Page 104 of Between the Boards
“Oh my God,” I groaned, already wanting to die.
“We thought you two were just going to go for a walk,” Eliana said defensively. “Not a full cinematic beach hookup.”
Heat crawled all the way up my neck. “You saw us?”
Maliah covered her face with both hands laughing. “Technically we heard you first.”
I almost dropped dead on the spot.
“Eliana woke me up and the first thing she said was ‘Why does that sound like Kairi?’,” Maliah continued.
I groaned louder.
“Eliana looked out the window,” Maliah said through laughter, “then ducked so fast she hit her head on my table.
“IN MY DEFENSE,” Eliana yelled, “I saw movement and panic-reacted.”
“I hate both of you.”
“No you don’t,” they’d said in unison.
Now, hours later, I’m trying—and failing spectacularly—to focus during practice. The Saltwater Springs morning sun glitters across the ocean while the rest of the Shredders paddle around us preparing for drills, but my attention keeps drifting back to Colton.
Specifically the way his wetsuit stretches across his shoulders, which feels deeply inappropriate of him. He catches me staring again and grins, and I force myself to look away.
“Alright, listen up!”
Gabriel’s voice cuts across the water, saving me from further humiliation.
Everyone gathers around while he balances easily on his board, arms folded across his chest. He joined us out in the water for the first time in a long time today.
“I got a few announcements before we wrap today.”
There’s a collective groan from the team.
“Relax,” he says dryly. “None of you are getting kicked off.”
“Yet,” Griffin adds from beside him.
Gabriel rolls his eyes and ignores him.
“First thing,” he says, “Colton’s officially joining the team permanently.”
The group erupts immediately and Colton looks over at me with the biggest smile, a warm feeling flip-flopping in my chest again.
“Second,” Gabriel continues once everyone calms down slightly, “Koa confirmed he’ll also be returning next season full time.”
Another round of cheering as Koa nods his head with a small smile, still not a fan of attention on himself.
“And finally,” Gabriel says, expression shifting slightly more serious now, “we’ll be opening tryouts for another female surfer to join the team next season.”
Immediately, my brain jumps to Maliah because she’d mentioned missing surfing last night. I make a mental note to tell her later.
“And last thing…” He pauses. “I’ll be stepping back as coach after this season.”
Silence crashes over the water.
“What?” Koa blurts.
