by Kaia Knight
Kailani’s lip twitched as her chest swelled.
A few minutes later, Melody returned with Kailani’s bag, her face looking grim.
Kailani ushered her into the truck, looking around in panic. “What happened? Did he see you?”
“No, he actually wasn’t there. It made it a whole lot less exciting.” She sighed. “I was trying to find clothes for you to run in.” Her voice grew gentler, “I checked the dresser, closet, the laundry…Where the heck is all your stuff? I grabbed what I could but there wasn’t much.”
“Oh.” Kailani blushed and shrugged. “When I first got here, the airline lost my luggage and have been giving me the run-around ever since and…” She searched for the right words, but they stuck in her throat. “I just haven’t had time to do much shopping yet. Besides, I need a phone more than a brand-new wardrobe right now.” She forced a chuckle, but it fell flat.
“So, what you have in your drawers, and what you’re wearing now, that’s all you have?” Melody flipped the truck in a U-turn and exited the driveway.
“Yes,” Kailani said stiffly. “But I’m fine.”
Melody frowned as she drove.
Great. She pities me. Her teeth whittled at her cheek as she counted down the days until she’d receive her first stipend. Her savings were dwindling into the double-digit territory, and her throat squeezed tighter as she wondered what Melody would think if she knew. I shouldn’t have spent money surfing today. That was stupid.
A few minutes later, they pulled into a circular driveway lined by tidy boxwoods and a wrought iron fence. The white-shingled house sprawled over the immaculate grounds, its brick facing contrasted by tall, strikingly white columns.
“Wow, you live here?”
Melody smiled as she threw the truck into park, but she looked distracted.
Uncertainty flared in Kailani’s stomach. “Hey, are you still cool with me staying over? I’d be fine to go back to the ranch, no worries at all.”
“What? Kai, of course I want you here. Sorry, I was just thinking about something else.”
As they climbed from the truck and gathered their bags full of sandy towels and wetsuits, Kailani half expected a doorman to sweep open the double-wide doors, welcoming them into the grand entrance.
The click of her sandals echoed off the high ceilings as she stepped onto the marble floor of the foyer. The room would have felt cold and uninviting if not for the accents of rugs, beautiful artwork, and plants.
“This is amazing,” Kailani said in a hushed voice as if she were in a museum.
“Eh, you get used to it. I’d rather stay where you are. It’s cute, cozy, and most importantly—you have your own space.”
As Melody’s voice carried through the house, a responding flurry of sound trailed from distant rooms. A middle-aged man with thick, black-rimmed glasses appeared at the top of the grand staircase. “Hi, girls!”
He descended the stairs quickly, and a woman with a tidy brown bob appeared from a hallway on the ground floor.
“Hello! You must be Kailani? So lovely to meet you! I’m Bridget.” She pulled Kailani in for a hug.
The man huffed at the bottom of the stairs and reached to shake her hand. “Robert. Welcome to our home!” he said warmly as Kailani returned their greetings.
“Are you girls hungry? I was just whipping up some dinner. We can’t wait to hear all about your day.” Bridget looked at Melody with a hopeful smile.
“Uh—actually, we’re going out. We’re just going to shower up.”
Kailani glanced sharply at Melody, trying to act as if this wasn’t news to her.
“Oh. Well, I can pack you girls some food for the road?” Bridget turned back towards the kitchen, but not before her face crumpled in disappointment.
“You didn’t tell me you were going anywhere tonight,” Robert said, crossing his arms.
Melody flashed a look at Kailani and rolled her eyes. “Dad. I’m twenty-one years old. I don’t have to ask permission to hang out with friends.”
Robert’s face turned a light shade of red, and Kailani wished she could disappear into the floor. When Melody towed her upstairs, into the last room down the carpeted hallway, Kailani finally exhaled.
Melody sighed. “Sorry about that. They’re a little much.”
“Honestly, they seem super nice.” Kailani gave her a half shrug, keeping her voice light. She wanted to knock down the barrier that seemed to grow between them, the contrast of their lives a sharp, bitter remnant in her mouth. “So, where exactly are we going tonight?”
