Page 16 of Catch a Wave

The front door swings open and Bodhi comes in, carrying two take out bags. He holds them up like a peace offering.

“I didn’t know what you’d want so I got a bit of everything.”

His face looks sheepish, and he’s adorable—the man who left me. I remind the little voice in my head of that glaring and overwhelming fact. Maybe this is just what I need—time around Bodhi to work out my residual attraction. Over time my longing for him is bound to fade out and diminish into nothingness. I’ll just give it time.

“Thanks, bruh,” Kai says. Then he turns to me. “You hungry, Kala?”

“I could eat.” A house. I’m starving. But I don’t want to tell Kai I haven’t eaten since I gobbled a protein bar this morning. My metabolism hasn’t gotten the memo that I’m no longer an elite athlete.

“Let’s dig in.” Bodhi walks past me, the smell of amazing tacos wafting behind him—as if I needed one more reason to trail behind him like he’s the Pied Piper and I’m some lost waif of a child.

Kai lingers behind us silently, entering the kitchen and grabbing down three plates, then placing them around the wooden table. Bodhi opens the bags and sets them in the middle. And the three of us sit, facing one another.

“Well, this isn’t awkward at all,” Bodhi says with a carefree smile.

“Not at all,” I agree.

I stare at the bags, unable to meet Bodhi’s eyes.

Kai doesn’t say a word.

Instead, he fishes through the bags, obviously familiar with which colored paper wrap holds which taco. He pulls two out. One in white and one in yellow.

“You’ve got to try their carne asada.” He plops one of the tacos on my plate.

I don’t fight him. I mean, it’s carne asada. Choose your hills to die on. Tacos aren’t that hill.

We eat in silence except the occasional hum or moan of appreciation, most of them coming from me. Not only was I beyond hungry, but these tacos are amazing.

“Mexican tacos are so good. I had forgotten how good.” I mumble around a bite. “In Costa Rica they roll them and fry them.”

I’m totally talking with my mouth full, so I raise the back of my hand to cover my lips while I lick a stray bit of sauce from my lip.

Bodhi smiles over at me. I concede, and smile a flash of a smile at him. The expression doesn’t say,green light, but I hope it says,thanks for dinner,and alsoleave me alone.

There’s a knock at the door while we’re all digging into our second tacos. Bodhi and Kai look at one another.

“I’m not expecting anyone.”

“Me neither.”

Bodhi wipes his hands and stands. We can see straight through the kitchen and living room to the front door. When Bodhi opens it, two young women who look slightly younger than me stand side by side on the porch.

“Hey, Bodhi!” one of them says with a whole lot of enthusiasm.

She’s got brown hair and is wearing the kind of makeup that says she put in some effort.

“Hey, Emily.” Bodhi’s tone is friendly, but guarded. I can’t tell if that’s because of her or me. Probably me, since he’s usually one of the most outgoing and confident people in any crowd.

“Thanks for having us over last night,” the other girl, a beautiful blond, says to him.

“No problem. What can I do for you two?”

“Sheena left her jacket in your room last night,” the one named Emily says.

“Oh, yeah. Come on in.” Bodhi glances briefly at me as the two girls enter the room.

“Hi, Kai!” the one named Sheena says. She notices me like an afterthought. “Who’s this?”

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