Page 13 of Love You Like This

“Are you sure?”

“Of course.”

Relief washes through me at the sincerity in his voice. He’s not one to bullshit, and he would tell me if he didn’t want to do this. A cool breeze blows over my skin, pulling goosebumps to the surface. He notices and lifts a hand as if he’s going to rub my arm but drops it before making contact.

“We’ll start with the basics here on the sand.” He places our boards side by side. “You can’t surf until you know how to pop up.”

I watch and listen as he demonstrates how to jump to his feet on the board. After a few successful attempts of my own with him watching closely, we move into the water. Putting my arms into the sleeves of my wetsuit is just as irritating as pulling it up my legs.

The chill of the Pacific envelops me as we follow the sloping sandy bottom out to where the water is just past my knees. He holds the board steady while I get on and lay on my belly. The water rolls gently beneath me as he walks along beside my board.

He talks me through my first few attempts at catching a wave, telling me what I did wrong and giving me tips to improve the next ride. He’s so patient. I didn’t expect him to be so good at teaching me all this. Part of me wondered if he’d just give me a quick lecture and then go out on his own. I wouldn’t have blamed him.

Time after time I end up in the water. Even though I have good balance normally, the motion of the water beneath me throws me off just a bit. He’s always right there, ready to help me at a moment’s notice.

“You’re getting so much better,” he says as I come up from beneath the salty water. “You nearly had it that time.”

I give him an indignant snort as I wipe my hair back from my face. “Right.”

“No, seriously. You’re doing great.” He holds my board still while I get back on. “Look at the set coming in on the horizon. Those are the ones. I can feel it.”

“They look the same as all the others.”

“They’re not. My instincts are never wrong.”

I give him serious side eye, but he hits me with a full smile. Right dimple popping and eyes crinkling. His wet eyelashes make the golden hues of his irises pop even more. My stomach flutters when his eyes slip from mine down to my lips and then back up. But the spell is broken by a swell rolling beneath me.

He clears his throat and looks away from me. “Paddle out and get ready. These are your waves.”

“Promise?”

“Yes.” He holds his pinky out. “Pinky promise. The most serious of all promises.”

I smile and hook my finger around his. “Eternal damnation if you’re wrong.”

“I’m not.” He splashes me with water. “Now go.”

I keep all his words in mind as I line up on the wave. As soon as it starts to carry my board I pop up, knees bent and loosely braced. As I realize my balance is perfect, I stand a little straighter. Joy races through me as the water carries me toward shore.

I’m doing it.

I’m actually freaking doing it.

My eyes meet his, and my heart does a flip at the pride shining through his smile as I make it all the way in while standing. He flies through the water toward me and wraps me in a hug as we meet. My feet leave the sand as he lifts me up.

“I told you it was your wave.”

“You did.” I wrap my arms tight around his neck, soaking up the scent of sunscreen and salt on his skin.

He sets me down. “Let me grab my board, and we can go out a little further and try for bigger waves.”

I watch as he wades through the water and up onto the beach. If he wasn’t my stepbrother, I’d totally be into him. Ever since he saved me at prom, I’ve had to push any blossoming feelings aside. I really like his dad, and I like him even more for my mom. I don’t want to be the reason for their marriage crashing and burning.

So I can look, but that’s it.

Looking is okay.

Looking is fun.