Melody grinned, pulling her phone from her back pocket and began tapping away at the screen. “I don’t know yet, but I’m sure there’s something going on.”
Kailani shifted, setting her gear on the floor as irritation itched at her. “Hey, would you mind if I showered up? I don’t know about you, but I feel sticky and probably have kelp in places that I shouldn’t.”
With a snort, Melody walked into the adjacent bathroom and tossed her a clean towel without looking up from her phone. “All yours! I’ll go use the guest shower.”
As Kailani shut the door behind her and stepped into the warmth of the water, she drew a steadying breath and pushed back her mounting unease. She took her time, perusing through the variety of shampoos and serums as the muscles in her shoulders began to relax. When she finally stepped back into the bedroom, the steam curled behind her as she clutched the towel to herself.
She searched for the clothes she had worn earlier that morning, but her bag was empty. Melody emerged from an enormous closet, wearing a maroon t-shirt dress and clutching several hangers with bright garments.
“I went ahead and tossed our dirty stuff in the wash; I hope you don’t mind.” Melody lifted one of the hangers, holding a cornflower blue dress up to Kailani’s frame. “I think this color would be gorgeous on you.”
Kailani eyed it warily. “I take it you have our night planned out?”
“Yeah, I just talked to some girls on the tri team; some of the guys on the water polo team are throwing a party. They’re super fun.” She shimmied in place, dancing to an imaginary beat. “And hot.” She turned around, continuing to wag her hips until Kailani could not help but laugh.
She rolled her eyes and grabbed the dress from Melody. “I guess I could use a little fun. And a drink. Maybe that’ll make me forget the fact that I punched my roommate today.”
“That’s the spirit!”
Half an hour later, they were back on the road again, with to-go boxes of dinner neatly packed by Bridget. Kailani looked in the passenger mirror, hardly recognizing herself with a face full of makeup and hair intentionally curled into sleek waves. Her eyes looked electric as they popped against the smokey shadow and mascara that Melody had meticulously applied. Excitement fizzed in her stomach and she wiped her damp palms on her dress.
“You know, this is actually my first real college party.”
“Like, since you got here?”
“No, like...ever. I was always too busy, you know, swimming and school…” And nobody invited me. But that’s beside the point.
“That makes this so much more fun! Your debut night. Good thing you look drop-dead gorgeous. But I wish you’d worn some of my heels, not sure why you insisted on those.” She glanced over at Kailani’s leather sandals with a pained expression.
“Because I’m already taller than most guys. The last thing I need is people looking at me like I’m a hulking monster, swimmer shoulders and all.”
“Just wait ‘til you meet the water polo girls. They can crush your skull with their thighs.”
Kailani laughed. “Sounds like my kind of people.” She peered out the passenger window as Melody slowed and parked on the street. They were at the end of a line of cars that spilled from a lone illuminated house. The rest of the brick residences were dark, shades drawn, like crotchety neighbors who don’t want to tempt trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.
They climbed the brick steps to the front door, M
elody teetering on her heels as she grabbed Kailani for support. The low thumping of music grew to a roar as Melody opened the door and stepped inside. Kailani resisted the urge to plug her ears, her eyes wide as she scanned the room that seemed to churn with dancing bodies.
It was now Melody supporting her as she towed Kailani through the crowd towards a quieter room in the back. She greeted some of the guys by name as she headed towards the kitchen island, reaching for two cups and began mixing drinks.
She turned to Kailani, offering her one of the red cups. “Rule number one at parties: make your own drinks, and don’t ever leave your cup alone.” Her smile faded when she glanced at Kailani’s face. “Oh, don’t worry. These are good guys. You can just never be too safe, you know?”
“Uh...okay.” Kailani glanced down at her drink filled to the brim and gave it a hesitant sniff. Wrinkling her nose at the sharp, citrusy scent, she tilted it back, and tried to swallow without tasting in quick, successive gulps. With a shudder, she set the cup down on the island and panted.
Melody’s jaw dropped, and several whoops and claps filled the room. One of the guys from the tri team said with a laugh, “Damn, Hawaii!”
