Jason walked out to the edge of the waves, the water feeling cool on his bare feet in the 90 degree heat. Susan stared back at him with a mischievous grin before turning and walking upriver. Jason glanced back at the parking lot and then downriver at the pillar of basalt rock that jutted up into the clear blue sky. It was a picture perfect day, a view readymade for a postcard with the evergreens along both sides of the river and the basalt cliffs covered in moss and a few small clinging trees.
Susan called out and waved.
I dare you.
Jason couldn't stall any longer and turned to walk upriver, his feet sending up sprays of sparkling water with each step. The beach was crowded with people out enjoying one of the last few nice days before the rain began, families with children running and playing, couples close together on beach towels maybe a tad too small for two, some with floats bobbing along with the current, a few with kite boards skittering across the waves before leaping high into the air.
Susan taking his hand to drag him on with her mischievous grin.
Jason could see a sudden change in the number of people along the beach, an invisible line that many seemed unable to cross, a brown parks sign marking the invisible boundary.
Susan tugged his hand all the while beaming at him, pulling him past the sign and into the no man's land beyond.
I dare you.
A few more steps and Susan let go of his hand, a quick tug, a twist of the hips, her two piece gone in a blink of an eye to join what she had packed for the afternoon in her beach bag. Jason couldn't help but look, to admire her plump figure, ample breasts, and all her tattoos that even most of her friends never got see.
Susan grinned and waited. A view he had seen many times before, but never like this, never out in the open, never under the beautiful blue sky. Never with strangers walking casually past. Jason looked around and found that he wasn't the only one enjoying Susan's curves.
A man a dozen steps away, a couple over there, furtive glances and open stares.
I dare you.
Susan playfully helping to untie his swim trunks, Jason playfully slapping at her hand. A deep breath and a shirt to add to the beach bag. A long glance around, the families far enough away to not see details, close enough to see what was missing.
A man, someone Jason has never met watching intently with a smile and a nod.
I dare you.