Page 58 of Catch a Wave

“Shhhhh.” I give her a glare. “Can you act normal for just the next five minutes? Then you can go back to being your same crazy self.”

“Normal? What is this normal you speak of?”

I smile despite myself, and then glance in the mirror over the desk. I’m wearing a tropical print, halter-neck, backless jumpsuit with flared pant legs. It’s not something I’d usually choose. Leilani picked it out for me. She was all,Ooooh. Bodhi will love this!

“You look hot, and he’s going to love it.” Leilani’s face fills the mirror from behind me. “Now answer the door.”

“Shhhh.”

I take a deep breath and walk to the door of our room, pulling it open to reveal Bodhi leaned against the door jamb, wearing khaki pants and a linen collared shirt that’s unbuttoned at the top.

“Wow,” I say without thinking first.

Bodhi chuckles. “Wow to you too.”

“This should be interesting,” Leilani says from her spot on her bed.

“Oh, hey, Leilani.”

“Hey, Bodhi. I hope you have a night planned that’s worthy of my bestie’s time.”

“Of course.”

I grab Bodhi by the elbow and turn him out of our room “Okay! We’re going. Goodnight, Lei. Don’t wait up.”

“Oh, I’m waiting up. Don’t you worry.”

I shut the door before I can hear the rest of whatever she wants to say to embarrass me. It’s a wonder I even have this date between her running her big mouth and Kai’s overbearing interference.

Bodhi pauses right outside the door. “You look amazing tonight, Mavs. I’m pretty sure I’m the luckiest guy on the island.”

“Mavs? Like in Mavericks?”

“Yeah. It fits you.”

I grin. No one besides my family and Leilani ever bothered to give me a nickname.

“I don’t have a nickname for you.”

“You don’t need one. I like when you call me Bodhi.”

I know I’m blushing again, and I thank my ancestors for a skin tone that keeps my blush camouflaged at least a little.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“You said you like surprises, so it’s a surprise.”

Bodhi puts his hand on my back as he steers me down one of the paths on the resort property. With the top of this jumpsuitbeing open at the back, his hand hits my skin. Warmth and tingles erupt where he touches me.

“Unless you want me to tell you.”

“No. You’re right. I love surprises. Surprise me.”

“I got us a car.”

“You bought me a car!” I laugh. “On the first date!”

Bodhi laughs too. His laugh is deep and rich and full. Bodhi on the waves is a sight to behold. Watching any surfer is a thing of beauty. But Bodhi, walking next to me, laughing at a joke I just told—that’s something I’ll never forget.

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