“Kai, that was like four shots!” Melody shook her head in disbelief. “Keep it up and I’ll be carrying you home.”
Kailani stared down at the empty cup, unsure if the surge of confidence that trickled through her was real or in her head. “Hey, you said you wanted me to get the ‘full experience’.” She jerked her chin to the main room and grinned. “So, let’s go dance!”
Laughing, Melody followed her to the other room, cup still in hand, and they merged seamlessly into the gyrating crowd. Familiar faces flitted in and out of their inner circle, and more than one athlete from another team made his move on Kailani. At first, she stepped away from an offer to dance with a polite excuse, but as she fell into the rhythm of the music, the room began to blur along with her worries.
Soon, she found herself smiling and swaying to the beat as tanned, muscular arms wrapped around her from behind and matched her movements. As his hands rested on her hips, she closed her eyes, remembering the heat of Gabriel’s lips so close to hers. She turned her head, searching for those deep blue eyes that filled her with longing. Instead, with a twist of disappointment, muddy brown eyes met hers. She jerked away from the water polo player, searching for Melody’s blonde curls as she staggered through the writhing crowd.
“Kai!” A hand gripped her arm, and she was floating behind Melody into cool, fresh air. With a whir and a slam, the sliding porch door muffled the music into a low thrum. Crickets sang softly in the shadows and wind stirred the chimes hanging from the porch railing. Kailani walked forward until she was gripping the wood railing, digging her hands in until the rough splinters gave her something tangible to concentrate on. Slowly, her vision grew more focused, but her mind continued to spin.
In the large, fenced yard below, clusters of people were hanging out by a barbecue, playing cornhole, or crammed in a hot tub. The dull clunk of heels striking wood made Kailani look over her shoulder. Melody was holding out a glass of water. Reaching for it, Kailani drank with urgency, the cool water clearing away more of the haziness that clouded her thinking.
“Better?”
“Yeah, thanks. Man…that was…”
Melody smirked. “That’s what happens when you throw ‘em back. The shots hit you all at once.”
Kailani’s face grew hot. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, you didn’t do anything wrong. I just noticed Jason getting a little too handsy, so when you gave him a death glare, I figure I’d step in.” Melody giggled, sipping from her red cup. “I didn’t wanna witness another fist fight today.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me. I thought I was supposed to be forgetting about that?”
“Four shots didn’t do it?”
“Actually, I forgot all about that.” Kailani pursed her lips, the warm, comforting buzz pulling her walls down. “But I can’t stop thinking about Gabe.”
“Ooh, spill the tea! You were really quiet on the ride home earlier. What happened with you guys?”
She leaned on the railing once more, staring out over the lawn below without seeing anything. “It was honestly surreal. It’s like when we’re together, things just click. Even though we didn’t kiss again—”
“Woah, woah. Back it up. Did you say again?”
Kailani sighed. “It’s a long story”
“I’m all ears.” When Kailani didn’t answer immediately, Melody handed over her drink with a meaningful look. “Drink up, if that’s what it takes.”
“You’re a bad influence.” Kailani grinned and took a sip. She launched into the story of her first day in Eugene, from the rescue to the kiss, to the dreamlike experience on Otter Rock. When she finished, the only noise was the hum of the jacuzzi jets below and the occasional cheer of the couples playing cornhole.
Finally, Melody shook her head and spoke. “Just...wow.”
“I know. I don’t know what I’m going to do. Everything falls into place when we’re together and it feels so right. But obviously, he’s my coach. So we can’t go there.”
“That sucks. If it were me, I don’t know if I could resist.”
Kailani laughed. “Clearly neither can I. It’s going to be a long season.”
A sudden, deep cough made them jump, whirling around. Cristiano stood with his arms crossed, his dark eyes glinting. “Hey ladies. Long time no see.” His nose bore no sign of the earlier impact, but under his left eye was a subtle dark blotch.
“Cristiano. Hi.” Kailani stammered, “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same.”
Kailani shifted, wishing for another round of shots to gloss over the heavy, awkward weight between them. Do I apologize? “I—just, uh, didn’t think you’d be partying. After today.”
