“That’s because you took up the whole beach with your ego.”
He threw his head back and laughed again. “And you kept winning contests. Balance in the universe.”
Everett listened, his hand curled loosely around a glass of whiskey. People gathered at the edge of the beach, where a bonfire crackled. “How long have you two known each other?” he asked.
Howie smiled. “Since elementary school. Our dads used to surf the same break. Mine was the one yelling, hers was the one winning.”
Rowan rolled her eyes. “That’s not true.”
“It is,” Howie insisted. “Your dad was a legend. Used to tell me:‘Don’t fight the wave—dance with her.’Still hear him every time I hit the water.”
The words landed soft and heavy, and for a second, everything in her chest tilted. She looked down at her drink, pretending interest in the melting ice.
“Howie,” she said quietly, “I appreciate you saying that.”
He touched her shoulder—just a brush—but it was enough to pull Everett’s gaze like a magnet.
“So what’s next, Ro? You coming back to the lineup? Lea says you’ve been flirting with the ocean again.”
She shrugged. “Don’t think I’ll compete with this injury. The knee got too damaged.”
He frowned. “Torn meniscus is bad but I’ve seen surfers battle back. I watched you move. You look loose. Comfortable. You did your PT, right?”
Rowan nodded. “Now you sound like Lea.”
“She misses you. Wants not only her friend back, but her competition. Don’t waste your talent. How’s Tino?”
A smile touched her lips. “Still creating the best boards on the island.”
He turned to Kelsey. “Come on, kid. Let’s go see if they’ll let us roast marshmallows over there. I’ll tell you the secret of the fire knife.”
Kelsey squealed. “Yes!”
Rowan started to follow, but Everett caught her arm gently. “Let her go.”
She hesitated, glancing toward the bonfire, where Howie was already spinning a stick for the kids, flames licking upward. Then she met Everett’s eyes and her breath caught.
“Walk with me?” he asked.
She hesitated. It was a turn in the road, a rogue wave. Her mind told her to politely decline and head toward the bonfire. Her body? It was already getting up from the chair to stand beside him, refusing to listen. “Sure.”
They moved down the beach until the music faded into the sound of surf and wind. They followed the path of damp sand, avoiding the lick of water to save their shoes. The crescent moon hung in a black sky, dotted with stars. She liked how he didn’t rush to fill the silence. People spoke too many words that meant little.
“You were quiet back there,” she finally said.
He smiled faintly. “Taking it all in. Howie’s an impressive guy. My daughter has a crush.”
Rowan tried not to laugh. She liked when he was off-kilter. “I’m sure she’s not the first. She’s safe with him. Everyone adores Howie.”
“So you’ve said. Yet your relationship still remains a mystery.”
She bumped his shoulder playfully. “You’ll have to work harder to get the answer.”
His laugh startled her. The sound was robust and sexy, and she wanted to make him do it again. It was different from his other ones. Like with her, he was finally unguarded and allowed for surprises. “Don’t you know I’m a master at work? It’s the one thing I excel at.”
“Not true. I’m sure you excel at many things.”
He gave her a long side stare. “You’re right. I’m good at some other things, too.”
