The hair on my neck stood up before I even turned round. I closed my eyes, scared to open them in case it wasn’t real.
But I could feel him. The heat of his body standing behind me, the warmth of his breath on the side of my face. I turned to face him, and it was like he’d become even more beautiful since that night in the storm. No top, just his black board shorts.
‘Thanks,’ I said with a smirk.
‘I leave for two days, and you steal my moves? That cutback?Parfait.’
‘I had a good teacher.’
‘Thanks.’
‘I was talking about Delphine.’
‘Oh yeah?’ He grinned and moved even closer to me. I bit my lip and found myself staring at the tattoos on his chest. I reached out and pointed to one where his heart was.
‘What does that mean?’ I pointed at the quote,En art comme en amour, l’instinct suffit, brushing my hand against his smooth skin.
‘Ah,’ he said. ‘It means “In art as in love, instinct is enough.” Anatole France. He was a writer.’ Antoine’s voice was low and soft, and it melted into my ears as the noise of the crowd behind us disappeared into nothingness.
‘Do you think that’s true?’ I asked with a slight tilt of my head.
And he answered by kissing me, pulling me into him, his hand in my hair, our mouths salty and in sync under the French sun.
42
As we walked back towards the crowd, my face flushed as a group of people cheered. I turned to Antoine.
‘You’ve distracted me before the final.’ I pretended to be annoyed.
‘I wish that I could say I was sorry,’ Antoine replied. He tugged my hand to stop me before we reached the group. ‘I did not just come back to see you compete. I came back to see if you felt it too. That it was not just a dream.’ He stared at me with blue eyes a few shades darker than mine, and the intensity sent a jolt of lightning through my veins.
‘It’s not a dream,’ I said. And then he was grinning like he’d just won the lottery. ‘But I stayed for the surfing. Just to put that out there,’ I said. I couldn’t have him thinking I’d just stayed because of him.
‘Bien sûr.But it was not you who made the decision.’
‘Excuse me?’ I challenged him playfully.
‘It was the ocean. She decided that you belong here, and who are we to argue with the ocean, and Rue,la guerrière?’
‘Le flicis here!’ Sébastian called out to us. ‘And what is this I hear about you moving back home? The Laurent boys havefinally reconciled?’ Sébastian grinned at Antoine, and I looked up at him for clarification.
He pushed his hand through his hair. ‘Ouais, I think it is time. Felix?’ He looked past me and I turned round to see Delphine, Lili and Felix standing there. Felix smiled at him and gave a slight nod.
‘I’m sure your mum will be happy,’ I said.
‘She is already planning a party at the house,’ Antoine said. ‘You will come?’
‘I will come,’ I said, nodding. He kissed me again without warning, leaning me backwards, my hand moving reflexively to his stubbled jaw.
Then I picked up my board and walked towards the ocean, feeling awkward that Felix must have seen us kiss. And there he was, watching me with quiet contemplation. He gave the tiniest shake of his head, as if he was trying to get rid of a thought. ‘Remember that you have already qualified, this is just for seeding. Do not be nervous,’ he said. And although he smiled, I could sense a sadness behind it.
‘Thanks,’ I said gratefully.
‘Good luck, Margot. You are already incredible.’
And with that I turned and paddled out after the other competitors to take part in the final.
I’d been given a second wind. Whether it was the break, or Antoine showing up that did it, I’ll never know, but I concentrated so hard on every wave that I thought my head might explode. Aching arms, aching legs, salt water in my throat, in my eyes, up my nose, but I didn’t care. This was it. My last chance.
