Chapter 42
As we walked back towards the crowd, my face flushed as a group of people cheered. I turned to Antoine.
‘You’ve distracted me before the final.’ I pretended to be annoyed.
‘I wish that I could say I was sorry,’ Antoine replied.
He tugged my hand to stop me before we reached the group.
‘I did not just come back to see you compete. I came back to see if you felt it too. That it was not just a dream.’ He stared at me with blue eyes a few shades darker than mine, and the intensity sent a jolt of lightning through my veins.
‘It’s not a dream,’ I said. And then he was grinning like he’d just won the lottery. ‘But I stayed for the surfing. Just to put that out there,’ I said. I couldn’t have him thinking I’d just stayed because of him.
‘Bien s?r. But it was not you who made the decision.’
‘Excuse me?’ I challenged him playfully.
‘It was the ocean. She decided that you belong here, and who are we to argue with the ocean, and Rue, la guerrière?’
‘Le flic is here!’ Sébastian called out to us. ‘And what is this I hear about you moving back home? The Laurent boys have finally reconciled?’ Sébastian grinned at Antoine, and I looked up at him for clarification.
He pushed his hand through his hair. ‘Ouais, I think it is time. Felix?’ He looked past me and I turned round to see Delphine, Lili and Felix standing there. Felix smiled at him and gave a slight nod.
‘I’m sure your mum will be happy,’ I said.
‘She is already planning a party at the house,’ Antoine said. ‘You will come?’
‘I will come,’ I said, nodding. He kissed me again without warning, leaning me backwards, my hand moving reflexively to his stubbled jaw.
Then I picked up my board and walked towards the ocean, feeling awkward that Felix must have seen us kiss.
And there he was, watching me with quiet contemplation.
He gave the tiniest shake of his head, as if he was trying to get rid of a thought.
‘Remember that you have already qualified, this is just for seeding. Do not be nervous,’ he said.
And although he smiled, I could sense a sadness behind it.
‘Thanks,’ I said gratefully.
‘Good luck, Margot. You are already incredible.’
And with that I turned and paddled out after the other competitors to take part in the final.
I’d been given a second wind. Whether it was the break, or Antoine showing up that did it, I’ll never know, but I concentrated so hard on every wave that I thought my head might explode.
Aching arms, aching legs, salt water in my throat, in my eyes, up my nose, but I didn’t care. This was it. My last chance.
I thought of everyone watching from the shore.
Felix, Lili, Sébastian. And Antoine. I wanted to give them a show.
But it wasn’t for them. It was for me – for the me that thought I would amount to nothing after I quit swimming.
The fire that had been given back to me after all this time was raging in my gut.
I’d do it for Rue and her bravery, and for my whole family, who put all their trust and support in me.
I surfed six waves and was utterly drained.
I collapsed on the sand, with Delphine dropping down beside me in a heap.
‘We did it!’ she said, smiling up at the sky.
‘We did it,’ I repeated, out of breath.
And then we were surrounded by Lili and Sébastian, pulling us off the sand and into hugs.
We walked with them up the beach to where Antoine and Felix were talking.
And I hung back for a moment just to watch.
They stood close, but not too close. And they were talking like they knew each other, but only just. Like they’d met by some strange coincidence.
Felix laughed and it was the nicest sound in the world.
‘Margot! Margot! Margot!’ They all cheered when I finally joined them. I looked across at Antoine, who winked at me, and I had to stare down at the sand to try to stop myself blushing.
‘The scores are in,’ Felix said, giving me an encouraging smile. And I felt sick.
They all came up at once, and I scanned the board desperately for my score. Then I found it. 15.20. Fourth.
Delphine was celebrating, and Sébastian and Lili were dancing over to me.
‘We are going to La Vague d’Or,’ Lili sang.
Then Antoine was in front of me. ‘Congratulations, Princesse.’
‘I’m going to La Vague D’Or!’ I threw my arms round his neck and squealed in excitement.
He picked me up and I hooked my legs round him, kissing him hard.
And in that moment, it was just us. Me, breathless, exhausted, still wet from the sea; him, hot skin, rough, firm hands on my back and thigh.
My fingers tugging on his dark hair, my heart racing in a heaving chest.
When he set me down, he was breathless too. He just stared at me for a second as a smile crept slowly across his face. He took my face in his hands. ‘Margot, you were spectacular. Tell me again that this is real.’ He spoke quietly, so only I could hear his sexy French whisper.
I bit my lip to tame the grin that desperately wanted to take over my face.
‘Real as those waves out there. I’m not going anywhere,’ I said. And I was still smiling when he kissed me again.
Euphoria.
This is what it felt like.
When Delphine and Lili came over to talk to Antoine, I excused myself to make a very important phone call to Liverpool.
And as I listened to the beep of the European ringback tone, I gazed out at the glittering sea again, and whispered a silent thanks to the water for bringing me back to me.