Page 18 of Catch a Wave
“Yeah. I’m fine. Good. Great.”
I pull my arm away and stand on my own two feet. Or one foot and a boot, but at least I’m holding myself up now.
Bodhi has the nerve to wink. Or maybe it’s just a reflex. He probably winks all the time now at every woman on the island. He just goes around winking like he’s campaigning for office.He’s the Oprah of winks. You get a wink! You get a wink! You get a wink!
I look away from Bodhi, severing the stare down we had been locked into ever since my almost-fall. And when I glance over to gauge my brother’s reaction, he’s near the front door, walking Sheena and Emily out.
“She’s not …” We’re no longer touching, but Bodhi’s still up in my personal space.
“Don’t, Bodhi.”
“I just want you to know …”
“No. I don’t have any claim on you. We don’t belong to one another. It’s okay.”
“Mavs.” There’s a plea in his voice.
“If I’m staying here, you can’t go around calling me that. I’m not Mavs. I’m Kalaine.”
Bodhi looks at me for a long moment. Then he breathes out a slow breath.
“Okay. Cool. Gotcha.”
Bodhi takes a step back and I want to grab him and drop into his arms. It’s not that I want to kiss him. Oh, I do. I remember what Bodhi’s kisses felt like. They were other-worldly. I could lose myself in his kisses. Bodhi didn’t merely kiss me with his mouth, he kissed me with his whole heart. But more than our chemistry, I miss him—the way he’d hold me and the world would feel right. No one ever believed in me like he did—not even my coach.
Kai comes back into the kitchen and shoots Bodhi a look. Whatever passes between them causes Bodhi to start clearing the table quietly without another word or look in my direction.
“I think I’ll head to bed,” I announce.
“After sleeping the day away?” Kai asks.
“How do you know what I did all day?”
Bodhi turns around. “That would be me and my big mouth.”
“Great. Yeah. I took a nap. But I’m ready for bed. It’s been a day.”
“Do you need anything?” Kai asks.
“No. I’m good.”
The list of what I need feels so long—too long to go into, especially with my big brother and my ex.
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Kai steps in and pulls me into another hug.
I melt into his arms. Being here might be the worst decision of my life, but at least I can have the comfort of my big brother’s arms wrapped around me when I’m about to come undone.
He looks down at me. “Let’s go check out the island tomorrow, just you and me. I’ve got the day off.”
“Okay. Sounds good.”
I walk down the hall to my bedroom, and get ready for bed, even though I’m not the least bit sleepy.
I’m sure I’ll get used to sharing the same square footage with Bodhi in time.
I have to.
BODHI
