Going Diving

RYAN

Florence was a beautiful city, its charm amplified by the thrill of eloping with my stepsister—the same stepsister I’d spent the night with in a haze of passion.

The problem was, I’d never been on a trip with a girl before. Now that I was here, I didn’t know what to do, so I’d booked every activity that looked interesting. Scuba diving today, a boat tour tomorrow.

I checked in at the front desk and found myself tagging along with a small group of first-time divers. My gaze skimmed over the other participants—a silver-haired man adjusting his gear, a pair of giggling coeds, and a couple locked in a hushed, heated argument. Then, at the edge of the group, my eyes landed on her.

Violet.

Her glossy brown ponytail caught the sun, shimmering with hints of gold. Her skin had taken on a warm tan, the kind that made her look like she belonged here, like Florence had always been waiting for her. She wore an all-white outfit that was deceptively simple yet stunning. The delicate fabric clung to her figure in all the right ways, making her look effortlessly ethereal.

I noticed the faint birthmark just below her left ear. They were so subtle that most people wouldn’t even see them, but I did. I’d first noticed it during a family dinner, back when we were still strangers forced to sit at the same table. Now, it was something I associated with her, like her scent or the sound of her laugh.

I’d memorized every detail of her face—the curve of her lips, the delicate slope of her jaw, the way her eyes lit up when she smiled. And these past weeks? I’d started noticing everything about her, from her favorite way to tie her hair in a ponytail to how she bit her lower lip when she was nervous or deep in thought.

But it wasn’t just the physical details. Violet had changed. The stiffness that had defined her back in New York had melted away, replaced by a relaxed ease that suited her. She seemed more herself, like the weight of everything we’d left behind had finally lifted. And selfishly, I was glad. I wanted her to be comfortable, even if it meant we had to stay hidden here.

She must’ve felt my gaze because she glanced up from her phone, her lips curving into a soft smile as she walked over to me.

“You look so beautiful,” I murmured, leaning down to place a small kiss on her cheek. The words slipped out as easily as breathing, because they were true. She was breathtaking.

“That’s the umpteenth time you’ve said that today,” she replied, her cheeks flushing faintly.

“Guess I can’t get enough of you,” I said with a grin, but my eyes flicked to the phone in her hand. She was texting someone, and the thought made my chest tighten with unease.

She noticed and quickly spoke up. “It’s Ashley. I told her everything.” She paused, gauging my reaction. “Don’t worry, she supports us 100%. You know how Ashley is—she thinks we’re crazy, but she’s rooting for us. so there's nothing to worry about”

I exhaled slowly, nodding.

Keeping our secrecy intact was paramount. Last night, I’d texted my dad—a simple message to let him know we were safe and to stop them from worrying too much. I had to. I could imagine the chaos back home, the frantic search for us, the questions they wouldn’t have answers to. But our location? That wasn’t something I’d ever let slip.

Florence was ours, a bubble of quiet in a world too loud and complicated. I wouldn’t risk anyone popping it.

All that mattered was Violet. Being here with her.

It was only then I noticed the rest of the group had fallen silent. The silver-haired man was engrossed in his phone, but the coeds and the bickering couple were now watching us with barely concealed interest, as though our interaction was the main attraction.

“Bom dia!” The tension was broken by the arrival of our diving instructor, his toothy grin broad and overly friendly. He looked like one of those perpetually laid-back thirty-somethings who probably spent half his life stoned or surfing, and I instantly disliked him.

That dislike turned to barely contained rage when his gaze lingered on Violet just a second too long. Something primitive sparked inside me, a possessiveness so sharp and sudden it took all my restraint not to deck him on the spot.

“I’m Robert, your diving instructor for today,” he said, switching fluidly between Italian and English as he introduced himself and outlined the day’s plans.

He stood far too close to Violet for my liking, his proximity irritating me more with each passing second. When he made some idiotic joke about whales that drew a laugh from her, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. The fantasy of punching him evolved into something darker—maybe ripping his tongue out or tossing him overboard. Stranger things had happened, and I wasn’t above letting karma do its thing.

After what felt like an eternity, we finally boarded the boat and set off toward the dive site. The salty ocean breeze did little to cool the simmering annoyance bubbling in my chest, but I forced myself to let it go. This was supposed to be our time away from drama, and the last thing Violet needed was me ruining it with my territorial nonsense.

Still, I couldn't help the fleeting hope that Robert might accidentally trip overboard and get chomped on by a shark. Maybe a particularly hungry one that didn’t like cocky dive instructors.

Shaking off the thought, I refocused on Violet. She was leaning against the railing, her arms folded as she gazed out at the horizon. There was something contemplative in her expression, a quietness that tugged at me.

“Nervous?” I asked, my voice softer now.

She turned, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I’ll be fine. I’ve gone diving before.”

The casual admission caught me off guard. “When?”

She hesitated for a moment, then said, “When I was younger, with my mom.” Her smile faltered, replaced by a shadow of melancholy. “It’s been a long time, though. I guess I’m a bit nervous.”

I didn’t miss the way her voice softened when she mentioned her mom. It was rare for her to talk about her, and I could tell the memory was bittersweet.

“You’ll be amazing,” I said, moving closer and brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “But if anything feels off, you let me know, okay? I’ve got you.”

Her eyes softened. “I know.”

The boat slowed as we reached the dive site, and Robert’s grating voice broke the moment, barking instructions about getting suited up. Violet turned to grab her gear, and I followed, keeping a close eye on her.

She was trying to be brave; I could see it in the way she held her head high despite the lingering unease in her posture. And me? I was determined to make sure nothing ruined this for her—not the awkward stares of the other divers, not Robert’s wandering eyes, not even the sharks I half-hoped would make an appearance.

As we prepared to dive, I caught her hand in mine and squeezed. “Let’s do this together.”

Her smile returned, brighter this time. “Together.”
We slipped into the water, the coolness wrapping around us as we descended into the blue depths. For the first time in days, my mind felt calm, free from the noise of the world above. Down here, it was just the steady rhythm of our breathing through the tanks and the mesmerizing world that unfolded around us.

The waters surrounding Florence were alive with vibrant marine life—schools of yellow fish darting like streaks of sunlight, coral formations swaying gently with the currents. But I barely noticed any of it. My focus was on Violet.

She moved through the water with a surprising confidence, her movements fluid and almost instinctive. I watched as she swam alongside a cluster of golden fish, her face alight with wonder despite the mask obscuring most of her features.

The only moment of hesitation came when an eel brushed against her shin, and she froze, her eyes widening in alarm. I swam to her side immediately, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. She looked at me, her breathing evening out as I gave her a small nod. She was fine—more than fine.

She was incredible.

The entire journey lasted three hours and By the time we surfaced, the sunlight was already glinting off the waves. I smiled, pulling off my mask and running a hand through my damp hair as I watched Violet climb back onto the boat.

She was the kind of breathtaking that made the rest of the world fade away. And as I hauled myself up onto the deck after her, I realized that this trip wasn’t just about getting away.

It was about starting something new.

Something that felt terrifying, exhilarating, and entirely ours.

“Not bad for a first dive in ages” I said, handing her a towel.

“Not bad at all,” she replied, her smile soft and radiant.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.

With her.