Page 54 of Sparks Like Ours

Malia grinned but shrugged it off. “Just trying to pull in points.Maybe score a sponsor, you know?”

“Been there. Keep surfing like that, and you’ll find what you’re lookingfor.”

They approached the roped-off pathway for competitors that wasalways lined with autograph seekers who went nuts when they saw Gia approach,thrusting programs, notepads, and photos her way. “I’ll let you get to work,”she told Gia, and gestured with her chin to the fans.

“You guys meet Malia yet?” Gia asked the enthusiastic group. Theynodded eagerly at Gia and several thrust their tournament programs Malia’s way.She lit up at the attention and got to signing. Gia remembered all too wellwhat it was like to be an up-and-comer, and she did what she could to make iteasier for those coming up behind her. With a final nod to Malia and the fans,Gia headed inside where she’d change, clean up, and return to the beach towatch the remaining heats. It wasn’t a normal practice for her, but Elle wouldbe surfing later that day and she couldn’t stop herself from being there towatch. Though it felt strange to say “root her on,” it was a little of that,too.

She was becoming entirely too soft for her own liking.

Two hours later, sitting in the reserved competitors’ section, Giawaited for Elle’s heat to begin. She was up against Martina Conway, numbertwelve on the leaderboard, and Gidget So, number five, in what would be heatsix that day. While Elle would pull out the win, Conway and So would give her arun for her money. Gidget So, especially, was tenacious and didn’t shy awayfrom the big barrel rides. The heat began with Elle drawing first priority. Shepaddled out aggressively and got to work as the crowd went wild for theirnumber one, easily identifiable in the leader’s yellow jersey, always worn bynumber one. Gia dreamed of wearing that jersey one day in the not-too-distantfuture. For now, she couldn’t seem to stop herself from feeling proud of Ellein it, stupid as that might be.

And Elle was off.

Gia watched with interest.

Nice cut back into the power source. Good. Elle came around with abeautiful turn and looked for the barrel, found it easily. Beautiful positionin the eye of the wave. Gia’s breath caught and she waited to see if Elle wouldemerge upright, as that exit looked tricky. To no one’s surprise, she nailedit, coasted out of the bottom, and hopped off the board for a nice start to theheat. Gia clapped conservatively, a small but proud smile on her lips while thelarger crowd cheered and screamed. “That’s how you do it,” she said quietly.

The rest of the heat was full of ups and downs. Elle faltered onwaves three and four but pulled in big enough numbers on her other waves toturn in two decent numbers for a combined score of 15.37. Elle was headed intoround two right alongside Gia.

“You two getting along better these days?” a voice asked. Sheturned to see Jordan and her all-access pass standing just outside theroped-off competitors’ section. She looked beachy and happy with her dark hairpulled into a ponytail, a compact video camera hanging at her side.

“We do okay,” Gia said hesitantly. Jordan was a friend, but Giahad to remember that she was also making a documentary and would certainlydevour the new turn Gia’s relationship had taken with Elle. Since she didn’thave a full understanding of what was going on herself, there was no way shecould attempt to explain it to Jordan, on camera or off. Nor would it be wise.

Jordan studied her knowingly. “Just don’t remember you watchingearly heats in the past.”

“Scoping out the competition is not a bad idea, right?”

Jordan stepped in and dropped her voice. “I’m not busting yourballs or anything, but maybe that’s not all you’re scoping. Off the record, ofcourse.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Gia said.

“Really? Because I’ve gotten to know you pretty well, and I’venever seenthatexpression on your face before where Elle Britton is concerned.”

“Listen, I don’t know what you think you’re picking up on, butshe’s on her way to being world champion and it’s my mission in life to takeher down. That’s about all there is here.”

Right then, Elle passed their section, a towel en route to herhair. She paused when she saw Gia, smiled, and met her gaze briefly beforecontinuing on her way. The exchange had been quick but meaningful. It was clearwhen Gia turned back to Jordan that she wasn’t the only one who had noticed.

“Really? You have nothing to say on the subject?” Jordan asked,enjoying this way too much. “That look you two just shared was…wow.”

“Was it?” Gia asked, feigning confusion.

“Please.” Jordan shook her head. “Catch you later, Gia. We’ll becovering round two tomorrow, so don’t, you know, screw it up.”

Gia laughed. “Best advice of the day. Thanks, Jordan.”

“Don’t have too much fun tonight. Or do. Your call.”

Gia shook her head and headed back to the resort to roll out hermuscles and rest up for the next day. Her hotel room was spacious and brightwith a balcony facing the beach. She could see the day’s competition happeningin the distance. If she sat outside, she could hear the crowd.

As the afternoon shifted into evening, she headed out in search offood, finding several friends from the tour at the restaurant and joining thegroup. She had trouble focusing on the trajectory of the conversation, mainlyabout the happenings of round one, who was struggling to hold on to their spotand who was vying to move up the leaderboard. Shop talk didn’t interest hertonight. Nope. She couldn’t seem to stop thinking about Elle. What she was upto, how her day had been. Their brief encounter on the beach had been theironly contact in San Clemente, which was probably a good thing, as Gia neededher head in the game, not in a lust-filled cloud. It was apparent, however,that even without face-to-face time with Elle, she had a way of…distractingGia.

Ready to relax for the rest of the evening and get a good night’srest before round two, Gia headed back up to her room for some decompression time.Katrina would be joining her the next day, which came with a certain comfort.Katrina always kept her on track, and this tournament would be no different.

“Whoa,” she said, as she exited the elevator and rounded thecorner to her hallway, nearly smacking into a woman coming the other way. Shegave her head a shake. “Sorry about that.”

“Trying to put me out of commission before tomorrow?”

It was Elle. She was wearing leggings that came to mid-calf and ared warm-up sweatshirt that saidBossacross the front. Gia laughed at the near collision, and realized in a burstjust how happy she was to see her. “I didn’t even realize it was you. I’m sosorry.” They took a moment to stare at each other, both smiling. Gia glancedaround. “So, you’re on twelve, too? Which room is yours?”

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