Eleven
Lola
I stood up so fast that Dexter, who’d been curled by my feet, leapt straight up, fur raised, and streaked into the kitchen.
I jabbed a finger at Justice. “No way. You don’t get to breeze into town, stroll into my house, sit here and tell me you believe in love at first sight.” My voice rose, and I gestured wildly, my hair falling out of the makeshift bun I’d put it in. “What’s the matter with you … you … cabrão!” Justice stood up and faced me. My heart pounded so hard that blood whooshed in my ears. I narrowed my eyes and pointed to myself. “Next question’s mine. Why’d you leave me?”
He jerked his head back. “I didn’t … I mean I did leave.” He picked up his plate and hurriedly carried it into the kitchen. “You know what was happening in this godforsaken town.”
I followed him, my heart beating hard. “No. I don’t know. Explain it to me.”
He flipped a hand toward the window. “There was all that bullshit with Devin’s dad and the trial.”
“What did that have to do with you? With us?”
“I couldn’t walk down the street without everybody knowing what happened. That my uncle was the one who blew the whistle and exposed the seedy underbelly of this supposedly perfect place. It was just easier to get on my bike and drive away.”
“Since when do you care what other people think? And what’s up with that lame excuse you gave me?” I made air quotes, “‘I need to spread my wings.’ What kind of estupido reason is that? What, are you a bird or something?” My voice became mocking. “I fly north for the summer. But then I never come back!”
He scrubbed his face with one hand. “What do you want me to say? I was young and stupid.”
I clamped my lips together in an attempt to contain myself, but it was no use. I moved closer to Justice. Let him feel the force of my fury. I nearly spit in his face when I said, “And you never even called. You just left me sitting here like some stupid reject from the girlfriend factory.”
He shook his head. “Quit it, Lola. That’s not fair. I called lots of times. You were the one who stopped taking my calls. Maybe I was a jerk. But what was I supposed to do?”
“You told me you loved me! What’s this bullshit about love at first sight?” My breathing felt rushed, and I forced a deep breath. “What you were supposed to do was get on that stupid bike of yours and come back. Maybe talk to me face-to-face.”
“Jesus, Lola. That was forever ago. Are you really getting all worked up the night before our wedding?”
“Shut up! It’s not a real wedding!” I strode into the living room, picked up my dessert bowl, and marched back into the kitchen hurling the bowl in the sink where it landed with a clatter. I turned around and leaned against the counter. “Want to know the truth? Want to know how I spend my life? I work all day at the bank. Then at night I come home to Dexter and sit on the sofa eating ice cream.” I pointed to my sewing machine. “Then I sit at my machine and crank out suits.” I tilted my head back, looked at the ceiling and let out a breath. “Why am I telling you this?” I leveled my eyes at Justice. “You need to leave.”
And that’s when Justice placed his hands on my shoulders and gazed at me with dreamy eyes. Our eyes met, my breathing heavy. “I’m sorry. I can’t take back the past.” He sighed. “Can’t we have a do over? We have to be able to work together to win.”
We looked at each other for long moments. All I could hear was the gentle crash of the ocean through the open window that matched the sound of our breathing. Damn it. Justice was right. We needed to focus. If I was going to make a go of winning, I needed to get along with my stupid ex. I wanted that money. I would quit the bank and start my bathing suit business. Then no one could tell me what to do. Especially Justice.
I didn’t need a man. Not that I’d been able to find one lately. I was so bored with the wimpy men I’d dated who thought feminism meant they should treat their girlfriends like roommates or buddies. I had plenty of buddies, thank you very much. I needed a man. A real man who knew his own power. Somebody who could work with me and make a commitment.
I forced out a breath and collapsed a little under his touch. “You’re right.” I gave a shaky smile. “Kind of crazy that we’re tying the knot.” If we were going to win this contest, I had to at least fake a positive attitude. Justice and I still made magic on a tandem board. We’d win.
Justice’s face became serious. “Did you tell your dad?”
