Page 63 of Below the Barrel

“Okay, thank you,” Maliah says, her voice softer now, yet still tinged with anxiety. “I’ll take care of him, I promise. I’ll make sure he rests for the rest of today.”

“Good. Get him settled and keep an eye on him,” Gabriel instructs. “I don’t want him pushing himself. He needs to heal.”

I can’t help but tune back into the conversation, my heart sinking at the thought of letting everyone down. I hear the click as Maliah ends the call, and she glances at me, concern etched on her face.

“Coach said you need to take it easy,” she says softly. “We’re heading back to the villa now, and I’m going to make sure you rest. So don’t make it hard on me, please.”

I nod, a mix of frustration and gratitude swirling inside me. “I should’ve been more careful out there,” I mutter, my voice laced with self-doubt.

“It was an accident, Koa. You did great before the fall. You can’t blame yourself for that,” she reassures me, but the words don’t fully penetrate the fog of disappointment in my mind.

As we drive on, I rest my head against the window, watching the blur of palm trees and ocean views pass by, the weight of today’s reality settling in. I can’t afford to let anyone down.

I need to heal.

TWENTY-FOUR

MALIAH | PENICHE, PORTUGAL

We flewto Peniche just a day after the competition in Tahiti, and the change in scenery hasn’t done much to ease the knot of guilt twisting in my chest. Koa’s been putting on a brave face, but I know him well enough to see through it. The way his jaw tightens every time he moves, the forced smile when he says he’s fine—it’s all just a cover for the pain he’s in.

I glance over at him now, asleep on the couch in the upgraded house Gabriel managed to score for us. It’s bigger than what we’ve been used to on tour, with a few extra rooms, no doubt to accommodate the wildcard who’s arriving soon. Koa’s leg is bandaged up from thigh to ankle, and even though his breathing is steady, there’s no peace on his face. I can only imagine how uncomfortable he is, especially after the long flight we just had.

It's my fault. If I hadn’t screwed up that wave, if I hadn’t lost focus, Koa wouldn’t have had to make up for it by taking the risk that got him hurt. My mistake, my distraction…and now here he is, sidelined because of me. The thought keeps circling in my mind like a vulture, picking at my self-doubt.

Are we just doomed to keep hurting each other?First the breakup, and now this—maybe we’re never going to get it right.

I sink down into the armchair across from him, my phone in my lap. It’s been unusually quiet between us since Tahiti. Koa hasn’t said anything about what happened, hasn’t blamed me once, but that just makes it worse. I can feel the weight of it all, hanging in the air between us, unspoken.

Just as I’m about to lose myself in that spiral of guilt again, my phone buzzes. Gabriel. I hesitate before picking it up, making sure to keep my voice low as I answer.

“Hey.”

“Wildcard’s landing in thirty minutes. Are you ready to head out?” His voice is brisk, as usual, but there’s a hint of concern underneath it. I can’t tell if it’s for Koa or me, or both of us.

I glance over at Koa again. His brows furrowed in his sleep, and the sight of it makes my chest tighten all over again. “Yeah,” I murmur. “I’ll head out now.”

“Good. And Maliah,” Gabriel pauses for a beat, “don’t stress yourself out too much about Koa. He’s tougher than you think.”

“Right.” I force the word out, but the guilt still gnaws at me.

I grab the keys and slip out of the house quietly, shutting the door behind me as I head for the car we’ve rented. The private landing strip isn’t far, but the drive feels longer than it should. My mind is still stuck in the past few days. I can’t shake the feeling that maybe Koa would be better off if I wasn’t such a distraction for him. If I hadn’t let my feelings interfere at Teahupo’o, would Koa be healthy and uninjured, instead of wrapped in bandages and unable to compete?

The sun is setting by the time I pull up to the landing strip. I take a deep breath, trying to shove down the wave of anxiety building up inside me. Gabriel didn’t mention who the wildcard was, and I’m too nervous to even guess. It could be anyone from our old team, or someone completely new.

The plane is already on the runway when I get out of the car. I watch it taxi closer, the engine roaring before it finally comesto a stop. The door eventually opens, the golden light of the afternoon spills out onto the tarmac, casting a soft glow on the figures stepping down the stairs.

I stand frozen for a moment, squinting against the sunlight as they come into focus. My heart skips a beat.

It’s Griffin and Eliana.

Before I can even react, she spots me, her face lighting up with a huge smile. “Mal!” she shouts, sprinting towards me with her arms wide open. I barely have time to register it before she crashes into me, pulling me into a bone crushing hug. I laugh, squeezing her back just as tightly.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” I exclaim, my voice muffled by her long brown hair.

Eliana pulls back, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Believe it! When Gabriel called us, we didn’t even hesitate. I missed you, and this tour is about to get way more fun.”

I grin, warmth filling my chest. Having her here, especially after everything that’s happened with Koa, feels like a breath of fresh air.

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