Chasing Swells

by Nikki Godwin

  “But you won’t be on your own,” she says. “My dad will be there, coaching you through it. And I’ll be there. I’m not going back to my mom’s. I can’t. Not after this. I’ll figure out what I’m doing once I get there, but I’m staying with my dad, so you’re stuck with me, like it or not.”

  I finish the last bite of my taco before reaching across the picnic table and grabbing a nacho from the platter she’s been keeping to herself.

  “Not that you asked for my opinion,” I say, “but I like being stuck with you.”

  Later that night, I pack up everything except what I need for the plane tomorrow afternoon. Glenn and I still plan on having our morning training session, but I feel like it’ll be more of a free surf for both of us. He waxed his board tonight, and he’s spent most of our sessions in the channel, letting me catch the better waves. I’m pretty sure that won’t be the case in the morning.

  I walked Kaia down to the resort so she could leave with Sloane for one last girls’ night before we leave St. Catalina Island. Then I found my way to their lobby computer just so I could print the entry form for the Jake McAllister Pro. I can only imagine what the roster list for this event will look like. Topher and Miles will definitely be there. Colby Taylor should be too. They all loved Shark, and I know they’ll be gunning for the win.

  I take the form back to the bungalow to read over the fine print, but it really doesn’t make a difference. I’d trade my left kidney for a spot in this competition. I grab a pen from the living room and fill out the information, sign my name on the dotted line, and hope the next time I’m filling out paperwork for Drenaline Surf, it’ll be a sponsorship contract.

  Chapter Thirteen – Kaia

  My alarm goes off far too early, much earlier than I’d prefer, but it’s our last day on St. Catalina Island, and there’s one thing I need to do that I haven’t done yet. I change into my bikini and grab a bar of surf wax off the living room table. Then I proceed to Dad’s board bag because I know there’s an unwaxed board hidden away at the bottom.

  I retrieve it and use some elbow grease to make sure I haven’t lost my waxing touch. I haven’t surfed since last summer since Mom lives in a landlocked state, but every year, when I think I’ve lost my ability to pop up on a wave, I’m pleasantly surprised when I realize I haven’t lost the froth.

  I think Dominic was right about surf genes. I just prefer that people not know. When you grow up surrounded by legends, people place expectations on you that are unrealistic. Being Glenn Anderson’s daughter doesn’t mean I’m destined to be a surfer, but it also doesn’t mean I can’t surf.

  “I knew you’d give in,” Dad says, strolling into the living room. “Couldn’t leave the island without at least one surf with your dear old dad.”

  The truth is, summers with Dad are about sneaking out and partying with locals. It’s about the tan lines and smell of chlorine. It’s about the smell of charcoal and watching fireflies. But it’s also about early morning sunrises, catching waves that he didn’t think I’d be brave enough to paddle into, and realizing that year after year, since I was five, I’m still the surf coach’s daughter who hasn’t lost her touch.

  Surfing with Dad has always been just the two of us, so having a beautiful rich boy take my place in the lineup wasn’t exactly easy to accept. But Dad never coached me. With me, it was quality time. It wasn’t a job, which is probably a good thing because I much prefer him as my dad rather than a coach.

  “You’re gonna have some competition in the lineup this morning,” Dad says, turning my attention to a messy-haired Dominic. “Kaia’s paddling out with us.”

  Dominic eyes me the way I’ve eyed him all summer – a bit evil with a touch of arrogance. “So, you do surf,” he accuses me.

  I shrug. “Every now and then,” I say. “I just figure if you’re going to win this Drenaline Surf sponsorship, you need all the coaching you can get.”

  “Ohhhh,” he replies. “So is this a family business now? Anderson Surf Coaching? Father/daughter team of the year?”

  If he wins this sponsorship, I definitely think we deserve team of the year. I may not have coached him on aerial maneuvers or how to ditch the fins, but I think I helped him learn to stand his ground and not give in, even when someone is determined to bring you down. Because if I’m honest, that’s exactly what I tried to do to him a few weeks ago.

  “I think I could do this coaching thing,” I say, half-joking. “I mean, at some point, Willow Harper is going to need someone other than her brothers to teach her something. I’d be a great surrogate big sister.”

  Dominic laughs. “Hey, I’m all for that. I think you’d be a great coach. It runs in the family. I mean, you’ve taught me a thing or two.”

  I don’t dare say it in front of my dad, but Dominic has taught me a lot more.

  Epilogue – Dominic

  Kaia’s arm remains linked around mine, even though my jersey is soaking her shirt sleeve. Losing in the semi-finals was tough, but I knew Topher was the toughest competitor I’d face in the Jake McAllister Pro. I did what I could, though. I left my heart on the beach. I let my surfing do the talking. I made sure I shook hands with Topher on the shoreline and congratulated him on making the final with Colby. I’ve kept my mouth shut and stayed in my corner with my family, Glenn, and Kaia. Now I’m just waiting on the moment of truth.

  Joe stands at the podium, thanking everyone for being here today and for competing in the event in memory of his son. I don’t look up because I don’t want to see the faces of everyone else hoping to win this sponsorship. I don’t want them to see my pain if I don’t win it. I hope all of this hard work hasn’t been in vain.

