Page 4

“Did you just call me a beast?” Gia asked.

Hadley shook her head apologetically. “I was on a cartoon kick andgot carried away. Happens a lot.”

“Mm-hmm.” Gia downed the remainder of her coffee, grateful to haveit back in her life even temporarily. Talking about Elle Britton just made heranxious to get to the beach and surf, remembering that every second of theseason counted.

Isabel wasn’t done and raised one finger, regarding the table.“Let’s not forget the photo of Gia in which she appeared to be checking out Ms.Britton in a swimsuit.” She turned her phone around to reveal the offendingphoto.

Gia closed her eyes. Not this again. A year and half prior, asElle was speaking to the media, a photographer had captured a shot of Gialooking on. However, it appeared upon first glance that Gia was infatuated withmore than just Elle’s words to the press. The photograph had garnered a lot ofattention and speculation. She loathed that photo to this day. “That photo cango to hell. We all know it’s not what it looked like.”

“Do we? And when do you see Ms. Britton again?” Isabel asked,sliding her phone into her bag.

Gia swore Isabel asked the question just to see how her featureswould react. “Well, nosy writer, probably not until next week. There’s aBillabong party in Malibu I’ll hit up.”

“Who are they again?” Autumn squinted. “Pregnancy brain.”

“Surf accessories,” Hadley supplied. “Clothes, gear. They alsosponsor tournaments and surfers.” She turned to Gia. “Is this party beach attire?”

“Unfortunately, I think it’s a little dressier than that.” Giaglared at the thought. She hated wearing actual clothes.

“Perfect. When should we consult?” Hadley asked, always ready toput together the perfect outfit for her friends. Gia wasn’t one to refuse thatkind of professional help. “I’m thinking white. Your tan looks amazing inwhite, as does that dark hair.”

“White it is,” Gia said.

“I will put something together and we can play runway in a fewdays.”

“It’s fun when you get to play runway,” Isabel said. “The timeHadley planned my look, I got lucky that night, and many nights after.”

Hadley’s eyes lit up. “That should go on my commercial! If I wereever to get a commercial.”

“Well,” Isabel said, with a saucy wink, “you’d have earned it.” Shestood. “I’m off to save Hollywood.”

Hadley joined her. “Off to save Rodeo Drive.”

“I’ll stay here and save the good people of Pajamas,” Autumn saidfrom her chair. They all looked to Gia.

“Fine,” she said, with a smothered smile. “I’m off to save…the ocean,I guess.”

“Someone has to,” Hadley said, beaming. “Go team!” The four ofthem headed off to their own separate corners of the world. Maybe they’d runinto each other in the outdoor courtyard of Seven Shores later that day, or gofor an impromptu dinner or a jaunt to the beach. If not, they’d see each otheragain at Pajamas the next morning.

Same bat time. Same bat place.

Gia smiled at that constant in her life. She didn’t devalue it ortoss it aside. Coming off the road like she just had made her understand morethan ever how important good friends were. She’d slay dragons for Autumn,Hadley, or Isabel any day of the week. No one would have to ask her twice.

Chapter Two

“I think you should stop beating yourself up about it.”

Elle pulled her hair from the ponytail holder and gave it a shake,noticing it was still partially wet from their earlier practice session. Sheturned to her best friend, Holly, who sat beside her on a chaise lounge, justyards from the ocean. “I’ve tried,” Elle sighed. The depression over the wholething was not letting up. “It’s not working. I don’t lose in final heats, Hol.I just don’t. That’s not the kind of competitor I want to be. So what the hellhappened?”

“I think we know what happened. Someone dropped in on a wave thatwas supposed to be yours and wasn’t penalized for interference.”

“Not something I would have done, but it worked in her favor.” Shestared off in the distance, replaying that moment in her mind. She’d been aboutto attack the wave from the outside pocket when Gia Malone had shown up in herperipheral and knocked her out of concentration. Partially her own fault, butGia had taken a pretty big liberty.

“Ballsy,” Holly said. “You gotta give her credit. She was tryingto apply pressure.”

“Yeah, well, it worked.” Elle shook her head. “Gia Malone. Thistournament bumped her to number two. I’m so exhausted from it all that I canbarely see straight, but now? There’s no way I can lay up or take any kind ofbreak. She’s getting better, you know.”

“I do.”