“Maybe it had more to do with your kick-ass work ethic and killing your Gen Ed in a year and a half.”
My cheeks inch upward at his praise, but I play it cool and brush my shoulders with the backs of my hands, then blow on my curled fingertips.
“We should celebrate,” Allie announces as she sails into the kitchen and plants a kiss on Ashley’s lips as she passes us and snags the coffee pot, refilling her cup.
“Raincheck? Tatum and Lennon want me to go to this surf thing tonight at Zuma.”
“For sure. Just let us know when you can pencil us in.” She winks at me as she sips from her steaming mug.
I roll my eyes and giggle.
Ashley sidesteps and snakes his arm around her waist and presses a kiss to her temple.
The pang is so slight it almost doesn’t register. Still, I turn my head as my smile falters, and I excuse myself to go get ready for my evening.
In six months, not much has changed except my location. I still take a heavy load of classes. I still work as an online personal trainer and film content for the ASH fitness apps. But now I’m known as Ever Tate, Performance Enhancement Specialist. I still avoid mushy romantic couple-y things like the plague. Thank God for Tatum and Lennon and surfing. They are my proof that coming here to Malibu was the right move. I met Lennon in the Payson Library while studying—a habit of mine since I moved here. Maybe it was my way of manifesting my acceptance into their transfer program. She asked to join me at my table, and her twin sister, Tatum, joined a few minutes later. Tatum is a psych major too, so we’ll likely share some classes now that I’m in. Lennon is studying fitness and kinesiology, which overlaps with my goals a little in the sports psychology arena. When they found out I’d just moved to Malibu and planned to transfer as soon as I finished my General Ed., they appointed themselves my official tour guides.
Both prolific surfers, they vowed to turn me into one too once they discovered I’d tried it before. Lilly wasn’t exaggerating when she claimed it became theirwhole personality. I’m addicted and getting better every day. The ache in my muscles is different than the ache I get from gym workouts. It’s changed my body, too. I look and feel stronger than ever. The weather in Southern California makes it easy to surf year-round. I just got my own board now that I can stand up for more than three seconds.
“Hey, Ev.” Ashley stops my hasty retreat. “You taking your board tonight?”
“I might, but I don’t think I’ll go in. Why?”
“I wanna show you something.” He clasps my hand and leads me toward the foyer and the front door. Again, his overly touchy affection no longer alarms me. If I’m being honest, I kinda like it. He gives the-big-brother-I-never-had energy. He doesn’t let go of my hand as he sweeps the door open with his other, grand gesture-like. Front and center of the circular driveway just down the stairs waits a brand-new smoky gray Toyota 4Runner.
“Oh my God. That’s beautiful.”
“It’s yours.”
“What? No. Luke, it’s too much.”
Allie speaks behind us. “We traded in my old one and got you this. For getting accepted to Pepperdine.”
“But I just got in.” I pivot, my hand flying to cover my gaping lips.
“Let’s just say we had a hunch.” Her hands are folded together in front of her like prayer hands and she’s beaming.
I don’t want to squash her obvious excitement but . . . this is over the top. “I can’t accept this.” I tilt my head and lift one corner of my mouth to soften the blow.
“Oh, c’mon. Let us. We don’t have any kids to spoil. You’re it.” She flaps her hands at me like she’s shooing me away.
“The board should slide nicely into the back,” Ashley chimes in, snugging up to Allie.
I’m speechless and so stunned by the gesture that their cuddly PDA doesn’t make my radar for once. The whole scene is giving eighties television family vibes, and I’m letting it suck me in. Tears prick my eyes and I throw my arms around both of them at once.
They squeeze me back while Allie sniffles and Ashley clears his throat.
“Well, I, uh, better hurry and get ready so I’m not late.” I haven’t cried since the first day I arrived. I’ve been too busy. I’ve made certain I’m too busy. That someone had to go back to Blue Lake and get Allie’s old 4Runner is not lost on me. I push the thought out of my mind and the image it conjures of a dark-haired, blue-eyed boy I refuse to let haunt me. Maybe I will night surf after all.
Chapter 16
Julian
“C’mon, Julian. What the fuck happened? The fans want to know.”
“The fans? Or you?” I cock an eyebrow at Callie while Auz snickers behind his camera.
“Same thing.” She pops her hip and curls her fingers around it.
