Page 107 of Guys Can't Write Romance
Daisy looked between the two men, both watching her expectantly with identical expressions of boyish encouragement.
“Fine,” she conceded. “One more wave. But if your roommate causes me to wipeout again, I’m holding you personally responsible.”
“Deal,” Chad agreed. “Rhino, back off and give the lady some space.”
“Yes, sir!” Rhino mock-saluted, paddling a short distance away. “Don’t mind me. Just observing the wild McKenzie in hisnatural habitat, attempting to impress a female with his surfing prowess.”
“Ignore him,” Chad advised Daisy. “He thinks he’s way funnier than he actually is.”
“I heard that!” Rhino called.
Chad rolled his eyes, then pointed to another approaching swell. “This one’s perfect. Remember, feel the wave, become one with the water.”
“Now who thinks he’s funny?” Daisy teased, positioning herself.
“Paddle!” Chad said as the wave approached. “Now!”
This time, Daisy felt it, the moment when the wave caught her board, propelling her forward with a burst of energy. Without overthinking, she pushed up, brought her feet beneath her, and stood.
For three glorious seconds, she was surfing. She felt the wind in her face, the spray of water around her, and the pure exhilaration of riding a force of nature.
Then she tumbled, the board slipping away as she plunged into the water. When she surfaced, both Chad and Rhino were cheering.
“You did it!” Chad exclaimed, paddling over to her. “Great job!”
“Three seconds of actual surfing!” Daisy laughed, grabbing her board. “Are you dazzled yet?”
Chad chuckled, remembering how she’d used that word during their walk home from the bar. “Completely dazzled.”
“I thought you would be,” she laughed, still patting herself on the back.
Chad paddled back to shore with her while Rhino returned to the lineup. As she stepped onto the sand, legs wobbly but heart light, Daisy realized she hadn’t thought about Ava’s criticisms, Ethan’s expectations, or even, for those three perfect seconds onthe wave, the grief that had been her constant companion all morning.
As Daisy slipped back into her shorts and t-shirt for her drive home, she thought about the concern in Chad’s eyes as he fetched her from the water and helped her back on her board. She glanced over at him as he dried off, and her heart swelled with affection. Maybe, just maybe, she had someone in her life again to catch her when she fell.
Chapter twenty-seven
Your Biggest Fan
Daisy arrived at school with slightly damp hair, tired muscles, and a smile that wouldn’t fade. She’d had just enough time after her morning surf lesson to drive home, shower, throw her hair into a ponytail, and make it to school. But it had been worth it.
The school was quiet at 8:15 AM as Daisy hurried down the hallway to her first-grade classroom. She had fifteen minutes to prepare her lessons before the kids arrived.
As she entered the classroom, Daisy stopped short. Sitting on her desk was an arrangement of flowers so beautiful it made her throat tighten. Daisies, her hands down favorites, mixed with blue hydrangeas and sprigs of greenery in a simple glass vase tied with a blue ribbon.
“Oh,” she breathed as she slowly approached them. The colors were perfect — the soft blue, paired with the daisies that never failed to make her smile.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for the card and read it.
‘For the girl who colors the world brighter. From your biggest fan.’
No name. No signature. Just those simple words. She blinked, fighting back the mist forming in the corners of her eyes. Who sent them?
She immediately thought of Chad and their morning surf lesson. He’d been surprisingly perceptive, giving her exactly what she needed; not sympathy or heavy conversation about her loss, but distraction, adventure, and moments of pure joy. She looked at the card again, and its beautiful message:
‘For the girl who colors the world brighter. From your biggest fan.’
She desperately wanted it to be from Chad. She had told him what today was, but that was only a few hours ago. There was no way he could have planned the arrangement and had it delivered so soon. These had to have been ordered yesterday, at the latest.
