Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
"It is," I agree. "But I don’t think Lachlan will be that impressed with a bar waitress with a black eye or a broken leg."
"We’ll do our best to take care of you," Jared says.
"Perfect," I say.
We’re at the beach in less than five minutes. In fact, it probably would have been quicker to walk, but they have a lot of gear, so driving serves a practical purpose. Joshua passes me a board that is slightly smaller than theirs, but still weighs a lot. "Are you okay to carry?" he asks.
"Of course," I say. "Let’s go."
The beaches in Byron Bay are some of the best in the world. The sand is so clean and white that it’s almost blinding, and squeaks as I walk on it. The ocean is turquoise tipped with white frothy clouds that top the waves as they make their way to the shore.
We dump all our stuff near the shoreline, and Jared and Joshua begin to tug on their wetsuits. All I can say is, wow. They leave almost nothing to the imagination. When he’s ready, Jared hands me a wetsuit, too. "Zip at the back," he instructs, using a long string to tug his own zipper closed.
"You say zip, I say zipper," I sing as I’m shoving my feet into the rubber outfit. It’s a snug fit and, as I wriggle, it is as though I’m having to wrestle myself into something at least two sizes too small.
"Crazy Americans, changing a perfectly good language!" Joshua says, running his hand through his mess of dirty blond curls and already staring longingly at the surf.
"You have no idea."
Jared is kind enough to pull my zipper into place, and he grabs two handfuls of the fabric at my waist and yanks it up, lifting me off my feet in the process. I squeal, as he drops me. "Better?" he asks, and it really is.
"Right. Let’s get you out there."
We each grab a surfboard, and stride into the ocean. The water is colder than I expect, and the waves hit my legs with a force that’s a little intimidating. Jared and Joshua walk in front of me, their amazing physiques making light work of the push back from the surging waves. Beneath my feet, the sand churns sideways with a strong current that wants to drive me to the right.
"The ocean is fierce, isn’t it?" I say.
"She’s a force to be reckoned with," Joshua says. "But you should feel right at home with her." The smile he sends my way is so open and genuine that it sends my heart into a weird fluttering rhythm, and Jared joins him, as though they both agree on Joshua’s sentiment. I love being thought of as a force to be reckoned with, especially by men who haven’t known me for long. It means my vibe is coming through loud and clear!
Before we get too deep, they begin to instruct me on how to get on the board and how to paddle out further. I manage to get on for a few seconds but slide off the other side, much to their collective amusement. I resist the urge to feel disappointed with myself because this is something totally new and I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing.
When I’m finally on with both Jared and Joshua’s amused assistance, I start to paddle out deeper. The waves push at the board, splashing me in the face and nudging me backward. I push harder, scooping water with my arms, trying to keep up with Jared and Joshua who seem to cut through the water with the grace of sea creatures.
They don’t go too far, before they turn. "Okay, Dawn. Get ready to paddle." They focus behind them, waiting for a wave that will take us all back in the direction of the shore. "Now," Jared yells.
Paddling furiously, the wave takes the board, propelling it along faster than my hands can keep up. Jared and Joshua stay on their bellies too, flying through the water on either side of me. The rush of traveling just a few meters, driven by the power of the water, is immense, and I can see instantly why these boys have moved from England to Australia for their passion.
"Woohoo," I shout as I almost careen into the sand.
"Fun, isn’t it?" Joshua’s grin says it all.
"Can we do it again?"
"Of course," Jared says, helping me turn the board around and get back on. "Time to paddle again."
"Yeah, the paddling isn’t fun," I groan, as my arms begin to feel the strain. No wonder the twins have such amazing biceps. Surfing isn’t just about fun. It’s physically grueling and takes a whole lot of mental concentration.
We go deeper this time, and I’m panting and bleary-eyed from the ocean spray. Jared and Joshua move to sit on the board with their legs hanging on either side, so I try to do the same. The balance it takes to achieve what they make look so simple is extraordinary. My core strength is letting me down.