Page 20 of The Surfer

But it means everything.

I can’t believe this.

It’ll mean staying here, in New Water, for six months. Six long months to get Cove back on his feet, back on a surfboard, and off his hedonistic lifestyle.

After seeing what he was like this morning I have no doubts about the mountain I have to climb. This is going to be tough. Very tough. And it will probably, and in all likelihood, it will be, impossible. I don’t know if I will even succeed.

But the money for university is too big to ignore. Reforming Cove’s life will give me security in mine. I have to do it, it’s a golden opportunity I can’t afford to waste.

Literally can’t afford to waste.

Six months in New Water. Six months at Sandy’s house.

Six months with Cove.

This is a big ask of me. From our initial meeting this morning I know how hard it’ll be to get to Cove in the way his dad wants me to. Change him. I looked into his eyes this morning and saw that the arrogant dick doesn’t want to change.

Sandy and her dad are putting all their trust in me, and I don’t know how I can succeed.

Mr Finn slicks back his grey hair with a hand. “Just keep Cove away from the drugs and that horrible nightclub. What is it called again, Sandy?”

“Tide.”

“Yeah,” Mr Finn says. “Keep him away from Tide.”

* * *

“Just promise me one thing,”Sandy says to me as she drives her sports car with me in the front passenger seat back to her house from the restaurant. “One thing.”

“What is it?” I ask.

“Just don’t fuck Cove, okay?”

Huh?

I’m so taken aback in surprise I instinctively snort in derision, but from the stern look on her face, I realize that Sandy’s being serious. “What do you even mean?”

“It’s just that Cove seems to have this kind of magical effect on women, they all just fall head-over-heels at his feet.”

Yeah, she’s actually being serious.

“Sandy,” I say, patting her on the shoulder. “Sandy, the last thing I’m looking for is to get into bed with your younger brother. The last thing I’m looking for at the moment is sex, especially sex with Cove Finn. No offense.”

“None taken.”

“He’s one hundred percent not my type. The very last thing I am planning is falling head-over-heels over some rich stoner womanizing surfer boy, that’s for sure,” I reply. “No offense again.”

“None taken.”

We pull up at Sandy’s house. The sun’s setting low on the horizon. Streaks of red and orange light run across the sky in a beautiful pattern as the sun slowly bids farewell.

Yeah, Mom would love it here.

Before we even open the car doors, the front door of the house swings open, and out steps Cove.

My head whips around to face him.

Even I have to admit the man is hot. Gorgeous. Of course, he has women falling head-over-heels at his feet. He’s naturally irresistible.