Page 28 of Below the Barrel

I grab the duffle bag that I packed last night and leave my room, not expecting to find Koa waiting for me in the hallway. He smiles softly at me, studying my expression to see if I’ve maybe changed my mind since last night. I smile at him reassuringly, and he pushes himself off the wall to approach me.

“Good morning, princess,” he says, taking my duffel from me and throwing it onto his own shoulder.

Ever the gentleman.

We make our way to the lobby, meeting the rest of the surfers just as the transportation bus arrives. Today we’re going to the Pinnacles Desert to sandboard, before setting up tents to stargaze for the night. For once, it’s an excursion I’m looking forward to. The idea of sandboarding across the dunes sounds like a much-needed escape from the intensity of our competitions.

Koa leaves my side to drop our duffel bags in the pile of bags for the bus operator to load, before returning to me and taking my hand in his. I don’t miss the curious glances of nearby girls, or the annoyed expression on Charles’ face as he watches us from a distance.

As we load onto the bus, Koa finds us a seat near the middle and slides in with me, our shoulders brushing as I settle.

“Did you have a good sleep?” he asks, the corner of his mouth turning up.

I nod. “One of the best sleeps I’ve had since coming on this tour,” I admit, feeling my cheeks warm.

“It didn’t top waking up with you on me, but it was definitely close.”

My eyes go round before I whirl my head in every direction making sure no one heard him. He lets out a boyish chuckle before chewing on his bottom lip to try and hide the amusement. The bus rumbles to life and we fall into a silence that feels different now—softer, less strained.

By the time we arrive at the Pinnacles Desert, the sun is high, casting long shadows across the strange limestone formations that jut out from the sand. The landscape is surreal, almost otherworldly, with its golden dunes.

Everyone piles out of the bus, the excitement in the air palpable as everyone heads toward the sandboards lined up nearby. I watch as Koa grabs a sandboard, effortlessly balancing it under his arm like a surfboard before turning to me with a grin.

“You ready, princess?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply, trying to match his enthusiasm even though my stomach is doing somersaults.

We make our way to the top of one of the dunes along with our production team, the sand warm beneath my feet as we climb. When we reach the peak, Koa sets his board down,motioning for me to do the same. I follow his lead, my heart racing as anticipation builds. He glances over at me, a playful gleam dancing in his eyes.

“Race you to the bottom?”

I can’t help but laugh, the sound surprising me. Seeing him like this reminds me of when we were still getting to know each other and doing risky things to see how far the other would go, like climbing that ancient tree when we were younger.

“You’re on,” I reply.

We both push off at the same time, the boards slipping down the slope with a rush of speed that sends my heart soaring excitedly. The wind whips through my blonde hair, and for a few amazing moments, I’m free—free from the weight of the past and the expectations of the future. It’s just the two of us, racing through the desert like we’re the only people in the world. It reminds me of how surfing makes me feel, the freedom is addicting.

When we reach the bottom, breathless and laughing, Koa’s hands find mine. He pulls me close, the laughter still lingering in his eyes.

“You almost had me,” he mumbles.

“Almost,” I tease back, feeling lighter than I have in months.

We spend the rest of the day racing each other down the dunes, taking turns on who wins, but as the sun begins to set we decide to take a break.

“Come with me,” Koa says, his voice soft.

Curious, I follow him as he leads us away from the others. We walk in comfortable silence, the sound of our footsteps muffled by the soft sand beneath us. As we crest a smaller dune, Koa points ahead and my breath catches in my throat.

A small group of wild koalas lounge lazily in the low branches of a nearby eucalyptus tree, their round bodies and fluffy ears making them look unreal. I can’t hold back my smile as I watchthem, their slow movements and peaceful demeanour making me feel strangely calm.

“I noticed them on the bus ride in,” he says, from behind me.

“They’re incredible,” I whisper.

“You’re incredible,” he says.

I glance up at him and realize he’s watching me instead of the koalas. My heart flutters and I look away, pretending to focus on the koalas, but the warmth in my chest spreads through my whole body.

---