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“What’s so good about a cave anyway?” Malia asks. “I could eat.”
I bite back a grin at her cluelessness. Bhodi huffs and splashes water at us.
“Nothing. The coves suck.”
“There’s really nice rock formations and patterns and things. Some cool stalactites too.”
“Are they the ones that go down or up?” Malia asks, tipping her head to the side, pondering.
“Down,” Reef tells her.
“Something will be going down,” I tease.
“Shut the fuck up, dude!” Bhodi tips me off my board.
Spluttering, I resurface and laugh at Bhodi’s sullen expression. Yeah, he’s finally realised that Reef wants some alone time with our girl, and he’s salty about it. Too bad. He’s just going to have to get better at sharing, because the three of us are all in, and I don’t think the prof is too far behind. Bhodi will flip when he realises. He’s such a petulant child. He never could share his toys, and I can’t wait to see him and the prof butt heads over Malia.
I swim over to Bhodi’s board, laughing when he spies my intent and frantically starts trying to paddle away from me. I easily catch up to him, grab the tail of his board and dunk it under, flipping him off in the process.
Malia laughs as he comes up coughing and Bhodi and I exchange a glance and then wordlessly start swimming in her direction. She squeals and tries to get away, crying, “Reef! Save me!”
Reef laughs and pushes her board closer to us.
“Nah, I don’t think I will. Get her nice and wet for me boys!”
Innuendo intended or not, I don’t have to be asked twice. As Bhodi grabs Malia’s board and flips it, I wrap my arms around her and pull her off, into the water with me. She screams, but she’s laughing.
“It’s so cold!” she lies.
“Rubbish!” I scoff. “The water’s lovely!”
She’s still wrapped in my arms, and I pull her closer, whispering in her ear, “I’ll keep you warm.”
“I thought you were meant to be getting me wet, not warm.” Her cheeks blaze before the words have even finished leaving her mouth and the shock makes me cough, swallowing a healthy dose of sea water in the process. When I splutter, Malia giggles nervously, and it’s the most amazing, musical sound.
“Oh, I can do that,” I say, lowering my voice seductively.
“Yeah?” She leans in, and I have to bite back a smirk to keep my face straight. Too easy.
“Yeah, watch.”
I splash water in her face and this time she coughs and then shrieks and retaliates. Within moments an epic water flight is under way, and the air is full of the sound of laughter and happy screams. I knew it was what Malia needed, but I hadn’t realised just how much I needed it too. It’s been an intense couple of days – weeks really – and this afternoon has been perfect for unwinding and letting go.
When we tire of splashing one another, we switch to races, completely forgetting about food and giving Malia and Reef some alone time, until Bhodi starts whining again.
“It’s not fair. I only lost because I’m hungry!”
“You lost because I’m awesome, that’s why,” Reef tells him, laughing. “You get a prize for being the winner at the only thing you’re good at. How’s that?”
“And what’s that?” Bhodi asks, his face lighting up.
I snigger. “Whining,” I supply.
Malia covers her mouth to hide her smile, but a giggle still escapes.
“You’re both jerks,” Bhodi complains.
“Oh, shut it,” Malia tells him, turning and diving under the water.
