EATHER C ONDITION : sunny
W ATER C ONDITION : flat
D EPTH : bottomless
V ISIBILITY : forever
W ATER T EMP .: steamy
B OTTOM T IME : 37 minutes
C OMMENTS :
I passed off my license. Captain Mike. How does that sound? Pretty freaking amazing.
Doesn’t compare, though to flipping open my cell, watching for a signal as the launch glides alongside the dock, seeing those happy bars dancing on the screen, and punching numbers. It rings ten times and goes to her voice mail.
I almost chuck my new cell phone into the bay. I’m so stupid. I bought Leesie a cell, but I didn’t have one that worked here.
I managed to get to the internet a couple times coming and going, getting my papers signed off. I found her waiting up for me Wednesday at, freak, it must have been three, oozing with delight over my high-tech engagement present. She doesn’t know that’s what it was. I need to start looking for diamonds. She’ll get that for sure.
She’s strangely calm. Confident. In me? I don’t know. Maybe in her God’s ability to work miracles. That’s what it’s going to take. A big fat giant one. I agreed to stop trying to get her to come to Thailand. She promised not to mention any guys who cross her path. We made a pact to stop bringing up M-words, like marriage and missionaries. We can talk about anything except us.
Ironic. I came all this way so she’d be free of me, and it took about two seconds for us to go way deeper than we ever would have face to face. It’s tough long-distance. I want her in my arms. But we decided I should stay here. I need the experience. She needs to go to school. I could blow everything off and get on a plane tomorrow. Knowing that helps me stay one more day.
And now I’ve got a cell phone. I won’t have to wait until we get into a town big enough to have an internet bar or wander around the boat when we dock searching for Wi-Fi to steal. No cell signal out at sea or when we start cruising the Similans, but whenever we dock, I can call her. I dream of hearing her voice like I used to dream of lying next to her all night.
But where the hell is she? I dial again, amble away from the noise of unloading. It starts to ring.
Funny how little love can grow on. I used to think it took a lot of sex to love someone. But the way I feel about Leesie keeps expanding, tripling, quadrupling every time I think about her. I don’t know how I can love her more every day, but I do. What will it be like when I can hold her again? Sniff her hair? Kiss the scars I left on the back of her hand? What will it be like to have her lips caress mine again? What will it be like to go where we never have? How can two people contain that much love? How can they withstand it?
On the sixth ring, I hear, “Hey? Michael?”
Where is she? Asleep, stupid. It’s 3 AM her time.
“Sorry to wake you.”
“It is you! Perfect to wake me. Are you kidding? It’s so good to hear your voice. My roomy went home for an early weekend, so I’m all alone wearing your sweatshirt.”
“Freak, Leese, you’re not allowed to sound that sexy.”
She yawns. “What’s up with you?”
“I’ll blame your innocence for that question.”
She actually laughs. “I can’t believe you said that.” She exhales into the phone—turns me on even more. “I’m asking about news.”
“Got my license.” I turn my back on Tap Lamu, the dock outside Khoa Lak where we’re berthed to load fresh supplies for the coming week, and stare down into the water. “Captain Mike just in time.”
“Cool.”
“Next week we’ve got a 10-day charter out to Burma, and we’ll catch the Similan opening on the way home. Dive club. Serious action.” I’m talking way fast—like a kid with a crush on his teacher.
“Even cooler. How do you like living on a boat?”
Now I laugh. “You should see my cabin.” I walk towards the back of the boat.
“Is it as cool as you?”
“Hot and stuffy. Size of a closet.” I stop outside the hole Claude and I
W ATER C ONDITION : flat
D EPTH : bottomless
V ISIBILITY : forever
W ATER T EMP .: steamy
B OTTOM T IME : 37 minutes
C OMMENTS :
I passed off my license. Captain Mike. How does that sound? Pretty freaking amazing.
Doesn’t compare, though to flipping open my cell, watching for a signal as the launch glides alongside the dock, seeing those happy bars dancing on the screen, and punching numbers. It rings ten times and goes to her voice mail.
I almost chuck my new cell phone into the bay. I’m so stupid. I bought Leesie a cell, but I didn’t have one that worked here.
I managed to get to the internet a couple times coming and going, getting my papers signed off. I found her waiting up for me Wednesday at, freak, it must have been three, oozing with delight over my high-tech engagement present. She doesn’t know that’s what it was. I need to start looking for diamonds. She’ll get that for sure.
She’s strangely calm. Confident. In me? I don’t know. Maybe in her God’s ability to work miracles. That’s what it’s going to take. A big fat giant one. I agreed to stop trying to get her to come to Thailand. She promised not to mention any guys who cross her path. We made a pact to stop bringing up M-words, like marriage and missionaries. We can talk about anything except us.
Ironic. I came all this way so she’d be free of me, and it took about two seconds for us to go way deeper than we ever would have face to face. It’s tough long-distance. I want her in my arms. But we decided I should stay here. I need the experience. She needs to go to school. I could blow everything off and get on a plane tomorrow. Knowing that helps me stay one more day.
And now I’ve got a cell phone. I won’t have to wait until we get into a town big enough to have an internet bar or wander around the boat when we dock searching for Wi-Fi to steal. No cell signal out at sea or when we start cruising the Similans, but whenever we dock, I can call her. I dream of hearing her voice like I used to dream of lying next to her all night.
But where the hell is she? I dial again, amble away from the noise of unloading. It starts to ring.
Funny how little love can grow on. I used to think it took a lot of sex to love someone. But the way I feel about Leesie keeps expanding, tripling, quadrupling every time I think about her. I don’t know how I can love her more every day, but I do. What will it be like when I can hold her again? Sniff her hair? Kiss the scars I left on the back of her hand? What will it be like to have her lips caress mine again? What will it be like to go where we never have? How can two people contain that much love? How can they withstand it?
On the sixth ring, I hear, “Hey? Michael?”
Where is she? Asleep, stupid. It’s 3 AM her time.
“Sorry to wake you.”
“It is you! Perfect to wake me. Are you kidding? It’s so good to hear your voice. My roomy went home for an early weekend, so I’m all alone wearing your sweatshirt.”
“Freak, Leese, you’re not allowed to sound that sexy.”
She yawns. “What’s up with you?”
“I’ll blame your innocence for that question.”
She actually laughs. “I can’t believe you said that.” She exhales into the phone—turns me on even more. “I’m asking about news.”
“Got my license.” I turn my back on Tap Lamu, the dock outside Khoa Lak where we’re berthed to load fresh supplies for the coming week, and stare down into the water. “Captain Mike just in time.”
“Cool.”
“Next week we’ve got a 10-day charter out to Burma, and we’ll catch the Similan opening on the way home. Dive club. Serious action.” I’m talking way fast—like a kid with a crush on his teacher.
“Even cooler. How do you like living on a boat?”
Now I laugh. “You should see my cabin.” I walk towards the back of the boat.
“Is it as cool as you?”
“Hot and stuffy. Size of a closet.” I stop outside the hole Claude and I
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