Page 28 of Talon

I tore my gaze away and stared out over the water. Coming right at us, getting larger as it approached, was the familiar swell of our next ride. And, by the looks of it, it wasn’t a small one. Not gigantic, per se, but definitely not the “baby” wave I’d promised Garret.

Oops. So much for easing him into it.

I jerked my board around as Lexi did the same, and Garret followed our example. “When I say go,” I told him, lying flat on my stomach, “paddle just like I told you. Paddle like your life depends on it, and don’t look back.”

Briefly, our gazes met. I didn’t see any fear or doubt on his face, just confidence, excitement and trust. My breath caught under that look, but then the swell loomed over us, and I hollered for everyone to go.

We paddled. I hit the top of the wave first, and for just a moment, I perched on the rim of a mountain, my board teetering on the edge. Then the nose of the board plunged downward, and I leaped upright as we began to fall.

Wind and spray whipped around me, buffeting my hair. I didn’t see anything but the ocean and the front of my board as it sliced through the water.

And then, Garret sliced past me, his board sending up a spray of foam. Startled, I nearly fell, but quickly regained my balance and watched him from the corner of my eye. He stood on the board just as I’d taught him, knees bent, arms slightly raised, the wind whipping at his hair as he careened down the wave. A thrill of pride zipped through me, and I steered my board in his direction, pulling alongside him.

“You’re doing it!” I called, though my voice was probably drowned out by the roar of the wave behind us. But then Garret looked over with a brief, dazzling smile, and my heart nearly stopped. I’d never seen him smile before, not a real one, and it transformed him completely. He was a creature of light, of energy and power and adrenaline, and absolutely beautiful.

Behind us, the wave curled over and crashed in a roar of foam and spray, losing fury as it petered out in the shallows. Still on our boards, we cruised toward the beach until our momentum gave out and Garret hopped off the board into waist-deep water. He was panting, breathing hard, his whole face lit up again with an eager, excited grin as he spun to me.

“That was amazing,” he exclaimed as I grinned back and splashed beside him, our boards bumping noses as they floated behind us. “I never felt... I mean...” He shook his head, sending droplets flying from his wet hair. “Just... Wow.”

I laughed. It was good to see him like this, unguarded and free. He was normally so reserved, I had wondered if he’d ever had any real fun in his entire life. “Beginner’s luck, I think. No more going easy on you—next time we’ll catch a real ride.”

“Hey, guys!” Lexi floated over, straddling her board. “What’s the holdup? Are we going again, or what?”

I looked at Garret. He grinned, looking eager and boyish as he grabbed his board and turned toward the waves. “Yeah. Let’s go again.”

Birth of a new surfer,I thought smugly, following them into the water.Let’s hope I haven’t created a monster.

* * *

We surfed the rest of the afternoon. Garret was an incredibly quick study, learning to spot approaching waves, eventually passing on those that were too small. He did wipe out a couple times, but we all did, and he fell off his board much less than I expected, especially on the bigger waves. Even after a particularly nasty wipeout, he bounced to his feet, shook water from his hair and waded dauntlessly back into the surf.

The sun was hanging low and red over the water when we finally stopped, Calvin returning from farther down the alcove to join us. I was starving, tired and a little sore from being tumbled through the surf a few times, but Garret seemed reluctant to head back. He was insatiable. I really had created a monster.

“Can we do this again?” he asked, quite seriously, as we loaded the boards onto the roof of the car. I looked at him, at the way his eyes stayed trained on me, the calm, happy look on his face, and my stomach danced.

“Sure!” I grinned and tugged down a strap. “When did you have in mind?”

“Tomorrow,” was the immediate reply. “If that’s okay with you.”

I would’ve liked nothing better than to meet him again, maybe alone this time, but unfortunately... “I can’t tomorrow, Garret,” I said. “It’s Kristin’s birthday, and we’re meeting at the mall that afternoon so we can watch her buy things, I mean...so we can hang out and stuff. Sorry.” At least, I hoped I’d be able to make it. Scary Talon Lady had really screwed up my mornings, so the important things like surfing and hanging out with friends had to be moved to the afternoon. Thankfully, neither Kristin nor Lexi were early risers.

“Come with us!” piped Lexi from the other side, poking her head over the roof. “Kristin won’t mind, and I think she’s bringing someone, so you won’t be the only guy there. Sadly, my deadbeat brother won’t be joining us.”

Calvin didn’t even look up from his surfboard. “Walk around the mall with a bunch of girls squealing at clothes and other dudes? Yeah, you have fun with that.”

I ignored him, focused on Garret. “Anyway, that’s where we’ll be tomorrow afternoon. You’re welcome to come along.”

“To the mall?” A faintly troubled look crossed his face, that wariness settling back on him like a second skin. “I...don’t know. Maybe.”

“Well,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant, “if you make up your mind, you’re welcome to join us. If it’s lunchtime, just look for me at the Panda Garden in the food court, or at the Cinnabon next door.”

“If it’s before lunch, just follow the sounds of Ember complaining that she’s hungry,” Lexi added, and dodged the pebble I hurled at her.

It hit Calvin instead, earning a very exasperated, “Dude!” and the order to get in the car before he tied us to the roof with the surfboards. I obeyed, a little sad that such an awesome day had come to an end, but the genuine smile Garret gave me as we slid into the back made it all worth it.

Back at the Smoothie Hut, we pulled into the spot next to Garret’s black Jeep, and I gazed mournfully at our gorgeous tagalong. “Well.” I sighed as Lexi exited the front and pushed her seat forward to let him out. “See you around, I guess. If not tomorrow, then...some other time.” I perked as I remembered something, leaning forward as he left the car. “Hey, don’t forget, Kristin’s party is this Saturday. Maybe we’ll see you then?”

“Maybe.” He paused and turned back to me, gray eyes intense. “Thank you for today,” he said softly. “I had...fun.” Like the word was strange to him. I smiled, feeling a warm glow spread through me from within, even as my dragon hissed in disgust.

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