Iwas swarmed by a crowd of people once I made it to the beach. Turtle launched himself at me with the biggest smile I’d ever seen painted across his face.
“Finn Man! That was gnarlyas fuck, dude!You didn’t just surf that wave; youslaughteredit!”
I beamed at him as hands grabbed at me from all sides. The Finnatics were going absolutely bonkers.
Quinn was suddenly with us, jumping up and down with excitement, and Blake appeared too, her blue eyes glistening with tears.
“I can’t believe you did it!” Blake cried, pulling me away from Turtle into a big hug. “I’m so sorry I doubted you. That was incredible, Finn!”
Turtle spun around and addressed the crowd, still smiling so big he could have melted someone with how bright his grin was.
“Yo! Three cheers for Finn, theLeviathan Slayer!”
Oh my god. My face went beet red as the crowd lost their shit.
Finn! Finn! Finn! Finn!
Makoa and Kai were approaching as I did my best to scoot away from the mob of surf fans, my cheeks so hot they were competing with the glare of the sun.
“Way to go, surf star.” Jet clapped me affectionately on the shoulder, and even Kai gave me a small smile.
“Killed it, kid,” Kai grunted, his dark eyes shining with approval.
“When you’re done celebrating with your fans, come over here. There’s someone I want you to meet,” Jet hummed close to my ear, and I raised an eyebrow at him.
“Oh yeah?”
He nodded. “Yeah, man. I’m gonna help Kai load up the Jet Ski; come find me after.”
I nodded and turned back to the rabid crowd of people still cheering my name.
Kids were literally pushing papers up to me, asking for my autograph, and I felt so flattered and awkward that my face flushed red again.
Jake appeared at my side, and he pressed a soft kiss to my temple and rested a casual hand on my hip.
“You did amazing, baby,” he hummed, brushing his thumb over my hip bone as I signed autographs like some sort of celebrity. “I’msoproud of you.”
I shot him a pleased look, and he smiled at me in a carefree way I’d never seen on his face before. The tightness around his eyes had disappeared, and he looked so much younger. I could see the version of him that Jet had told me about. The laid-back, easygoing version of Jake that had died the day he’d drowned. My heart squeezed in my chest at how much happier he seemed now that I’d successfully conquered Leviathans, and I felt a small twinge of guilt in my chest for how much he must have been worried about me.
“You’re gonna make me choke up in front of all these people, babe,” I murmured, doing my best not to let the crowd see I was talking to thin air.
He chuckled warmly and leaned in, nipping my earlobe gently, causing me to shiver.
“I’ll see you at home. We can celebrate in private when you’re done with your fans.” He winked before sauntering off toward the cliff face that led back to our shack.
Once the excitement had died down, I made my way over to Jet and Kai, who had been busy winching the Jet Ski onto a trailer Jet had attached to his new truck.
They’d decided to extend their stay to help me train, and Jet had leased the pickup a few days prior after Blake had given him shit for always wanting to borrow her car.
I smiled as I approached, noticing that they weren’t alone.
Standing with them was a woman dressed in simple but obviously expensive athleisure.
Jet beamed at me as I approached.
“There he is.” He glanced at the woman, who turned to greet me.
She was tanned with blonde hair slicked back in a no-nonsense bun. The clipboard she was clutching had a logo for‘Goliath Energy Drinks’on it.
