Surfs Up For Love – by ey Kassian #5
Bree’s lips curled into a soft smile, thoughts of Jaxon filling her with happiness. “Great. Jaxon says I’m a natural on the water—like my famous grandmother.”
Granny chuckled, raising an eyebrow. “Jaxon, huh? Jaxon Ryder?”
Bree blinked, the surname unfamiliar. “Maybe? He hasn’t told me his last name.”
Granny leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “You went to Ryder’s Surf Shop, right? Like I suggested?”
“Of course,” Bree replied. “It’s been perfect.”
Granny laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. “Well, I’ll be. How’d you convince Ryder to teach? He hasn’t been on the water in months—not since…” Her voice trailed off, her expression softening.
It didn’t take long for Bree to connect the dots. Her breath hitched. “Wait… he owns the shop?”
Granny nodded, her smile tinged with awe. “Yeah. I didn’t think it was possible, but just in case, I knew there’d be no better person to provide instruction. He’s the real deal—one of the best surfers in the world. Well, he was…”
Bree felt confused, her earlier joy dimming due to this new information. “He’s… a celebrity?”
Granny’s gaze softened, her tone turning serious. “That doesn’t make him less human, Bree. But yeah, he’s well-known —and with good reason. If Ryder’s your instructor, it means he sees something in you. Don’t let his past change that.”
Bree hesitated, her voice quieter. “It’s more than lessons. We’re… dating.”
Granny’s eyes twinkled, her lips curved into a smile. “This is working pretty good.”
Bree sank into a nearby chair. “But he’s keeping stuff from me. He hasn’t been completely honest.”
“Be patient. He’ll share when he’s ready.”
Bree tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. “Granny, help me understand what I’m missing here?”
Granny sighed, leaning backward as if deciding how much to share. “Jaxon nearly died while surfing. If you’ve managed to get him in the water, you’ve helped him overcome a horrible accident. I’m sure he’s grateful, but healing doesn’t happen overnight.”
Bree’s chest tightened, Jaxon’s hidden struggles and secret identity bothered her. “He wants to meet the famous surfer, Sunny,” she said, her voice soft but steady.
Granny’s smile returned, warm and reassuring. “I’d like that. How about a bonfire at Huntington Beach? It will provide an opportunity for us to become better acquainted.”
Bree nodded, though her mind was already spinning. “I’ll ask him.”
As Granny began folding a nearby blanket, Bree stared at the half-packed room, her thoughts tangled. How would she address this with Jaxon? And what would she learn once she did?
Bree didn’t know how to address the truth after discovering Jaxon’s identity.
She lay in her bed, her phone clutched in her hand, scrolling through endless videos.
One clip led to another, and before long she was mesmerized by his world—Jaxon Ryder, the man she’d been spending her days with, carving through the waves like he was born to ride them.
She watched him surf the Pipeline in Hawaii, barreling through hollow tubes of water. Then competing at J-Bay in South Africa, where he moved with effortless grace, like the ocean had chosen him.
And then she found it. The video.
Her pulse quickened as she tapped play. There he was, her surfer boy, gliding into a towering, icy-blue barrel. The commentators marveled at his speed, his poise, their excitement evident. But the wave closed in, and Jaxon disappeared.
Bree’s breath hitched. She gripped the phone tighter.
Seconds ticked by as jet skis raced toward the spot where he’d disappeared.
She held her breath, waiting for him to pop up, willing it to happen even though she knew he would.
But seeing it unfold—the wave’s sheer violence and the urgent rescue—put her heart in her throat.
The truth hit her hard. His hesitation about the competition had nothing to do with her skill—it was about him. The trauma he carried linked to his past, living in him and influencing his decisions.
Bree set the phone on her chest, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.
Her brother’s bet seemed trivial. Jaxon wasn’t just an instructor or a fleeting romantic interest. He mattered to her in a way that ran deeper than expected.
The last thing she wanted was to pressure or force him into a sport he wasn’t ready to face.
Granny’s advice echoed in her mind: Give him time. He’ll reveal his truth when he’s ready.
She grabbed her phone and opened their text thread.
Bree: Sunny wants to meet you, surfer boy. You up for a bonfire this week?
Jaxon replied quickly, as if he’d been waiting for her message.
Jaxon: Yeah, that would be great.
Bree’s lips curved into a smile. She replied: Saturday night?
Jaxon: Sure. Are we surfing tomorrow?
Her heart lightened. They faced challenging waves, and she wanted to ride them with a partner.
Bree: Yes, please! Pick me up?
Jaxon: See you at six a.m.
