Page 138 of Surfer's Paradise

He sighed, hit answer on the truck’s Bluetooth.

“Hey, Ma.”

“Hi, honey.” Janice Rayleigh’s warm voice filled the cab. “How are you feeling? How’s the healing?”

Isaac squinted against the light, flexed his hand on the wheel. “Could be better, but I’m getting there.”

There was a pause. “Are you driving?”

He smirked. “Yeah.”

“Isaac. Isn’t that a little too early?”

“Mom.”

“You know I just want you to be okay.”

He let out a breath. “I know.”

Another pause. Then her voice brightened. “Well, are you coming up here? To Signal Hill?”

He hesitated. “Actually… yeah. I’m headed up now.”

“Oh! Are you coming to Rosie’s show tonight?”

Isaac blinked. “What show?”

There was a rustling sound, like she was walking across the kitchen. His dad, Tom, spoke up faintly in the background—something about the Dodgers game. Janice shushed him.

“She’s got an event tonight in Malibu. Some fancy art show. I saw it on her newsletter. It’s part of that collector series. What’s his name… Gregory something?”

“Greg Taylor?” Isaac muttered, scowling out the windshield.

“Yes, that’s it!” she said.

“Good for her,” he said.Motherfucker better not touch her.

“Rosie’s one of the headliners. Can you believe it?”

Yeah. He could. But he didn’t say that. His grip on the wheel tightened. So she was in Malibu. Right now. Being celebrated. Surrounded by a bunch of rich assholes in suits. Don’t like that.

His mother kept going, gentle and cheerful. “If you’re already headed up, don’t bother with a hotel, sweetheart. Just come home. I’ll make up the guest bed for you.”

He groaned. “Mom, I’m not sharing a room with Noah again.”

“You won’t!” she laughed. “He’s got a girlfriend now. He’s over there most nights. I hardly see him.”

He smirked despite himself. “Jesus. Noah’s got a girlfriend?”

“He’s trying to make it work,” she said. “Like someone else I know should be.”

Isaac rolled his eyes. “Not now, Ma.”

“You’re staying here,” she said firmly. “That’s final. I’ll put fresh sheets on.”

He let out a long, theatrical sigh. “Fiiiiine.”

Janice softened. “Good. I miss you, baby.”

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