Cristiano raised his eyebrows and a smirk played at his lips. “I just didn’t know if I could resist.”
Kailani and Melody exchanged a quick, knowing look. He overheard. Kailani’s stomach clenched. Cristiano looked too pleased with himself to have anything but ill intentions.
The screen door slid open, and Alyssa stepped onto the deck in a sleek, bodycon dress. This was the first time Kailani had seen her outside the pool and did a double take.
Alyssa stepped beside Cristiano, reaching for his hand. Her brows came together in confusion. There was no disguising the tension between the three of them. “Cris? What’s going on?”
Melody pounced, as if eager to take back control of the conversation. “Oh, we were just talking about how he got that shiner on his face.” Kailani elbowed her in the ribs and shook her head meaningfully.
“Oh yeah, soccer ball to the nose, right babe?” Alyssa let out a forced laugh. “No thanks, I’ll stick to swimming!”
Melody cocked her head to the side. “Was the soccer ball before or after Kailani punched him in the face?”
“What?” Alyssa snapped, glancing between Cristiano and Kailani.
Kailani tugged Melody’s arm, trying to tow her inside, but she dug her heels in and smirked at Cristiano. “That’s right! You want to know why? Because he tried to kiss her.”
Alyssa’s mouth popped open, and she turned to Cristiano as Kailani finally succeeded in hauling Melody away.
“Hope you have a great date!” Melody called, grinning wickedly.
Pulling the door shut behind them, Kailani shoved Melody’s arm. “Why the hell did you do that?”
“Well, we couldn’t let him get away with trying to intimidate you. I figure we could at least ruin his shot at scoring tonight.”
“Mel, do you have any idea what you’ve done? That was Alyssa. Hates-my-guts-senior-on-the-team Alyssa. Now we’ve handed her more ammo.”
Melody’s eyes widened. “Oh. Oh my god. I’m so sorry, Kai! We can fix this!”
“We’re not doing anything else tonight.” She bit her lip and crossed her arms, hating the defla
ting feeling that shriveled inside her chest. “We should just go home.”
Melody nodded, and they slipped out of the party together, opting to walk the mile home rather than risk getting behind the wheel of her truck. Melody made it three blocks before kicking off her heels, tip toeing on the grimy sidewalk.
Kailani’s anger began to dissipate as Melody yelped from stepping on another sharp rock. “Want a piggyback ride?”
“No. This is my atonement.” Melody said in a solemn voice, reaching down to pluck a pebble from her foot.
“Don’t be dramatic.” Kailani stepped in front of Melody, crouching down. “Hop on.”
Melody walked around her. Rolling her eyes, Kailani reached down and slipped off her own sandals and joined her barefoot walk. “Fine. Have it your way.”
Melody laughed as they hobbled side by side. “I should know by now that I can’t
out-stubborn you.” Her voice grew quieter. “I am sorry, by the way. I haven’t been a very good friend tonight. Getting you drunk, making things worse with Cris...”
Kailani glanced at her serious expression, and warmth filled her chest. “Don’t be sorry. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. You fought for me today. Maybe the timing wasn’t great with Alyssa and all,” she teased, “but I wouldn’t have anyone else on my side.”
Melody tugged Kailani to a halt, pulling her in for a tight hug. Her voice was muffled against Kailani’s shoulder. “Maybe it’s the alcohol, but that made me tear up a little.”
Kailani was about to make a joke, but the sudden hiss and jolt of cold water made them jump apart. Every sprinkler on the residential block shuddered and choked, until a steady spray of mist showered over them. Squealing, they leapt into the empty street and sprinted barefoot down the lane, laughing as the worries of the night washed away behind them.
Chapter 22
Gabriel
Gabriel bit on the end of his pen and hunched over the desk in the coach’s office. He scratched out a name and scribbled a question mark in its place. Furrowing his brow, his knee began to bounce as he stared at the typed list of events for the upcoming swim meet. Bringing the pen back to the paper, he slowly wrote Kailani next to the question mark. The letters began to blur together on the page as he was once again engulfed by daydreams filled with the sharp scent of the ocean and a rush of adrenaline.