10. BENJI
BENJI
I surveyed my class, none too happy about the students I was dealing with today. Our little surfing operation was dying out, more and more Instagram models and rich motherfuckers coming to vacation here rather than people who genuinely wanted to enjoy the beach.
My classes consisted of a bunch of vacationers who didn’t really care about surfing or the water, just wanted to try something different to say that they did. I didn’t even have to do much. Most didn’t come back for a second lesson. The guys were ogling every nearly naked lady on the beach, the women ogling me, and every hottie that passed by. When had people lost sight of the waves, the seafoam that washed ashore, the beach itself?
I was at the end of my rope, and I just really didn’t want to be here if I was honest with myself. It was too hot all the damn time and I wanted to go back home, visit my mother and my sisters, and just relax for the next few years. God knows I didn’t need the fucking money or the headaches that came with this job.
The company had started from a desire to build something different, something new, far away from my father. But now that he was out of the picture, there wasn’t much reason to stay here. The joy of teaching others to surf had slowly died out. My routine was getting old.
Until I fucking saw her . Super cliché.
She glistened under the sunlight with an innocence that didn’t make sense. Like she was definitely not innocent, but the way she seemed to look at the world? The confidence that flashed in her eyes as we made eye contact? I knew I needed to stay the fuck away from her. I’d break her in a heartbeat, but she seemed intrigued by my presence, rather than turned on. Which was a first.
Her head dipped as I continued my lesson, the confidence dwindling which fascinated me even more. She didn’t even seem to be listening either as she glided through the motions, no mistakes in sight. Her balance was perfect, odd for a beginner’s class. I kept my hands clasped behind my back as I made my way through the students, critiquing their stance and offering a tip or suggestion where I could.
I should have been ashamed of how locked my attention was on her, my gaze remaining on her form, even after the class finished.
Until it wasn’t.
A brunette hopped up to me, pressing herself against me, giggling. Her breasts squeezed my arm and I had the faint desire to shake her off like I would a cockroach. I could see the horror on the other girl’s face as her steps faltered.
“We should go out for drinks,” the brunette suggested.
I was completely against it, but I could ditch the brunette once we got there. Especially if I opened the invitation. “Yeah, there’s a tiki bar at the boardwalk. My next class isn’t for another hour. Let’s all go. First round’s on me.”
I winked at the girl I’d had my eyes on and she froze. I didn’t know what to do with that as I shook off the brunette. The brunette ran towards the girl and shook her excitedly before taking off toward the tiki bar. The girl trudged behind her, head bowed, and now I was really fucking intrigued. Sure, curiosity killed the cat, but I just had so many questions.
My long legs caught up to her pretty quickly. “You don’t seem like you should have been in the beginner class.”
She huffed, head still downcast as we moved across the sand. “You would be right.”
“You know how to surf?”
“Yes, but my sisters don’t know that.”
I managed to strangle the chuckle in my throat because she didn’t seem ecstatic about the fact that I was paying her any attention. Hesitant wasn’t the right word. Terrified? Worried? Those fit the situation better, but I wasn’t sure why she would be exhibiting those emotions right now. It didn’t add up. “So, what? For their pride, you pretend you can’t surf?”
“Pride? Fuck that. I just don’t want to hear it later. That I’m trying to show off or whatever. Why the fuck am I even talking to you?” Another chuckle bubbled up in my chest as she hurried toward the bar. She was adorably awkward but she didn’t seem mad to be talking to me. Rather… she was mad about what she was talking about. As if she hadn’t meant to say all that. She was a puzzle if I had ever met one. It’s a good thing I loved puzzles.