Page 39 of Riptide

Luna sucked a breath and shook her head. “Yes, just awful.”

“So uh, how long were you dating?” Kaimana asked pointedly.

“You know how it is with rich, hot guys who surf. Especially ones who have zero fear of drowning.”

“How’s that?”

“Well you know. We all are looking for that next high. But he was next level. I mean how is a girl supposed to compete with that next wave? Ah, that rush. It’s like a drug. I’m the same though. I’ve got a lot of distractions. Seth was fun but we were fucking not getting married. It is what it is. God rest his soul.”

“Sounds like you two had the perfect arrangement.” Kaimana glared at Seth and then looked to Luna. “I’d love to play later but I’ve been dying to see the gardens. Would you excuse me for a minute, lovey?”

“Of course, the property is beautiful,” Luna said as she pressed her palm to Seth’s shirt. “Enjoy.’”

“Paris,” Seth called as Kaimana turned on her heels and walked away. A topless blonde fairy cornered Seth, preventing him from following her.

He’s got a fucking girlfriend. I’m such an idiot. Kaimana navigated her way through the partygoers and headed toward the patio. As she passed the bar, she snatched a cold bottle of water out of an ice bucket.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Selby straddling Garrett on a chaise lounge. Oblivious to the passing guests, they kissed, his hand reaching between her legs. Kaimana sucked a breath, her heart pounding in her chest. Though she’d been told to expect the unexpected, her body responded in an even more surprising way. Curiosity. Arousal.

She looked away, and briefly closed her eyes. What the fuck am I doing here? Evan, she reminded herself.

Kaimana allowed the anger to flow through her veins, determined to speak with others and see if anyone offered any useful information about Evan. She spied a path at the far end of the pool and headed toward it.

The paved herringbone path, illuminated with pastel lights, circled around toward the back of the property. Away from the party, she stumbled upon a bench cloaked in darkness. Kaimana slid onto the seat and tore off the mask, relieved as the cool air teased over her face. She twisted off the cap and took a swig, the cool water quenching her thirst.

The sound of a branch breaking startled her. The mask slipped out of her hands, and she struggled to reach for it as it rolled under her seat.

“Kaimana.”

She stilled and looked up to find Seth staring down on her. As he took off his mask, she snatched her own off the ground and pushed back onto the bench.

“What’s going on? I told you to stay with me.”

“I needed some air.” She fanned her face with her hand, her cheeks flushed pink. “I’m hot. I’ll be fine.”

“This was a bad idea. We can go,” he offered as he slid next to her and put his hand on her shoulder.

She recoiled at his touch. “We’re going to get caught. These people…you’re friends. They will recognize your voice. You’re too close to them.”

“About Luna. It wasn’t anything,” he attempted to explain.

“I don’t want to hear about it.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, you know. None of this is real.”

“It’s real,” Seth insisted.

“What we did the other night—”

“Last night?” he corrected.

“All I’m saying is that I get you had a girlfriend. And we probably shouldn’t—”

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” he protested. “I know what Luna said back there…how she talked about me, but we were not like that.”

“Funny because she seems to think she was your girlfriend. Or something close to that anyway.”

“Well, she wasn’t,” he insisted.

“Like I said, Seth. It doesn’t matter. You and I just met.” Kaimana’s mind spun, her thoughts racing. Coming to Club Altura had been a mistake. “Was she right? Are you always chasing waves? Putting yourself in dangerous situations?”