Chapter 34
THIRTY-FOUR
KAIRI
I cannot stop staring at Colton during practice today, and it’s actually becoming a problem. A very obvious, very embarrassing problem.
Every time he paddles past me out in the water, all I can think about is his hands on my waist last night. Every time he pushes wet hair back from his forehead, I remember the way those same fingers slid through my curls while he kissed me under the moon.
And to make things worse, he keeps catching me staring. His mouth twitches every single time our eyes meet like he knows exactly what’s going through my head.
The morning had already been bad enough.
After Colton walked me back to Maliah’s house last night with my wet and sandy clothes shoved back on while he laughed at how impossibly sandy the sweater I borrowed from Maliah had become, he waited until I got safely inside before heading home himself.
Then he texted me the second he got there and I’d fallen asleep smiling at my phone like an idiot.
When I woke up this morning, I’d walked into the kitchen to find Eliana and Maliah already sitting at the island drinking from hot mugs with matching smirks on their faces, and I knew immediately that they’d seen it all.
“No,” I’d said instantly, pointing at both of them before even grabbing a mug.
Maliah burst into laughter and Eliana nearly choked on her coffee.
“Oh my God,” I groaned, already wanting to die.
“We thought you two were just going to go for a walk,” Eliana said defensively. “Not a full cinematic beach hookup.”
Heat crawled all the way up my neck. “You saw us?”
Maliah covered her face with both hands laughing. “Technically we heard you first.”
I almost dropped dead on the spot.
“Eliana woke me up and the first thing she said was ‘Why does that sound like Kairi?’,” Maliah continued.
I groaned louder.
“Eliana looked out the window,” Maliah said through laughter, “then ducked so fast she hit her head on my table.
“IN MY DEFENSE,” Eliana yelled, “I saw movement and panic-reacted.”
“I hate both of you.”
“No you don’t,” they’d said in unison.
Now, hours later, I’m trying—and failing spectacularly—to focus during practice. The Saltwater Springs morning sun glitters across the ocean while the rest of the Shredders paddle around us preparing for drills, but my attention keeps drifting back to Colton.
Specifically the way his wetsuit stretches across his shoulders, which feels deeply inappropriate of him. He catches me staring again and grins, and I force myself to look away.
“Alright, listen up!”
Gabriel’s voice cuts across the water, saving me from further humiliation.
Everyone gathers around while he balances easily on his board, arms folded across his chest. He joined us out in the water for the first time in a long time today.
“I got a few announcements before we wrap today.”
There’s a collective groan from the team.
“Relax,” he says dryly. “None of you are getting kicked off.”
“Yet,” Griffin adds from beside him.
Gabriel rolls his eyes and ignores him.
“First thing,” he says, “Colton’s officially joining the team permanently.”
The group erupts immediately and Colton looks over at me with the biggest smile, a warm feeling flip-flopping in my chest again.
“Second,” Gabriel continues once everyone calms down slightly, “Koa confirmed he’ll also be returning next season full time.”
Another round of cheering as Koa nods his head with a small smile, still not a fan of attention on himself.
“And finally,” Gabriel says, expression shifting slightly more serious now, “we’ll be opening tryouts for another female surfer to join the team next season.”
Immediately, my brain jumps to Maliah because she’d mentioned missing surfing last night. I make a mental note to tell her later.
“And last thing…” He pauses. “I’ll be stepping back as coach after this season.”
Silence crashes over the water.
“What?” Koa blurts.
“You’re joking,” Zale says immediately.
Gabriel shakes his head slowly. “I’m still funding the team. Still supporting you all. I just…” He exhales quietly. “I need to focus on my family for a while. Having twins is no joke, and my wife needs me.”
My chest tightens slightly because Gabriel has always felt permanent to The Shredders, like the ocean.
“You can’t retire,” Griffin says flatly. “You’re too annoying.”
Gabriel snorts, then reaches over and pats Griffin’s shoulder.
“Which is why congratulations are in order.” A grin slowly spreads across his face. “Meet your new head coach of the Saltwater Shredders.”
Griffin looks stunned for approximately half a second before he smirks, a slight twinkle in his eyes. “Thanks, Gabriel.”
Everyone starts cheering at once, with Eliana screaming loud enough from shore that several tourists turn to stare.
I don’t blame her, because Griffin deserves this more than anyone, but I also can’t help wondering what this means for his future pro career plans.
Later, once practice finally wraps up, I catch him near the equipment shed while everyone else argues over where to celebrate tonight.
“So…” I lean against the railing beside him. “Coach Griffin.”
He scoffs. “Don’t start.”
I grin before my expression turns softer. “Why aren’t you going back pro?”
