Brie paddled hard into the wave and popped up clean, blond hair whipping behind her as she carved down the face. The judges nodded. Even from here, Rowan could see her stance—solid, confident, a little sharper than the last heat.
Kelsey practically vibrated beside her. “She’s on fire! Look at that turn, Rowan! Did you see that turn? I want to do that turn.”
“You will,” Rowan promised, bumping her shoulder. “But right now, cheer. She can hear you on the waves.”
Kelsey cupped her hands and let out a battle cry that made an auntie three chairs down laugh so hard she snorted. Rowan grinned.
God, this was good.
To her right, Everett sat in a beach chair—the same one Tino said made him look like “a suburban dad on vacation,” which Everett insisted was his “warrior form.” He wore board shorts, a baseball cap,sunglasses, and a Purity Waikiki T-shirt, which somehow made him look both relaxed and wildly satisfied with life.
He’d been the first one to create Purity merch, and it was selling like crazy.
He lowered the binoculars he’d purchased for this event like he was watching the Masters. “Brie’s cutback was tighter than the last one,” he said, completely serious. “Judges will score it.”
Rowan bit back a smile. “Look at you, sounding like you actually know what you’re talking about.”
He slid her a look from under the brim of his hat. “I’m dating a legend. I take my education seriously.”
“Mm-hmm.”
He reached over and squeezed her hand. The usual connection sparked between them, making her body automatically soften. He still held magic powers over her hormones. “Besides, I’m partial to everyone in your family now. Even the ones who pretend not to like me.”
“Bagel needs a little more time. He’s getting there.”
“He won’t even take my bribes. I offered him some organic cilantro and he turned up his nose until I’d gone away. Caught him stuffing his face with it later.”
Rowan laughed. The battle between the two men in her life was intense, but she had a feeling once Bagel folded, Everett would become his favorite person.
Lea strode over, bronzed and radiant in a way that only someone who’d spent her whole life in the ocean could be. She bent, slapped Rowan’s thigh affectionately, and snagged Everett’s eco-friendly Purity water bottle without asking.
“You’re both disgusting,” she said, taking a long drink. “I can feel the couple energy from twenty feet away. Stop it.”
Everett raised a brow. “You just stole my water.”
“Yeah,” Lea said. “Because I earned it by not making everyone watch me drool on my girlfriend’s shoulder like some Hallmark extra.”
Rowan gave a huff. “You love us.”
Lea rolled her eyes so hard she almost fell over. “I tolerate you because you spot me on my worst wipeouts.”
Everett lifted his binoculars again. “You did great at your last comp, Lea.”
She paused. “See? That’s the problem. He’s nice. Why is he nice? Where did you find a nice one?”
“In a suit,” Rowan said.
Lea shuddered. “Still weird.”
Brie paddled past the finish zone and jogged up the beach, board under her arm, cheeks flushed from effort and triumph. Lea and Rowan met her halfway, pulling her in for a tight hug.
“You killed it,” Rowan said fiercely. “That last section? Beautiful.”
Brie glowed. “You think? I sat out the second wave, but Violet caught it and that may give her more points.”
“Nope, you owned that heat,” Lea said. Brie brightened at her older sister’s praise.
Kelsey jumped up and down and nearly knocked her over. “You’re going to win!” she squealed.
