Page 55 of Rescuing Mia
The sun beats down on the deck, the heat tempered by the salty breeze that whips across the water. Around us, the other divers buzz with anticipation, their voices mingling with the clank and clatter of gear being assembled.
I’ve been looking forward to these dives since I booked this trip. Coron is known for world-class wreck diving, and I’m eager to practice my photography.
Mia’s with me as the divemasters brief us about the various dives we can enjoy at this destination. As they describe the ghostly wrecks we’ll be exploring and the eerie beauty of the sunken ships reclaimed by the sea, a thrill of excitement rushes through me.
Mia’s beside me, and I sense her unease.
“You okay?” I whisper, leaning close.
She nods, but her smile is strained. “The thought of all that water—and the sharks…”
“Are you sure you don’t want to learn how to dive?”
We’ve been over this a hundred times. She loves swimming—in pools—and is terrified of an ocean “teaming with sharks.”
“Absolutely not.”
“It’s completely safe.” I jab her teasingly with my elbow. “And I’ll be right there with you. I’m telling you, it’s amazing.”
“Not on your life.” She leans back with a grumpy face and crosses her arms.
“You could always stay on the surface and snorkel?” Pete offers an alternative. Only if I stay with Mia, it leaves Pete without a dive partner.
“Maybe next time.” She eyes the pristine aquamarine waters with suspicion. “Are there sharks here?”
“Of course,” Pete answers before I can check him. “Reef sharks, white-tips, nurse sharks. They’re really amazing, and they don’t bother the divers.”
“No way.” Mia practically jumps out of her chair. “And you want me to snorkel? Just float around on the surface like a tasty snark shack?”
“Snark shack?” I can’t help but laugh and lean into it with a full-on belly laugh.
“Don’t laugh at me.” Mia does that thing again, crossing her arms, which draws my eye to her cleavage. This takes my roguish mind on a virtual journey that begins at that cleavage and travels south, where I’m eager to explore all the delights Mia has to offer.
“Sorry, but you said it. Not me.”
“Because Pete mentioned swimming with sharks.”
“Luv, the sharks aren’t on deck.” I point to the pristine coral reefs below us. “They’re in the water. You’re perfectly safe up here.”
“You’re horrible.”
“No. I’m determined.”
“Determined?”
“To get you into the water and at least try a bit of snorkeling. It’s perfectly safe, and as Pete says, the sharks aren’t interested in us.”
“Nice try, but I’m going to enjoy all the luxuries of this vessel by myself while the rest of you are underwater beingsnark shacks.” The fire in her eyes dares me to correct her pronunciation.
I know when to back down, and I don’t go near that with a ten-foot pole. Instead, I try to rationalize with her.
“You’re really missing out.”
“I’m perfectly happy staying out of the shark-infested water.”
I turn toward Pete, but he’s no help. Not with his defeated shrug.
“Fine. We’ve got five dives spread out over the day. During our surface intervals, I’m going to try to convince you to, bare minimum, get your toes wet. This water is not to be missed.”