Page 88 of Ride the Wave

Leo

I don’t need to play it cool

It’s natural to me

But I genuinely do have a lot on tomorrow

Tomorrow evening maybe?

Leo

I have a dinner with friends

My shoulders slump forwards. It is understandable that he’d be busy over the weekend; I can’t expect him to clear his calendar for me. We’ll have to wait until Sunday. I think about his lips on mine, his body pressed against mine, the things he said about how much he’d wanted me, falling asleep in his arms so quickly, so comfortably…

Fuck. Sunday is years away.

No worries

Leo

Sunday?

Sunday it is. How was surfing today?

Leo

It was great actually

Weirdly, I was in a really good mood

Can’t think why

Argh, I’m literally aching for him. His flirting is making butterflies dance wildly around my stomach, somersaulting and spinning, having the time of their lives in there.

How strange. I’m pleased for you. Any wipeouts?

Leo

One quite big one

My stomach drops at the idea of him being hurt. I’m glad I wasn’t there to see it.

But that’s okay. It’s a good thing.

If I didn’t wipeout every now and then,

I’d know I wasn’t pushing myself hard enough

I read his messages twice. Something is whirring in the back of my brain, something important, a niggle that is making its way through the jumbled thoughts and—

Leo, I’ve got to go

Leo

Everything okay?

Yes. Don’t let your ego explode But I think you’ve just inspired me