Undertow: A Forbidden Love College Sports Romance (Rising Tides Book 1)

by Kaia Knight

  Josie’s eyebrows flew up. “Fifteen dollars? Gosh, we usually sell them for a buck each.”

  Gabriel exchanged a brief look with Kailani. No wonder they were struggling. “Josie, people are willing to pay more for handcrafted goods, you should really be marking these up.”

  Josie lifted her chin. “We built this ranch on values. We want to give more to the community than we take from it.”

  “Won’t do much good if we’re not around anymore,” Walt said bitterly.

  Kailani and Gabriel exchanged another look.

  “Walt? Josie?” Gabriel was planning to wait to broach the topic of foreclosure, but it was spelled out on Walt’s face. “Is the ranch in trouble?”

  Walt looked at the ground so long that it seemed he wasn’t going to respond. Finally, he sighed. “It’s back. The cancer.”

  The room grew still as he scuffed the wooden floor with a heavy boot. “I was in remission, but back in January it flared up again. We’re still paying off the debt from last time around, and this doesn’t help. We’re a few months behind on mortgage, and I don’t see how we’ll ever catch up. We keep getting rejected on loans.”

  Josie crossed the room and wrapped her arm around Walt, leaning against his shoulder. “We’ll get through this, dear. Just like last time.”

  “Walt, I’m so sorry.” Gabriel said. “Is there anything we can do to help?”

  Walt shook his head somberly. “We only have ninety days before we move into pre-foreclosure.”

  “A lot can happen in ninety days.” Gabriel ran his hand through his hair. “The Fall Festival is in two months, right?”

  Walt frowned. “It’d take a miracle for a bake sale to raise the kind of money we’re talking about.”

  Gabriel looked at Kailani and back at the Flockharts. “Well, then looks like we’d better get to work.”

  Josie gave him a weak smile. “Wouldn’t hurt to try.” But she didn’t look convinced. “Thank you so much for all your help today. Let’s get you some treats for the road.”

  She led them back into the kitchen where she cut into a tray of apple fritters, doling them out on delicate floral plates. Josie hugged each of them before she excused herself and headed up the creaking wooden stairs, leaving Eli, Gabriel and Kailani alone in the kitchen.

  Gabriel leaned against the island counter, looking between the other two. “I’m serious about doing something big for the Fall Festival. What do you guys think?”

  Kailani nodded. “I could brainstorm some marketing ideas, how to bring more people in.”

  “I could help, too,” Eli said. “Not really sure how. But count me in.”

  With the sunshine streaming through the kitchen windows and the smell of cinnamon in the air, Gabriel felt more optimistic. “We should get started as soon as possible. Why don’t we meet in a week and pin down some concrete plans?”

  “Sounds good to me.” Kailani shoved the apple fritter in her mouth, her eyes rolling back as she moaned. Gabriel choked mid-bite, his eyes still on Kailani as she looked longingly at the flaky crumbs on her plate.

  Eli grinned and smacked him on the back. “Woah there, Gabe, you gotta keep your eye on your food.” Gabriel glared at him as he downed a glass of water.

  They finished their pastries and headed out the front door together, parting in the driveway. She waved and walked back to the inn as they climbed into Gabriel’s truck.

  “Dude, did you see her? She has a six pack.” Eli playfully punched the air like a boxer. “You better not cross her; she can definitely take you down.” He looked over at Gabriel and smirked, “Or rather, you wish you could go down on h—OW!”

  Gabriel shoved Eli. He pulled out of the driveway shaking his head and fighting to suppress the tempting image his brother had conjured up.

  Chapter 13

  Kailani

  Kailani had given up on any dream of friendship with the seniors in her lane. All her attempts to bridge the gap between them fell short. Each lap was heavy on her arms, but somehow, rest time was even heavier with its silence. She toyed with her goggles while bubbly chatter surrounded her.

  If I stopped showing up, would they even notice?

