Page 124 of Pack Owned
“Relax. Pretend you’re part of the water,” Ryker says.
“Oh sure, I’ll just turn into a mermaid. No biggie,” I mutter, but weirdly, it helps. As I start to move smoother, like maybe the ocean and I have reached a truce.
“There you go!” Ryker cheers, and I swear I can hear the grin in his voice. “You’re a natural!”
“A natural disaster, maybe,” I laugh, but I’m kinda proud of myself. Who knew I had hidden fish genes? I mean, I stayed on, even though it was on my stomach and clinging to the board with all the strength I have.
We paddle out deeper, and suddenly I’m bobbing up and down like a cork in a storm. Liam points to an incoming wave that looks huge and I swallow the lump in my throat.
“That one’s all yours, champ.” Ryker winks and it does funny things to my insides.
“Great. No pressure or anything,” I gulp.
Liam helps me turn my board, while Ryker positions himself nearby. “When we say ‘now,’ paddle like your life depends on it,” Liam instructs.
The wave approaches, looking less like water and more like a moving wall of ‘oh crap.’
“NOW!” they both shout.
I paddle like I’m being chased by sharks, and suddenly I’m shaking. For a glorious second, I’m coasting on the wave. Sure I’m flat on my stomach, fingers digging into the board—thenthe world goes topsy-turvy, and I’m pretty sure I just did an involuntary audition for the underwater Olympics.
Two pairs of strong hands haul me up. Liam and Ryker are there, looking equal parts worried and impressed.
“You okay there, Tsunami?” Ryker asks, his hand on my back.
I spit out what feels like half the Pacific. “Nailed it, right?”
They both burst out laughing, and I join in. The wipeout should be terrifying, but instead, it feels... freeing.
“Ready to go again?” Liam asks.
“Hell yeah!” I surprise myself with my enthusiasm.
For the next hour, I spend more time eating saltwater than riding waves, but I’m having a blast.
By the time we call it quits, I’m exhausted, sore, and probably half-fish. But I’m also grinning like an idiot. Because for a few hours, I’m just Kayla, surf disaster extraordinaire, hanging with two ridiculously hot guys and the entire ocean.
Exhaustion claws at my muscles like I’ve been running a marathon, not just wrestling with the ocean. But the fatigue feels damn good—earned. And hey, I managed to stay on for like ten whole seconds, a new record for me.My legs wobble as I trudge back to shore, saltwater slicking off my skin.
“Here, let me.” Liam hoists both our surfboards under his arm, muscles flexing effortlessly. I can’t help but admire the way his body moves, all strength and confidence.
“Thanks,” I murmur, too wiped out to even pretend I could carry anything more substantial than my own weight right now.
Dane greets us with a tray of pineapple slices so fresh they practically glisten against the backdrop of the setting sun. He hands me one, the juice sweet and sharp on my tongue, a vivid contrast to the lingering taste of seawater.
“Caught some of those waves you rode, Kayla. Impressive for a first-timer,” Dane says, and there’s no mistaking the respectthreading through his words. It’s the kind of praise that fills those little hollow spaces, the ones left by doubts and dark nights.
“She did fantastic,” Ryker chimes in, smoke and leather mixing with the tropical breeze.
“Thanks, guys.” I beam at them, pride puffing up my chest until I’m nearly floating on air. “Couldn’t have done it without either of you, though.” The massive Mai Tai Dane hands me has a comically large, pink straw. I take a long pull, the sweetness hitting me with a rush, but I don’t taste any alcohol and look up at Dane.
“It’s a virgin….no drinking allowed on the beach.”
“Ah,” I say, but the drink is really good and I take another sip.
“Ready to go again?” Dane asks Liam, nodding toward the waves that are turning molten gold in the dying light.
“Try and stop me,” Liam grins, bounding to his feet with that infectious energy of his.
