Page 94 of Ride the Wave

‘—and I’m going to shut up now.’

He grins at me as I take a sip of my drink. ‘On behalf of all amazingly talented athletes, I would like to say: you’re welcome. Happy to be a perk of your job.’

I roll my eyes. ‘Please.’

But I can’t fake my disdain for long and soon I’m giggling with him.

‘I’m actually up for a new job,’ I blurt out. I have no idea why. I would blame wine for my loosened tongue but I haven’t had any. He didn’t even ask me a question that led to this topic. Apparently, I’m spilling my life to him now.

He raises an eyebrow. ‘Yeah?’

‘Sports editorial director across the European titles ofStudio.’

‘Whoa. Sounds fancy.’

‘It is. It’s a big role. It would be… amazing. A dream job. I don’t know the full details yet, but if I were to get it, I’d have the opportunity to put some incredible and deserving people in the spotlight, making big decisions on the content, managing a team and…’

I trail off, reading his reaction. The whole time I’ve been speaking about this job opportunity, he’s been looking at me strangely.

‘Okay, what is it?’ I ask nervously. ‘What, you think there’s no way I’ll get it? Am I embarrassing myself by even entertaining the idea?’

He balks at my suggestion. ‘No! That’s not… I think you have every chance of getting that role. You’re passionate and knowledgeable and talented. The people atStudiowould be stupid not to give you that job.’

‘You looked… confused when I was talking.’

‘No, it’s only that I know a little bit about the media world thanks to, well, you know—’

‘Your mum owning a sizeable chunk of it?’

He smirks. ‘Yeah, that might have something to do with it. Anyway, the position you’re describing, it sounds like a management role. Like an editor, right?’

‘Sort of.’

I have no idea where he’s going with this, but he’s looking at me expectantly as though I should have got it from what he’s already said.

‘Iris, you said you loved your job and when I asked you why, you said…’

‘The people.’

‘Right.’ He nods. ‘You get to meet these talented, inspirational and devastatingly handsome athletes,’ he winks at me, earning himself a scowl, ‘and you write about them beautifully, something I know you love to do and you’re obviously brilliant at it.’

‘Thanks.’ I pause. ‘So?’

‘So, if you were the sports editorial director, you wouldn’t get to do either of those things,’ he says simply. ‘Sure, it may be this really important role and a dream job, but is ityourdream job? You should do something that gives you that… spark. Surfing is that for me. And for you, I think it’s…’ he gestures between me and him ‘…this.’

I’m a little taken aback by his answer – largely because… he’s kind of talking sense. I hadn’t really stopped to think about it that way.

I can feel his eyes boring into me.

‘Hey, if that job is what you want, then I have no doubt that you would be the best sports editorial director anyone has ever known,’ he emphasises, his brow furrowed. ‘All I’m saying is that you’re fucking good at what you do. And, I don’t know… maybe it’s because I’ve been that person before, the one so focused on winning the next big accolade that I haven’t stopped to think about what actually makes me happy.’

‘Interesting.’ I turn to look at him. ‘And whatdoesmake you happy, Leo Silva?’

He breaks into a relieved, wide grin, his eyes twinkling with humour. ‘Always at the ready to get a good quote.’

‘You can’t blame a girl for trying,’ I say with a mischievous smile. ‘I’m still on the hunt for the perfect ending to your story. I have a feeling it will depend on what happens at Bells Beach, but a back-up quote is always helpful. So, come on Leo, what is it that makes you really happy? The laid-back surfing lifestyle? The thrill of riding the wave?’

His gaze locks on mine, making my heart pound so hard, it rings in my ears and sends pulses of warmth shimmering out from my chest to every corner of my body.

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