We headed out for my truck, and as I descended the three steps down to the sidewalk from his building, I felt his gaze on me.
My leggingswerea little tight, I realized.
Actually, very tight.
I usually paddled with other women and ignored the attention of men, so I’d never thought about how tight these leggings really were. Or that my shirt and jacket didn’t exactly cover my backside.
His gaze followed me down the steps and as I walked to the truck; I turned to catch his eyes, and he looked away, embarrassedly scratching his jaw—he knew I’d caught him.
Did I mind?
I don’t think I did, even though what we had was simply friendship.
He’d said he liked me, though. A lot.
I tried to push that train of thought aside as we climbed into my truck and headed for my usual launch spot.
We parked, and I took him to the SUP—standup paddleboarding— outfitter, where he was fitted with a board suitable for his height and weight, a paddle, and a PFD—portable flotation device, which resembled a fanny pack but which could be inflated in case of emergency to keep him afloat, should he fall in.
When Lucas mentioned he’d never been on a SUP before, the sales assistant suggested a lesson.
“I mean, you get up there and paddle, right?” Lucas said, his voice gruff.
I sighed; men always resisted accepting help. “It’s a bit more involved than that,” I said, “and a quick lesson will make things a lot easier for you.”
Lucas growled. “Fine. Whatever. Show me this shit, then, son.”
The young man was tall and lithe, with sleek muscles and short messy blond hair, wearing colorful board shorts and an open zip-up hoodie. “Grab your board and paddle and meet me over at the docks. I’ll grab my board and we’ll hit the water.”
In a few minutes, I was watching as Kyle, the SUP instructor, stood on the dock giving Lucas an overview of basic stance, paddle grip, and stroke mechanics.
“I’ve done plenty of canoeing,” Lucas said. “This sounds a lot like that.”
Kyle nodded. “It is. Just…standing up. This is a great core workout, so make sure to tighten your core when you pull. That will help with balance, too.”
Lucas eyed the board that was leaning on its side against the dock pylons. “You sure that thing will hold me? I ain’t exactly a lightweight.”
Kyle nodded. “I’m one hundred percent sure. It’s a twelve footer, eight inches thick, and rated for up to four hundred and fifty pounds.”
Lucas sighed. “Shit. I mean, I ain’t light, but I don’t weighthatmuch.”
“Not by half,” I said.
He tipped his head to one side. “Eh, not by half may be a bit generous. But it’ll do, I guess, as long as you’re sure of the rating.”
Kyle set his board into the water, climbed down and sat astride it, kicking his bare feet in the water for a second before strapping the tether around his ankle. “So. Always put on your tether. The water is pretty calm today, but it’s never worth taking a chance.” He splashed a hand in the water. “Your turn. Set your board in, leave your paddle on the dock, and climb down on and sit on it like I am.”
He hesitated a moment, and then Lucas stripped off his socks and shoes, and did as instructed. Somewhat awkwardly and with a good bit of uncertainty, he sat astride his board.
Kyle grabbed his paddle and used a shortened grip to paddle away from the dock; Lucas followed suit, and I got on my board and followed at a distance. Once we were out in the channel a bit, Kyle tucked his knees up on the board and under his butt and sat upright.
“If the water gets choppy or you’re unsure of your balance, you can always go down to your knees. This is your safe position.” He stood up in a smooth, lithe movement. “Try standing up, facing forward. Take your time.”
Lucas went to his knees first, and spent a few minutes like that, getting used to it. And then, slowly, lumbering, he got to his feet, arms waving to catch his balance.
“Tighten your core, and stand straight. Get used to just standing on the board at first.”
Lucas took a deep breath and held it, glancing back at me. I saw resolve harden on his face, and he stiffened, but that didn’t’ help. If anything, it made it worse.
