Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
I can’t.
13
NOW – MERLEIGH
“Congrats on your first day,” my new boss, Vienna, says, giving me a smile and a pat on the back. “You’re going to be a great part of the team.”
I exhale a sigh of relief. I was so nervous to start today, but the staff was lovely and Vienna made sure I had any instructions I needed to get through. I breezed through it and did really well. It was easy, and the people were great. I’m going to like working here, and knowing I’m finally doing something for myself makes me feel incredible.
“Thank you so much for giving me a chance,” I smile.
“Oh, honey, you’re easy to take a chance on. We’ll see you tomorrow then?”
I nod and wave to the other two girls working with me today, Henny and Cassie. They both give me a smile and a wave, and I pack my things and head out of the gorgeous little café that is now my place of work.
I smile all the way home, feeling on top of the world. When I arrive, I see Bohdi standing on my front porch. His face is still a mess, and he looks terrible, but that didn’t stop him from driving the few hours to deliver my first surfing lesson this afternoon. The sun is out, the waves are great, and it’s a gorgeous day on the beach.
“What’s that smile for?” he asks me when I walk up the front steps.
“I had a good first day. I got the job officially.”
“Good for you. You ready to surf?”
“Yep.”
I rush inside and get changed into a full body wetsuit that Bohdi insisted I wear so I don’t get stung anymore. He said it will also protect me from the sun. I laugh at myself as I stare into the mirror. I look terrible in this. My god. Why does anyone wear these things?
“This is the worst,” I say, walking outside. “I look like a walking sausage.”
Bohdi’s mouth twitches. “I think it suits you. Very nice.”
“You’re not being very nice when you lie like that.” I laugh softly. “Anyway, I’m ready.”
“Let’s go then.”
We walk down the track to the beach and Bohdi takes me to a little spot he has set up with two boards. I watch as he undresses and gets down to nothing but a pair of surfer looking shorts that go down to his knees and hug his hips so incredibly well. He’s gorgeous, my god, that skin and the muscles. He’s turning heads. Women walking past stop and stare at him, their smiles huge.
I can’t blame them.
Bohdi has it.
“So where do we start?” I ask, staring at the boards, and the ocean, and wondering how the hell this is going to work.
Bohdi places the boards flat on the ground. “Before we can even consider the water, you gotta get your balance here. So get on, have a feel. It should be a good match for you, but if it feels wrong, let me know, and we can change it.”
He’s referring to the board.
I step onto it and wobble around, putting my arms out and letting out a little yelp. “Oh my god, this is harder than it looks.”
“You wait until a wave is tryin’ to crash you down,” Bohdi says, stepping onto his board as if it’s the easiest thing in the world.
“You make that look easy,” I say, wobbling around.
“Been surfin’ a long time, though it’s been a while.”
“Have you surfed all your life?” I ask, finally getting my balance.
“Since I could swim.”
That’s pretty incredible.
“Once you get your balance, you want to practice movin’ about, making sure that you can keep your balance. Widen your hips a bit, don’t be afraid to bend your knees to give yourself some footing.”
He gets off his board and walks over, taking my hips in his hands and steadying me. My heart races, and I swallow, enjoying the feeling of his hands on my hips. He steadies me and then brings me down a little, making me bend my knees. “You gotta relax. If you’re stiff, you’ll never get up and stay up.”
“It’s hard,” I say, taking a deep breath.
“It is, but when you’re in that water, you’ll forget the rest of the world and it won’t be hard anymore, it’ll be life.”
I love the way he describes it. The way he explains his passion. I can feel it in his words, in his hands. The love he has for the ocean.
“Why a biker club?” I ask randomly, when he lets me go and goes back to his board.
He stares over at me. “Why not? I had no family, I couldn’t surf anymore without bein’ seen. A club was a place I could hide and stay hidden. They were a good fit.”
“I mean, I get it. I couldn’t see it before, but I can now. They really are a family.”