When I returned to Australia, it’d be for two months before I returned to Vegas for another three. We hoped that by March, we’d have a clearer idea of where we were at. Though honestly, that was bullshit. Our original plan was completely defunct since we’d both agreed we didn’t want to spend so much time apart.
By March, we had to make a decision. Come out at the end of the season as a couple, right alongside a new contract, or take early retirement and start our lives together back home.
The boat slowing caught my attention. It was time to get in the ocean.
Once suited up and instructions had been given for the second time, we entered the warm water. I grinned at Ryan, excitement thrumming through me. Scuba diving was an item to check off my extensive bucket list. I couldn’t think of a better person to be experiencing this with than him.
The weather had held off, the rain and winds dropping the second day we’d arrived. With no idea how long that would last, it was lucky we’d chosen today, with the cloudless sky offering a perfect backdrop.
After checking over our equipment once more and ensuring I could breathe properly, I gave the thumbs-up. Ryan quickly followed, the instructor doing the same before signaling for us to dive.
The water was clear and the visibility incredible. It didn’t take long to get used to the flippers and swim in the direction Samuel, our instructor, had indicated. The further we swam, the more my awe grew. The whole scene was stunning. Reefs, pristine and colorful, captured my attention, the strength of their colors difficult to look away from.
A school of fish caught my attention, swimming seemingly haphazardly at first, but the formation soon became apparent. As the abundance of fish swam around, I couldn’t decide where to look, what image to savor and capture to memory.
Bubbles to my right pulled my gaze. Ryan’s focus was on me. Beneath the mask and the breathing apparatus, I was sure he was smiling. Or he would be if it wouldn’t make him drown. He signaled, asking if I was okay. A thumbs-up later, he reached for my hand and didn’t let go. It was a whole new world down here, and if Ryan wanted to hold my hand, no way would I stop him.
For an hour we swam around the coral, absorbing the beauty of the moment. By the time Samuel indicated it was time to return to the surface, I pushed aside the pang of regret. This was what we should do every year. From the look on Ryan’s face when we surfaced and removed our masks, I expected he would agree in an instant.
A few hours later, the ride back to shore was quiet, peaceful. We sat together sipping beer and eating freshly cooked fish. While we were positioned the same distance as when we’d arrived, we held hands, our connection concealed by our thighs.
We’d had two more dives in different areas, making a full day of it. “I think this is one of my favorite days.” I squeezed his hand.
“Yeah?” He gave me a quick glance, the pink on his cheeks kinda sweet.
“Definitely.”
“Good. The day’s not over yet, so I think we keep it going.”
Bloody hell, I loved it when he said words like that to me. It touched me in the best and most profound of ways.
“I love you,” I whispered, unable to hold the words back.
His focus intensified when he stroked a thumb over my hand. “I love you, and as soon as we’re in our cabin, I’m going to show you with my tongue just how much.”
Narrowing my eyes at him, I sighed. “You never play fair.”
“I disagree. I play to win. Simple as that.”
Keeping up the exchange, I lifted my brow. “And what’s your prize?”
“My tongue in your ass.”
I snorted and pushed him away. He jerked to the side, spilling his beer, releasing my hand and laughing.
“What did I say?” he shot back at me, straightening, still laughing his butt off.
“You’re incorrigible.”
Ryan’s wink made my stomach somersault. There was something annoyingly sexy when he did that. “Just the way you like me.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Once docked, we kept our dicks in our pants a while longer and went to the bar. While I was eager for him to claim his prize, we were hyped up and buzzing from laughing so hard and the couple of beers we’d had.
We settled at the bar, shooting the shit, attention occasionally flicking to the TV and the soccer highlights they were showing. It was nice being here, sitting so casually like this. It was what it should be like, I thought, being in love with my best friend, hanging out before returning to our sanctuary and sucking each other’s brains out.
Rather than sharing that with him, I asked, “So no more plans the next couple of days before we head back?”
