Page 108 of Catch a Wave

Mavs already tugged her wetsuit zipper down so the top hangs loose at her waist, revealing her swimsuit underneath. She’s toweled off her hair into a mess of wild curls.

“I … um … could you …” Leena looks around and then back at Mavs. Then she sticks a small notebook out. “Could I get your autograph?”

Mavs beams. After all she’s been through, nearly losing her life and then her profession, she’s bounced back and even gained a new generation of fans. She takes the notebook and scrawls something in it, then she turns to Leena’s mom.

“Should we take a photo together?”

“Would you?” Leena nearly squeals.

“Of course.”

Leena’s mom lifts her phone and captures a few shots of Mavs and Leena. I walk over and offer to photograph the three of them.

When they leave, I turn and pull my girlfriend into my arms.

“Can I get your autograph too?”

“Hmmm.” Mavs taps her chin and pretends to debate my request.

I kiss her chin and then her nose.

“I could be persuaded,” she says, leaning back and looking me in the eyes.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Challenge accepted.” I tug Mavs toward me with my hands looped behind her back. I lean in and place a kiss on her lips. She returns my kiss with equal tenderness. We’ve come so far. Not a day passes that I don’t think of all we nearly lost, individually and as a couple. Each moment like this is a gift.

Kai walks out the shop’s back door.

“You guys are going to run off my customers.”

I pull back from Mavs, keeping my arms wrapped around her waist.

She turns her head toward her brother. “We just gave six lessons for you. I’d say we’re good for business.”

“Maybe in the water, but all bets are off once you two hit the shore.”

We laugh.

“I’ll be in,” I say. “Give me a minute to say goodbye to your sister.”

“She’s not going overseas. You two will see one another in a few hours.”

Kai acts disgruntled, but he’s as happy as we are that we’ve made it through the hardest season of our lives.

I pull Mavs back in for another kiss. “I’ll see you at home this afternoon. Maybe we can hit the evening glass off.”

“I have to hit it. I promised Dan I’d ride every day.”

“Great. It’s a date.”

“You’re getting lax, Bo. Coming home to me does not count as a date.”

“I’ll make it count. Just you wait.”

She smiles, then stands on tiptoes and kisses me, and then she turns and calls Shaka. Once she’s changed, she and our dog make their way back to our house. I watch them go before I head into work.

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