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There’s something about the ocean that Evie can’t put her finger on. Maybe it’s the size that makes her uncomfortable, or the sheer depth of Sydney Harbor that has her hesitating to put a toe in the water. But DeShawn’s eyes do this thing when the sea foam rises. They kind of dazzle… pupils growing wide as the ocean roars behind him, and for a small, blissful moment, Evie isn’t as nervous anymore.
Not that she’s ever been afraid, she figures. Wary— definitely— and cautious, of course. Never fearful though, at least… not until last month.
DeShawn’s voice frees her from the past. “Hey,” he asks, flexing his arms, swinging them side to side. “You ready?”
The sun shines brightly around his head like a halo.
Evie mutters back, “uh, yeah… can you… just, um, give me a minute?”
“Yeah, no worries.”
“I just need to tie my hair back.”
DeShawn cocks his head. “Your hair?” he asks. “It’s already up.”
"Redo it, I mean,” Evie quickly replies, already untangling her hair and flipping her head back to gather the strands into a makeshift bun. The air is hot around her ankles, her bare feet sizzling on the concrete. The spare pebbles of sand around her toes simply frustrate her further.
Stupid beach.
“Uhck, I can’t get it. You know what? This was a good effort.” She claps her hands. “Real good effort.”
“C’mon—”
“—was fun and all, but maybe we take a raincheck on this one, yeah? Is it raining? It looks like it’s ‘bout to rain…”
DeShawn points to the mess of hair on Evie’s head and crooks his finger forward, urging her to join him on the deck. “Come here,” he says, like he knows something she doesn’t. He probably does. “Please?” he asks, and Evie sighs.
She continues her ramble the entire way there, even pausing a few seconds to shoo a seagull away from a rogue package of chips, “seriously, Dee it looks bad. Like a storm’s coming. Trust me on this one, I’m an expert when it comes to Sydney weather—” but DeShawn’s crooked smile has her finally giving in.
“Fine,” she says, once she’s dutifully in front of him. “But… I’m not going to enjoy it.”
DeShawn rolls his eyes, still grinning. “Turn around.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Ugh, whatever.” She complies.
He adds, “and give me the hair thingy.”
“It’s a scrunchy,” she stresses.
“It’s a hair thingy.”
She smiles at him over her shoulder to joke, “a scrunchy… you numpty,” as he lightly shoves her face away.
“Stay still.”
“Alright, I’m staying.”
His smile is clear in the tone of his voice. His fingers caress her hair in a knowing way, like this is something familiar, and Evie finds herself falling into it. The way the strands glide piece by piece… she’s almost asleep by the time he’s done. Has to be shaken awake by his laugh, similar to their movie nights when he always wakes her up mid-film.
It isn’t her fault that he likes boring classics so much.
“Alright, done.”
Evie’s hand travels innately to her head to check his work. It’s perfect, of course, but she still pokes fun. “What am I, a footy player?”
“It’s to keep your hair back,” he whines.
“Yeah, I got that… only now, I look like a bloody princess or something.”
“Hold on a second, now which is it?” he asks her incredulously. “Soccer player or princess? ‘Cause it can’t be both.”
Evie snorts. “Whichever is worse.”
“Oh ha-ha.” He puts his hands on his hips and glances at the water, then back to Evie's rolling eyes. “You. Get in. Now.”
“No.”
“Yes.” His shirt goes flying, pants too as his speedo appears from underneath his clothes. “Get in, Evie Cooper, or I’m going to push you.”
He won’t. Evie knows he won’t. He never would, but still, she pretends and steps a shaky foot into the water. “What is it with you and the budgie smuggler?” she asks, a way to distract herself from the cold. “Showing off?”
“It’s comfortable,” he explains candidly. “I ain’t ashamed.”
“Oh. That’s not… what I meant.”
“I know.” He reaches out his right hand. “Now are you going to join me in here, or not?”
The waves of the ocean lurch over the edge of the pool, salt spraying across the deeper end of the lanes, and Evie stiffens. She’s already half-way in, but for some reason, the thought of her head going under the water brings a panicky shock to her chest.
“You’ve got me,” she finds herself saying in her head. Where no-one can hear. Strangely enough, though, DeShawn’s smile and outstretched hand have her relaxing enough to take a deep breath.
“Yeah,” his eyes say, his fingers meeting hers in gentle embrace. “I’ve got you.”
Evie isn’t afraid.