by Elle Viviani
Koa
My first thought as Summer and her friend disappear into the crowd is, “Well, I really screwed that up.” And the second is, “Why do I care?”
But as the minutes tick by and I replay the humiliating conversation in my mind, I realize I do care. I’ve been caught, fair and square, in my lie of omission. Why hadn’t I just told Summer about my plans for this weekend? It’s not like she was nosy or prying. We spend every day on a boat together, so why shouldn’t we become friendly?
Habit, plain and simple. Not getting close to people is a hard habit to break.
Two thick arms wrap around my neck and squeeze, putting me in a chokehold. “Long time no see, Rendell!” a deep voice booms behind me.
“Bryce! Christ—” I land a well-placed elbow into his side and twist out of his grasp.
Bryce grunts and rubs his side. “Damn. Still got it in you, I see.”
I grin back at him as I rub my neck. “Not so shabby yourself, Hill.”
Not shabby is a gross understatement when it comes to my closest friend, Bryce Hill, ex-Navy SEAL turned “bodyguard for the stars.” At six foot four and two hundred and sixty pounds, the man towers over everyone. Me included. I’m built and keep in shape, but Bryce is put together like a linebacker.
Bryce narrows his chocolate-brown eyes. “What were you thinking about when I walked up? I normally can’t sneak up on you like that.”
“Nothing.”
“Liar.”
I shrug. “I ran into Summer, that’s all.”
“You did?”
“She was here picking up some friend.” I watch as Bryce jerks his head around and scans the crowd. “Uh, what are you doing?”
“I told you. I want to meet this chick.”
“Why? She’s just some girl.”
Bryce meets my gaze. “Some girl?”
I scowl. “It’s not like that.”
“Sure it isn’t…”
“Dude, lay off.”
“Come on, man. I know something’s up. I’m not an idiot.”
“Sure about that?”
Bryce grins and feigns a punch at my chest. I step aside gracefully, letting the blow only graze my shoulder. Unfortunately, Bryce’s fist is still the size of a dinner plate, and it almost clips a little old lady walking behind me.
“Sorry, ma’am!” he cries, steadying the poor woman as she struggles to regain her balance.
She throws up her arm and brings her gigantic purse down on Bryce’s hand. “Help! Help!”
“No—ow! Ma’am, please—ow! Wait!”
I laugh as Bryce cowers under her blows. I’ve seen Bryce stand up to a horde of insurgents, but apparently it only takes one old lady to scare the man into submission. The woman lands a few more blows before deciding Bryce has learned his lesson. She reholsters her bag, draws herself to her full five-foot height, and shuffles off toward the train idling at the platform.
“What the hell?” Bryce asks. He’s white as a sheet.
“Um, welcome to Portland?”
“I guess…” Bryce shakes his sandy blond hair. “Thanks for stepping in, man.”
“What? There’s no way I was getting in the middle of that.”
“Clearly,” he mutters, picking up his bag and looking around for the exit. “Wanna get out of here before I’m attacked by a convoy of toddlers?”
I laugh and grab his bag out of his hand. “What do you want to do first?”
“Food, then I want to see this boat of yours.”
“Can do,” I say, heading for the doors. “I’m surprised to see you, man. I thought you had your hands full in Nashville with Autumn. She’s a singer, right?”
Bryce lets out a heavy breath. “That singer is on a yacht in the Caribbean with her new asshole boyfriend, so I have some time on my hands.”
“Asshole boyfriend? Tough.”
“Yeah. It is. I definitely needed a break.”
I don’t mention that most people take vacations to get away from their demanding jobs, not their best friend’s asshole boyfriends. But then again, most people don't consider “fun” diving into the frigid waters of the Barents Sea at 2am to covertly siege a small Russian outpost to extricate a group of American journalists. Bryce Hill did. In fact, he probably found being a country singer's professional bodyguard a leisurely stroll in the park after his last profession.
“Why did you take the job, then?”
Bryce shrugs. “She needed me.”
