Rowan didn’t answer. The sun dipped lower, turning the waves into molten gold. Kelsey came running up the beach, dripping, triumphant. “Did you see me? I stayed up for, like, five seconds!”
“You were beautiful,” Rowan said, meaning it.
Brie and Chelsea followed. “She did pretty good for a kook,” Brie said gruffly. Kelsey beamed. “Her balance is solid. I think she can start working on bottom turns.”
“You’re not her teacher, Brie,” Lea said with exasperation. “Rowan knows what she’s doing.”
“Whatevs. Just offering my opinion—take a chill pill.” With a scathing look, she motioned the other girls toward the cooler.
“See?” Lea groaned. “Maybe you don’t want them hanging together.”
Kelsey was chattering brightly and the girls were listening. For now, she had what she needed. The beginning of female bonding around something they all loved. It was much better than trying to fit in with the false gods of designer labels or followers on social media.
There was nothing false about nature.
Her mind slipped, unbidden, to Everett and their dinner. The memory of his laugh, the frustration in his eyes, the way he’d saidYou make me forget.
She looked back at the water. The tide was coming in, whispering against the sand like an invitation she couldn’t yet accept. Lea nudged her knee. “When you’re ready, I’ve got an extra leash in my bag.”
“I don’t even have a board.” She remembered the crush of water, holding her down, board splitting under the immense pressure. After, it had been easier not to custom-build a new one. The thought of looking at something she refused to use broke something inside.
“Then you get a new one. Tino needs a project to dig into.”
Rowan laughed softly. “You always were pushy.”
Lea’s smile was all faith. “You’ll thank me later. It’s time.”
Rowan didn’t answer. She just stared at the horizon, felt the wind press against her skin, and, for the first time in a long while, didn’t look away.
Chapter Fourteen
Everett stared at his daughter from across the table. He’d wrapped up at a decent time and decided to take her to Monkeypod Kitchen. It was a casual tiki bar, set on the beach, with great sandwiches and desserts. A local band played music in the background. Tourists swarmed the place, but Everett had called ahead and reserved a table, even though they usually took no reservations.
His job gave him excellent connections. He figured he’d share the benefit with Kelsey, along with some one-on-one time. For the past two days, he’d been in emergency mode, but everything was back on track and New York was pleased with the progress.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t the same at home.
Her head was bent, thumbs tapping nonstop on her phone. A shuttered expression kept him at bay. She was polite and answered his questions, but her voice was flat, as if speaking with Tom rather than him. Even worse? Her eyes held a banked sadness and frustration he couldn’t understand.
Everett took a sip of his whiskey for liquid courage. “Hey, want to put the phone down for a while? Go retro for this dinner? Or vintage?”
She literally winced at his awkwardness and suddenly, he felt less like a powerful millionaire spearheading a hotel and more like a nerd desperate to impress the cool girl. Her withering stare matched the words. “Neither, Dad. I haven’t seen you for two days so I figured it’d be a working dinner.”
“I had a crisis. But I solved it and I’d love to catch up.”
Her phone clattered as she laid it on the table. He noticed her wardrobe was more casual and age appropriate. The white shorts, T-shirt, and sandals reminded him of the old days, when she dressed for comfort and fun; before middle school and her sudden need to fit in revolved around designer wardrobes and makeup from influencers. Her hair was in a loose ponytail. Silver hoops adorned her ears, and a stack of colorful bracelets lined her arms. She was changing so fast he couldn’t get a grip to slow it down or control the speed.
“You always do.” Her light tone contradicted the words. “Is the opening back on schedule?”
“Yes. September first. Right before Labor Day weekend. Then we head back to the city. Are you excited about going home and starting school?”
“No.”
He blinked. “How come? I thought you were pumped since so many of your friends are going?”
A shadow crossed her face. Her teeth sank into her lower lip. “I was. Things changed.”
“Why?”
