Page 89 of Between the Boards
Zero unread texts.
I haven’t heard from Kairi since leaving her at that restaurant with Zale, and it’s starting to make me nervous. I want to call or text her and tell her all about my first day back at home and what I learned. But I refuse to be the first to reach out.
I told Kairi I want her to think long and hard about her feelings for me, and whether or not I’m who she wants to be with. So I’m not about to crash that inner-reflection time with my own family gossip. That can wait for when I get back.
But I’d be lying if I said I’m not nervous that she won’t pick me in the end. I keep asking myself if leaving her with Zale was a good idea, but I have faith that after the things he said to her she’ll realize that he isn’t the person for her.
I have faith she’ll realize that I’m the person she’s meant to be with, and I’ll let that blind faith carry me through the rest of this week until I get to see her again.
And hopefully by then, she’ll be ready to admit how she really feels about me.
THIRTY
KAIRI
“Isthat the best female surfer in the whole continent?” My dad’s loud voice booms as he opens his front door and greets me with a hug.
He’s dressed in dark shorts and a white T-shirt, his hair pulled back into a ponytail
“You mean the best female surfer in the whole world,” my mother corrects, coming in for a hug of her own just as I release him.
“Happy Birthday, Mom,” I say, giving her an extra hard hug before pulling back.
Her long blonde hair is tied back in a half-up-half-down style, and she’s wearing a beautiful royal blue maxi dress that adds to her whimsical look.
“You look stunning as ever,” I say, looping my arm through hers.
“Thank you, sweetie,” she says, patting my hand. “I can’t believe I’m turning twenty-nine again.”
My dad snorts and leads us inside the house. “You’ve been celebrating your twenty-ninth birthday for almost twenty years now,” he points out. “What’s there not to believe?”
“Hush, you,” she says, but her tone is light. “You should be glad I’m not shrivelling up right before your eyes yet.”
My dad walks over, placing his hands on her hips and looking her in the eye with a gentle smile.
“Even if you shrivelled up into a little old old lady, lost all your teeth, and your hair fell out, I would just close my eyes and continue loving you, my darling.”
My jaw drops open and I can’t hold back the cackle that escapes from my lips. My mother joins in shortly after and my dad looks between us with so much pride it makes me laugh even harder.
“I’ve missed you guys,” I say, wiping at my happy tears.
“You should visit more,” my mom says, giving my hand a squeeze. “We talk about you every day.”
“I’m sorry we missed your first competition of the season,” My dad adds. “Your mother wasn’t feeling too well.”
I glance at her, my brow furrowing. “You’re okay though, right?” I ask.
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” she says, waving me off. “It was a stomach bug.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “Okay good.”
They walk me over to the kitchen where a homemade pie sits in the centre of the island. I take a seat, looking around at the familiar Scandinavian way my mother likes to decorate her spaces. Everything in this home is functional while remaining clutter-free, making each room appear so much larger than they truly are.
I could never pull off something like this if I had my own house. Every piece of furniture is handcrafted and imported straight from the Swedish town she grew up in. Decorating this place has been a way to keep a piece of her old life, in all its calming simplicity, despite the chaos that comes with having a pro surfer husband and now daughter.
“How was the competition?” my dad asks. “I was planning to watch the recording tonight, but I saw your team came in first. Congratulations.”
I smile, but I can tell it doesn’t meet my eyes just from one look at my parents. Both of their smiles drop as they look at me, and when they look at each other with concern.
