"Not worth it."
Incredibly worth it. She's adorable tired. "The water will wake you up."
She groans with agony. But her lips still curl into a smile.
I offer my hand.
She takes it, follows me onto the sand, strips to her swimsuit—fuck does she look good in that deep purple bikini—and pulls her wetsuit over it.
I change, grab a rental board, meet her on the sand. The sky is white, cloudy. It casts a soft glow over the deep blue-green water. It makes the world feel still. Peaceful. Calm.
The ocean is the same blue as Iris's eyes.
It's beautiful.
Perfect.
She looks from the board to me. "You're going to make me do more push-up things."
"Can anyone make you do anything?"
A laugh escapes her lips. "You have your ways."
"Do I?"
Her gaze settles on my crotch. "Yeah."
"You think I'd stoop to sexual bribes?"
"You wouldn't?"
"Never thought about it." I might. I nod to the board. "Do five."
"Do me."
"Sure. Strip naked and grab that towel. I don't mind witnesses."
Her cheeks flush. "Later."
"Here? Really?"
"Maybe."
"You're full of shit."
She laughs. "I'm still working up to public sex." She drops to her knees, winks, spreads onto her stomach.
She does her pop-ups seamlessly.
"You've been practicing," I say.
"I'm supposed to exercise, remember?"
"Just supposed to?"
"Okay. I love exercise. I'm now one of the people I used to mock. I blame you."
"You should involve me. Invite me over to watch your tits bounce."