Page 37 of Catch a Wave
After we say our goodbyes, Summer drives us back toward the resort side of Marbella.
“What’d you think of Phyllis?”
“She’s so fun. Thank you for bringing me along.”
“It made her day. She’d have been so upset if she heard about you and didn’t get to meet you.”
I wonder why she would hear about me.
“Small town.” Summer answers my unspoken question. “This island is a little spread out, and it always feels more full because of tourists, but those of us who live here year-round are like any small town—well, a small town with an ocean and a dress code of sundresses and flip flops.”
She flashes me an easy smile. It’s the smile of a woman whose life is on track.
“So, what you’re saying is everyone knows Kai’s baby sister is staying with him.”
“And that you and Bodhi were a thing? Yeah. Most everyone. And also, we’ve seen you ride big waves. The ones before the fall. Those are the ones we think of, Kalaine. We all know you fell, but the point is, you were out there.” She shakes her head. “I never actually knew someone with so much courage and athleticism. I hope my fangirling doesn’t show too much.”
“You? Fangirling over me?” I laugh.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
I just stare at her. “I fangirl so hard over you.”
“Well, that’s a level playing field if I ever heard of one.” Her soft southern accent peeks out.
Kai told me Summer was originally from Georgia. She completely covered her accent for her movie. When she’s more relaxed, I hear that sweet drawl creep into certain words.
“Wanna pop in on the guys?” she asks as we approach the area where the boat dock leads into the ocean from the sand.
“The guys?”
“Yeah. I won’t get to see Ben as much as I’d like once I’m filming. And I’m still at that stage where going a few hours away from him makes me miss him. You can mock me all you want. I mock myself.”
“I think that’s beautiful.”
“You could say hi to your brother … see him at work … maybe see anyone else there?”
Her voice is light and playful, but my stomach flips at the thought of watching Bodhi at work—seeing him even more settled here in his new life without me.
I don’t want to keep Summer from seeing Ben. That’s what I’m telling myself when I say the next thing that comes out of my mouth. “Sure. Let’s pop in on the guys.”
13
BODHI
You can never just be friends
with someone you fell in love with.
~ Unknown
“Just hold the board like this, on the rails.”
My student, Jenny, holds the rails like she’s trying to snap the board with her bare hands. Her knuckles are white, her body stiff, her eyes wide.
“Hey,” I say in the calming voice I’ve learned to use with novice surfers. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“Okay,” she says, smiling over at me. It’s forced, but it’s a smile. I’ll take it.