She set the phone aside, feeling steadier. She didn’t have all the answers, and Jaxon still hadn’t shared his truth. But she was willing to wait for him to find the right moment. For now, there were other waves to catch.
The wind bit at Bree’s face the moment she stepped outside the apartment building, its sharp chill nipping her cheeks and bringing tears to her eyes.
Bundled in a hoodie and jeans, she squinted against the gusts, clutching her arms to brace against the chill.
How would the breeze affect their plans—would the water be rough?
She lacked the necessary knowledge, and coping with unpredictable surf caused her considerable apprehension.
Jaxon might thrive in those conditions, but for her—a beginner—it could be exhausting, maybe dangerous.
When Jaxon’s red Impala pulled up to the curb, the roof was on.
A small detail, but it made her wonder if he’d already decided the waves weren’t worth it.
He exited the vehicle, his golden hair flying in the wind, but when he looked at her, his face lit with that heart-stopping smile that made her forget, just for a moment, her doubts and worries.
“Morning, surfer girl,” he called, jogging to meet her.
She studied him for a beat, the truth still fresh in her mind. But when his smile widened, disarming and genuine, her concern melted away.
Jaxon took her board and tucked it into the rear seat. “Weather’s not the best,” he said as he opened the passenger door for her. “The wind concerns me.”
“Can we still ride?” Bree asked, climbing in.
He slid onto the driver’s seat, meeting her gaze. His blue eyes held that reassuring warmth she’d come to count on. “Let’s go see,” he said, cranking the engine.
The drive to Huntington Beach was quiet but comfortable. Bree watched the coastline blur past, the wind shaking the palm trees as whitecaps crested in the distance. By the time they parked in the lot near the sand, Jaxon seemed to know the answer.
“Let’s leave the boards in the car,” he said, nodding toward the ocean. “The wind’s blowing in from the sea.”
“And that’s bad?”
He reached for her hand as they stepped onto the sand, the wind whipping grains into their faces. Bree wiped at her smarting eyes, her hoodie barely shielding her from the nip in the air.
“Onshore winds produce choppy, unpredictable waves,” Jaxon explained, his voice rising over the roaring surf. “It’s doable, but not great for a beginner. Messy conditions, hard to read.”
She glanced at the chaotic waves crashing unevenly against the shore and nodded, squeezing his hand. “We should rethink this. I’m not ready for rogue waves.”
He smiled at her, his grip firm but gentle. “Want to do something else?”
She hesitated, her gaze meeting his. “Yeah, I do.”
“Not ready to ditch me yet?”
“Honestly?” she asked with a small laugh. “No, I’m not.”
In the car, Jaxon reached into the rear seat and grabbed a blanket, then draped it on her lap. “You’re shivering,” he said. “Let’s do something low-key. I could make breakfast. Want to see where I live?”
Bree’s heart skipped a beat. She tucked the blanket tighter around her, the warmth a stark contrast to her nerves. Of course, she wanted to say yes. But what did an invitation to Jaxon’s home mean?
“Ready for more than surf lessons, Jaxon?” she asked, her voice tentative but curious.
He nodded, his gaze unwavering, the softness in his eyes laced with a desire that mirrored her own yearning. “Yeah. I am.”
The engine purred as they coasted along the ocean road, the salty breeze filtering through the car’s slightly cracked windows. Bree relaxed, listening to the radio hum until Jaxon turned it off.
She glanced at him, curiosity sparking. His fingers flexed on the steering wheel, his jaw tightening before he spoke.
“Bree, I need to share a personal story,” he said, his voice steady but quieter than usual. “I hope it doesn’t change things between us.”
Bree’s heart quickened. This is it. The moment when the truth reveals itself. She chose to meet him halfway, her lips curving into a playful smile. “Whatever it is, trust me.”
Jaxon let out a soft laugh, his shoulders relaxing. “I like your playful nature,” he said, glancing at her briefly before focusing on the road. He took a deep breath. “Bree, I’m kind of… well, I’m a legend in my field.”
She suppressed a smile, choosing to tease him. “Let me guess. With your broad shoulders, you’re probably a football player with a killer aim for field goals.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “Not a ball catcher. Try surfing. I’m… a pro surfer.”
Bree looked at him, studying the way his grip tightened on the wheel, vulnerability flickering beneath his usually confident demeanor. She chose to break the silence, to bridge the distance. “Jaxon Ryder.”
He glanced at her, his eyes widening briefly before focusing his attention on the road. “Yeah. How long have you known?”
Bree looked out the window, watching the ocean in the distance. “Not long. Granny sent me to your shop, said I’d find a talented instructor there.”
Jaxon smiled. “She said that?”