Page 17 of Scarred

“I taught her that, too,” Mav boasts like a proud parent.

“Perfect landing, sis,” Noah grins. “Couldn’t have done it better myself.”

“I had the best teachers,” I smile, feeling the excitement I always get after a perfect landing, no matter if it’s in the water or on land with my feet touching the wooden dance floor.

I watch Noah and Mav take the next sets before I catch a few leftover waves that come in.

Tired and happy, we make our way in an hour later.

“Have a lot of classes today?” Noah secures his board with mine in the back of his truck before running a towel over his head.

“I have a few private yoga sessions this afternoon before dance classes start. One is coming from Bayside.”

“That’s great,” Mav grins, throwing a hoodie on with his board shorts. “Who’s the new client?”

Unzipping my zipper on my wetsuit, I strip down to my black one-piece and squeeze the water out of my hair before running my fingers through it.

“Not sure. Mom set up the appointment. All I know is that he is an athlete and needs some help with recurring hip pain. I guess she went to high school with his coach, and he’s the one who set it up.”

“Well, if anyone can help him, you can. You’ve got a magic touch. My back hasn’t bothered me since you taught me those techniques.” Noah hands me my sweatshirt from the cab of his truck.

“Thanks.” Pulling on my hoodie, I throw my hands in the front pocket to ward off the cold from the water. “I’m glad it’s helping.”

The unsettling feeling from before returns, and I shiver as goosebumps suddenly appear.

“I need to head out. I told Maven I would take her to school today.” Maverick pulls me in for a hug and kisses the top of my head.

“Give my niece a hug and tell my precious nephew, Holden, that Auntie Luna will be at his next beach day.”

While Maven couldn’t be more like my sister if she tried, Holden is every bit his dad. With dimples and hair touched by the sun, he’s been on a surfboard since he could walk.

At only four, he lives and breathes the ocean just like Maverick does. When he gives him lessons, I try to be there when my schedule aligns.

Mav’s green eyes light up as his dimpled smile grows wider. “He would have come today if I had let him. He’s so much like me it’s scary,” he laughs.

“If he gets into even half the trouble you were as a kid, you are so screwed,” Noah laughs.

“Says the guy who was right there with me every step of the way. Our sons are besties, so you don’t get off that easy,” Mav grins, getting in his Jeep.

“It’s like I get a second chance to watch the two of you grow up all over again since I wasn’t here for it the first time.” I look at both of them and smile at the irony.

Laughing, Noah walks to the driver’s side door and opens it. “Our moms always said we would get payback once we had kids of our own.” He slides into the seat as I get in on the passenger side.

“Let’s just hope they are a lot smarter than we were,” Mav shakes his head with a chuckle. Sticking his hand out the window, he waves goodbye as Noah starts the truck and pulls out behind him.

Keeping the window down, I let the cool wind filter through my hair, enjoying the fresh, salty air. Noah and I make small talk on the short drive to my apartment, and I’m waving goodbye just a few minutes later as I watch his truck pull out onto the main road.

Slinging my beach bag over my shoulder, I walk to the back of the complex and head up the flight of steps to my one-bedroom apartment. I moved here two years ago, right around the time I started my dance studio.

I know my parents would have let me stay with them forever, but if I was going to build a business on my own, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it in all areas of my life.

Putting the key in the lock, my sandals touch the dark wood floors as I step inside. The place is light and airy with plants and neutral-colored walls. A small L-shaped sofa and wooden coffee table sit in the living room across from a TV mounted on the wall, framed with two white bookcases and a console at the bottom.

The shelves are lined with various family pictures and shells I’ve collected throughout the years, along with a scatter of books placed on each shelf, featuring some of my favorite authors.

I don’t have much downtime, but when I do, I love to get lost in a good book. If I’m not surfing in the water, I’m usually stretched out on the beach with my nose in my Kindle.

Setting my bag down on the small table by the front door, I toe off my sandals and head straight for the coffeemaker, needing something to warm my body up from being in the cool water.