Burned (Hate at First Flight #2) ✔️

32. How to Surf, Burns Style.

"Summer job," I offered as an explanation.

"Well that makes sense. Sorta," He grinned. "Not really, actually."

"Long story."

"Are we done?" Douglas asked as he suddenly stood by my side.

"Yeah," he walked behind the counter and entered something into the computer. "Renting a wet-suit?"

Douglas answered before I could. "Nope."

Steve nodded. "That'll be $20 for the day."

I made to pull out my purse but Douglas had already handed him the money.

Knowing that we'd cause another hassle fighting over who'd pay, I let him, for now. At least until I thought of a way to smoothly pay him back.

I thanked Steve before I grabbed the board.

"Come by whenever you need something beach-related," he offered before he playfully winked at me.

"Thanks. I will," I said before I made to follow Douglas who by now was already halfway down the path leading to the beach. "See ya later."

"Stretch your body," Douglas said ten minutes later when we finally found a spot by the beach that was not empty but reasonably had fewer people that could disturb us.

"Stretch? Why?" I asked him.

"To loosen your body and your muscles," he answered. "What else?"

I nodded sheepishly, accepting his explanation, before I raised my hands and stretched for a couple of minutes. When he finally said that it was enough, I relaxed.

"Place the board on the sand," he instructed.

I placed the board flat on the sand.

"Now shoes off and get on the board."

Without another word, I did what he told me.

"Stand on the board."

I stood on the board, feeling the cool surface of it rub against the soles of my feet. I smiled at the fact that I was standing on a surfboard, something I never dreamed I would do, ever.

"Keep still," Douglas said when I stood shakily on the board. Then he bent down, got on his knees and attach a string that resembled a dog leash to my leg.

"What are you doing?" I asked as I tried to pull my leg out of his grasp.

He pulled my leg back firmly and I felt myself flush at the thought that Douglas was grabbing my leg, a trivial thing but to me it was something worth flushing over. "Attaching the leash to your leg," he looked up at me, "Or do you wanna be paying the fine for losing the board?"

"So we're going into the waves then?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No. First, you need to get down the techniques and learn the do's and don't's of surfing."

"Then why the..." I looked at the leash now attached to my right leg.

"Just for practice so you can get used to doing it every time."

I nodded, understanding what he meant.

"Now, lie down on the board."

I got on my belly and laid down against the board.

"Make sure your body is lined up straight down the middle of the board," Douglas said before I suddenly felt his hand on my thighs pulling me lower.

"What the-" I yelled, feeling less than comfortable with what he was doing.

"Just making sure you're in the right position, Krystal. What do you think I'm doing?"

"A little warning would be good, y'know."

"Next time then," I could hear a smirk gracing his face. "Now practice your paddling motions with both arms to get your muscles working and used to it."

I tried to do so, paddling like what I'd seen people do in movies or in kayak races.

"Good, good," Douglas said after a couple of minutes, at which my pathetic muscles felt like they were burning and would fall of any second. "Now, how about showing me how you'd get up on your board once you're out in sea?"

In arched a brow. "And how would I do that exactly?"

Douglas sighed, running a hand through his hair unnecessarily. "Okay, bring your hands up from paddling and place your hands below your chest, palms on the flat of the board while your fingers curl over the sides of the surfboard. Like this." he placed his board on the sand, next to me, before he laid on it and did exactly what he'd just said. "Now, quickly push your body up with your arms and tuck your feet up and under you. Place one foot where your hands pushed up from and the other at least a shoulder's width behind." He did as he said it and within seconds he was standing on his board.

I nodded, going over his instructions over and over before I finally felt comfortable with it. I placed my hands below my chest, curling my fingers over the sides of the surfboard. I sighed in relief before going over the next lot of instructions. 

Push body up with arms, tuck feet up and under you. One foot where your hands pushed up from and the other at least a shoulder's width behind. Okay, okay. 

That was easier said then done. Like taking something you've read, memorized from a textbook and applying it practically. Sometimes learning and memorizing things didn't prepare you for what lay ahead.

I did everything perfectly, at least until the part where I had to place my feet where they were. As soon as I'd pushed myself up, I tripped and fell. Or at least felt myself on the fast track to meeting the ground.

Until at least I felt someone grab me from behind. Heck, not someone. Even I, as slow and naive as I was, sometimes, knew who'd grabbed me.

"That idiot must've been too busy flirting with you that he forgot to wax the board properly," Douglas muttered close to my ear with a hint of sarcasm.

"What?" I pulled back, feeling my face starting to redden from the close proximity. I needed more space between me and Douglas. I couldn't handle walking around the whole day resembling a red fruit.

Douglas dusted the sand that had gotten onto his shirt off. "Nothing. Anyway, since we don't have any wax right now, I think we should practice with something simpler."

"And you couldn't have taught me this instead?"

He shrugged. "I thought you could handle it. Now, back on your stomach, Sanders..."

"When you're ready, get up to your knees first and then bring up one foot at a time until you are in a standing position. It's slower than the jump up, but it's easier," Douglas said.

I slowly tried to do so, making sure this time I wouldn't fall and have him catch me again.

"Good, good," he said when I'd gotten into a slow standing position. "Now, as soon as you've taken off, keep your knees bent, your arms loose and extended, your feet planted on the board, and your torso leaned forward to lower your center of gravity." He showed me how to do this on his own board. "It depends on you which leg you favor. This one is the one that you place in the front."

I nodded, understanding what he meant. "Right leg then."

He chuckled at something.

"What?"

"You're a goofy foot then."

"A goofy what?"

"A goofy foot. That's what we call people who lead with their right."

I smiled at his words. "Who knew the Douglas Burns could make a joke."

"There's a lot you still have yet to find out about me, Krystal. A whole library worth."

I nodded. "Don't strangers do."

"We're not strangers anymore, Krystal. I just taught you the basics of surfing, didn't I?"

I nodded. "Yeah. But until I can surf, we're still strangers Mr Burns." I smiled at the thought that we were playfully making jokes with each other. "Now what next."

"Now..." He picked up his board. "...we get into the water, Sanders."