Page 141 of Summer Love

I nod. We wade into the water.

This morning, the swell is steady. The waves come one by one, not too high, not breaking too fast. Forgiving waves.

We paddle without talking. The water’s cool on my wrists and ankles. The neoprene warms against my skin.

Ahead of us, Harper and Noah are already settled in the lineup.

Harper’s explaining something to Noah. She touches his shoulder to fix his posture, then his arm, then grabs his wrists to reposition his hands on the board. He lets her, like it’s all he’s been waiting for.

Harper gives Noah’s board a sharp shove. He wobbles, catches himself, and they both laugh.

“Harper’s not exactly subtle…” I say.

Jace follows my gaze. He barely smiles.

“I’m glad for Noah.”

We float side by side, legs in the water, our boards almost touching with the rhythm of the swell.

Jace turns his head toward me. His gaze drops to my shoulders, my arms, my hands.

“Straighten up a little.”

He moves closer. His board brushes mine. One press on my shoulder, and he steadies me.

Then he sets his hand at the small of my back. His palm is broad, warm despite the cold water. His fingers guide my hips.

“There. Like that.”

The swell lifts us, lowers us. The warmth of his fingers bleeds through the neoprene and radiates low in my belly. My breathing goes unsteady.

He takes his hand away. The feeling stays.

We keep drifting, close together. Water laps between our boards. I stare at the horizon, very busy not looking at Jace.

“You always touch your students this much?”

“No. Not all of them. Just the ones who need it.”

I roll my eyes, but the corner of my mouth gives me away.

Two surfers paddle up. Kai, massive on his board, black hair tied low, his tribal tattoo showing above the collar of his wetsuit. Maya, tiny by comparison, paddling like she’s already had three coffees.

“¡Oye, lovebirds!” she yells. “You’re blocking the wave!”

I straighten on my board; Jace pulls away at once. Kai tips his chin at us in greeting.

“Jace told us you’re thinking about renting out the house,” he says.

“If that’s still on the table, Kai and I would be up for sharing the place,” Maya chimes in.

“Mom and Avery, too,” Jace adds. “I just talked to them about it on the phone.”

“I haven’t decided anything yet,” I say, a little too sharply.

This is moving too fast. It’s my decision, not theirs.

Jace shakes his head.