He goes quiet for a moment, then he shrugs. “The injury healed, technically.”
“But?”
“It still limits some stuff.” He flexes his leg absentmindedly. “Not enough to stop surfing. Just enough that competing at that level again wouldn’t be smart long-term.”
I nod slowly.
“And if I’m being honest…” His gaze drifts toward where Eliana’s laughing about something with Koa. “With everything going on with the wedding and my parents lately…I realized I don’t actually want to spend nine months a year traveling.”
Understanding settles warmly in my chest. “You want balance.”
“Exactly.” He smiles faintly. “At least this way, I still get surfing, and the team, but I also get time with the people I love.”
It feels like everyone around me is growing up all at once and it’s honestly terrifying.
“I’m excited to have you as coach next season,” I tell him.
Griffin points at me immediately. “You better work your ass off this season though.”
I laugh. “Okay?”
“I mean it.” His expression sharpens. “I wanna see you and Colton make the World Tour.”
My stomach flips unexpectedly at hearing our names together like that, as if we’re a unit.
“I’ll try my best,” I say.
Griffin smirks. “Good. Now go make out with your cowboy or whatever. He’s been staring at you all starry eyed this whole time.”
I nearly choke when I look over my shoulder to find Colton watching me, or more specifically my ass.
I turn back around to Griffin but he’s already walking away laughing.
Colton sits against the headboard while I’m half sprawled across him, absentmindedly tracing patterns over his chest between kisses.
His hand slides along my waist slowly while he kisses me lazy and unhurried, and I’m just starting to melt into him when something hard presses awkwardly beneath the pillow near my elbow.
“What is that?” I ask, reaching under the pillow and pulling out a book.
Colton freezes as I stare down at the cover, then back up at him.
“No way,” I breathe.
“Give me that,” Colton says, lunging for it.
“Colton Harrison,” I gasp dramatically and hold it above my head before he can grab it. “You’re reading Stephanie Archer?”
He groans into his hands as his face turns slightly red and I swear to God I’ve never seen anything cuter in my life.
“It’s not a big deal.”
“You’re halfway through the third book in her series!”
“Yup.”
I clutch the book to my chest protectively. “This is my favorite author.”
“I’m aware.”
“How do you know that?” I ask suspiciously. “I’ve never mentioned her to you.”
He sighs deeply like this conversation physically pains him. “Because I started reading some of your favourite books.”
I blink.
“How did you find out which books are my favourite?”
His ears are red now too.
Oh my God.
“I found your secret Booksta account,” he mutters, avoiding eye contact.
My jaw drops. “No you did not.”
“I did.”
Horror floods me instantly. “You stalked my book reviews?”
“You gave that book five stars and said the main male character was your dream book boyfriend..”
I slap a hand over my face, completely ready to break down in tears from how embarrassed I feel. Colton gently pulls my wrist away before holding my gaze steadily and my heart stumbles.
“Have you read any other books I recommended?”
He nods, folding his arms across his chest.
“Did you at least learn anything from reading them?” I tease softly, trying to shove away my embarrassment.
A slow grin spreads across his face. “Can’t learn something I already know, darlin’.”
The butterflies in my stomach become a full category five natural disaster.
“The ego on this man,” I mutter weakly.
Colton laughs softly as I collapse against his chest, hiding my burning face against his shoulder while he wraps an arm around my waist.
“You’re obsessed with me,” I accuse.
“Mm.” His fingers trail lazily up and down my back. “Starting to think you might be obsessed with me too.”
I pull back just enough to glare at him. “I literally run a secret book account. I’m obsessed with fictional men.”
“And yet,” he says with a half smirk, “you’re in my bed.”
He leans back against the headboard, watching me like I’m something he doesn’t want to look away from. Like he’s still not used to having me this close and not dreaming it up. It makes my chest feel full.
“Hey,” he says.
I hum in response.
His thumb brushes lightly along my waist. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I nod, smiling softly. “Better than okay, actually.”
He exhales slowly, relieved, as he rests his forehead against mine. “Good,” he murmurs. “Will you stay with me tonight?”
“Only if you read your favourite chapter to me,” I smirk, handing him the book. “Out loud.”
Colton rolls his eyes and takes the book, flipping through the chapters, and I giggle excitedly as I dive under the sheets with him, just as he starts reading one of the spiciest scenes in the whole book.
How’d I get so lucky to end up with someone who doesn’t make fun of my interests or hobbies, but instead embraces them as his own, just to feel closer to me?
In a world that’s made me feel like I’m not enough, Colton’s always made me feel like I’m more than enough, and I couldn’t love him more for it.
The End.