Page 45 of The Other Brother

“Trust me. Just try it and see.”

Cody raises his eyebrow as we jump on our boards, but I can see his normal look of Cody concentration come over his face as he paddles out next to me. We turn around to face the beach, a few feet from each other. I keep one eye out over my shoulder, evaluating the approaching waves.

“Here comes a good one,” I call to him.

He nods and paddles frantically to build his momentum.

“Go, go!” I yell as the wave swell lifts me up, then leaves me behind as it barrels on toward the shore.

I give a whoop when I see the wave break, and Cody’s still there riding it. He pulls out just before the shallow water and gives me a thumbs-up. I offer a thumbs-up in return, a wide smile on my face.

Now it’s my turn to catch one, and somehow it’s an even sweeter ride than before.

After another half hour, Cody and I signal each other, and I catch a last wave in to meet him.

Cody waits in ankle-deep water for me. He runs a hand through his hair, shaking out the water.

“Strangely, what you said out there made sense,” he says as we start our trek home through the sand dunes, sand caking our feet like another layer of skin. “It’s like the difference of treating surfing as an art versus a science.”

I roll my eyes as I hitch my surfboard up under my arm. “Only you could turn this into a philosophy thing. You just had to stop worrying about being perfect.”

“You’re telling me I’m not perfect?” He throws me a grin, his tone teasing.

“I’m telling you that when you stop trying to be perfect and just feel, you’re better than perfect.”

I walk for another few feet before I realize Cody has stopped and I’ve left him behind. I slow down and turn back to face him.

He’s still standing on the path, staring at me, eyes wide.

I replay my words, and my shoulders stiffen, my cheeks heating.

We stare at each other for a few heartbeats.

“And you claim I’m the philosopher,” he says finally, starting to walk again, taking long strides to catch up with me.

My shoulders relax. “You’re right. Aristotle must be trembling up in heaven, worried about me eclipsing his legacy.”

Cody huffs out a laugh, but the admiring gaze he slides me causes my legs to turn wobbly.

We reach the house.

“Wetsuit off, right?” It’s become my habit to ask, a small joke before I strip off. This has to be one of my favorite bits about surfing now. Cody in a wetsuit is one thing, but Cody in only board shorts is a whole other dimension of awesomeness. Of course, I only allow myself sneak peeks.

“Right.”

I strip down: the wetsuit releasing my skin in a loud slurp.

Cody strips down too, showing off his tanned skin and taut muscles. He grabs the hose, a smile licking at his lips as he turns toward me.

I recognize the look of calculation on his face… because it’s normally on mine. I narrow my eyes. “Do it and die.”

He tilts his head. “Nah, see, I’m now approaching all situations with the question,What would Ryan do?And I’m sure if you had the hose, you would do this.” He lifts the nozzle up and sprays the water at me.

The blast of cold is a shock to my skin, causing instant goose bumps.

“I can’t believe you just did that,” I splutter.

“Payback’s a bitch.” Cody’s still grinning at me.