Page 30 of Catch a Wave

“And you kissed him? Kalaine!”

“No! I didn’t kiss him! Calm down.” The sound of my words fills the small bedroom, so I muffle my voice. “No. I didn’t. There was no kissing, and there won’t be any kissing.”

Not that the thought didn’t cross my mind, but of course I didn’t kiss Bodhi. I’ll never kiss him again. He said, friends. And that’s what we need to aim for, I think.

“He asked if we could be friends.”

“Can you?”

“I think so. I’m so tired of holding this grudge. And I’m just …”

“Reeling from the accident. Vulnerable. Looking at a huge question mark as to what lies ahead. I get it. You don’t need to decide to forgive him right now, sweet Kah.”

“Thanks. I know. It’s just … maybe I want to?”

“Want to what?”

“Isn’t that the question.” I flop onto my bed, half dressed, holding my top in my hand.

I want so much with Bodhi, or I did. Now, I don’t know. He may even be seeing someone. Can we be friends? Where do I put all these inconvenient feelings for him?

“How about this?” Leilani suggests. “How about you take it day by day. If you feel like being friendly, be friendly. If you need space, take it. If you’re angry tomorrow, even after you felt all clean-the-slate today, give yourself permission to be angry. What you went through wasn’t fair. He’s sorry, sure. But that doesn’t make up for the fact that he single-handedly dismantled your future.”

“True.” I agree, but I don’t feel the weight of it.

Bodhi’s obviously different. He’s gone through something. Granted, I should have been by his side while he worked through the aftermath of his accident, but maybe this time apart is what he needed most. Either way, I don’t see the purpose in stayingangry. When I think of trying to be his friend, anger isn’t the problem. Attraction definitely is.

“I still feel …”

“Like he’s one of the hottest men on the planet?”

“Ugh. Yes!”

“You’d officially be dead if you didn’t feel that way. That man is something to behold. All it takes is one glance from him through those obnoxiously long eyelashes and most women nearly faint. He’s got those raging good looks and he knows how to use them. And all that was yours. I can’t imagine living in the same house with him after having been his girlfriend for over two years.”

“It’s not the easiest.”

“Stay strong. And maybe keep a safe distance from him. Six feet? That’s what they say for germs, right? Maybe giving him a healthy amount of personal space will make you immune to sexiness too?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Stinks to be you, then.” She chuckles. “But seriously, guard your precious heart. I don’t want to have to fly over to California to kick his muscular booty.”

I laugh. “I gotta run. We’re … uh. I’m doing a thing.”

“Don’t you dare hang up on that note. What thing? With him?”

“Yeah. He asked me to do yoga with him. And I said yes.”

“Oh girl. Forget about it. I predict it’s less than two weeks before you’re in his arms again.”

“What? No. It’s just yoga, Lei.”

“Just yoga, she says.”

I hear Bodhi’s voice from the door leading into the garage. “You coming, Kalaine?”

“He’s calling me. I better go.”

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