By ten o'clock, the sun is no longer negotiating.
Mia changes out of the sundress before they go in, and the rash guard Elias rented goes on. The rash guard is fitted in a way that leaves absolutely nothing ambiguous about her proportions.
She turns around to find him already shirtless, white board shorts, the kind of build that makes the surrounding beach rearrange its attention without him doing anything in particular to cause it.
She looks at the ocean and picks up her board.
"Nervous?" His voice comes from just behind her.
"A little," she says, "I've genuinely never done this."
"I know." Elias moves to stand beside her, close enough that she can feel the warmth off him in the sea breeze. "I won't let you get hurt."
He puts the longboard in the shallows and has her lie on it.
Sh
