“Just not competitively.” She changed the subject. “How’s your dad?”
“Fine. He’s working a lot. Trying to get a new hotel up.”
Her brow arched. “Wow, that sounds like a big job.”
“It is. He got hired to oversee the new Purity hotel. He’s, like, gone all the time, and I’m bored out of my mind and there’s really no one to hang with except Tom—who’s my driver and really nice but really old. And I try to go to all these places and meet people but everyone’s either on vacay or only wants to surf.”
Rowan tried not to judge her father, who’d dumped his daughter for the summer. “Why don’t you take some lessons? Take advantage to learn something new?”
Kelsey wrinkled her nose. “I wish. I can’t surf. I suck.”
Rowan peered at her from over her glasses. “You don’t suck. You’re young and fit. Try it.”
“I did.” She shrugged and gave a little laugh. “I took a lesson yesterday at that surf place by the Hilton. It was awful. I couldn’t understand his instructions, and he looked really frustrated with me. I guess I’m clumsy.”
A bolt of anger coursed through her. “Wait—this instructor made you think it was your fault?”
Another shrug. “Yeah, but it was. Said I was terrible at popping up or something? Then he took me into the water and I swallowed so much I was choking. He got annoyed, so I cut the lesson short.”
Oh, Rowan was pissed. She stared at the girl in frustration. “Kelsey, that’s horrible. There’s no bad students, just bad teachers. Sounds like he had an attitude problem.”
“I just think he didn’t want to waste his time. I’m not important like some of his other students.”
“How do you know that?”
“He told me. Said he tutors big-time surfers and that he usually doesn’t give lessons to casual observers, but he’d do it.”
“After you paid him?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What did your father say?”
The girl gave a half laugh. “Oh, my dad doesn’t know. He’s too busy. I don’t want to bother him.”
Rowan was ready to drive to this place and give them hell. Just because Kelsey was a tourist and young didn’t mean she should be disrespected or treated like crap. “What’s this guy’s name?”
She pursed her lips in thought. “Dennis, I think?”
Oh, she knew the guy. All ego and muscle, with a decent list of clients. He shouldn’t be taking odd jobs with tourists or dealing with beginning students. Bet he figured it’d be an easy gig, grabbing the young girl’s money. Kelsey would’ve been better off with Brie and Chelsea. They’d torture her but give her some decent skills. “I know him. Forget what he said, okay? He shouldn’t have tried to teach you. I’ll find someone you can trust.”
“No, thanks. I’m not embarrassing myself again, especially in front of a guy.” Her brows pulled down in a thoughtful frown. “Unless you can teach me?”
Rowan shook her head. “Oh, I don’t give lessons.”
“Why not?”
There were a million reasons why she’d never get back on a board. Teaching someone else such an important skill took care, respect, and effort. As anything in her life, she couldn’t do anything half-assed. It would be too much for her. “Just because.”
“I think the girl asked a fair question.”
Rowan turned as Tino walked out, wiping a rag over his dusty hands. His wrinkled face warmed. “Aloha. I’m Tino.”
Kelsey jumped up with a big smile. “Aloha! I’m Kelsey. I love your surf shop. It’s super cool.”
“Thank you. So, you want to learn how to surf?”
Kelsey looked back at the group of girls laughing and playing in the surf, colorful boards on the sand. Longing flashed over her face, but it was more than the surfing. It looked as if she wanted to belong somewhere, and that’s what bothered Rowan the most.
