Jet studied me carefully, as if trying to decide if he believed me or not. “Blake tracked me down to let me know she’d heard some rumors from the mayor’s son that he was organizing one. We came to see if it was true, and sure enough, they just printed an announcement this morning in the Gazette.”
My eyes widened in surprise. That bitch Kyle had mentioned it at that party in the summer, but I hadn’t heard anything about it since.
Kai narrowed his eyes on me.
“Cut the act, kid. Blake told us all about how you’ve been running around town telling everyone you’re training for Leviathans. Do you know how dangerous that is? You’re sensationalizing that beach! You’re going to get peoplekilled!”
“Hey, Kai, relax.” Jet put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “He clearly had nothing to do with the surf competition. He’s just one dude. This has Tully written all over it.”
Kai just grew angrier. “My friend fucking died on that beach, and we’ve doneeverythingwe could to keep idiots like you from doing the same shit,” he snapped. “And now look at what’s happening! There’s going to be headlines bringing surfers in from all over the world. I hope you’re happy.”
“Kai!” Jet snapped, his tone dark and authoritative. Kai glared at him and shook his hand off his shoulder, turning his board to face the shore.
“Fuck this. I’m not in the mood to surf with dumbass kids that have a death wish,” he growled before paddling back to the beach.
Turtle looked thoroughly confused. He scratched his head as he watched Kai paddle away, and I raised an eyebrow at Jet.
Jet sighed and shook his head. “You’ll have to excuse him. He’s a little…triggeredright now. That wasn’t about you. He’s a really great guy; you’re just not meeting him under great circumstances.”
I shrugged and rolled my eyes.
“I don’t really care, dude. I’m just here to surf. How about you mind your business, and I’ll mind mine, yeah?”
We moved up a few spaces in the lineup, but Jet didn’t seem interested in backing off. He was staring at me intently, clearly curious about me.
Unlike Kai, Jet’s interest in me didn’t feel hostile, just cautious and wary.
“Blake says you’re really good. She says you remind her of Riddick.”
I froze, my heart literally stopping in its tracks at the sound of Riddick’s name coming out of Jet’s mouth.
“She says it feels like some sort of divine tragedy that someone with a surfing style so similar to Riddick’s shows up out of nowhere, dying to rip up Leviathans.”
I glanced at him, feeling my skin roll with goosebumps under my wetsuit. I had no idea what he was talking about, but the way he was staring at me was making my hair stand on end.
“We came by your place yesterday,” he continued, and I nodded.
“I know.”
“Why didn’t you answer?”
“Why didn’t I answer the door for two strange dudes I’d never met before? I’m Gen Z, bro. I ain’t answering the door for anyone who doesn’t text first.”
Jet’s handsome face split into a genuine grin, and he chuckled.
“Fair enough.”
He glanced over my shoulder, and his grin widened.
“Looks like you’re up, surf star,” he said, jerking his head to indicate that we were now at the head of the line. “Let’s see if you’re as good as Blake says.”
Alexa Play: Dancing With Your Ghost by Sasha Alex Sloan
Jet surfed with us the rest of the afternoon, and after a few runs, it was clear that he was just as good as Riddick, maybe even a little better.
His style was just…cool as fuck.
When he surfed, it was like the board was an extension of his body. I swear he was controlling it with his mind like some sort of surfing Jedi. Watching him was inspiring.
