The Equinox (30 page)

“It was an older boat, but yes, same
model and size.”

I think to ask him what happened to the
other boat but bite my tongue. Of course he wouldn’t want to live on the same
boat he shared with his parents.

He pulls down a ladder that drops into
the water at the back of the boat. “You ready?”

Signaling with a smile, I let him know I
am ready, and watch as he confidently pulls off his white top, revealing more muscles
than I knew existed on an eighteen year old guy. Johnny isn’t just good
looking—he’s divine.

My face is warm from an obvious blush
creeping up my cheeks. I ignore it and pull my sundress over my head.

He takes my hand. “Count of three. One.
Two. Three.” Together we jump into the bay. The water feels invigorating as I
dunk in and pull myself up. Johnny is right there, helping me back up above the
water. I don’t think he ever let go of me.

“Are you a good swimmer?” He asks me.

“Yeah, I am. Why?” I angle my head.
“Wanna race?”

He laughs and pulls me closer. “No, I
want you right here.” The way he says this makes me want to snuggle up to him
and nuzzle his chest. “I was just curious.”

Our moment is interrupted by a the shiny
nose and smiling face of a dolphin poking his nose so close to us I feel it brush
my skin. My eyes widen in surprise and a laugh escapes me. “It came right up to
us!” I exclaim through my laughter.

Johnny doesn’t seem surprised. His hand
rubs the back of the shiny dolphin’s coating as he leans down, scrunching his
face. The dolphin reciprocates by touching Johnny’s nose with his.

“Wow,” I whisper as I watch the
interaction. The dolphin’s curious beady eyes and permanent smiling face turns
to me and nods his head energetically.

Johnny laughs now. “This is my friend,
Katrina. You’ll like her.”

My eyes narrow and I look at Johnny now.
Is he really talking to this dolphin like he knows him? “How do you two know
each other?”

I am half teasing but Johnny responds, while
rubbing and patting the dolphin again. “This is Sally. Her family lives in this
area.”

“So you know Sally?”

He grins, his eyes still on his dolphin
friend. “Yup. She’s about four years old. I’ve know her entire pod since I was four,
believe it or not.

“Is a pod their family?” I reach out to
touch Sally and she turns into me, closing and opening her eyes, mouth open
wide in contentment.

He nods. “Kind of. It’s just a group of
dolphins that swim together and mate. Sally’s father left the pod a long time
ago though.”

“What about Sally’s mother?”

“Hunted,” Johnny looks angry as he answers
this. “Hunting dolphins is despicable.”

“You are passionate about your sea
creatures.”

Johnny shrugs as if he’s never considered
how passionate he is before. It’s just natural to him. “Dolphins do so much for
our environment, and like manatees, they’re harmless.”

I shake my head. “There’s such a
disconnect in the way we give back to Mother Nature. People take and take but
never give back…” Rose tells me that Enchanters give back. Our energy is
completely recyclable. But what does it mean? How can our energy possibly
provide back what we, as humans, take from the earth?

“You know, dolphins are one of the first
indicators out there that can tell us how our environment is performing.
Scientists monitor dolphins and their contaminant levels to learn what needs to
be done to protect the environment.”

Wow. Johnny knows everything and is so
familiar with these creatures. Manatees, now dolphins. What’s next? Killer
whales? Sharks? I shudder at the thought of getting close to a shark.

“How did you recognize her?” I ask now,
curiously.

Johnny reaches over to Sally’s fin. “Her
dorsal fin is unique to other dolphins. I’ve just come to recognize it quickly,
but even if I couldn’t recognize it I think I still would remember her from her
personality alone.

As if on cue Sally lets out a happy
clicking noise. Then she starts to bob her head rapidly and turns her side to
me, tipping her fin.

Johnny laughs. “She wants to take you on
a ride. Go ahead,” he moves behind me and I feel a rush of adrenaline.

“What do I do?” I turn to look at him
over my shoulder.

“Put both hands around her fin and hug it.
She’ll take care of you. Promise.”

I take a deep breath and do as he says,
placing my hands firmly around her fin and hug it tightly. Almost immediately
she takes off and I’m moving through the water in up and down motions, like I’m
in a water rodeo. The movements are quite quick and rough, yet exhilarating as
I splash through the water with Sally. She brings me around in a complete
circle, delivering me to Johnny.

