Page 69 of Catch a Wave

“Yeah. Well. We’re building a friendship now. We went through a gnarly breakup.” I don’t elaborate. My face probably tells enough of the story anyway.

“If myfriendlooked at me the way Bodhi just looked at you, Ben would take him out back and have words.” Summer puts air quotes around the wordfriend.

“Bodhi’s like that with everyone. You all know him well enough to know that. He is my friend. Trust me. That’s all we are now.”

“Um. No. Nope.” Riley smiles at me. “Sure, he’s got that easy way about him and he looks directly at anyone and everyone with those soulful eyes of his. Not to mention his charming smile which he freely flashes whenever he enters a room. He’s definitely winsome and has a special magnetism. The best part is, he’s sincere.

“But I’ve never seen him so into someone. It’s like the whole world disappears when he looks at you. You might be building a friendship, but I see a man fighting hard not to push you even though every cell in his body wants you back.”

I just stare at Riley.

Summer looks at me with a smirky smile on her face.

“Sometimes, Kalaine, a man needs a stop sign. Then there are times he needs a green light. And I think I know what we’re going to do in your case.”

I’m not sure what Summer has in mind, or if I’m even fully on board with it. But if it means giving me and Bodhi a chanceat a relationship again, I might be willing to try whatever she suggests.

BODHI

(OUR SIXTH MONTH OFFICIALLY DATING LONG DISTANCE)

For the two of us, home isn’t a place. It is a person.

And we are finally home.

~ Stephanie Perkins

I reread Kalaine’s last texts to me as the plane slowly rolls toward the terminal. After hours over the open ocean, the shoreline of Oahu came into view. I haven’t stopped smiling since I saw the green hills and palm trees of the island out the airplane window.

Kalaine:I’m so excited you’re coming to Oahu! Only six more hours til I see you!

Bodhi:Can’t wait. You’re the best part of this trip. By far.

Kalaine:Not the contest?

Bodhi:What contest?

Kalaine:Good one. You’ve only been preparing for this since we left Bali.

Bodhi:Right. That contest. Well, I’m stoked for that too. But not half as stoked as I am to see you.

Kalaine:I wish you could see my smile right now. You always make me smile, Bo.

Bo. Kalaine decided I needed a nickname. I’ve never had one, which is slightly peculiar considering how many surfers end up being known by some random name like Gull or Spaz or Howler. I know three guys with those exact names. I don’t even know Howler’s real name since he doesn’t do contests. Sometimes that’s the only way we learn one another’s given names—the competition rank board gives them away. But since surfing is the coolest sport on the planet, they always include our nicknames on the board in the middle of our actual names.

The passengers around me rustle in their seats. As soon as the pilot turns off the seatbelt signs, everyone’s up and grabbing their carry-ons, restlessly looking at one another and shooting glances toward the front of the plane. After our early six-hour flight out of LA this morning, we’re all ready to stretch our legs and get on with whatever we’ve got going here on the islands.

I’ve only got a backpack with me. My duffle and board are checked.

I follow the rest of the passengers to baggage claim and wait for my stuff to drop onto the carousel. I’m standing with my bag at my feet when a pair of hands comes around from behind me, enveloping my face and covering my eyes. I feel the press of her body on my back, and I inhale the smell of sun, tropical flowers and pure joy.

“Guess who!” Kalaine’s cheerful voice surrounds me like a dream I never want to wake from.

“Is it Kai?”

Kalaine giggles. I pivot around and grab her by the waist, picking her up and spinning her once and then dropping her slowly so she slides down my chest until her feet hit the floor.

“I couldn’t decide if I wanted to greet you that way or with a running leap into your arms.”

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