Page 32 of Below the Barrel

“But Koa,” Gabriel says in a warning voice, “plenty of surfers have risked their lives barreling this wave. Keep an eye on the razor-sharp reef or that could be you, too.”

“Got it, Coach.” I nod again.

“Maliah,” he says, finally turning his eyes towards her with his brow raised. “Why the hell have you been staring at me like you’re going to kill me?”

“I think the better question is why the hell you put us into a villa that only has one bed?”

Gabriel frowns at her, composing himself before answering.

“I’m sorry, did I miss something?” he asks, crossing his arms as he leans back in his seat. “Were you two not sharing a bed, in my house, for years? Or even sharing a tent two days ago?”

Her face turns crimson as she continues to glare at him. “You should have asked if we were okay with it before you made that decision.”

“You really can’t manage to share a bed with your teammate for two weeks? I’m not asking you two to fuck, though I find it hard to believe you two haven’t already done that on this tour yet, it’s just for sleeping on, Maliah.”

“Oh my god,” she exclaims, throwing her hands into the air, “you are such an impossible person, Gabriel. No wonder Zalea ran off.”

Gabriel is silent as his eyes narrow on her, I know whatever he plans to say next will be catastrophic.

“Let’s call it a night, I’m tired after all the traveling,” I say, butting in.

“You’re right,” he says, turning his attention back to me. “It’s been a long day for all three of us so let’s reconnect after the competition. I trust you two can handle the practice without me for the next few days.”

And with that, the call drops, and Gabriel is gone. I let out an exhausted sigh before turning to Maliah who is frowning at the floor, her cheeks still red.

“Are you hungry?” I ask, pushing myself up to my feet before holding my hand out to help her up.

She stares at my hand for a minute before slowly reaching out and taking it, allowing me to help her to her feet.

“A bit,” she admits, just before her stomach growls loudly.

“A bit?” I question teasingly before I make my way to the kitchen and open the fully stocked fridge, pulling out ingredients to make a quick fish and veggie dinner for us.

Maliah joins in after a few minutes, walking around me to grab ingredients, brushing against me each time until I’m positive she’s doing it on purpose. I fight with everything I haveto keep my hard on from showing, but by the time the food is done, she’s the only thing I want to eat.

I watch as she plates our dinner and brings it to the table, waiting for me to take a seat across from her, which I do.

“The fish looks good,” she says, before cutting into hers.

“Does it?” I ask absentmindedly, as I watch her place her fork in her mouth, her perfect plump lips wrapping around it.

The corners of her lips lift, and I raise my eyes to hers only to find that she’s watching me, amused. I clear my throat before I shove a piece of my own fish into my mouth. It tastes good but I know she’d taste better.

“So,” Maliah says, picking up another piece of fish with her fork. “If we win, what do you plan to do with your half of the earnings?”

I hesitate before answering, weighing how much I’m willing to share with her. But it’s a genuine question, and it deserves a genuine answer.

“You know that abandoned house up the street from The Shredder House?”

“The white and green one, just off the main beach?”

I nod. “I want to buy it, fix it up, and move in.”

Her chewing slows as she looks at me, a mix of emotions running across her beautiful features.

“You’re moving out of our house?”

“Out of the team residence.” I nod, diverting my eyes back to my plate as I grab some of the vegetables. “I think it’s time for me to start exploring life outside of the team.”

---