I threw my head back, and looked at the ceiling. My papai was an old school Brazilian father with specific ideas about what I should and shouldn’t do with my life. I heard his voice loud in my head. “Why are you always working, working, working? Get out of the house and meet a good man!” I almost laughed when I pictured his lectures, his intense eyes, and his wild gestures.
“Yes, I told him.”
“What did he say?”
I shrugged. “You mean before or after he hopped on a plane from Maui to wring my neck?”
“Maui?”
“Dad and Coco live there part-time. North shore waves are good; they’re gone for a month.” I let out a sigh. “I calmed him down. Don’t worry. He’s not sending anybody over to break your kneecaps. If there’s one thing my dad knows, it’s the surf world. He’s seen you and me surf tandem. Said we’d win the contest.”
“Really? He took it that well?”
I rolled my eyes. “Let’s just say I pulled out my best tactics.” What I didn’t tell Justice was that I’d pleaded with my papai to understand, begging him to see things my way. Told him I knew what I was doing, that this was nothing more than a legal document that would be null and void in a few weeks.
I’d cajoled and joked, did everything including bat my eyelashes. Told him how important that fifty-grand would be. You want me to live my dreams, right Papai?
Justice’s face became even more concerned. “He’s okay with this? You’re sure?”
I pointed to myself. “I’m the one who needs to be sure.” I pressed my lips together. “I told you I’d do it, and I’m doing it.” The situation was super unreal. “And you know, my dad is the best. He taught me to surf. You and me, we still got it on the board. Even if I am a little rusty.”
“You’re not rusty. We’re in this together. I promise to help get you back in shape. You know we could practice here but it would be awesome to hit some of the advanced surf spots up the coast. Think you can get time off work?”
I narrowed my eyes. “How long?”
“The competition starts in three weeks. We could drive up the coast in Papaw’s van. Stop along the way and practice. I know all the spots. If we want to win we need to concentrate on training.”
I crossed my arms tightly but the thought of spending all that time with Justice on the road caused excitement to zing through my body. I forced a deep breath. “Can I trust you?”
“Jeez, Lola. How long have we known each other?”
“Too long. But I barely know you anymore.”
“So get to know me again.” I did have a ton of vacation time since I never took any. Getting away from Devin and the bank would be great. “You want to win, don’t you?” Justice said. “We need to challenge ourselves with different conditions.”
Why the heck not? I could get through a few short weeks with my ex. I thought of the money, excitement filling my body, and gave him a devilish smile. “Let’s do it. We’re going to win.”
He gave me a crooked grin. “That’s the spirit. And we’ll have one heck of a fake honeymoon.” He placed his hands over his heart. “You, me, the surf, time on the road.”
I shoved him hard in the chest. “And like I told you before, don’t get any estupido ideas about sex. We’re training partners, and that’s it.” I stuck out my pinkie finger and was surprised to see that it shook. “Truce?”
He stuck his finger out. We shook pinkies, and my heart finally started to calm. “Not even once for old time’s sake?” His blue eyes danced, and the look he gave me was hotter than hell. I glanced at his tight-fitting T-shirt and wanted to drag it over his head. Merda. Much as he pissed me off, I wanted Justice’s body. But that was only because of too many years of celibacy.
“Take a hike, mister.” I yanked my pinkie away. “No, no, and hell no.”
“Can’t blame me for trying. Well, I guess this is goodnight,” he said.
“Good night, Justice.”
“Tomorrow you’ll be my fake wife.”
“Tomorrow you’ll be my fake husband. Emphasis on fake.”
After Justice left, I busied myself with cleaning the kitchen. My thoughts raced. Was I really doing this? I could do this. I had to do it. I tried to convince myself it would be an adventure. I’d win the money while resisting the allure of his blue eyes. I didn’t need Justice in my life. I didn’t need any man who could drop me at the first call of the wild. No matter how freaking hot he was.
I ambled over to my sewing machine and put the finishing touches on my latest project. The last stitch fell into place, and I held up my surprise. I broke into a huge grin. Awesome! One for Justice, one for me.