Page 20

Sage walks into the shop, a smile on her now permanently tanned face, and she’s literally a constant reminder of her dad, Mitch, with those striking blue eyes. I love having her here, and if I’m being honest, seeing her on a daily basis is one of the reasons I decided to get back into training. Her glowing blue eyes hit home, like Mitch is still here, encouraging me on.

“Hey,” she calls out, hopping up onto the old surfboard counter her dad constructed when she reaches me. “You okay?” she narrows her eyes, scanning my face, and clearly all that crying I did last night is apparent.

“Just overwhelmed,” I reply with my same rehearsed response and while somewhat true, it isn’t the real reason.

“Yeah, Sloane told me you were feeling that way. Anything I can do to help? Maybe a girls’ night? Movies, wine, pizza, sleepover?” she suggests, beaming at the idea. We haven’t done one since she relocated here, and we said we would.

Nate can be kind of possessive over Sage, and not in that creepy, stalkerish, toxic way, but more in that way that he always wants her to himself. He’s attached to her, and I love it. She makes him feel safe and loved, something he’s sought for so long, finding it in Sage after Mitch’s death.

“Actually, that’s probably exactly what I need,” I tell her, thinking how I do just need to unplug and do something other than obsess over Flynn. “You wanna check with Nate and see if it’s cool?”

Sage hits me with the most ridiculous look and sends me into a fit of laughter, with her brow cocked and her lips curled up on one side like Elvis.

“I hope that was a joke,” she quips, shaking her head. “I’m not checking in with him. I’ll just tell him I’m spending the night with you and the girls. He doesn’t really get a say.” She lets out a huff, again with a head shake just as Nate walks in.

He’s carrying a board under each arm, his T-shirt covered in fiberglass and epoxy shavings, obviously from out back doing board repairs.

“Hey, Alana, mark down that Smith’s and Bennett’s board repairs are done, and give them a call, please,” he says, placing the boards on the rack at the back of the store. “Tanner is bringing in a few custom orders he finished up today too. I gotta go meet with a customer in a bit to get down some ideas for another custom board. You good here alone for a bit?”

“Sage is here,” I say, motioning to her as her legs swing, still sitting on the counter. “But yeah, I’m all good.”

Nate comes over, stepping between Sage’s legs. He wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her to him as he kisses her.

“She has class,” Nate says, his words muffled as he buries his face in her neck. Sometimes they are so stupidly affectionate that it makes me want to gag. But I guess in a way, they are super cute too.

Nate was never like this with anyone until he met Sage, and even though he was super pissed at me for calling her when her dad died, he has me to thank for them getting together. I remind him of this every chance I get because it annoys him, and he’s fun to annoy.

“Get a room, you two,” I playfully grumble, and my mind flashes to Flynn, wishing like hell we could be like this. Out and not giving a shit who knows. “You’re making everyone uncomfortable.”

Nate looks around the shop; it’s quiet with only a couple of customers roaming around. We won’t get busy until after the morning rush of surfers comes pouring in from the water. Surfers are early risers, and all of them are out on the water right now.

“Whatever,” he grumbles, his typical grumpy persona coming through, and it always makes me smile. Sage brings out the best in him, and he can try his best to fight it, but she will always make him into the perfect guy.

“I do have class, but after that, I’m spending the night with Alana and the girls,” Sage mentions, and without missing a beat, without questioning it, Nate nods, kissing her cheek.

“Have fun. I’ll see what the guys are up to. Maybe they want to hang out without all your female hormones ruining our evening.”

He’s such a sarcastic dick, but I love him.

“Make sure you invite Flynn,” Sage says, as if she needs to remind Nate to be nice to their guest and disregarding his jab about female hormones.

I doubt she needs to remind him with this one. Nate seems to be enamored, caught up in the fact that he has a world champion surfer staying in his guest house. I have to admit, it’s easy to be star-struck when we’ve grown up surfing, obsessed with champion surfers like Flynn. And meeting one in person at an event or whatever is great, but having one staying here, locally, is epic.

“What about Flynn?” I hear a voice call, and there he is, coming through the door, a coffee cup in his hand, and my knees nearly buckle at the sight of him.

Why does he have to look like everything I want but I can’t have? He even carries a cup of iced coffee like a fucking god, the ice melting from the heat of his body. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself because it couldn’t possibly be the Hawaiian heat.

Lust and desire hit me like a hammer, and my stomach flutters wildly, my thighs clenching in response. I have no idea how the hell I’m going to do this. I still have two more weeks before Maui Pipe and with Flynn staying in the guest house out back, we’re going to keep running into each other like this.

Or maybe he planned this? Coming in here, all fucking gorgeous and dangling himself in front of me with his tanned skin and ocean blue eyes. It’s not going to be long before I say fuck it and give in to everything we both want.

“Got plans tonight?” Nate asks him, and luckily for me, no one has noticed the way my mouth is hanging open, drooling on the counter, desperation seeping from every pore on my body.

“Nope. Got something in mind?”

He doesn’t look at me, and it feels intentional. Making eye contact could send us both over the edge as ridiculous as that sounds. We’re wound so damn tightly that we’re bound to snap at the littlest interaction.

“Girls’ night,” Nate quips, rolling his eyes. “Wanna hang out?”

“Yeah, for sure. Kinda need it,” Flynn says, and this is when his gaze crosses over to mine. His lips part slightly, that full bottom one looking like it’s made to be kissed. Letting out a sigh of what can only be described as distress, and I want to take all his stress away.

