Waves Of Passion

“Why would you ever be sorry? That was amazing.”

She pulled herself up and walked to the door. She locked it and made her way to the shower.

“So, what did you want to talk to me about?” she asked as she cleaned up.

“I’m going to be taking the afternoon and tomorrow off just to get ready for the competition.”

“That’s alright,” she said in a soft voice.

“Yeah, I like going up to where the reefs are. The waves are better out there.”

“But isn’t that a little dangerous?” she asked as she walked back into the locker room and opened her locker.

“I have been going up there for the longest time. I can take care of myself.”

“But the reefs?” she asked as she pulled on another pair of bikini bottoms and then handed him a pack of baby wipes.

“Don’t worry, mom. I will check in with you every hour on the hour if it will make you feel better.”

She smiled and nodded. “That would make me feel better. Now get out there and look pretty.”

“I’ll see you before I leave,” he said before he kissed her softly.

“You do that,” she said before he made his way out of the locker room leaving her smiling. “I really got myself a good one this time,” she thought as she stood there.

*****

It had been almost twelve hours since Eliza last saw Justin and even though he had promised to check in every hour, he had only done it for the first two hours. But ever since, it had been all silent and saying that she was getting worried was a huge understatement. She could not concentrate. Not at Wave Tide and definitely not at The Hump Bar. She looked at her phone for the umpteenth time and Christina sighed loudly.

“Will you stop worrying?” she said. “Maybe he is just out in the water, enjoying himself.”

“Now?” Eliza asked angrily. “It is eight pm. It’s dark outside and the reefs are as dark as…Christina, I’m worried. And even though the cops have kept insisting that until a person has been missing for a certain number of hours…” her voice trailed off.

“Yeah, it doesn’t make any sense for him to be out in the water right now. But there are already people who have volunteered to be part of the search party.”

“I want to be part of it.”

Christina shook her head.

“That is not a very good idea, sweetie.”

“I have been hearing people talking in hushed tones all around me and I hate every idea they are bringing forth. Sharks, rip tides…someone even said that he is nervous about the competition. So he bailed…I need to find out for myself.”

“I know and I understand but the truth is that you should probably expect anything and maybe seeing him in the condition…” Christina started before she suddenly butted in cutting her short.

“What condition? Have you heard something?” she asked and Christina shook her head.

“I haven’t…but we had one of our members a few months ago go AWOL and when we found her she was up on higher ground because her board had broken after a wave threw her against a rock. She wasn’t hurt but she was definitely shaken up.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Eliza asked.

“No, I’m just telling you that you should be ready for whatever.”

Eliza pulled on a jumpsuit and stood up.

“I don’t care what you say but I am joining the search party. Because if he is okay, he would have been answering his phone but now all it is doing is ringing. And if that is not cause enough for me to get out there, then I don’t know what is,” she said before she walked out of Christina’s office.