“Got it.” And I did. Autumn and Bryce go way back, back before I ever met him, and I know that when someone he loves needs him, he’ll move mountains to help.
“Also,” Bryce says slowly, “I figured if I’m going to waste time, why not waste it with a deadbeat like Rendell?”
I punch him in the arm. Bryce clutches his bicep and scowls. “Been working out?”
“Fishing isn’t a desk job.”
He drags his eyes over my frame and raises his eyebrows. “It’s paying off.”
“Thanks. I guess.” I toss his bag in the back of my truck, unlock the doors, and hop in. “First lunch, then my fleet, and in return I want to hear about this problem in Nashville.”
“Deal, but only if I hear about your problem in Portland.”
I roll my eyes and start the engine. “Deal.”
“Awesome.”
“You know, you’re more energetic than usual.”
“What’s that mean?”
I shrug. “Nothing. Just that you’re usually more serious. Tense. On edge.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not on the clock here, am I?” His shoulders tense and relax as he lets out a long sigh. “Plus I’ve been biting my tongue for too long with Autumn. It’s good to blow off some steam.”
I nod and pull out of the parking lot, mulling that over in my mind.
“But first—” Bryce throws on some aviators and rolls down the window “—a couple of lobster rolls and a fresh pint are calling my name.”
12
Summer
“One scoop of chocolate chip and…” Maddison leans down and inspects the selection. “Another of pistachio, please.” She straightens and turns to me. “What do you want? My treat.”
I purse my lips and scan the buckets of overflowing ice cream. I have a deep, deep love affair with ice cream, so this is not an easy decision. “Strawberry cheesecake and French vanilla.”
“Good choice.” She relays my order to the guy behind the counter and moves up to the cash register. “This place was a great idea. I needed this after all the walking we just did.”
I groan as I stretch my sore calves. “I know. I can already feel it, but I did tell you that Portland was hilly.”
“And you weren’t joking. Thanks for the heads-up. I didn’t bring a single pair of heels.”
“Good because you won’t be needing them. I was hoping to have a low-key night, just stay in with Netflix and popcorn. What do you say?”
Maddison turns and takes the ice cream cones from the guy. “So, our normal Saturday night?”
“Yup!”
Maddison hands me my cone along with a disapproving look. “Alright, but I was serious about re-evaluating our social lives. I really think we need to get out there.”
I spot an empty table in the back and grab it. “Are you saying you’re ready to get back on the market?”
Maddison nods. “I am. I’ve had a lot of time to get over…him. I’m sick of spending my life pining away for a guy that I’ll probably never see again.”
I lay my hand on her arm. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. He wasn’t just some guy, Maddie. He was your first serious boyfriend, your first love.” I lean back and sigh. “At least you’ve been in love.”
“You will, Summer. You can’t rush these things. They take time. But there is one thing I know about falling in love.”
“What?” I ask, taking a big lick of strawberry cheesecake.
“It’ll hit when you’re least expecting it.”
I scrunch up m
y nose. “Really? Yuck.”
Maddison shrugs. “Love doesn’t wait for anyone. One day you’re living your life and then next you’re head over heels. It doesn’t care if you have finals or graduate school or a new job to focus on. It just…does what it wants.”
“Sounds awful.”
“It’s not. Not at all.”
“But you got hurt.”
“Doesn’t mean I regret it.” She leans forward and meets my eyes. “I wouldn’t trade a second with Chase for all the world.”
She’s using his name now. That is progress. “Okay,” I say with more than a little skepticism. “But I still think the whole concept is way overrated.”
Maddison shakes her head. “You’re hopeless, Summer.”
“And proud of it. I’d rather be hopeless than hopelessly in love.” I jump up and pull her after me. “Now, where to, Miss Winter?”
“The harbor,” she answers immediately. “I want to see this boat you’re working on.”
I slump my shoulders. “Really? That’s what you want to do?”
“Absolutely.”
“Not grab a bottle of wine? Or go to happy hour? Or snuggle with puppies at PetSmart?”
