“Yeah,” I breathe. “Fantastic wake-up call, though. I’ll be requesting this service every morning.”
She laughs, pulling back and landing a playful slap on my chest. She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear as she slidesoff the counter, cheeks flushed, eyes fluttering bashfully as she bends to pick her panties up off the floor, slipping them over her sun-kissed legs. “So, my dad and I are going with you this morning, since you need to arrive early for check-in. Everyone else will come a little later, closer to the start of the competition. Dad reserved a private tent, so we don’t need to worry about finding good spots.”
I cock my head. “Everyone?”
“Yeah,” she says nonchalantly, continuing to redress. “Liv and Lou are driving down. So are Carter and Penelope, with Allie and her parents. Pretty sure the twins are coming. Oh, and my mom, Everett, and Dahlia.” She straightens, smiling at me casually. “August and Elena won’t make it. They’re in Greece... or Turkey? Somewhere like that, but I spoke to Elena before they left on Thursday, and she told me they wish you luck.”
I only blink, disbelief rushing through me. “Everyone is coming? Your entire family? To watch me?”
“Of course, Wes.” She glances up at me, and my face must be giving away my shock, because hers softens. “Your parents will be there too. You’ll have the loudest cheering section on the beach, and I don’t even just mean by the number of people. My family loves to holler.”
An amused breath filters from my lips. “I didn’t think everyone would come to watch me.”
Willow’s lips quirk up into a wistful smile. “Well, I can’t say it’s the norm for us when it comes to Dad’s mentees. You’re just special, I guess.” She brushes her lips over my jaw as she wraps her arms around my waist. “You leave a mark on people, Wes. Even if you don’t notice it.”
I tuck her head beneath my chin, swaying us back and forth. “I guess I assume people want to keep me at arms-length, considering my history—my rap sheet.”
“Carter and Penelope stood by you, they’ve never given anyone any reason to believe we shouldn’t do the same.” Willow kisses me lightly. “Now we know you too. We see what they always have.”
My gaze drops to the floor, the emotion itching my throat too strong to face her head-on. “I’ve been so used to isolation, it’s strange to realize how alone I truly felt.”
My mother, Carter, and Penelope are the only people who’ve ever come to watch me surf before. I expected Leo today, as my coach, and knew Carter and Penelope would drive down for it. I hoped Willow would come too. I’d never expected this much support, though.
It’s an entirely new concept to me. Growing up, the only person I had in my corner was my mother. The few competitions I competed in before she died, my cheering section consisted of exactly one: her.
“Not anymore,” she murmurs. “You’ll be sick of us soon enough.”
“I’ll never be sick of you, Willow. I may be infected by you, but I’ll never be sick.”
“Damn.” She sighs. “That was smooth.”
“Mm-hmm,” I murmur into her hair as she pulls herself back.
“I need to go get ready,” Willow whispers, kissing me one final time. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”
“Okay, love.”
I lean against the countertop, head and heart floating as I watch her walk to the door. She grasps the handle, peeking over her shoulder as she pops a brow. “For real, though, how did you get so good at...that?”
“You mean making you come on my face?” I smirk.
“Yes,” she hisses, rolling her eyes playfully. “If you want to be vulgar about it.”
“You know that trick about spelling the ABC’s with your tongue?” I bite my lip, fighting back a grin. “I just wrote my name on your pussy instead.”
“Oh.” The sweetest gasp puffs from her lips, and a blush creeps up her cheeks as her eyes widen. “Well...” She swallows, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. So goddamn beautiful when she’s caught off guard like this. “Keep up the good work, then.”
I stand straight, saluting her. “Yes, ma’am.”
CHAPTER 27
WILLOW
“He was awfully chipper this morning, Willow,” Liv chimes. “That spring in his step?” She whistles. “I bet he’s going to perform well today.”
“Whatever morning routine you’ve got him on, it’s doing wonders.” Lou winks.
My face heats, and I dip my head to hide it. “He’s just excited to compete again.”
