them up as a saint in your mind, but as time passes, you learn that they were just as human as the rest of us. The only difference was, I idolized Violet well before her death.
I also couldn’t help but let my thoughts go back to the surf competition. Hearing Kai talk about me like that made me smile, and I wanted to savor his version of the memory. I absolutely remembered that day, and I couldn’t believe that’s what made Kai notice me. I was running around like crazy, trying to generate business for the surf shop. That surf competition was huge, and we were the only shop within a mile of that part of the beach. I had some wax with me to sell, but I was also making sure that the surfers knew the shop was so close.
It was a surprisingly hot, humid day. The island didn’t have your typical Christmas weather, and I was sweating like mad. My ponytail holder had snapped, breaking my hair free. It settled in frizzy waves around my face and drove me to the brink of insanity for the rest of the day. I remembered bringing the block of wax to Kai. I also brought one to Chase, but I hadn’t felt the need to spoil Kai’s memory with that piece of information. I relished knowing that Kai noticed me just being me. That his goddess of a girlfriend was sitting on the beach, looking every bit the part of a sex kitten that most surfers would die to have cheering them on, and he noticed me. I always felt like the mess of a girl that blended into the background, but Kai saw me. With my wild hair. My frantic eyes. My shy smile. He saw me.
Then I felt guilty for enjoying that feeling. That goddess wasn’t just some dumb beach bimbo, she was Violet. My Violet. My best friend. And here I was feeling like I had won some kind of sick nonexistent competition for her boyfriend’s affections. Except Kai was right, he’s not her boyfriend anymore. They were fighting and on the verge of breaking up. Kai already had feelings for me. Violet was dead.
When I finally got home, I was exhausted from my thoughts. It felt like I had run a triathlon instead of walking twenty minutes. All I wanted to do was take a hot bath and slip under my covers for some much-needed sleep. Maybe I would wake up with a clearer head. As soon as I turned the doorknob and stepped inside, I saw my parents in the living room, and they were not happy.
“Where have you been?” Mom asked immediately. Dad shot up from his seat on the recliner and scowled at me.
“I texted you,” I said with a frown. “I went to see Chase, and he was throwing a party. It was out of control, so I called Kai to help me break it up, and then I went back with him.”
Mom shook her head, and her lip hooked into a half frown. “Oh honey, you could have called me. I would have dropped everything to help you. Chase is hurting. Maybe I should call him.” My heart softened at her compassionate self. Even when I was in trouble, she worried about us all. Granted, I didn’t bother to call since I knew she worked the night shift last night, but I usually asked for permission instead of forgiveness.
“Unacceptable,” Dad snapped. “We might have been easy on you in the past. You’re nearly an adult, but you can’t just spend the night at some guy’s house. Especially in the middle of a murder investigation.”
Mom closed her eyes, then opened them again before walking over to me. She placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I’m just worried about you. You’re not acting like yourself. You’ve been distant, skipping school, not coming home at night, and being reckless at the rock garden. And I understand wanting to help Chase, but why go home with Kai? Is something happening between you two?”
I eyed Dad over her shoulder, not wanting to discuss this with him as my audience. Mom and I had a close relationship. I could be transparent with her about my feelings. She had been exceptionally understanding and lenient with Chase since Violet’s death. “We’ve just bonded a lot. After Violet died, I just needed…”
Mom wrapped me up in a hug, knowing what I needed without even saying it. I couldn’t help but