Chapter 20: Slice of Paradise

**Lena**

“Welcome ladies, to our secret slice of paradise!” Corey announces, his arms extended in the air as if conducting a musical number. Joran, Katie, and I absorb the breathtaking scene surrounding us: nothing but vast ocean for miles, bordered by a small cliff looming in the distance, its rough edges and moss glistening in the sunlight. I look to Chase and Corey, who are grinning from ear to ear, slugging each other on the arms with boyish ruggedness. “Your secret slice of paradise?” Jordan asks with a yawn as she slips off her shoes and dress, letting them fall to the deck. Katie joins her in removing her clothes before settling on the edge of the ship with Jordan, her feet dangling above the water. “Yeah! We came here all the time as kids!” Corey shares, wrapping his arm around Chase’s shoulder like an eager little brother. “My dad and I found it while scouting for good fishing spots back in the day. We may not have found a worthy location, but we did stumble on the perfect place to escape my mom’s relentless schedule.” Chase adds with a chuckle, his eyes glazed with fond memories. “It’s beautiful,” Katie and Jordan rejoice together, smitten with the view. “There’s also a cove,” Chase adds, pointing at the cliff in the distance before turning to me with a smile. “We’ve swam to it a few times, sometimes you can find unique shells and treasure along the sand line in there.” I nod while steadying myself on the railing. I slip off the kaftan covering my bathing suit. Chase inhales desperately as I lay my jumper on the bench, praying that no one else notices his eyes examining every inch of my body meticulously behind his dark, but transparent glasses. “So,” Corey shouts, his voice echoing across the gentle waves. “Who’s brave enough to get in first?!”

Tropical music fills the air as Chase and Corey flip off the boat into the water, their laughter mixing with the sound of their splash. “Absolutely the fuck not!” Jordan shrieks before grabbing a paddle board, outwardly hesitant to expose herself to the risks that come from swimming in the open ocean.”Come on Jord, where is your sense of adventure?!” I taunt with a giggle as she scoffs, placing the paddle board atop the water. “I won’t be the one getting eaten today!” she replies while slowly lowering herself onto the board, the matching paddle resting tightly within her grasp. "You know paddle boards look like seals from under the water, right?" Corey yells with a laugh, his head bouncing like a bobble head above the surface. I, on the other hand, live for this kind of thrill! I grab a pair of goggles quickly and slip them on, making sure they are secure before reaching out for Katie’s hand. “Are we really going to do this?” She asks with uncertainty before tightening her own goggles and clutching my hand. ”If you die, we die together- I promise!” I say with a grin, and her blue eyes mirror my enthusiasm despite the concern in her frown. “On the count of three!” I sing while eagerly dancing in place. She smacks her face lightly multiple times then groans, “ahhhh okay! One, two… THREE!” Chase and Corey cheer as we leap into the air, the world around us blurring as we swoosh into the crystal waters.

Katie resurfaces immediately, while I release air bubbles to sink somewhat, allowing for more time to observe the mesmerizing world around me. The coral reef stretches down to the sandy floor, its melody of buzzing colors illuminated by the sun’s rays filtering through the water. Everything is alive with movement and beauty, and I spin beneath the surface, taking my time to absorb every detail around me with complete clarity. I notice Chase out of the corner of my eye, and he waves with a gigantic grin under the water; his hair floating around him like a majestic merman. The sight of him is both adorable and hilarious, and I have to stifle a giggle so I don’t accidentally drown. “This is amazing!” I hear Katie proclaim as I break the water's surface and lift my goggles to rub away a small pool of water that leaked inside. The salty liquid drips back into the ocean, as I watch her dip her face in and out of the water, as enchanted as I am by the pure magnificence of the universe below our feet. Jordan is sunbathing on her paddle board, her face fully submerged off the side as she snaps photos with her water resistant camera. Every now and then, she pops up fora breath of fresh air, only to return to her sightseeing within a matter of seconds. I lean back and float on top of the sea, the buoyancy carrying my weight as I rock in time with the placid waves.

“Dive with me,” a muffled voice calls from above the surface like an astronaut in space, snapping me out of my tranquility. I glance over to see Chase swimming closer, his movements fluid and confident as he closes the distance. He pauses for a moment to push his goggles up, revealing those brilliant jade eyes again. A smile spreads across our faces as he closes the gap, and I naturally shift upright to face him. He reaches his hand out to me, and I smooth my hair back as we tread water, our legs occasionally intertwining while he waits for my answer. I glance nervously around, but find that everyone is preoccupied with their own little adventure. Katie and Corey are snorkeling above the coral reef, their giggles vibrating out of their long spouts; while Jordan propels herself forward slowly on the paddleboard. Chase’s laser sharp focus on me intensifies as I direct my attention back to him, his sweet smile reminding me that this window of opportunity is ours to seize. “It’s not like that,” he says apprehensively, “my weight will carry you to the bottom quicker. My dad and I used to do this when I was too young to sink on my own.” He readjusts his goggles while I imagine a smaller version of Chase, looking up to his father with a proud gleam in his eyes. My heart flutters, and I unconsciously slide my hand into his. “You don’t have to keep saying that… clarifying all of your intentions.” I whisper, our eye contact momentarily interrupted by the goggles obstructing our vision. His lips tighten and he hesitates, gauging my words carefully. He leans in close, his voice low and earnest as he says, “I will always ask for your permission Lena, even if ‘your’ intentions are already clear.”

“On the count of three, take the biggest breath you’ve got,” he muses, tightening his grip on my hand. “Okay,” I respond shakily, my heart racing with anticipation as he casts me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you. You ready, little dove?” he asks one more time while glancing between our legs at the ocean floor below. “One… two… three!” We count together before we both inhale deeply and plunge swiftly under the waves. I release all resistance, allowing his weight to pull me down faster, the journey nerve wracking but peaceful as we sink further into the depths. Our feet land with an obscure thud on the sandy floor and he squeezes my hand, grounding me in this magnificent world with him. Time stands still as we wait for the bubbles to pop and dissolve around us. I squeeze his hand with excitement as he points at a yellow stingray, camouflaged gracefully a few feet away from us. I glance around and notice tiny hermit crabs scurrying between seaweed, tapping his shoulder in slow motion so he can take a peek at their elaborate shells. He wraps his arm around my waist as he swims gently toward the reef, pointing out cleaner shrimp busily munching on algae and clownfish darting between colorful anemones. I adjust my goggles, ensuring no salt water seeps in, when a school of black and white sergeant majors swim between us. I’m completely mystified by the wildlife curiously approaching us, when Chase suddenly steals my hand and presses a soft underwater kiss on the back of my palm. I want to stay wrapped in this moment with him forever, but the uncomfortable pangs of needing to breathe begins to rise in my lungs. I signal to him that my air is running low, and with a gentle push, he sends me gliding back to the surface, waving as I make my way up.