Page 17 of Catch a Wave
“Hey, Sheena. This is Kalaine, my sister. She just arrived today.”
The girls both say hi, but Sheena turns and walks down the hallway, following Bodhi like she’s made the trip to his bedroom before—probably more than once.
My taco feels like it’s turning into a ball of lead in my stomach.
Here’s something I should have thought of before now.
Bodhi. And women.
He’s always been this magnetic force. Between his looks, his easy-going personality, his sense of humor and his prowess as a surfer, he’s the perfect man. Most women are drawn to Bodhi. I’m used to it. But I’m also used to being the one he focused on no matter who was around us. He never flirted with other women. We had female friends. But I never had to worry about Bodhi being unfaithful.
But we’re not together anymore. He doesn’t owe me anything. We haven’t been a couple for two years. And he’s still a magnet, and a man who enjoys attention from women. Before I think better of it, I’m closing my eyes and placing my head in my hands, my elbows resting on the table.
“Are you okay?” Emily asks me.
“Me? Yeah. I’m great.” I lift my head and meet her eyes, pasting a smile onto my face.
“Long travel day,” Kai supplies.
Not long enough.
“How long are you visiting?” Emily asks.
Her smile is warm, and normally I’d be talkative.Never met a stranger, my mom used to say about me.
“It’s …” I start to answer.
Kai cuts in. “She’s here for a while. She’s got some time off work.”
“That’s so great. Sheena and I work at the resort. Bodhi and Kai always throw the best barbecues. A bunch of us come anytime they put the word out—some townies and a whole group of resort staff usually swarm this place. I’m sure you’ll be here for the next one.”
“Sounds fun.” I smile again.
I wonder if I look like I just ate a bug, or if I’m pulling off the smile. I’m betting I’ve got bug face.
Kai sends me a sympathetic smile.
Sheena and Bodhi come out from his room. She’s carrying a jacket and smiling up at him with that same look I’ve always seen women give him. He’s not paying special attention to her. I can’t get a read on what she is to him. But her jacket was in his room. That tells me pretty much everything I need to know. Doesn’t it?
“Do you two want some tacos?” Bodhi offers.
“Oh, no thanks. You’re so sweet,” Emily coos to him. “We already ate. We just wanted to grab Sheena’s jacket since it’s so cold out lately. We didn’t mean to barge in on your dinner.”
“It’s fine,” my brother says, even though he can clearly tell it isn’t.
“Well, we’ll see you around, Bodhi,” Sheena says.
“Yeah.” Bodhi stands between the dining table and the living room, looking at me with a conflicted expression on his face.
“Nice meeting you two,” I say, standing to take my plate to the sink.
Only, I’m wearing my boot, and I admittedly pushed myself too hard today, so I pivot and then I nearly drop the plate when I grab for the table to keep myself from landing on the floor.
Awesome.
Bodhi is next to me before I have time to fully catch myself. His hand is under my forearm, steadying me, and his other arm lands around my waist for the second time today. Our faces are less than a foot apart and our eyes lock.
“You okay?” he asks, as if we’re the only two people in the room—or on the planet.
