“Yeah.” He drags a hand down his face. “You’re right.”
“I’ll still be here when you get done.” I try to smile reassuringly, but my dad doesn’t look any less concerned.
“Do you want me to have your aunts come over? We can make cake and listen to Shania Twain.” Mom kisses my temple.
“I’d love that.”
“In that case, I’ll take my time.” Dad winks, squeezing my hand once more before he leaves the room. The opening and closing of the front door echoes behind him.
CHAPTER 6
WESTON
“The code to unlock the front door is zero-five-two-eight,” Leo fucking Graham says as he punches it in, and the gear-sound of the lock follows.
He’d appeared in the driveway not long after I pulled in, barefoot and wearing sweatpants. He looked disheveled, honestly. His expression fell somewhere between I-just-woke-from-a-nap and I-just-found-out-my-cat-went-missing. The smile on his face when he greeted me was incredibly forced. I’d know—I’m an expert in them myself.
Leo helped me grab my things before leading me through a gate that bridged the main house and the detached garage, down a concrete walkway and to the guesthouse that sits directly behind the garage, a smaller-scale replica of the main house. A small front porch faces the cliffside, offering a perfect view of the Pacific in the distance.
I’m watching sunlight dance across the whitecaps when I hear Leo open the door behind me. I follow him as he takes a few steps inside, turning to face me before extending an arm to his right. “My wife stocked the fridge for you in accordance with the meal plan I’ll be putting you on. She checked with Penelope thatyou don’t have any food sensitivities.” There is a small kitchen tucked into the corner by the front door. An island counter, with a range, sink, and fridge across from it. “Make sure you thank her when I officially introduce you next week.”
“Of course.” I nod.
Leo sighs, and it sounds almost defeated. I have no idea what I’m doing wrong.
“Anyway,” he continues, spinning again and pointing to the closed door beside the kitchen. “The bedroom is through there. Bathroom too. All of the linens are clean, and we have a washer and dryer in the garage you can use.” He motions toward the space opposite the kitchen, where a long couch is spread out beneath a window, and a television is mounted on the wall. “This is the living room, obviously. The place is small, but it should do.”
“It’s great. I really appreciate it.”
He faces me, eyes sunken and exhausted, and though he’s looking at me, it almost feels as if I’m not here at all. He blinks, shaking his head quickly, as if ridding himself of some haunted thought, before he nods and steps past me. “Let’s get the rest of your things so you can settle in.”
I wordlessly turn to follow him when he stops with his hand on the doorknob. “Oh, and I should let you know, something came up, and I’m not going to be available to begin training this week. I’m sorry.” Leo steps onto the porch, and I shut the door behind me. “I should’ve called earlier and given you the option to delay your move by a week, but I didn’t have the chance.” He runs a hand through his hair, leaning against the porch railing. “I do have an alternate coach who can start working with you Monday, and you and I will begin together the week after.”
Well, that confirms it.I really am a nuisance.
What the fuck am I actually doing here?I want to ask, but I keep my mouth closed, offering a simple nod.
“This weekend you can work in the garage. All my boards need to be cleaned and waxed.”
“Oh, is this like a Mr. Miyagi kind of thing?” I grin, attempting to pull a smile from him too.
“No.” He tilts his head, giving me a once-over with an unamused expression. “It’s a boards-need-maintenance-or-you-can’t-surf kind of thing.”
Cool. I’ll go fuck myself, then.
Leo pushes off the railing and descends the three porch steps, heading down the path that leads back to my truck and the front of the main house.
“Are there any rules I need to keep in mind while I’m staying here?” I call out, trailing behind him. “I don’t want to fuck up this opportunity, and I don’t want to impose on your life any more than I already am, but Ineedto be here. I need this. I’ll earn it.”
Thus far, being kind, quiet, and funny—and that Mr. Miyagi jokewasfunny, especially to an older person like him—hasn’t worked. I guess I’ll try being straightforward instead.
He stops so abruptly I nearly walk into him. I stumble back as Leo spins to face me. For the first time since I met him a half hour ago, some kind of spark lights in his eyes. He’s finally looking at me like I might hold some sort of value, like I’m actually a person standing in front of him, and not an apparition he’s trying to get away from.
“I watched your film. Watched the competition where you won your Youth Worlds title. You weren’t privy to it back then, but Carter and I had been in talks about you for a while. I had plans for you before...” He swallows. “I know you count swell periods. I know you have an eye for barrels, and you almost always choose the right one. I know you sure as fuck get up every time a wave knocks you down. You have the kind of born talentthat can’t be taught, though you’ll be rusty. Your form already needed work, your balance was off, and your agility is shit.”
Ouch.But okay, at least we’re getting somewhere.
“Luckily for you, these are all buildable skills. What I need you to bring to the table is focus, determination, and patience. It’s going to take time to get where you want to be, and you’re only going to reach it if you’re giving this one hundred percent, okay?”
