Page 11 of After You Returned

“Hudson’s a former NFL player. He wants to keep in shape,” Caleb says.

“Wants to keep in shape or wants his former team to come and visit him?” Maya asks.

Caleb scowls at her. “You promised you could keep a secret.”

Secret? My curiosity is piqued. “What secret?”

Maya mimes zipping her lips.

Caleb sighs. “You might as well tell her before you burst. Hazel can keep a secret.”

I form the Girl Scout salute. “I promise not to tell.”

Maya unzips her lips. “It’s not official yet. But there might be a team of football players staying at the resort this summer during training camp.”

“Cool.”

Smuggler’s Hideaway is always full of tourists in the summer. And theHideaway Haven Resortoften hosts famous people. Movie stars, sports heroes, and rock stars have all been guests at the resort.

Maya’s phone rings. She frowns before digging it out of her pocket. “Shoot. It’s Sophia. I better get back to the office.”

She rushes toward the door but Caleb captures her wrist and drags her back. He plants a kiss on her lips. “Love you, Bunny.”

She smiles up at him with stars in her eyes. “Love you, too, soldier.”

When she doesn’t move, Caleb smiles at her. “Don’t you need to get to work?”

“Oh, right. Yes. See you at home.”

They’re more adorable than a pod of mermaids frolicking in the sea. The ball in my stomach tightens until it’s a knot. An uncomfortable, painful knot I can’t ignore.

I want what they have. I thought I found it in high school when I gave my heart to Miles.

I was wrong. Miles didn’t hesitate to throw me away the second he thought he was going to be a famous pro surfer. Asshole.

Chapter 5

If this is what I get for being a hero, I’m done with heroics.

Miles

Iwhistle as I open my surf shack. Early morning is my favorite time to surf. The water is glassy, creating clean peaks. And there aren’t many tourists around yet.

This morning is an exceptional morning to surf. The swells are at least ten seconds, creating powerful, less choppy waves. And the offshore wind is blowing from the beach toward the ocean, creating cleaner, more organized waves.

My body hums with excitement as I grasp a few surfboards. I have a group of five students this morning. It’s their fifth lesson. We’ve been out on the water before but only to ride small foam waves. I’m hoping today is the day they learn how to stand up on their own and catch some real waves.

There’s nothing more satisfying than watching a person who didn’t know how to paddle a few days ago pop up on their board and ride a wave. I scowl. Nothing more satisfying? I canthink of a few hundred more satisfying things. They all begin and end with Hazel.

“Hey!” Natalie greets.

“Good morning.” I smile at her and her friends. “Are you ready to ride some waves?”

Barbara bites her bottom lip. “I don’t know. I’m struggling with popping up.”

“We can practice on the beach.”

Carly elbows her. “I’m done practicing on the beach. I’m ready to ride those waves.”