  As their last set finally came to an end, she sighed and leaned against the wall and glanced towards the empty bleachers. She wished her mother were there, watching her practice with a proud smile like she always did until Kailani begged her to stop in middle school. A wave of loneliness washed over her, and she slid down into the water, sinking to sit on the bottom. Under the surface, the noises around her were dampened by the heaviness of water, their voices diminished to a muffled murmur. The sunrise refracted through the large bay windows on the rippling surface, dancing across her skin as she held a hand in front of her. She had always been at home in the water. But lately, it didn’t feel so welcoming.

  Slowly, Kailani let a few pockets of air escape her lips, watching them rise to the surface, expelling rings of waves. She reveled in the feeling of calm that washed over her, the familiar ache of her lungs that she loved to challenge. A memory surged through her, vibrant in its colors, but without the context of time or place. Like an old photograph whose edges were worn by the passing of the years and the fingertips that had grasped it, her distant memories of her mother were a vignette.

  Diving into the vibrant emerald ocean, the bright coral and anemones undulated, waving with each channel of water that breezed through them. The reefs stirred with a flurry of movement as they skimmed over them, awakening an impossibly bright dance of creatures in their wake.

  Her mother’s hair billowed around her face like a halo, her skin shimmering like scales in the sunlight that filtered through the shallow water. Bubbles rose from her lips as she smiled at Kailani. She pointed to her ear, then towards the dark expanse that loomed beyond the coral, a seemingly impenetrable and never-ending blue stretching as far as the eye could see.

  Kailani cocked her head, listening. A low, haunting note rang clear through the water, rising in pitch, as if in question. An answering hum, growing in power, sang its response. Kailani shivered.

  The ancient song rose around them, and she swam towards it, reaching beyond the reef. Seeing the giant shadows before her, she faltered, turning back for the safety of the bright coral.

  But her mother gently took her hand, pulling her forward into the unknown. Towards the giant creatures they slowly swam. The song transformed, rising higher as the distance between them closed. Twisting, rubbing against one another, the smaller one chirped as if with glee. An enormous eye rolled towards her, and Kailani trembled in awe, recalling the legends of the kuapio kohola, the spiritual protectors of her ancestors.

  Her mother bowed her head gravely, reaching out a hand towards the scarred, ridged back of the larger, calmer creature. It drifted towards her touch, the calf playfully circling them, nudging Kailani’s arm. Mother and child, just like them.

  Suddenly, a hand yanked her to the surface of the pool by her elbow, bringing her back to reality with a shattering jolt. As if a blade lodged in her heart was suddenly yanked out, a phantom agony pierced through Kailani, leaving an empty ache in its place. It felt like I was there, with her again. It was so real.

  Gasping in pain, she spun around and found Gabriel’s eyes inches from her own, glinting like a stormy sea.

  “What the hell were you doing?” He hissed. When she didn’t respond, Gabriel dragged his hand over his face. “Kai, you were under there forever!”

  “I’m sorry.” Kailani glanced around in confusion. Coach Steve had already left, and the remaining girls had gotten out of the water, throwing her odd looks as they headed towards the locker room.

  “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

  Kailani’s throat constricted, feeling like a small child being rebuked. As waves of hurt and anger washed over her, she shivered. She was fragile, ready to shatter at the slightest touch. Her eyes began to sting. Please no, not here. Not in front of Gabriel. Pain and loss that she had not felt sin
ce she left Hawaii rose to the surface, pounding against her head as she tried to shove it all back in place.

  The deck was now empty except for the lifeguard who relaxed back into his chair. She shakily clambered out of the pool. Gabriel’s hands steadied her shoulders, but she could not bear to look him in the eyes.

  “Kailani? Are you okay?” Quietly, he implored, “Talk to me.”

  That’s all it took. The dam wall that had held in place for so long burst open, splintering to pieces as a flood of emotion poured out. She dissolved in his arms, sobs wracking through her as she wept, breaking apart piece by piece. Gabriel’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her into the safety of his embrace. He calmly held her until her tears began to slow, the initial tidal wave slowly easing. She leaned her cheek against his chest and his deep voice vibrated through her head as he murmured, “I’m sorry, Kailani.”

