Page 44 of Between the Boards
Zale follows, pulling a custom grooming kit from the box, his grin spreading as he reads the stitched text on the kit. “Groomsman?”
“Is this your way of asking us?” Koa laughs, zipping open the kit and pulling out a nose trimmer. “I’d be happy to.”
“Same,” Zale adds. “We’ll make sure your bachelor party goes down in history.”
I look down at my box and slowly open it, expecting to see an identical grooming kit to theirs, but instead mine says ‘best man’.
My chest tightens and my head snaps up to find Griffin already watching me with a hopeful glint in his eyes.
“Well?” he asks, holding out his hand. “You in?”
For a second, I can’t speak. Out of everyone here, he’s the one who had the most reason not to trust me, and he’s still choosing me. I stand and pull him into a hug instead, gripping the back of his shirt.
“Of course,” I say, voice rough. “I’ve got you.”
He laughs, clapping me on the back. “Good. Because now you’re in charge of planning the bachelor party.”
I pull back, shaking my head. “It’ll be the best one you’ve ever seen.”
“Damn right it will.”
I sit back down, staring at the box in my hands as the others start throwing out ideas for the party, but my mind’s somewhere else.
If Griffin can forgive me enough to trust me like this, then maybe I’m not as stuck as I thought. Maybe Icanfix things with Gabriel and the team.
I just have to figure out how I can prove myself.
FIFTEEN
KAIRI
The sun beatsdown against my skin, and I have no doubt in my mind I’m going to leave Bluewater Bluffs at least two shades darker, and probably a little burnt by the end of today’s surf competition.
It’s our first of the season, and to say everyone is on edge would be an understatement. I roll my shoulders back, trying to shake off the tension that’s been sitting heavy on my chest since I woke up.
I’ve been mentally preparing for the toll that today will take, the same as I do every competition, because events like these are usually where I feel the most out of place. Which is ironic, considering this is literally my job.
“Are you okay?”
I glance over at Colton as we follow Coach and the rest of the team toward our assigned canopy, the shoreline buzzing with the other competitor teams and reporters. He’s been glued to my side all morning, close enough that our arms brush every few steps.
“I’m fine,” I say, but it comes out less convincing than I mean it to. “Just a bit nervous.”
“Don’t be,” he says easily, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me into his side. “You’re going to get a perfect score today. I know it.”
“You have a lot of faith in the judges,” I mutter under my breath.
“Just wait and see.” He chuckles.
I don’t argue because I know it’s unlikely, though I appreciate his hopeful optimism.
“Alright, listen up,” Gabriel calls as we reach the canopy, his clipboard in hand. “Women’s heat starts in thirty minutes. Get your boards ready, stay hydrated, and stay focused.”
A chorus of “Yes, Coach” follows, and we all scatter.
I drop my board in an open spot beneath the canopy, grateful for the shade. The sand is cooler here, and the air doesn’t feel so suffocating either.
A few feet away, Summer, Lindsey, and Cass sit together out in the sun, laughing loudly, and tossing their hair as they make eyes at the guys from other teams. I look away, rolling my eyes with a small smile.
