Mr. Mitchell Billionaires' Club Book 2 - Raylin Marks Page 0,139
waters.
I glanced over to both lifeguard towers, the guards leaning on the rail of their tower, eyes concealed behind sunglasses but watching the guys. The water was moving and breaking so smoothly that I chilled out a bit. Jim had this. I watched him surf earlier, and Addy was perfectly positioned on the front of the longboard. Her hands gripped each side, and she sat perfectly still, butt molded against her ankles.
I looked out farther to where the guys were spotting Jim for the wave to take so that Jim could focus on Addy. Fucking hell. This was the coolest thing in the world, but scarier than shit.
The waves are breaking nicely. Clean breaks, Avery. Fucking breathe. I set my nachos to the side and stood. Ash walked down to the shoreline, where kids were playing like normal children on boogie boards, but not my kid. My kid was out with an even bigger kid about to fucking surf.
I watched intently, seeing Jake’s hand go up. They were taking this set. Jim started paddling well with the push of the wave, and Addy’s smile was brighter than I’d ever seen it. Her body was secure on the board while the wave started to crest. A two-foot wave, I think. It wasn’t a significant drop. Just a wave to get Jim up on the board and steer it in while the water pushed him in. It broke into the foam, pushing the board after Jim got up. Addy stayed down while they both surfed the wave in together.
I clapped and cheered from the shore, proud that Addy didn’t let my cheering them on distract her. She was in her own world, surfing with Jim. It was so damn beautiful. They’d survived. Addy was one with the board, hunched on her knees, and I could tell Jim had to have researched this shit to make sure he got Addy out surfing.
“Damn it! I didn’t even record this.”
“Got it for ya,” Ash said. “Look at the guys,” she laughed, holding her phone up and getting this on video.
“This is the sweetest thing in the world,” I said, watching Jake, Alex, and Collin, diving off their boards and screwing off with the small waves.
“You did it!” I held my hands up and did a little happy dance for Addy while Jim jumped off the board and ruffled her hair.
“Again?” He held his hand out for permission.
I gave him the thumbs up. They had this. Addy was responsible, and following the rules, so I could trust this now. Jesus Christ.
The four guys came in, telling Addy’s fish stories for her. My child was stealing everyone’s hearts today. I watched in humor as Jim and Addy took the waves as best buddies would.
It went on like this for about twenty minutes until I heard a commotion coming from behind.
“Avery!” I heard Derek’s voice growl.
“What the hell?” I said, my heart beating so fast I thought I might pass out. “Derek?” I asked, seeing him storm onto the beach like a lunatic. “How the fuck did you know where to find me?”
“Cell phone tracker, bitch. Addy has the phone I bought her. I don’t need to wonder where my daughter is when she’s out with you.”
“Hey,” I heard Jake say, “why don’t you take your shit back home, man?” He walked in front of me, guarding me against Derek.
My first instinct was to fight Derek angrily, but the humiliation of him coming here like this—in front of Jim and his friends and family—made me freeze up. I couldn’t fucking believe he’d planted a phone in Addy’s backpack to track us down. I wanted to scream at him and freak the fuck out, but I crumbled. Addy was going to see all of this too. My full-blown dysfunctional life was on blast, and nothing good was going to come from what was about to happen.
“Get the fuck out of my way,” Derek said. “Why is that mother fucker in the water with my daughter? Fuck you, Avery!”
“You’re high,” I heard Collin say. I helplessly sank into my chair as Jim came to shore right when hell was beginning to break loose.
The next thing I knew, the guys were holding off my high as could be, train-wreck of an ex while the lifeguards and the beach patrol couldn’t get here fast enough.
“Fuck you!” Derek said as I held Addy, and tears streamed down my face. “Addy, you’re fucking coming with me. Right now!” he barked, then looked at Jim.