  “Our committee voted earlier tonight, and it was a unanimous decision,” Joe says. “We’ve always known this surfer would go on to do great things, and it’s my pleasure to welcome him to our Drenaline Surf team. Please give a round of applause for Dominic Richardson!”

  Kaia screams next to me and throws her arms around my neck, squeezing me like an octopus killing a fish. Cassie hugs me next, and Glenn pats me on the back before helping me push through the crowd toward the stage.

  The CEO of Ocean Blast Energy shakes my hand, and Joe steps away from the podium to let me speak, but I didn’t plan a speech. I didn’t want to jinx it. I focus on my eyes on Cassie because she’s crying happy tears, and I think my stepmom will keep my emotions in check more than Kaia could right now. I don’t want to be a flustered mess in front of all these people.

  “As most of you know, I spent most of my life in Crescent Cove, but my childhood was spent in Horn Island,” I say. “I grew up watching Shark McAllister surfing, wishing I could be as awesome as he was, and it’s been a dream of mine to surf under the Drenaline Surf logo since the day the store opened.”

  I take a deep breath. “I wouldn’t be standing up here today if it weren’t for my family – Dad, Cassie, Juliana – or Glenn and Kaia Anderson. They’ve taught me more in the last year than I realized I needed to learn,” I say. “The circumstances of this sponsorship are unfortunate, but I hope I can make Drenaline Surf proud to have me on their team. I want to thank everyone at Drenaline Surf for giving me this chance, Joe for believing in second chances, Ocean Blast Energy, SurfTube, and all of you guys for being here today. I feel like I’m finally home. I can’t wait to see you all at the next event.”

  Joe hugs me before I exit the stage. Reed Strickland stops me on the stairs and invites me to the celebration at Colby’s house later tonight. He tells me to bring my family. I’m not sure if my presence is truly welcome, but if I have Kaia with me, I might find just enough courage to go.

  There aren’t as many cars at Colby’s house as I expected. Apparently Drenaline Surf isn’t about the big blowout parties. It looks like a strictly VIP kind of thing. Joe’s truck is here, as well as Topher’s, and I recognize Alston’s red sports car.

  “Hey, you were invited,” Kaia reminds me. “I don’t think that Reed guy would’ve invited you if
your Hooligans were going to riot about it.”

  I can face Topher and Theo. I can even face Vin. But that rusted, beat up seafoam green truck means that Miles is here, and he’s the one who may not forgive me for last summer and the things that followed. I was able to avoid him today, but if we’re both surfing for Drenaline Surf, I can’t hide forever.

  “I’m proud of you,” Kaia says. “You set out to do something, and you conquered it.”

  “And I gained you in the process,” I tell her. I lean over the armrest to kiss her before getting out of the truck.

  Kaia walks around and eases up next to me. “Hey, if you’re scared, I’ll hold your hand,” she teases. She doesn’t have to ask, though. She grabs my hand because she knows I need it.

  Even being away for a year, I still remember that everyone enters Colby’s house through his back patio door, so we walk around the house. Reed is manning the grill, and A.J. is cursing about something. Some things never change, and it’s comforting.

  “Is he here?” Kaia asks.

  I nod. Miles is pretty impossible to miss. He’s the only surfer I know with blonde dreadlocks. His girlfriend makes eye contact with me first. It’s not the evil eye, which is a relief. She walks over – Emily – and introduces herself to Kaia, leaving the door open for me to make peace with her boyfriend. I don’t mind abandoning my girlfriend for a few minutes. Kaia can hold her own. She makes friends much more easily than I do.

  I trudge through the sand to where he stands alone. “Hey,” I say once I approach.

  “Hey,” Miles says. “Congratulations.”

  “That’s what I should’ve said to you last summer,” I reply. “I’m really sorry. I owe you an–”

  Miles cuts me off. “Dude, don’t. We’re good,” he says. “Welcome home.”

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to my Drenaline Surf family. You guys are the greatest. Thank you to the surfers who have taught me about redemption (Jeremy Flores, I’m looking at you), through your journeys and through my own. Thank you to the hometown heroes (I watched Kanoa Igarashi win the Vans US Open of Surf when I first started writing this novella, and it was so inspiring). Thank you to Ginna, who puts up with the crazy. And always, my enchanted sister Emily, who goes on every adventure with me.

  About The Author

  Nikki Godwin is a Young Adult author. Her books are usually about surfers, musicians, or M/M romances. She can't live without Mountain Dew, black eyeliner, and music by Hawthorne Heights. When not writing, she internet-stalks her favorite bands and keeps tabs on surf competitions. Her favorite surfer is Gabriel Medina. If you ever get her started on surfing or music, she'll never shut up. You've been warned.

  Drenaline Surf Series:

  Chasing Forever Down (Drenaline Surf, #1)

  Rough Waters (Drenaline Surf, #2)

  Always Summer (Drenaline Surf, #3)

  With You Around (Drenaline Surf, #4)

  For more books and information, visit www.nikkigodwin.net