I’m still laughing by the time Johnny
grabs hold of me and waves to Sally as she swims off happily. “That was so much
fun.”

He’s looking down at me with that
gorgeous smile that drives me crazy. “You did good.”

“Well, thank you for introducing me to
your girlfriend. She’s cute.” I scrunch my nose at him and he rolls his eyes.

“Don’t tell me you’re jealous of a
dolphin.” He leans in and kisses my nose teasingly.

I practically dissolve right there. “I’m
jealous of any girl who holds your attention if it’s not me.”

I can’t believe I just said that.
Johnny’s eyes grow wide. I’ve surprised him too. He pulls me in so his arms are
wrapped around my waist and my face is just under his, upturned so I can look up
at him. His energy does anything but make me weak today. I’ve never felt
stronger.

There’s a tortured look in his eyes that
I don’t understand but one thing is clear as I reach up and brush the wet strands
of hair from his forehead. He does like me.

My hand lingers on his cheek surprised by
how natural this feels to be touching Johnny so intimately.

I want to know him; everything about him.
How did his parents raise him? Was his mom nurturing? Has he had many
girlfriends? Does he see himself living in Apollo Beach forever? But questions
don’t form on my tongue quickly. I’m too caught up in his mixed expression of
deep thought and desire, guarded by curiosity and resistance.

His expression sums up my own feelings
and thoughts. Want. Passion. Uncertainty. The intensity between us could cause
a spark in any wind storm.

“Hungry?” He asks me with a gentle voice.

I nod my head almost robotically, but as
I do I realize that my stomach is making noises. I’m starved. “Yes.”

“Good. Let’s go in.” Is he relieved?

There’s a bowl of fruit in the fridge and
a plate of cheese and crackers. He hands me two waters and we make our way
around the perimeter of the yacht to the front where we lay our towels out and can
catch the most sun.

I begin shoving crackers in my mouth one
by one when I hear Johnny laugh. “You
are
hungry.”

I freeze as heat floods my cheeks. “Sorry.”
I take a minute to swallow while he’s still laughing and decide to quickly
change the subject. “How do you know mammals so well?” There, that will
distract him.

“Been around them my whole life. My dad
was a marine biologist. He was always taking me snorkeling and diving. I
practically grew up on the water.”

I watch him take a bite of some cheese
and then turn to stare off into the distance. His movements are so natural.

“You look older than eighteen.”

He smiles. “I look old, huh?”

I shrug. “Nineteen. Twenty.”

He tilts his head, appearing to be
amused. “Who told you how old I was?”

I shrug. “Trisha. Why don’t you go to
school?”

He laughs. “What makes you think I don’t
go to school? I graduated from High School last year. I was home schooled up
until my parents died. I took a few classes but I was way ahead of everyone
else.”

I remember something Trisha told me once.
“People think you dropped out of school.”

He smiles. “Nah. I didn’t. People will
say what they want. It’s my fault, really. I don’t open up much. I just let
people think what they want.”

Not caring of other’s opinions.
Admirable.

“I took some tests and got my diploma
early,” he continues. “I’ve been looking into some biology classes at the local
college though—just to pass the time next year.”

I smile. “Follow in your dad’s footsteps
and become a Marine Biologist?”

Johnny nods. “It wouldn’t be the worst
thing in the world. I probably know more than the instructors with all the time
I’ve spent on the water.”

“Maybe you should teach the class.” I say
this as a joke but the expression Johnny gets on his face tells me I’ve given
him an idea.

He reaches for another cracker. “What
about your parents? You said your mom passed away recently?”

I lower my head as I speak, unsure of how
my words will come out. “We were making breakfast one day, she ran to the store
to get groceries, and she never came home.” If I think about what I’m saying I might
cry. This kind of pain never goes away. I’m not even sure it’s faded. I’ve been
distracted and haven’t dwelled on the agony of not having my mom in my life
anymore.

Johnny lets out a sigh. “I’m so sorry
Kat.”

I shrug. “Well, you know the pain. Except
you lost both of your parents. I never lost my dad. He just never wanted me in
his life.”

“He’s a coward.” Johnny is deep in
thought as he says this. “He should have been there for you growing up,
especially after your mom died.”

His words feel as if someone’s punched me
in the stomach. I know he doesn’t mean any harm but these are the same thoughts
I’ve had recently. It’s all so confusing as to why he hasn’t come around by
now. Why hasn’t he even called?