Chapter 6
SIX
COLTON
Somehow, my practice date with Kairi has turned into a deep discussion about my family, and I hate it. I don’t know why I brought them up. I never talk about my siblings, ever. But the second she asked me to tell her more about myself, it just…slipped out.
But maybe I want her to know more than anyone else does. After all, we’re friends, and friends are supposed to know these things.
Right?
“I’m really sorry though,” she says softly, her expression sadder than I feel. “That must be really hard for you to deal with.”
I scoff, shrugging it off like it doesn’t matter even though it hurts like hell.
“I’ll survive,” I say, leaning forward slightly. “But back to you…why do you sound like you don’t actually love surfing?
“I did,” she says quickly before her eyes widen. “I mean—I do love it.”
I lift a brow and she exhales, shoulders dropping as she stares down at her plate of food thoughtfully.
“I do love surfing,” she clarifies. “Just…not always the competition part.”
That catches me off guard and I lean back in my chair, studying her.
“An athlete who hates competition,” I murmur. “That’s new.”
I don’t believe it though. She’s relentless in competitions—impossible to ignore. People don’t get to that level of performance without loving what they do.
“I just feel…out of place when I’m competing,” she says, her hands dropping to her lap as she fiddles with her bracelet. “Like everyone there doesn’t think I should be there.” She swallows. “And then I start wondering if maybe they’re right.”
There it is again—that self-doubt.
She’s mentioned not feeling like she has a place in the surf world before, and it took me by surprise the first time. But this time around it hits differently.
“Has someone said something to you?” I ask, my voice quieter now. “At competitions? To make you feel that way?”
Kairi holds my gaze for a long moment, long enough that my chest tightens when I realize just how sad she looks. She nods—just once—and her lip begins to tremble slightly, causing hot anger to flare under my skin.
“Who?” I ask, forcing my voice to stay even.
I just need a name and I’ll hunt them down and make them regret ever saying something to hurt her.
“A lot of people,” she shrugs, dabbing at the corner of her eyes with the handkerchief. “Other surfers, their coaches, judges, sponsors, the list goes on. It kind of comes with the territory.”
My jaw tightens and I think back to our last competition, trying to remember, but I come up blank because I wasn’t ever paying attention. I’ve always been too focused on myself and on winning when we’re at competitions.
The realization sits heavy in my chest, because as her friend and her teammate, I should be paying more attention.
Next time, I won’t miss it. Next time, I’ll be right there by her side because I want to understand why she feels like she doesn’t belong, when I can’t think of anyone better than Kairi to have a place in this sport.
“Anyway,” she says, her tone lifting as she forces a smile, “I think we got a little off track. I doubt Brandon Dingalo and I will be having deep conversations like this on our first date.”
I flex my hands under the table, trying to shake off the tension I feel.
“Probably not,” I say, forcing a grin. “And I wouldn’t recommend it. Not until you know he’s worth knowing those things about you.”
She nods. “Yeah. You’re right.”
“What do you think of the food?” I ask, noticing she’s halfway done while mine’s barely been touched.
“It’s so good,” she says, lighting up as she takes another bite. “Pasta is my favourite.”
“I know.”
The words slip out before I can stop them and her fork pauses midair as her eyes lift to mine. I feel heat creep up the back of my neck and I clear my throat, looking away.
“Anyway,” I say. “You’re doing fine. Conversation-wise, I mean. I can’t imagine tomorrow being much different from this.”
“You think so?” She asks softly. “I think I’m only good at it because it’s with you. I can talk to you about anything.”
Something in my chest shifts, but I ignore it
“Only one way to find out,” I say, throwing her a wink.
“Oh my gosh,” Kairi groans beside me, clutching her stomach. “I haven’t been this full in ages. What was I thinking?”
I chuckle, keeping my eyes on the road as I turn back toward Saltwater Springs.
“Lesson two,” I say. “Don’t eat past your limit on a date. No one’s judging you for taking food to-go—but they will notice if you look like you’re about to die in their passenger seat.”
She groans again, sliding her seat back until she’s basically lying down.
“I don’t know if I need a walk or a nap.”
I bite back a smile. “What about thirty minutes on the treadmill when we get home?”
She considers it for a second, then shakes her head. “Absolutely not. I’m choosing sleep.”
“Fair enough,” I chuckle. “But if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
She gives me a lazy salute, eyes already closed, and spends the rest of the drive curled in her seat.
“We’re home,” I say thirty minutes later as I cut the engine.
When there’s no response, I glance over and see that she’s asleep. Her face is relaxed, lips slightly parted, every bit of tension gone. She looks…so peaceful. More than I’ve ever seen her look, and I wish she looked like this more often.
I reach over and nudge her shoulder. “Kairi.”
She groans, swatting at me as she tries to turn onto her side, only to be stopped by the seatbelt.
I sigh and climb out of the car, walking around to her side and opening the door.
“I hope you know, I am definitely going to lecture you about falling asleep on a date,” I murmur as I unbuckle her seatbelt. “What if he’s a creep and tries something?”
She answers with a snore and I roll my eyes as I lift her into my arms, noticing how she fits there too easily, like she’s meant to. I kick the truck door shut behind me and walk up the driveway to the house.
I make it through the front door without dropping her or bumping her head against the walls, and I’m not at all surprised to find Zale sitting all alone at the kitchen table, waiting for us. His eyes snap up the second I walk in, and immediately lock onto Kairi in my arms.
He’s on his feet in seconds, rushing over.
“What did you do to her?” he demands. “Why is she passed out? Did you drug her?”
I roll my eyes and shoulder past him. “Seriously?” I mutter.
“Hey!” he snaps. “I’m talking to you.”
I stop and turn to face him again.
“Is there a reason you’re waiting up for her?” I ask, my voice cold. “You’ve got Alessia upstairs, and about ten other girls you’ve probably made promises to this summer. So maybe back off, and stop leading Kairi on unless you actually plan to be serious about her.”
He stares at me stunned, and I don’t wait for him to come up with a response as I turn and head up the stairs.
“Thank you,” Kairi mumbles against my chest when we reach the top, her face pressing into my shirt.
I glance down at her. “You’re awake.”
She doesn’t answer, but her grip tightens slightly around me, so I carry her to her room and gently set her on her feet. She steadies herself, then looks up at me with a small, soft smile.
“You didn’t have to say all of that to Zale for me,” she says, sleepily.
“Yeah, I did,” I scoff. “He needed someone to put him in his place. I’m happy I was the one to do it.”
“I had fun tonight,” she says.
“Yeah,” I say quietly. “Me too.”
When a beat of silences passes I force myself to say more, if only to hold off on saying our goodbyes for the night.
“Feeling ready for your date with Brandon now?”
She exhales slowly. “As ready as I’ll ever be. Thanks again for helping me.”
“That’s what love coaches are for,” I say.
Before I can stop myself, I reach up and tuck her loose strand of hair behind her ear, but the second my fingers brush her skin, we both freeze.
Shit.
I pull my hand back like I’ve been burned, staring down at it before I clear my throat and look at her again.
“Good night, Kai,” I say, taking a step back.
“Good night, Colton,” she whispers.
I leave before I do something stupid, and the door clicks shut behind me. I drag a hand through my hair as I walk into my room.
“What the hell is wrong with me?” I mutter.
She’s my friend—nothing more and nothing less.
I quickly change into my workout gear and head to the small in-house gym downstairs to burn this out of my system. As I pass Zale’s room, I hear Alessia’s soft moans through the door and for some strange reason, the sound just pisses me off more.