I’m part of that stress, though.

His phone starts to ring, and there’s that sigh again. Pulling it from his pocket, he silences it and shoves it back where it came from.

He doesn’t need to say it. I know who it is.

Jade.

Jade and all her drama.

I don’t like to think of her like this. I’m normally all for supporting women and being encouraging and shit. Not wanting to talk negatively, but with her, it’s really fucking hard. Especially when I see what it’s doing to Flynn and how miserable he looks.

She’s demanding and brash, a strange combination of spoiled and entitled but immature, like she needs Flynn not only as her coach but also as her parent. It’s weird. She is only eighteen, after all, and that’s what makes her comment about sleeping with him not only wrong but gross.

A year ago, she was a child.

So maybe I should cut her some slack.

“Meet out back around seven,” Nate tells Flynn, cutting through my thoughts and pulling Flynn away from the nightmare of his ringing phone.

“Yeah, cool,” Flynn confirms with a nod of his head.

“Oh, and I know I said it before, but thanks so much for all your help this weekend. The kids really loved having you there, and it was so cool of you to stay and give them all tips and shit.” Nate smiles, and I know the surf school program is close to his heart, just like it is mine. I don’t have any statistics on it, but I know it has improved the graduation rate and that’s exactly what we want.

“Had a great time. I’m here if you want help with anything else,” Flynn says, sounding genuinely interested.

“Speaking of, you wanna hang around the shop for a bit? I’ve got some people coming in to pick up repaired boards. The notes are in the files,” Nate starts, and before he can continue, I’m shaking my head like a complete idiot, and Nate lets out a hearty laugh.

“You okay over there, Alana?” he questions, hitting me with a confused look. If everyone in the room didn’t know that I’m obsessed with Flynn, they certainly know now.

“Yeah, I’m good, but I don’t need any help.”

It all comes out in a rush, and Flynn covers his mouth, his hand trying to hide the smirk I know is behind it. Soon our little secret is going to get out if we keep acting this way.

“It’s gonna get busy, and Sage has got to go, and I stupidly booked this meeting during our busy hours,” Nate clarifies, as if he’s trying to convince me. It won’t take much, I’m always looking for an excuse to “accidentally” end up with Flynn.

“It’s cool,” Flynn responds casually, his shoulders shrugging. “I don’t mind helping out. With Jade in town now, I’m going to be helping her train soon.”

“Yeah, saw her at Keiki Chaos,” Nate says. “Awesome that she showed up to support us.”

Before I can stop it, like it’s a reflex, I let out a half-scoff, half-laugh, and I’m really fucking things up. Could I be any more obvious?

“Sorry, I’m not even sure why I did that,” I spit out, trying to cover my own ass, but it’s too late because both Nate and Sage hit me with questioning looks.

There’s no way she was there to help support our surf school event. She was there to parade around in the hopes of being noticed. I’m pretty sure that’s her entire goal in life.

I need to shut up. Even if these are all just thoughts in my head, it’s still pretty bitchy of me. Some might even say it sounds like jealousy, and it might be. It probably is. Okay, it is.

Jealousy that she has what I want, and I don’t just mean the world champion surfer title.

“Yeah, okay,” Nate says, his brow going up as he looks at me. Shaking his head, he adds, “Any chance you could get her to do a signing at the shop before Maui Pipe?” His question is directed at Flynn, and as much as I know he wants to say no, he’s going to say yes.

He needs to keep Jade happy. He needs to keep his job. And having her do a signing is right up her alley. All the attention on her, people swarming to be close to her.

“What about Alana?” Flynn now asks, and my head whips around so fast that I swear I could have given myself whiplash.

“What about Alana?” Nate shoots back, somewhat aghast and if I didn’t know him well, I’d be insulted.

“She’s surfing Pipe too. Why not ask her if she wants to sign?” They’re talking about me like I’m not standing here, and I put my hands on my hips, pursing my lips as I look at Nate.

“No one wants Alana’s autograph,” Nate says, and instantly regrets it when Sage slaps his arm.

“Nathan Peterson, that was so rude,” Sage admonishes. “Yes, people want Alana’s autograph. She’s a local, and she’s made it here all on her own.” Sage stops, glaring at Nate, shaking her head in disgust. “Not that Jade hasn’t worked hard too, but Alana, she’s…” Sage trails off with that still-insulted look plastered on her face.

Shit, she’s a great friend. Not that I wouldn’t have stuck up for myself. But I do get what Nate is saying. Jade is a novelty, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the people who live here. I’m just here, always. They can find me on the water or in The Pipe Dream, or hell, even in the grocery store. I’m approachable and friendly, always wanting to show people that I’m real, nothing fake about my personality.

“Why don’t we do a dual signing? Alana and Jade?” Nate now suggests, and that seems to appease Sage as she nods in agreement. “Think Jade would be in?”

“Yeah, sure, I don’t see why not,” Flynn responds but doesn’t say much more as Nate interrupts him, checking his watch.

“Shit, babe, we gotta go,” Nate spits out, linking his hand with Sage’s as he tugs her off the counter. “Flynn, we’ll hash it out tonight. See you at seven.”

“Laters, mate,” Flynn says, and holy shit, why does that sound so sexy? Can a man’s voice actually make you come in your panties? Because I feel like his just did with his comment.

When the door closes behind Nate and Sage, Flynn steps closer to the counter, his scent enveloping me, and I want to close my eyes and bask in it.

“Looks like we’re alone, Alana,” he murmurs, and yep, I did just come in my underwear.