. He had a trim body but wasn’t overly muscular. In short, he was very attractive without being intimidating. “Sounds like a plan.”
Unable to delay any longer, she pulled off her cover-up and headed straight for the ocean, imagining every flaw in her body as she refused to meet Jack’s eyes. When she stepped in, the water was so close to the air’s temperature she hardly noticed any difference. Her self-consciousness slipped away as she dove into the shallows, the water enveloping her. When she rose and began her freestyle stroke, Jack was already swimming at her side.
They continued straight out from the beach, and he drew ahead, but quickly slowed, allowing her to catch up. They swam shoulder to shoulder, and Sara watched small white fish swimming below them. Soon, he pulled up and looked to shore, and she did likewise. Their chaise lounge was further up the beach than she had been expecting. She had thought they were swimming straight away, but the current was carrying them parallel to shore.
“This is far enough out,” Jack said. “And like I thought, there’s some current. Let’s start swimming against it. Just go slow and steady—I’m right here if you need me.”
She nodded and resumed swimming, immediately noticing the force of the water against her. When she sighted to the right, the beach chair was now closer. They’d made up a little distance, but less than she’d hoped for. Sara put it out of her mind and continued following Jack’s instructions. She kept a moderate pace that kept her breathing from getting out of hand, but fatigue was already setting into her arms. The next time she sighted, the chair was just passing out of her sight.
She paused for a moment. “How long have we been going?”
Jack checked his watch. “A little over five minutes.”
“What? We’ve hardly moved at all!”
“Because we’re swimming into the current. You’re doing great. Don’t pay attention to the distance. How long do you want to swim?”
“I was thinking thirty minutes.”
“Sounds good. We’ll continue for another fifteen, then reevaluate. Just concentrate on swimming. I’ve got everything else.”
“Ok. Thanks.” She started again, grateful for the help, and secure that she was with an expert. She had learned in her class that dive professionals had extensive rescue and emergency skills.
Soon Sara found her rhythm, each stroke becoming easier, and her confidence grew. She occasionally brushed Jack’s arm, just to reassure herself of his presence. But now she was strong enough to continue for longer than thirty minutes and smiled to herself.
Jack stopped to tread water. “Sara, stop.”
“Wow, it’s been fifteen minutes already? I felt like I was flying through the water!”
“No, I’m stopping us early. The current has changed. It’s the opposite direction now—that’s why it feels easier.”
“Oh, shit! Should we go back to shore?”
“No, we’re fine.” He laughed. “You wanted your swim test to be a breeze. This should accomplish that.”
The shore crept by as they drifted with the current. “I see what you’re talking about. Let’s head back.”
He put a hand on her shoulder, meeting her gaze. “We’re fine, Sara. This current isn’t too strong. Slow and steady, remember?”
She was acutely aware of the warmth of his hand, and placed hers over it and squeezed. “I remember. Stay with me, all right?”
“Count on it. Let’s go.”
They started and, once again, Sara felt the push of the water against her. She was already tired, and her heart pounded. Worse, the negative chatter in her head rose in magnitudes.
What am I doing out here? I’m not an athlete! I’m going to drown. Head back to shore before it’s too late!
She growled and told her inner voice to shut up, but a peek at the shore revealed they hadn’t moved much, though the beach was closer now—Jack was angling them in. Her stomach plummeted but she was determined to forge on, placing her head in the water and forcing her fatigued arms to turn over. Several strokes later, she couldn’t resist another peek at the shore.
The landmarks were nearly identical. The small sphere of dread that had been building in her stomach became a beach ball and tears threatened. Sara pulled up, breathing hard. “Jack! We’ve hardly moved. I can’t do this.”
“Sara, it’s fine.”
“What was I thinking? This was a stupid idea.”
