“Stupid girl drama. You know my friend, Zyan?”
Zyan Morgan is Eden’s recent crush, and by recent, I mean for the past six to eight months. They met on the circuit when he came here for a couple competitions. He lives in Hawaii with his dad, which is perfect according to Jimmy.
“I remember Zyan,” I tell Eden.
“Well, he’s moved here.”
My insides twist. I can hear Jimmy already, swearing up a storm about that boy coming to the house, especially when we aren’t home. “He did?”
Eden nods. “And he didn’t even tell me, ya know?”
No, I really don’t.
“I’m walking to class and all these girls are giggling by the lockers, so I go see what’s so funny. Well it’s Zyan and he’s just eating up the attention. I call his name and he looks at me like he doesn’t remember me and then it hits him and he goes, ‘Oh hey, Eden’ like we aren’t friends and didn’t make out all summer long.”
“You made out with Zyan all summer long?”
Eden rolls her eyes. “Not the point, Mum.”
“Oh,” is all I can say.
“Anyway, of course Bentlee and Harmonee were standing there and they knew all about Zyan and me, but today they’re all ‘So, did you make it up or what?’ and they know I didn’t, but now they’re going around saying Zyan is only an acquaintance.”
“I see.” I really don’t, but for the sake of not going into details with her or asking more about these make out sessions with Zyan, I’m going to just accept I’m out of the loop.
“Yeah, so whatever. And while all this is going on, Rusty asks me out.”
I mentally go through the class list from Eden’s school, trying to place a young man named Rusty.
“Kira’s brother.”
“Oh, he’s younger, right?”
Eden nods while she takes a drink from her smoothie. “Only by a year, but he’s on the varsity baseball team. He plays first base.”
“Well, it’s nice to be asked out.”
She shrugs. “Yeah, I don’t know. We’ll see.”
I wish Katelyn and Josie were here to offer me all the safe advice. Sometimes, I feel like I’m treading water where Eden is concerned or battling Jimmy over what I think she should be allowed to do and not do. I think she should date. She’s old enough and definitely mature. She has a good head on her shoulders and is on track to go pro with her surfing. I want her to go to college, and I’m hoping she will, but the circuit can be time consuming and grueling.
“Well, let me know about Rusty, and if you want to talk about Zyan. I’ve been told I’m a good listener.”
“Thanks, Mum. I’m just mad because I thought we had something going on. I guess I was wrong.”
Jimmy is going to murder this boy.
“Where’s Dad?”
“He’s at the tattoo parlor.”
“What’s he getting this time?”
I laugh because the man is almost out of space. “I don’t know, he said it was a surprise.”
“Think you can come down to the beach with me for a bit?”
I nod and slide off the barstool. That is another rule we enforce—no surfing by yourself. There have been far too many accidents where someone has gotten hurt and there wasn’t anyone around to help them. I don’t want Eden in that position—ever.
“I’ll go change and meet you downstairs in a few minutes.” Again, I brush my hand down the length of her hair. I kiss the side of her head and retreat toward my bedroom. Eden is hot on my heels, only she goes to the right when we get to the top of the stairs and I turn left.
2
Jimmy
Harrison drops me off at the end of my driveway. He doesn’t offer to give me a goodbye kiss or tell me he’ll call me. To be honest, I’m a little pissed off at how cold and unaffectionate he is. I turn slightly to look at him, and flutter my eyelashes. “When will I see you again?”
He slowly looks my way. I smile and tilt my head to the side. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
I scoff. “We just had an amazing time, and you’re dumping me on the side of the road like yesterday’s rubbish.”
Harrison chuckles. “I don’t know how Jenna puts up with you. Get out of my car before I remove you.”
“What an arse,” I mutter as I open the door. After I get out, I shut it but keep my hand on the door, bending down a little so I can see him. “Seriously, though, thanks for going with me.”
“You said tattoo,” Harrison quips. “I’m always up for some ink.”
“And yet you didn’t get any,” I point out.
He shrugs. “But I have an idea for one, so there’s that.”
I knock my hand on the door and tell him I’ll see him later. We’re planning to go shopping for the wives and kids later in the week, hoping that we can come up with some inspiration for presents because neither of us have a bloody clue what to get for anyone. It’s hard when the people you love have everything they could every want. I turn towards my home. It’s a two-story house with a wooden door and a two-car garage. It’s nothing flashy by any means, which was precisely what Jenna wanted. She didn’t want a house with a fence or gate where the paparazzi could hang around at all hours of the day or night. She wanted to feel as normal as possible. This house gives my wife what she wants. The best part is the view of the Pacific Ocean at our back door. By all accounts, according to entertainment industry standards, our house would be classed as small, but I don’t care. It’s perfect for the three of us, and it allows Eden to surf whenever she wants. You’ll never see our house in one of those celebrity magazines or on some ridiculous TV show though, and I’m absolutely okay with that. The only thing it does lack is privacy with the neighbors being almost on top of us, but they’re cool. Every now and again, Jenna has them over for dinner or cocktail parties where I get to play bartender, which I find amusing. I’ve even started creating my own drinks, although Jenna doesn’t really like them. I should probably take that as a sign that I’m not quite an expert yet.
Inside, the house is quiet, except for the sound of the sea lapping against the shore. Usually there’s music playing, the TV is on, or dishes are rattling around, but not today. I walk to the back of the house which is my favourite. There’s a wall of bifolding doors which open completely and stay that way most of the year. I do make sure to close them at night or when there’s a storm, but it’s one of the best parts of our house.
I step out onto the veranda and rest my hands on the railing. Even though it’s December, the temperature is higher than normal, but there’s a nice breeze, making the day almost perfect. I stand for a minute and watch Eden as she rides a wave back to shore. It’s not the best time to surf, but keeping Eden out of the water is not a fight that Jenna nor I are willing to put up with. Eden needs to practice and has the determination to be the best. I can’t fault her for trying to achieve her goal.
I’m not sure how long I stand there, but the desire to be with my wife and daughter is far too much to bear. I make my way back through the house and down the steps which lead down to the beach. Luckily, I’m still wearing my combat boots and they easily trudge through the sand.