Dominic eyes me the way I’ve eyed him allsummer – a bit evil with a touch of arrogance. “So, you dosurf,” he accuses me.
I shrug. “Every now and then,” I say. “Ijust figure if you’re going to win this Drenaline Surf sponsorship,you need all the coaching you can get.”
“Ohhhh,” he replies. “So is this a familybusiness now? Anderson Surf Coaching? Father/daughter team of theyear?”
If he wins this sponsorship, I definitelythink we deserve team of the year. I may not have coached him onaerial maneuvers or how to ditch the fins, but I think I helped himlearn to stand his ground and not give in, even when someone isdetermined to bring you down. Because if I’m honest, that’s exactlywhat I tried to do to him a few weeks ago.
“I think I could do this coaching thing,” Isay, half-joking. “I mean, at some point, Willow Harper is going toneed someone other than her brothers to teach her something. I’d bea great surrogate big sister.”
Dominic laughs. “Hey, I’m all for that. Ithink you’d be a great coach. It runs in the family. I mean, you’vetaught me a thing or two.”
I don’t dare say it in front of my dad, butDominic has taught me a lot more.
Epilogue – Dominic
Kaia’s arm remains linked around mine, eventhough my jersey is soaking her shirt sleeve. Losing in thesemi-finals was tough, but I knew Topher was the toughestcompetitor I’d face in the Jake McAllister Pro. I did what I could,though. I left my heart on the beach. I let my surfing do thetalking. I made sure I shook hands with Topher on the shoreline andcongratulated him on making the final with Colby. I’ve kept mymouth shut and stayed in my corner with my family, Glenn, and Kaia.Now I’m just waiting on the moment of truth.
Joe stands at the podium, thanking everyonefor being here today and for competing in the event in memory ofhis son. I don’t look up because I don’t want to see the faces ofeveryone else hoping to win this sponsorship. I don’t want them tosee my pain if I don’t win it. I hope all of this hard work hasn’tbeen in vain.
“Our committee voted earlier tonight, and itwas a unanimous decision,” Joe says. “We’ve always known thissurfer would go on to do great things, and it’s my pleasure towelcome him to our Drenaline Surf team. Please give a round ofapplause for Dominic Richardson!”
Kaia screams next to me and throws her armsaround my neck, squeezing me like an octopus killing a fish. Cassiehugs me next, and Glenn pats me on the back before helping me pushthrough the crowd toward the stage.
The CEO of Ocean Blast Energy shakes myhand, and Joe steps away from the podium to let me speak, but Ididn’t plan a speech. I didn’t want to jinx it. I focus on my eyeson Cassie because she’s crying happy tears, and I think my stepmomwill keep my emotions in check more than Kaia could right now. Idon’t want to be a flustered mess in front of all these people.
“As most of you know, I spent most of mylife in Crescent Cove, but my childhood was spent in Horn Island,”I say. “I grew up watching Shark McAllister surfing, wishing Icould be as awesome as he was, and it’s been a dream of mine tosurf under the Drenaline Surf logo since the day the storeopened.”
I take a deep breath. “I wouldn’t bestanding up here today if it weren’t for my family – Dad, Cassie,Juliana – or Glenn and Kaia Anderson. They’ve taught me more in thelast year than I realized I needed to learn,” I say. “Thecircumstances of this sponsorship are unfortunate, but I hope I canmake Drenaline Surf proud to have me on their team. I want to thankeveryone at Drenaline Surf for giving me this chance, Joe forbelieving in second chances, Ocean Blast Energy, SurfTube, and allof you guys for being here today. I feel like I’m finally home. Ican’t wait to see you all at the next event.”
Joe hugs me before I exit the stage. ReedStrickland stops me on the stairs and invites me to the celebrationat Colby’s house later tonight. He tells me to bring my family. I’mnot sure if my presence is truly welcome, but if I have Kaia withme, I might find just enough courage to go.
There aren’t as many cars at Colby’s houseas I expected. Apparently Drenaline Surf isn’t about the bigblowout parties. It looks like a strictly VIP kind of thing. Joe’struck is here, as well as Topher’s, and I recognize Alston’s redsports car.
“Hey, you were invited,” Kaia reminds me. “Idon’t think that Reed guy would’ve invited you if your Hooliganswere going to riot about it.”
I can face Topher and Theo. I can even faceVin. But that rusted, beat up seafoam green truck means that Milesis here, and he’s the one who may not forgive me for last summerand the things that followed. I was able to avoid him today, but ifwe’re both surfing for Drenaline Surf, I can’t hide forever.
“I’m proud of you,” Kaia says. “You set outto do something, and you conquered it.”
“And I gained you in the process,” I tellher. I lean over the armrest to kiss her before getting out of thetruck.
Kaia walks around and eases up next to me.“Hey, if you’re scared, I’ll hold your hand,” sheteases. She doesn’t have to ask, though. She grabs my handbecause she knows I need it.
Even being away for a year, I still rememberthat everyone enters Colby’s house through his back patio door, sowe walk around the house. Reed is manning the grill, and A.J. iscursing about something. Some things never change, and it’scomforting.
“Is he here?” Kaia asks.
I nod. Miles is pretty impossible to miss.He’s the only surfer I know with blonde dreadlocks. His girlfriendmakes eye contact with me first. It’s not the evil eye, which is arelief. She walks over – Emily – and introduces herself to Kaia,leaving
