WILL
Seeing Lauren again had been like having my fingernails ripped off one at a time.
Three days hadn’t been long enough.
Fuck, three years might not be enough.
I considered trying to talk Tess into moving away from here, but I knew she’d never go for it. The old house held too many memories. And even if they weren’t all good, she was probably right; I’d have a hard time leaving it too.
The best I could hope for is that this summer would end, and so would Lauren’s lease. She’d be gone before I knew it.
Until then, I decided all I had to do was avoid her.
It almost worked; I almost didn’t notice her at all. Watching Tess out in those waves had been something else. It had been years since we’d spent this much time together, and I hadn’t expected her to be so . . . so, what? Improved? Good?
Fucking amazing, that’s what she was.
She’d blown my mind out there. Finding waves no else could. Staying up when I’d have said it was impossible.
She was incredible.
She was like me.
The old me.
Part of me resented her for it, even while I cheered her on. That part of my life was over. And I didn’t want it back.
Tess wanted it though. The competitions. The travel. The accolades and recognition. The sponsors and fame and fortune.
She didn’t understand there was a downside to it all. That coming up through the ranks was tough, and competition brought out the ugly side in almost everyone. The money was hard to come by, the schedules were brutal, and most competitors never succeeded the way I had.
And worst of all, sometimes it wasn’t just your body that took a beating . . . something I’d learned all too well.
She was determined, though. And if I was being totally honest with myself, she was damn good. She stood a chance.
But that inner voice was there, warning me that letting her surf was a bad idea. As her brother, and after what happened to me, I should discourage her. Keep her from getting injured the way I had.
I’d never forgive myself if something happened to Tess. Sure, a concussion sucked, but at least I’d walked out of my hospital room.
Some surfers weren’t so lucky.
That was when I felt someone watching me. Even before looking, I knew who it was. I could sense her presence in my gut.
Lauren.
When I’d turned and spotted her sitting with Zane, it felt like someone had punched a hole in my chest. I had no idea how this girl had gotten to me in such a short amount of time, but she damn sure had. I hadn’t stopped thinking about her for days, couldn’t stop wanting her, craving her. And seeing her now . . .
I forced myself to concentrate on Tess instead.
I caught up with my sister and hooked my arm around her shoulder. Smiling, I tugged her closer, blocking Lauren from my view. “Come on,” I told Tess. “Let’s get this over with.”
“You sure you wanna do this?” Big Chuck asked. I looked out the window, to where Tess was waiting for me. The look on her face was the same uncertain look she’d been giving me ever since I told her what I’d planned to do. But the wheels were already in motion. Even if I wanted to, there was no backing out now.
I rubbed my hand over the familiar surface of my board one last time and fought the lump in my throat. “Don’t really need it anymore.”
“Yeah, I heard. Tough blow,” Chuck said.
Shrugging, I passed the surfboard across the cluttered counter of Big Chuck’s Pro Shop, but Chuck stopped me. “Signed,” he said. “Dude wanted you to sign it.”
“So he’s a collector?” Seemed a shame to let a board like this gather dust in some basement somewhere.
“Nah. Just a fan, I guess. For that much cash, if he wants his board autographed, who am I to argue, right?”
I took the Sharpie Chuck handed me and tried not to feel guilty about defacing my lucky board. It wasn’t as much cash as I’d have gotten for winning one of the big invitationals or anything, but it’d be enough to pay Lauren back and hopefully get Camden off our case for good . . . in time to get Tess settled into a routine before school started up again.
When I was done, I passed the pen back to him.
“Sorry to hear about your mom, man,” Chuck said.
“Thanks.” I rubbed the back of my neck, suddenly eager to escape the crowded store I’d spent so many hours in growing up.
Chuck counted out the money, taking his time. “How’s Tess handling it?”
I glanced out at the sidewalk. She wasn’t paying attention now, and I studied her carefully.
Things were getting better, both for her and with her. At least that’s what I told myself to keep from running away, which seemed a million times easier than holding it together. Camden might have legal guardianship of Tess, but so far I’d managed to keep him at bay by paying him off with as much money as I could scrounge together. But even I knew that couldn’t go on forever.
I was already pulling double shifts at the bar, teaching swim lessons, and doing odd jobs whenever I could find them. If I had more self-control, I never would have quit giving Lauren lessons. Except there was no way I could spend that much time alone with her and keep my hands to myself.
And right now, Tess needed me to keep my head in the game . . . at least until this Cam mess was straightened out. I couldn’t afford to get twisted up over some girl.
The cash from selling my board would have to do for now. I hoped to use it to convince Cam to sign guardianship over to me. Then I could work on giving Tess the kind of life she deserved.
Chuck handed me the bills. “She’s okay then?” he pressed when I hadn’t answered him.
I lifted a shoulder. “She’ll be okay. We’re figuring things out.” I pocketed the money and left my board behind, the last reminder of the days when I’d been on my way to being a champion.
But I had a different life now, and a new future.
I stepped out of the pro shop, and grinned at my little sister, whose shiny hair was naturally highlighted from spending hours out on the water, the same way mine had once been.
Familiar green eyes looked back at me. “We good?” she asked, biting her lip nervously.
I nodded. “We’re great, Tess. Everything’s great.”