Page 89 of Catch a Wave

Then he turns to Mavs. “Could I snag you for a second?”

“Uh. Yeah. Okay. I have a little time before I have to get to Mila’s.”

Kai’s face softens at the mention of Mila. I think he has a thing for her, but he denies it whenever I bring it up. He also gets overly defensive about the suggestion, which only confirms my suspicions.

“I’ll wait for you,” I offer to Mavs.

“I need to talk to my sister alone,” Kai tells me.

“Okay. No problem.” I look at Mavs. “Shaka and I will see you at home.”

I walk to the front of the shop where Shaka’s lying on the ground, blissfully unaware of anything but the moment at hand and his chill surroundings.

“Come on, Shaka. Let’s get you some breakfast.”

Mavs comes out the front door behind me. She approaches me, places her hand on my chest and stands on her tiptoes. Then she kisses me on my cheek.

“Thanks for everything, Bodhi.” She smiles up at me.

There’s something new in her eyes.

“See you at home.” She kisses my cheek again.

I kiss her temple and stare down at her one more time, taking in everything about her.

“See you then.”

24

KALAINE

If you have nothing in this world,

but have a loving brother,

then you are rich already.

~ A Japanese Legend

Bodhi walks down the dock with Shaka at his heels and I watch him. You know I do. He might be even better looking than he was a few years ago, or maybe absence made me forget the finer points of Bodhi Merrick. I’m so grateful for this refresher course now. He doesn’t turn back to look at me, probably assuming I ducked into the shack as soon as he left, so I watch him for a little while longer, indulging myself in the sweet memories of him riding in and inviting me out, because somehow he knew it was the day I’d finally say yes.

When I walk back into the shop, Kai’s face is etched with concern. “You surfed?”

“I think we just covered that fact.” I realize my tone is snappy, but I’m not about to let my overprotective older brother diminish the joy I’m feeling. “It was amazing, Kai. My nervesalmost got the best of me at first. But once I got on the board, it was like everything came back, and then some. We have Bodhi to thank for it, too. He kept nudging me daily, and finally today, I caved.”

Kai cuts me off. “Are you sure about this? You just got the boot off. There’s no need to rush things. Don’t let your infatuation with Bodhi pressure you into things you aren’t ready for.”

“You sound like my ninth grade Health teacher. Bodhi isn’t pressuring me. He’s just been there, believing in me until I believed in myself. Did you hear anything I just said? It was like I’d never been off the water. I’m not saying I’m ready to take on Waimea. But I surfed.” The irrepressible smile fills my face again. “Kai. I surfed.”

A tear tracks down my face, and I don’t swipe it. “I didn’t know if I would ever ride a board again. And now … now I know I will.”

Kai reaches over and swipes my cheek with the pad of his thumb.

We stand there silently processing too many things for words. Everything that led to this moment fills the space between us. Hanging heavy, but also lifting.

“I’m proud of you, Kala. I really am. I don’t mean to be a wet blanket. I just take your safety and wellbeing seriously. When you fell ...”

Kai’s brow draws in and his jaw tightens. If I didn’t know better, I’d say his eyes glisten with unshed tears. Then he clears his throat.

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