“Nope, though all of those sound lovely. Come on, I want to see your boat.”
“Argh, you’re no fun.”
“Summer…”
I take one look at her puppy-dog eyes and cave. “Fine, but I swear it’s nothing special.”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about.” Maddison points to the door. “Now lead the way, matey!”
“See?” I declare grandly as we stroll over to the pier that leads to my boat. “I told you there was nothing special about the harbor. You’re probably just noticing the smell of fish and chum. Or the delightful squawk of seagulls as they dive-bomb your head. Or even the horde of devilishly handsome eighty-year-old fishermen over there who are openly gawking at us.” I turn and smile at my friend. “Are you going to answer that?”
Maddie furrows her brow. “Answer what?”
“The regret knocking on your door?”
Maddison shakes her head, her eyes remaining on the beautiful sunset glinting off the softly lapping waves. “Stop it, Summer. It’s beautiful out here. I can’t believe you get to be out in this every day.”
“And I have the sunburn to prove it.”
She turns to me. “I’m serious. You’re lucky. I get to sit behind a computer all day in an office building. You’re out on the water, wind in your face, actually doing something. I can see why Koa likes it out here.”
I frown. “We’re back to Koa now?”
“He’s kinda hard to forget.”
I turn and face her. “Oh, is he now?”
“I’m not afraid to admit that he’s hot! Muscles for days…that beard…those bright blue eyes…” She groans. “I’d let him hook me any day.”
“Maddie! When did you become some sex-obsessed hussy?”
“When I laid eyes on Captain Studmuffin, that’s when.” She starts walking down the pier. “And I don’t know why you’re denying the fact that he’s handsome.”
“I’m not,” I argue, catching up to her. “But you’re forgetting all the awful things he’s done to me.”
She shrugs. “Maybe you needed it.”
“I what?”
“You rose to the occasion, didn’t you? So I’d say the little bout of hazing did the trick.”
Hazing? Uh, no way. Koa is a downright curmudgeon. There are no games involved. Just pure personality.
“Anyway, I could think of worse ways to spend my time than stuck on some boat in the middle of the ocean with that—” Maddison gasps as the man in question emerges from the boat.
“…so we store all the equipment belowdeck at night and lock it up. In the morning, we—” Koa catches sight of us and stops. “Hey.”
“You talking to me?” a gruff voice asks from the bottom of the steps.
Koa glances down the stairs. “No. Summer and, uh, Maddie are here.”
“You’re shitting me!”
Maddison and I look each other as a thunderous noise fills the air. From what I can gather, Koa must’ve been showing a bull around our boat. I’m not too far off. The biggest man I’ve ever seen in person lumbers up the stairs, nearly hitting his head on the low clearance of the deck.
“My God,” Maddison breathes next to me. Her eyes glaze over as she takes him in. This guy’s massive in every way. Height, width, neck, hands, legs, chest—
You get the picture.
“Hi,” he says in a deep, gravelly voice. Maddison visibly wilts next to me. “I’m Bryce, Koa’s friend.” He stomps toward us, sending the seen-hurricanes-and-been-fine boat swaying wildly. He stops at the side and peers down at us. Really just me. “You must be Summer.”
I flush when I meet his eyes, like I’m staring into the eyes of some Norse god. Thor, to be exact, especially with that wild blond hair.
“Um, yes. And how do you know my name?”
“Koa’s mentioned you a few times.”
I glance over at Koa with a frown. You’re telling stories about me now?
“Don’t worry,” Thor says with a huge smile. Maddison gasps behind me. “They were all good.”
My frown lets up a little. “Well, that’s a relief. This is my friend, Maddison. She’s up for the weekend, too.”
Bryce turns his spotlight eyes onto my friend. “Nice to meet you.”
An awkward silence follows.
I turn around and realize that maybe introducing her to Bryce was a mistake. She’s dumbstruck, starstruck, whatever you want to call it. Basically, my friend can’t seem to move, breathe, or speak with his man staring at her.
What are you doing?!
