Page 61 of Catch a Wave
His hand is clasping mine again and my heart is light and free, like life could go any direction right now and they’d all be good ones.
“Do you say that to all the girls?”
“I don’t. I’ve been saving all my cheesy lines for you. How am I doing so far?”
“Great.” I look up at him.
His features are muted in the darkness of the evening, but the light of the tiki torches and the moon illuminates the cut line of his jaw and the whites of his eyes. “You’re doing really great.”
“I don’t know if I can beat attacking monkeys, but I’d like to try.”
Bodhi pauses at the cliff’s edge. The Milky Way stretches out across the sky from the horizon, arching over our heads, a pinkish-purple hue radiating off the countless stars clusteredamid what looks like clouds. The rest of the sky is black with pinpricks of light scattered as if someone threw a handful of confetti in the air and it stuck there. The sound of the waves beneath us lapping at the shore is the only noise outside my heartbeat, which feels loud and full.
“Come here,” Bodhi says.
He extends his arms and I step into them, resting my head on his chest. He wraps me in his embrace and we stand there, staring out at the ocean together. My breathing evens out and my heart rate settles. I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve been held like this. Maybe I’ve never been held likethis.
“This is nice,” I say, tilting my head to look up at Bodhi.
“Mmmm. It’s very nice.” His hand draws a lazy circle on my back and goosebumps rise across my skin where he touches me.
“Kiss me, Bodhi.”
His eyes go soft and his lids drop just the slightest. He cups my chin in one of his hands and tilts my face so I’m looking directly into his eyes.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you for nearly a year.” His voice is gravelly and full of emotion. It sends chills through me to hear him so affected by my nearness and words.
“Well, then?”
Bodhi chuckles. But then his mood grows serious. “I really like you, Mavs. I’d like to take you out again. Do I get a second date?”
“You can have a fifth date. Probably even a tenth. Now, kiss me.”
His head tips back in laughter. He’s still cupping my chin in his palm with a gentleness that makes me feel cherished. When his eyes meet mine again, I watch them shutter closed. Then he’s leaning toward my mouth and I’m standing on tiptoes to meet him halfway. His lips touch mine. This kiss is like nothing I’ve felt before. He’s soft and careful, brushing across my mouth,then he’s back for more. His hand slides across my cheek to the nape of my neck. His other hand is on my back, pulling me toward him. I loop my hands around his shoulders and hold him to me. He’s not the only one who’s been waiting for this kiss.
Our kiss carries me away. I’m lost in Bodhi. And I’m pretty sure I never want to be found again.
Bodhi pulls away, leaving one more soft kiss on my lips and then resting his forehead on mine.
“Elephants,” he says softly into my hair. “Next time we’re riding the elephants.”
I chuckle softly. “Yes. Yes to elephants and anything else—anything but monkeys.”
He laughs and tugs me near.
I’m basically floating on air when I quietly open the door to my cottage after Bodhi walks me home and kisses me again on my doorstep. I watch him walk away, and he turns and catches me watching. I don’t even care that I’m busted. We both just smile big, goofy smiles at one another and then he turns and walks away for the night.
I carefully shut the door so as not to wake Leilani.
I’m about to duck into the bathroom to get ready when the bedroom lamp comes on.
Leilani sits up in bed. “So? How was it? I want to hear every juicy detail! Spill the deets!”
18
BODHI
You can take a surfer out of the surf,
