The Fate of the Muse - By Derrolyn Anderson Page 0,63

sigh, “Sweet.”

Shayla came running up to us in a hot pink bikini, holding up a blaring boom box, “You’re not gonna believe this!” she shrieked. She cranked up the volume and Megan’s sweet voice rang out, high and clear.

“It’s not you, it’s me-e-e, I’ll always care for you, can’t you see-e-e…”

Shayla and I jumped up and down, whooping for joy as the song wrapped up and the radio announcer’s voice came on, “It’s the hot new song sweeping the charts by Megan MacGowan… Number one with a bullet!”

“Whas goin’ on?” asked Kimo.

“That’s our friend from Aptos!” Shayla exclaimed, “She’s totally gonna be famous!”

Kimo looked at me curiously, his black pearl eyes reflecting the long rays of the sun.

“You’re pomaikai.”

“What?”

“Good Luck,” he said, still watching me intensely. I flinched involuntarily, and saw that he noticed.

Matt and Gabe walked up to us, “That was some nice surfing,” Matt said to Shayla seductively. Gabe looked a little annoyed, and I remembered that he liked Shayla.

“Thanks,” she sputtered out breathlessly.

A photographer’s assistant came trotting up, “Just once more, okay Shayla? The light is perfect right now!”

“Back to the grind,” Shayla joked, hurrying away. It seemed as though they were taking a lot more pictures of her than they were of the other girls.

The guys sat down with us, watching the models pose for pictures rolling around in the sand and draping themselves across land-locked surfboards. The surfer boys stood in the background, holding their boards under their arms and trying to look nonchalant. I turned my head to see Matt lift his glasses and scan the beach, looking over the models like they were dishes on a menu.

A movement in the bushes behind us caught my eye, “There’s something in there,” I pointed.

Matt rolled his eyes theatrically, looking at Kimo, “Do you think they followed us here too?”

“Who?” I tensed, alarmed.

“Paparazzi,” said Matt dismissively, “You know… reporters. They follow me everywhere.”

I looked across the sand at his ferociously yellow car. He wasn’t exactly trying to keep a low profile.

“Oh yeah, she know all bout dat,” said Kimo, watching me speculatively, “So… how long you stayin’?”

I looked into the bushes suspiciously, wondering why Matt didn’t seem too upset about it, “Uhm, I fly out tomorrow afternoon,” I said.

“Why not stay longa? I can show you all ovah da place!”

I shook my head no, “I have to get home. Me and Shayla want to go surfing tomorrow morning before they come to take us back to the airport… Is there anything bigger than this around here?”

“You ever been tow-in surfin’?” he asked with a cocky grin, “Outer reef break– no crowds… Thirty, forty foot waves. Biggest you’ll evah catch.”

I smiled, thinking of all the times Lorelei taken my board in the dark of the night. I definitely had some experience getting towed on my board.

“You’re not thinking of taking her to Piahi? Jaws? You tryin’ to get her killed?” Gabe exclaimed.

“Marina can handle it,” Kimo said confidently, “Can’t you?”

My heart was racing, thinking of the blue wall of water in my surfing dream. It was going to come true after all, “Yes,” I said firmly, “I’m sure I can.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

JAWS

The next morning we met Kimo in the lobby, following him out to a big black van that was parked in front of our hotel. The tinted glass windows made it seem a little sinister, and Shayla peered in suspiciously, her face registering shock when she saw that Matt was sitting in the passenger seat.

“He’s coming too!” she gasped, gripping my arm with wide, excited eyes. After we’d gotten back to our room Shayla had spent most of the evening running down every last movie Matt had appeared in. That explained why everyone was so mystified as to why I didn’t know him, for apparently he’d been a celebrity for quite some time. I just yawned, used to being out of the loop.

“Honeys,” Kimo opened the side door with a sweeping gesture. I could see a selection of boards and towels packed in the back and returned his smile. I sure hoped he wasn’t exaggerating about the surf.

We drove down the winding little roadway and Matt turned around to flash a movie star grin at me, “Kimo says you can surf the big ones better than any chick he’s ever seen.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that so I just shrugged. He turned his attention to Shayla, and was rewarded with doe-eyed adoration. I was a little surprised to see the normally wary Shayla look so