I don’t know! she answers back, giving me a frightened look. I can’t seem to move!
I roll my eyes and turn around. “We’ve had a long day. I think she’s just tired.”
We both jump as Bryce laughs, a sounds that could be mistaken for an earthquake. “No problem. Koa’s been hauling my ass up and down these hills, too. Love it here, though, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” I admit. “It’s nice to get away from the city.”
“New York, right?” he says, jumping off the boat and landing gracefully on the deck in front of us. My eyes go wide as I contemplate how a man his size managed to pull that off. Koa moves around the side and heads for the back panel, stepping onto the deck like the rest of us mere humans.
“I live in New York with Maddison, but my grandparents live here.”
“Gerry and Jane.”
I smile. “You know them?”
“Oh yeah, the whole town does. I’ve been visiting Rendell for years, so I’ve had many of Jane’s blueberry pies.”
“I love her pies,” I say, instantly warming to Thor. “She just baked one the other day. I bet you could snag a slice if you stop by while you’re here.”
He turns to Koa. “Boss?”
Koa shrugs. “If we have time.”
Oh boy. How has an outgoing guy like Bryce managed to stay friends with Koa all these years? But then again, didn’t someone recently remind me that first impressions are misleading?
I glance over at my mute friend. I can’t usually shut Maddie up, and now she’s an ice sculpture.
“What are you doing here?” Koa asks me.
I throw a hand on my hip. “Showing my friend around. What are you doing here?”
A smile tugs at his lips. “Showing my friend around. I’ll never understand what’s so grand about a lobster boat.”
“I know. I told Maddie it was nothing special, but…”
Koa laughs, totally throwing me off guard. “Tourists, right?”
I give a small little laugh. “Yeah…” I watch Koa for a moment and notice that he’s more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him. He almost smiled back there, for heaven’s sake. If the reason for this change wasn’t looming in front of me, smiling and waving his beefy hands around, I’d assume this was a
classic case of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
I reach over and grab my paralyzed friend. “We’ll get out of your hair. I promised Maddie a tour, so—”
“Want me to give it?” Koa interrupts, shocking me for the second time in five minutes.
“What?”
“I know all the ins and outs is all. But if you want to give it, you totally can.”
“Thanks,” I say slowly, unsure how to deal with this version of Koa. Mean Koa I’ve got. Annoying Koa I understand. Nice Koa…? No clue.
“You know what? We’re fine. I’ll just show her around and let you two get on with your weekend.”
Koa shrugs. “Cool. Okay, well, it was nice seeing you again, Maddie, and I’ll, uh, see you Monday, Summer?”
I nod. “Monday.”
“Nice to meet you,” Bryce adds, smiling at us both. Maddison squeaks out a goodbye and stumbles toward me, and I take her arm and move down the dock toward the boat, heading for the gap in the railing. Maddison’s steps are heavy and slow next to me, making me worried that she’s about to buy herself a one-way ticket over the side.
I glance over my shoulder as the sound of Bryce and Koa’s voices reach me. They’re arguing. Well, Bryce is arguing while Koa stands there, shaking his head. I hear “Come on, it’ll be fun!” before turning back to the task at hand. I have to get a comatose Maddison onto a rocky boat, all in front of my boss and Thor. Right. No pressure.
I’m about to whip out my skills and show Maddison how it’s done when Bryce’s voice booms out behind us. “Summer! Maddison!” We stop and turn around. Koa tugs at his friend’s shirt, but Bryce shakes him off. “Do you want to come to a party tonight?”
“Oh. No, that’s—”
“We’d love to!” Maddison shouts next to me.
I snap my head around and glare at her. “What are you doing?”
“Getting us out there!” she hisses back. She raises her voice. “What time and where?”
“Bryce!” Koa mutters, pulling at his shirt again. Thor ignores him. “Nine o’clock at Bartlett Point. We’ll be on the beach. Know the place?”
I nod. Gran used to take Nora and me there when we were little. “See you there…I guess,” I add under my breath.