I wish this wasn’t pretend.
THIRTEEN
KAIRI
“Out of everyoneyou could have picked to date, why did it have to beColton?” Zale’s lip curls slightly when he says his name.
We sit on the cool sand just beyond the reach of the tide, and the early morning air is still cool against my skin despite the wetsuit clinging to me. The ocean stretches out in front of us, calmer than I feel.
Practice starts in thirty minutes, and Zale looks like he hasn’t slept at all. Dark circles shadow his eyes, his hair messier than usual, like he’s run his hands through it one too many times.
“What’s wrong with Colton?” I ask, turning to look at him.
He lets out a disbelieving laugh. “Are you serious right now?”
“I am.”
“Did you forget he ditched the team when everything was already falling apart after what happened with Fin?”
“Did you forgetwhyhe left?” I frown. “Fin’s exkissedColton in front of him and made it look like they had been seeing each other behind Fin’s back…that’s what caused the incident that almost killed him.”
“Yeah. I remember,” Zale says. “But that doesn’t explain why he left us.”
“Can you imagine the guilt he was feeling for being the reason behind why Fin got hurt?” I ask, sitting up straighter. “And the guilt he felt for ruining the team's chance at qualifiers for the tour?”
“And so his only other option was to leave the team entirely and go straight to our biggest competitor?”
“What was he supposed to do?” I shoot back. “Quit surfing entirely so no one gets their feelings hurt?”
“No,” Zale snaps, his voice rising. “He could’ve talked to us, explained himself, or even given us the chance to fix things or support him.” His jaw tightens. “We’re supposed to be a team, Kairi. A family.”
The word hangs between us as I study him, taking in the frustration and the hurt that hasn’t faded away with time, and suddenly, Gabriel’s words to Colton make sense.
Trust—thatiswhat’s missing.
“I get why you’re upset,” I say more gently. “I do. But that has nothing to do with me dating him. That’s a separate issue.”
Zale exhales sharply, dragging a hand through his hair again. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea. There are other guys out there,” he says. “Guys who’d treat you better.”
I tilt my head. “Like who?”
He hesitates as he holds my gaze.
“You?” I push, quieter now.
His eyes widen, caught off guard. “Kairi…”
I let out a small, humourless laugh and look back out at the water. “I appreciate the concern, I really do. But I can decide for myself who’s worth my time.”
Silence stretches between us and when I finally look back at him, something in his expression shifts.
“What?” I ask, uneasy.
“Nothing,” he says, though his gaze lingers. “You just…seem different.”
I smile faintly. “In a good way?”
“Yeah,” he says, a little distracted. “More confident and sure of yourself.”
