Page 4 of Below the Barrel

“Are you still afraid of heights?”

I turn to look at him and all the oxygen in my lungs disappears as I realize how close we are to each other. He sits at the edge of his bar stool, leaning closer to me with one hand propped on the bar, holding his glass of water.

It should be illegal to look as good as he does. I’m convinced he could wear a garbage bag and I’d still be turned on.

“Yes, why?” I squint my eyes at him.

“Because in less than twelve hours we’ll be on Gabriel’s private plane,” Koa says, his eyes slowly burning a path down my body. “When was the last time you were on a plane?”

I gulp as I watch his eyes continue their tortuous journey down my body, a smirk forming on his face when his eyes pauseon my hard nipples poking through my tight T-shirt. Of all days to not wear a bra, it had to be tonight. I mentally kick myself.

“It’s been a few years, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“Might be a good idea for you to buy Gravol before we leave tomorrow. It’ll help put you to sleep for most of the flight.”

I scoff before returning my attention to the bartender, who walks over with a small tray holding three full shot glasses.

“If I wanted your advice,” I say, as I pick up the tray, “I would have asked.”

I pin him with a cold stare, my heart thudding painfully as I watch the smirk fade from his face. I hate being mean to him, but it’s the only way to make sure I don’t cave and give him another chance. I turn around, my long blonde hair swishing behind me as I walk back to the girls.

I drapemy arm over my eyes, focused on deep breathing as the plane hits turbulence for the third time in the last thirty minutes. Each time it happens, I get an irrational fear that the plane blew its motor, or another crucial part broke and we’re about to nosedive straight into oblivion.

“You doing okay over there?” Gabriel asks from the seat next to mine, separated by the narrow aisle.

“Yup,” I mumble, “couldn’t be better.”

“Right, well, I’m going to go check on the pilot and find out how much longer we have until we arrive in California.”

I hear the leather of his seat groan as he stands up, his heavy footsteps fading as he moves toward the cockpit.

When we hit another bout of turbulence five minutes later, I’m certain that I’ll puke from sheer fear. I stand up on wobbly legs, glancing at Koa who faces me in his seat fast asleep. He’s wearing all black, as usual, with his hood on and hands in his pocket while he sleeps peacefully.

Must be nice to sleep through this anxiety-inducing plane ride.

I take a deep breath and make my way to the plane’s restroom, gently closing the folding door behind me. I turn to face myself in the mirror and note my pale sweaty appearance.

Great.

Not only do I feel like absolute shit, but I also look like it too while on the plane with the hottest guy on the planet.

Not that I care what he thinks of me.

I splash some water on my face and then dry away the moisture with a paper towel. I should’ve listened to Koa last night and made sure I bought myself a pack of Gravol before flying today. It would’ve been so much easier if I could just sleep through this whole flight like he is. With a deep sigh, I exit the tiny room and make my way back to my seat.

Before I sit down, a small bottle on my food tray catches my attention. It wasn’t there when I left to go to the restroom. I pick it up and read the label as I sit down.

Gravol.

My eyes slide towards Koa who is in the same position as how I left him, hands tucked into his hoodie pocket as he sleeps. I study him, trying to find any sign that he’s awake, but his consistent slow breathing convinces me that he’s asleep. Gabriel’s flight attendant must have dropped it off.

When the turbulence hits once more I don’t think twice about taking the Gravol. I sit back and recline my chair to get comfortable. Within minutes, my eyelids grow heavy, and thelast thing I see before everything goes black are grey eyes staring back at me.

TWO

KOA | SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, USA

“I knowyou probably don’t see a point in trying your hardest in today’s individual surf, but the points still count towards the championship title, so make sure you’re putting one hundred percent into how you surf today,” Gabriel says as our driver pulls into Trestles Beach.

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