Wes.
He’s a wild card. His flair for theatrics is infamous. But he’s good—the best. And most importantly, I know he won’t tell me no.
This morning, Wes mentioned he’d be editing footage in his room. I walk to his door and knock.
Muffled music—Caspian’s ‘Sad Heart of Mine’—cuts off. “Come in,” Wes calls.
I push the door open and step inside. He’s perched over an organized desk, his laptop projecting a kaleidoscope of vibrant underwater footage. He swivels in his chair, headphones resting around his neck, his grin as charming as ever.
“Hi, Maddie, what’s up?”
I close the door behind me, squaring my shoulders. “I need your help.”
His eyebrows shoot up, amusement flickering in his green eyes. “Help? Oh, I like the sound of that. What kind of help are we talking about?”
I meet his gaze head-on. “I want you to teach me how to cave dive.”
His grin falters, giving way to surprised concern. He leans forward, resting his hands on his knees. “Cave diving? That’s… bold. Okay—I’m intrigued.”
I step closer, sitting on the edge of his bed. My hands clasped in my lap to still their trembling. “I’ve been thinking about Nathan. About what he was doing before he disappeared. I need to understand it. I can’t just sit back while other people piece together his work. I need to do this myself.”
His eyes narrow. “Let me guess. Scott said no.”
“He thinks it’s too dangerous. Or maybe he’s too afraid of what might happen.”
He studies me for a long moment, his easygoing demeanor shifting to a serious expression. “Scott’s not wrong. There’s nothing simple about cave diving. It’s one of the most dangerous activities you can engage in—period. If you screw up, you’re dead. There are rarely any second chances.” He pauses, then continues, “And more importantly, accept that you could do everything right—everything—and something you never anticipated could still kill you.”
“I know the risks. Nathan took them because he believed in what he was doing. And I believe this is worth it. I’m not askingyou to take me straight into the tunnels. I want to start slow and learn the right way.”
A ghost of a smile tugs at his lips. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. Most people wouldn’t even consider this, let alone fight for it.”
The room falls silent. My heart races as I await his answer. Please say yes.
Wes stands up and walks to the window. He gazes at the ocean for a long moment before turning back to me.
“All right. I’ll help you. But I have a nonnegotiable condition.”
Relief surges through me. “What condition?”
His cockiness returns. “You follow my rules. No exceptions. If I say something’s too dangerous, you listen. If I tell you to stop, you stop. Deal?”
I let out a loud breath I wasn’t aware I was holding. “Deal.”
“Good.” He crosses his arms as he leans against the desk. “We’ll start with the basics—gear, safety, and navigation. Once you’ve mastered your skills in open water, we’ll discuss the overhead training.”
“Thank you.” My voice thickens. “I won’t disappoint you.”
Wes grabs a notebook from his desk and tosses it to me. “Let’s hope not. Because if Scott finds out about this, I’m going to be the one who needs rescuing.”
I flip through the notebook filled with detailed notes, diagrams, and observations. “I’ll study this tonight,” I promise.
“Do that,” Wes says, giving me a stern look, then laughs. “Welcome to the world of cave diving. Let’s see if you’ve got what it takes, rookie.”
The following morning, I stand at the edge of the dock, adjusting the straps of my dive gear. The snug wetsuit clings to me, and the heavy equipment presses on my shoulders. My heartpounds as I glance at Wes a few feet away, prepping his own gear. His face hints at mischief as if he’s trying not to smile.
“All right, rookie,” Wes says, securing a coil of dive line at his waist. His green eyes glint with a playful seriousness as he gestures animatedly, describing what’s planned for today. “I hope you did some homework. The first lesson is simple. It’s all about the fundamentals. It’s about survival.”
I swallow hard. “Got it.”
