my ears with the steady roar of the surf. Forcing unsettled thoughts aside, I exhaled my tension and inhaled something much better.
Turning my head toward the panoramic view, I took in the matte-blue sky and the limitless stretch of sparkling turquoise. This was my reward, my solace, my foundation. I always had myself to rely on, and I always had this. The ocean was unchanging.
When I emerged from my dressing cave a few moments later, Sophia was waiting.
“Hey, you. Sexy bikini.” She quirked a black brow. “Expecting someone else?”
“Hoping.” I pressed my lips flat. “I invited him before you called, but he’s at band practice. OB Hardy is going on before the Dirt Dogs at Surf Fest.”
“Holy shit!”
“Yeah.”
“Understandable then, him not being here, I guess.” She searched my eyes. “But you’re worried about his priorities after being with Saber?”
I nodded. “Yes.” She got me.
“Sit.” She gestured to the colorful beach blanket that reminded me of Storm’s tattoos. She’d spread it out on a large smooth section on the rocks. “Eat. Drink. Then we’ll surf. For now, bestie land therapy is in session.”
She folded her shapely legs underneath her. Her black hair was loose, and her Roxy shorts wet suit was new. It clung becomingly to her curves. She was the one who was sexy.
I sat, giving her a smile. “All right.”
Crisscrossing my legs, I took the sandwich she gave me. It was fancy artisan bread, sprouts instead of lettuce, and some unknown spread instead of ordinary lunchmeat. Nevertheless, I took a big bite and chewed.
“Delicious,” I said from behind my hand, chewing and then swallowing.
“Esmerelda’s the best. Almost like having a mom.”
“I know.” I patted Sophia’s knee. What I meant was I understood, though it had been a long time since I’d had someone to look after me like a mom would in my life. “Things tense again at home?”
“They’re always tense. My getting wasted the other night didn’t help. My dad’s been going on and on ever since about me being more responsible, and how I should get a real job.”
“I’m sorry.”
“He’s never going to understand me or my dreams. Not a big deal. Just life as usual, you know?” She shrugged.
She was spouting bullshit when she shrugged, same as I did. Families could be wonderful, but the people who knew you the best could also hurt you the most with their disapproval.
“So . . . Journey?” She unwrapped her sandwich and gave me an expectant look.
“Not Journey, actually. He’s Storm.”
“He’s what?” Her voice rose to incredulous heights, and so did her brows.
“Storm Hardy. Saber and Shield’s brother. You heard me correctly.” I gave her a wry look. “I’m hooking up with my childhood best friend.”
“Okay,” she said carefully. “I think it’s much more than hooking up, and this can’t be all bad. But why does he go by a different name?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t tell me. I only figured out who he was myself last night.”
“Why didn’t he tell you?” Her brows plunged together. “Why the secrecy?”
“I wonder those same things myself.” I set my unfinished sandwich down. My stomach was suddenly too tense to eat. “Though he did try to tell me after we slept together in LA, but Saber called. He also tried again the other night, but I stopped him.”
“Why on earth did you stop him?” she asked, her expression revealing she was at a loss.
“Because I didn’t know what his secret was then. Only that it would hurt me. He said my knowing would probably end what we had.” I sighed. “I’m a coward.”
Sophia shook her head. “You’re no such thing. You’re only human like the rest of us. Though harder on yourself than most.”
“He seemed pretty sure that it’s going to be over with us after.” I peered at her through my lashes. “That I’m going to hate him for the lie.”
“Will you?” she asked. “I mean, do you hate him now?”
“I can never hate Storm.”
“What about Journey?”
“I don’t know Journey like I knew Storm.” I said. “They’re similar, but he told me himself when we first met that he’s not the same person he once was.”
“I think he’s probably more the same person than different, or you wouldn’t be so drawn to him.” Sophia took my hand. “I think you’re mainly afraid. Afraid to take a risk. Afraid to lose what you already have.”
“You’re right,” I whispered. “I’m not sure what his motivation was for keeping his identity secret before I asked him not to tell me. Did he think he