Page 44 of Sparks Like Ours

“Starving.”

“Thought so. Follow me.” Elle didn’t live far from their spot onthe beach. She led Gia down a windy path to the back of a one-story blue house,where they deposited their boards and bags just beyond a wooden gate that cameto Gia’s waist.

She stared at the house. “This is you?”

“For the past six years.”

She took a moment for the appropriate amount of jealousy. “Coolbeach access.”

“My thoughts exactly when I paid too much for the place.” Elle ledGia up the steps to a back deck accessorized with two comfortable-looking patiochairs facing the shore with a table between them. She imagined Elle sittingoutside, salt water drying on her skin, watching the sun go down. Didn’t soundawful at all.

Elle unlocked the back door and tossed Gia a look over hershoulder. “Hey, remember when you were distant and unfriendly?”

Gia nodded. “Remember when you were fake and attention seeking?”

“Hopefully, we’ve eliminated ‘fake’ from that sentence.”

Gia chuckled and followed Elle inside. She took a moment to orientherself to the space. Everything about the interior of Elle’s house said soft.The colors, a variety of whites and beiges, the shape of the furniture, allrounded and cloud-like. It was the perfect place to collapse after a long day’sworkout. Every aspect of Elle’s home screamed “fall down right here.” Giawanted to. Even the art on the wall communicated serenity. “You have a verychill house. I don’t know how else to say it.”

“Chill, huh?” Elle laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard itdescribed quite like that, but yes, it’s verychill.I happen to need chill in my life. What’s your place like?”

Gia paused. “It feels significantly less adult than this. Alsoless comfortable.”

“Let me guess. All wall-to-wall neon surfboards?”

“Nooo,” Gia said, drawing out the lie. “I have a couch, too.”

“Wow,” Elle said, in mock appreciation. But as Gia perused theplace further, Elle did have nods to their shared profession on display, justnot as in-your-face as Gia did. A framed news article on the wall from a bigtournament win from Elle’s teenage years. A color photo of her on the day shetook the world championship. There were also photos of her with her parents,her younger brothers, and people Gia presumed were her friends. Elle’s lifeseemed vibrant and happy, warm even. As she took in the personal touches and gotto know Elle a little better, she noticed herself smiling.

“You are a person,” she said, in teasing fashion, to Elle.

“As much as possible, yes,” Elle said over her shoulder. Herbreath tickled Gia’s skin, sending a shiver inching through her. “How about ashower before dinner?”

Gia turned around and raised an eyebrow in the quiet of Elle’sliving room.

The insinuation prompted Elle to falter, and the perfect smilefell from her face. “No. I didn’t mean it like that.”

Gia didn’t mind seeing Elle on defense. It was too rare anoccurrence for her not to enjoy it. She couldn’t stop herself from pushingback. “Because that’s what it sounded like. So, not an invitation, then?” Giaasked, with a raised eyebrow.

Elle exhaled, understanding that she was being teased. “Theeyebrow again, huh? You can use the guest bathroom, through there.”

Gia followed Elle’s gaze and grabbed her bag. “Thanks. I’ll bequick.” The hall bathroom had Gia captivated. Matching light blue hand towels,and little soaps carved into different shapes. Seashells, anchors, andstarfish. Foaming hand soap, and the thick kind of tissues you find in all thegood hotels. Elle had her life together, that was for sure.

Gia took a quick shower, dried off with the fluffiest towel she’dexperienced in a quite a while, slid into her jeans and white slouchy top, andheaded to the kitchen, where she found Elle already showered and unpacking adelivery bag.

“Food’s here.”

Gia glanced at the front door and back to Elle. “How is thatpossible? I took a ten-minute shower. Are you capable of stopping time?”

Elle smiled. “It’s from an all-natural restaurant around thecorner. I have a delivery service already scheduled several times a week. Justasked them to make it two tonight.”

“That easy, huh?” Gia joined Elle in the kitchen, glancing up atthe copper pots and pans that hung from above the center island. More adulting.“So, what are we having?”

“Lots of baked chicken, broccoli, twelve-grain bread, and jalapenocorn which, trust me, will blow your mind.” Elle tucked a strand of wet hairbehind her ear, and Gia attempted to stay focused on the conversation.

“Mind-blowing corn? I’m in.” Good save.

At Elle’s suggestion, they skipped the kitchen table in favor ofthe coffee table, and sat on the floor of her living room, which wasn’t aproblem because wouldn’t you know it, the accent rug was fluffy and awesome. Itwasn’t the most exciting meal in the world, but in the middle of the season, itwas definitely the kind of food Gia should be eating. Well, they both should.

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