“Are you Ilias Ríos?” one boy asked, wide-eyed and grinning. “Could we get a photo?”
Ilias glanced at Sofia, who smiled warmly at the kids. “Sure!”
Another kid chimed in, pointing at Sofia. “We want you, too! You’re the marine biologist, right? The videos you do with whales are so dope!”
Sofia’s surprise was almost comical, her brows shooting up before a bright, genuine smile overtook her face. Ilias’ chesttightened at the sight. Her joy was so simple, so unguarded, it made him want to stand there forever just to see it again.
The kids mastered their selfie perfectly, squishing between him and Sofia while giggling. Ilias talked surfing with them for a few minutes, but most of their questions were for Sofia, about whales, about the ocean, about her dives. She answered each one with enthusiasm, her voice animated and her eyes alight.
Ilias didn’t interrupt. He just watched her, feeling like something in his chest was cracking open.
As the kids ran off, waving goodbye, Sofia turned back toward the waves. “I wish I could speak at conferences with kids too. They are our future, after all.”
“Well,” Ilias said as they waded into the water, boards tucked under their arms, “maybe we could organize something at my surf school in Morocco. What do you think? My father’s goal was always to speak to kids, maybe that could be part of the new idea Ghita has been perfecting. It could help keep my father’s legacy alive as we turn it into a retreat center.”
The suggestion came out easily, but he meant every word.
Sofia turned to him, her face lighting up. “I think it’s a fantastic idea.”
He paddled out beside her, the saltwater cool against his skin. It didn’t take long to reach the impact zone, where the waves rolled smoothly, undisturbed. There were a couple of surfers farther north, but they had this section all to themselves.
Ilias caught the first wave, his body alive with the thrill of riding. The ocean had always been his home, his church, his anchor. And now, it was theirs. He rode wave after wave, his chest swelling with excitement as Sofia took her own turns.
He’d seen her surf before, but watching her now was different. She didn’t just ride the waves, she danced with them. Her movements were fluid, graceful, full of joy. Even when shemissed a wave or tumbled into the water, she came up laughing, her smile wide and free.
God, how could anyone not fall for her?
When they both paddled back out to rest, the ocean calm around them, Ilias broke the silence. “A penny for your thoughts.”
Sofia turned her face toward him, her smile softer this time. “Thank you for today,” she said, her voice quiet but full of sincerity. “Without you, I would have probably cared more about what Thomas said. And even though I spiraled about him knowing about the deal, you have been a very calm presence.”
“Calm? Didn’t I want to punch him in the face?”
Sofia chuckled, “Except those moments.”
“I’m happy I was there with you, habiba,” he smiled back.
For a beat, neither of them moved. The ocean cradled them gently, the sky darkening into shades of purple and deep blue as twilight settled over the water. Her eyes fixed on him as though trying to read something unspoken on his face.
Ilias’ heart pounded.
It wasn’t fake, not for him. Not anymore. Maybe it had never been. As Sofia smiled back at him, he knew he would do anything to keep that smile there. Anything.
33
SOFIA
HO VOGLIA DI TE – Juli, Emma, Olly
Back in their room,packing for the flight to Margaret River the following day, Ilias headed for a shower, and Sofia lay sprawled across the bed, phone in hand, chatting with Alejandra.
Have you taken that poor guy out of his misery yet?
Eh?
Have you finally confessed you're in love with him?
??
