Leilani’s grin cracked the tension. “You going to ignore me?” she asked, unapologetic. “Or you going to say hi like a human person?”
Rowan rolled her eyes, mouth tugging. “Hello, human person.”
Leilani blew out a breath. “You look good. Less tired.”
“I live a glamorous life. Running a shop with a rabbit.”
Bagel sensed he was being talked about and bounced out to investigate. He twitched an ear at Lea and Brie in acknowledgment, then went back to his snacks. Lea chuckled. “Same old Bagel. He never liked me much.”
“Doesn’t like anyone.” Rowan thought of Kelsey, though, and the way he’d adopted her like his own. A smile scratched the surface. “What’s up?”
“A few friends are meeting later on. Gonna catch some waves, hang out.” Her gaze lasered in and settled. “I want you to come.”
It had been a year. A year of burrowing in, staying home, and avoiding everyone. She’d practically disappeared in the surfing world, until they all stopped looking for her. “Why are you asking?” she asked. “Why now?”
Brie spoke up from behind. “We saw you with thehaole.”
Rowan nodded. She figured the gossip would start once someone caught her with Kelsey. She guessed Tino added to it. The man spoke less frequently than others, but he loved a good drama. “I was once ahaole,” she said mildly.
Lea scoffed. “You came from California and lived in the water. You were one of us the moment we saw you on a board.”
“I’m still not Hawaiian.”
“Didn’t matter.” Lea’s mouth turned. “I remember the first time I saw you out there. You sliced through the waves on a mission. No fear, just respect. No one can truly teach you that—it’s gotta be in your DNA.”
“My dad,” she said. The image of him on a board, teaching her about the ocean, struck full force. But it brought a tinge of bittersweetness rather than sharp pain.
“Why the kook?” Brie’s question shot out. Blue raspberry colored her lips. “You dump us completely for months. Refuse to get in the water or on a board no matter how hard we try. Then some city girl with money strolls in and suddenly, you’re back on a surfboard teaching. Is it the cash? Couldn’t say no?”
“Brie,” Lea said quietly. “I don’t think that’s it.”
Rowan ignored the impulse to snap back and tell them she was teaching for free. Somehow, it might hurt them more, and Dad always counseled there was no need for defensiveness if she knew the truth. Forthe first time in a while, she realized what her isolation had really done. She’d hurt a lot of people along the way—people she’d assumed would eventually forget her and move on with their lives. But friendship was stronger than she imagined.
Damn Lea. Why did she never give up?
But it was Brie who needed the answer. She was only seventeen. At that age, hurt was experienced in Technicolor. Brie was protective over Lea, even in the same breath as she competed against her fiercely. Rowan owed her the truth.
“She was watching you, Brie. When you were surfing. You should’ve seen her face—there was so much hunger not only to belong, but to try. She kept showing up at the shop. Took a beginner’s lesson at a hotel and the guy made her feel stupid and clumsy.”
Brie’s mouth tightened. No one liked a new surfer being instructed cruelly.
“I figured I’d show her how to stand on a board and she’d go away. But everything clicked and I saw it on her face. Lea saw it, too. She shows up every day and can’t wait to get in the water. It has nothing to do with the money. It’s like watching ...”
“Joy,” Lea finished.
Their gazes met. She nodded. “Yeah.”
“Invite her,” Lea said. Brie rolled her eyes. “Seriously, why not?”
“Because she’s only thirteen and has a protective dad. He’d never let her.”
Lea’s brow arched. “The suit from the sunset party? The one you were talking with?”
“Yep.” She thought about last night and how they connected. Rowan doubted he’d come today. It was all easy promises before the hard reality took hold. She bet he got up this morning with a bursting schedule, and a surf lesson was at the bottom of his to-do list.
“Text him and see. We’ll take care of her.”
Brie grunted. “We don’t even know her. Why are you pushing?”
