Page 179 of Marks of Rebellion

I make the drinks and take them out to the deck.

"Wow. You even made it look pretty," she gushes.

"Wait till you taste it."

"I didn't realize you were such a frozen-drink connoisseur."

"I'm not. I've been researching."

"Really? For me?"

"Yep."

Her face lights up. "You're a keeper, Hunter Ward."

"You haven't tried it yet."

She takes a sip then another. "This is seriously good. What is it?"

"Rosé champagne and cherry granita cocktails."

"Fancy," she teases.

"Nothing but the best for my girl." I wink.

We stare at the water for several moments, and I inhale the salt air.

"Does it feel good to be back?"

I turn to her. "Yeah. I'm ready to surf tomorrow."

"I think I'll watch you tomorrow before I try it. My neck is a bit sore from the plane."

I sit up straighter and pat between my legs.

She sits down, and I rub the knots out of her neck.

"I'll need to set up my new schedule with Sloane since we have a big time difference," she says.

"Whenever you need to have your sessions, we'll work around it."

"Okay."

We stay on the deck until the sun goes down, and when we get inside, we make dinner together.

"I'm so glad you had someone grocery shop before we got here," Vanessa says.

"Agreed."

We eat and go to bed, trying to combat the jet lag. My alarm rings when it's still dark, and Vanessa is still sleeping.

I sneak out of bed and put on the wetsuit that's in my closet.

She stirs. "Hey."

I sit on the bed and stroke her cheek. "Try to sleep some more if you can. The jet lag won't be as bad."

"But you're up."