Page 87 of This Could be Love

“Maybe I’ll get the chance to see you play sometime,” he mumbled at my ear, causing my skin to tingle.

“Fuck…you two can hardly keep away from each other,” Pili groaned then made a face of mock disgust.

“You could have it too,” Vince said loud enough for her, but not Milo, to hear.

Pili rolled her eyes. At about the exact same time Brody called out, “Chip! Hey!”

His surfboard under his arm, Chip walked up to us. Shirtless, in patterned, low-riding swimming shorts. A few people nearby recognized him and began to whisper excitedly. As far as I could tell, he liked that kind of thing.

“You all leave me a few good waves?”

Pili spread her arms. “All yours.”

He nodded contentedly, stuck his board in the sand, and took off his backpack.

“How’s Tristan?” Vince asked.

“Good.” Chip shrugged. “He applied to be team captain.” With good-natured sarcasm, he added, “The old man was ready to burst with pride.”

“Speaking of lifeguards”—Brody nodded toward the abandoned lifeguard tower nearby—“what’s going on? Since when have they been taking off so early?”

Chip looked at his watch. “It’s five thirty.”

“They were already gone by the time we showed up,” Milo said.

“Hmm. Maybe lack of staff,” Chip suggested.

Milo wrinkled his nose. “Just saying. I mean, it’s not entirelyundangerous with these kinds of waves.”

“I’ll pass it on.” Chip cast a glance at all of us. “What’s up? Someone gonna come with me or have you all had enough?”

Pili and Milo shook their heads. Brody mulled it over.

“What about you?” Vince asked me quietly. “You want to give it another try?”

I looked at him as if he weren’t all there. “No way. I was already afraid of one ofyougetting swallowed by those monsters.”

“You were worried about me?” he asked in far too smug a tone.

I rolled my eyes. “Youall.”

“I’m out. I’ve had enough for today,” Vince said.

Chip and Brody headed off for the water with their boards.

“I’m coming with you,” Laurie said, jumping up from her towel. “I need to cool off.”

“Be careful, eh? Those waves are serious,” Vince called after her.

A second later Pili and Milo grabbed the volleyball and started to toss it back and forth.

“You want to join in?” Vince asked me.

I was about to nod when Pili said, “I’ve got my paddleball set too.”

“No way,” Vince said. “I’m not playing paddleball against someone who competes at Wimbledon.”

“You afraid?” Milo said.