  Kailani flushed, looking down at her bare feet. “No, I’m sorry. I don’t know what that was. I can’t remember the last time I did that…I’m probably just really overtired. I don’t—ugh—your shirt! I’m so sorry!” The moisture from her tears and bathing suit had stamped her body on his clothes, telling the world that he had held her in his arms.

  A loud bang made them jump. Gabriel took another hasty step away from Kailani as the natatorium doors shoved open and a large group filed in, the room echoing with their chatter. Kailani quickly swiped at her face, brushing away any remaining tears.

  Coach Burton’s tanned face smiled broadly as he approached them. “Hey Gabe, and if it isn’t Kailani!”

  Gabriel looked between the two of them. “Wait, you know each other?”

  “I had the pleasure of meeting Kailani yesterday during our tempo workout. Hopefully we’ll see you again next Sunday, too.”

  A few familiar faces crowded around Coach Burton, greeting Kailani with smiles and high-fives. Melody appeared at his elbow; her blonde hair thrown into a messy bun.

  “Kai!” She pulled her in for a brief hug and whispered in her ear, “Are you okay? Your eyes look red.”

  Kailani nodded at her and answered loud enough for everyone to hear. “Oh yeah, my goggles leaked big time today. Dang chlorine.”

  “Hey, you should stick around and swim with us for a little bit,” Melody said.

  Kailani laughed dryly. “That’s okay, I think I’m spent for today. At least until our second practice.”

  Gabriel leaned forward and said teasingly to the triathlon team, “The real athletes finished their workouts while you were sleeping.”

  Melody gave an exaggerated yawn. “I’ll take sleeping in over bragging rights any day.” She gently bumped Kailani’s shoulder as she headed towards the water. “See you around, girl!”

  Gabriel and Kailani headed to the locker hallway doors as a chorus of shrieks rose from the triathlon team. Glancing over her shoulder, Kailani watched Melody execute a spectacular cannonball, splashing everyone, including their coach.

  “So, how do you know them?” Kailani said.

  Gabriel smiled. “I used to be on the tri team when I went to school here.”

  “Really? I didn’t know you did triathlon.”

  “Yeah, I was on the swim team until my junior year, then I quit and joined the tri club.” He grimaced. “Dad was not happy with me.”

  “Yikes. I would not want to be on his bad side.” She glanced down at her watch. “I’d better be off—I don’t want to be late to my first class. Sorry again about earlier.”

  He searched her eyes and spoke gently. “Have a good first day. See you later.”

  She scrambled to get ready in the empty locker room, her mind occupied with the feeling of Gabriel’s arms wrapped around her.

  As she walked across campus, Kailani tugged out her schedule while she vigorously tried to shake out her damp hair. 8am - Applications of Business Marketing. Recalling the location of the lecture hall, she aimed for a sidewalk that took her to the east side of campus. It was still quiet; few students braved the earliest classes of the day.

  A lone leaf fell from an oak tree, silently cascading down and landing on the notebook she clutched. She grabbed its stem as she walked, twirling the leaf around as she inhaled the morning air, sharp and dry with a promise of change.

  After climbing the marble steps of the ornate, towering building, her feet stepped into the grooves where thousands of shoes had worn down the stone with each passing year. She pushed the heavy wooden doors open and stepped into a great hall. Eyeing the room numbers as she strolled through the hall, she slipped into her classroom and headed towards a seat in the front.

  The room was quiet, a few whispers here and there of students who knew one another, and the sound of someone drumming their pen on a desk. After several restless minutes, a tall, dusty-haired man stepped in front of the podium at the head of the hall and cleared his throat. He smiled at the students in front of him.

  “Welcome to Business 3540, Applications of Business Marketing. I’m Dr. Murray. This is a lab-based class, so if you’re looking to sit back and relax while I lecture, then I’d suggest you sneak out while you still can.” His eyes crinkled as a chuckle rumbled through the room.

  “Please refer to your syllabus as I walk you through how this course is structured. You will adopt a semester-long project, shadowing a local business and improving their marketing efforts. You will volunteer your time in exchange for credits, but your grade will be contingent on a successful recommendation from the business you adopt, as well as an analysis of your business strategies at the end of the semester. You will document their business growth based on the following parameters…”

  Kailani furiously jotted down notes, hanging onto every word as the professor turned to the chalkboard behind him.

  Before she knew it, Dr. Murray was thanking them all for their attention. “I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday. Don’t forget to begin your prospective lists of businesses, due a week from today. From there, we can begin to narrow it down.”

  As the students shuffled out of the lecture hall, voices rising in a dull clamor, Kailani shouldered her way towards the front. Dr. Murray’s back was turned as he erased the large board behind the desk.

  “Professor Murray?”

  He turned and smiled. “What can I help you with?”

  “Well, it may be too early, but I think I chose the business I want to adopt for the project.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Already?” He laughed. “That may be a record. Let’s hear it!”

  “I’m part of a grant program at a local farm, Lilac Ranch, but I found out yesterday that they’re struggling financially. It’s run by a sweet, elderly couple. They work so hard but are falling behind. I think with few tweaks to what they already do could make a big difference—they really have something special going on.”

  He nodded attentively as she spoke, then asked, “What improvements do you think you could bring to their business?”

  “They’re pretty old-school, so they don’t have any form of advertisement or a marketing plan. There are so many possibilities for improvement, like aiming to appeal to a younger crowd, more community involvement, an email list for recurring customers...” Her excitement made her giddy as she listed her ideas, her mind hardly keeping up with the words as they spilled out.

  “I like your enthusiasm. If you’re wanting to get a head start on the project, fill out the paperwork on the syllabus and draft a plan, then we can review it after class on Wednesday. What’s your name?”

  “Kailani Kakoa. Thanks, Professor!”

  He grasped her hand, giving her a firm shake and wishing her well on the rest of her first day of classes.

  Kailani headed to the grassy quad for her down period before the next class. The sun had lazily begun to trace across the sky, bringing warmth to the morning chill. The campus was now a flurry of excitement and reunions as students emerged from their dorms and vehicles. Loping across the long, lush grass, she shrugged off her denim jacket and laid it on the grou
nd.

  Stretching out on her stomach, she took out a notebook and began sketching her plans. She crossed her ankles in the air, the breeze tugging hair into her face as she furiously scribbled. Kailani was so caught up in her work that she did not realize how much time had passed. Glancing at her watch, her stomach dropped. Her next class had started two minutes ago. She shoved her notebook in her bag, tied her jacket around her waist, and took off at a sprint.

  Grateful that she had spent the previous day with Melody scoping out all her classrooms, she aimed for the nondescript brick building across the quad and shoved the cold, metal doors open. A woman with cropped, raven black hair was mid-sentence when Kailani burst through the door, breathing hard.

  “Sorry!” she stage-whispered at the scowling woman as she tiptoed to the back of the hall. She blinked furiously, trying to adjust to the dim light after being in the sun for so long. Not the best first impression.

  She threw herself into one of the theater-style chairs, sinking down as she collected her wits. The person next to her passed her a copy of the syllabus. “Thanks,” she muttered, digging for a pen in her bag.

  “You’re welcome,” a deep, familiar voice lilted.

  Kailani whipped her head around and her jaw dropped. Dark eyes crinkled at her above his sharp, pronounced cheekbones. “Cristiano? I didn’t know you’d be in this class.”

  “Quiet, please!” A sharp voice cut straight towards Kailani. She pivoted her head forward and sat up straight like she had been whacked.

  A quiet chuckle beside her threatened to turn her head again, but she resisted the urge. Cristiano settled into his chair, spreading his legs so his knee was touching hers. She peeked out of the corner of her eye. Really? Manspreading? She sighed and crossed her legs, retreating from his touch.

  When he leaned on the armrest between them, she could not help but breathe in his cologne. He looked up at her through impossibly long eyelashes, his face only a few inches from hers. Kailani blinked, her pulse starting to quicken. How is it possible for a man to be this beautiful? His nose was perfectly straight, and his full, carved lips were always turned up on one side, ready for a smile. She zoned out, not paying attention to the professor’s dry speech.