She inhaled, let it out, and smiled. “Perfect for me.”
“Good,” Ben said. “Let’s go back and join the party. I’m thirsty.”
“Me, too,” Alex said.
She fit herself in the middle of them and they walked back to the main beach, staying close to the water. Victoria settled into the silence, lost in her thoughts.
She was equal parts deliriously happy and at the same time utterly conflicted. In such a short period of time she’d become attached to both Alex and Ben.
She didn’t like attachments. They made everything so complicated.
Sex was fun. It was easy and uncomplicated and typically at the end of her vacation flings, she found it easy to say good-bye.
But when it came time to return home, she didn’t think it was going to be so easy to say good-bye to these two amazing men.
Chapter Twelve
Alex had slept like the dead last night, snuggled against Tori’s perfect backside. Unfortunately he’d had to get up early again to prep for the second day of the tournament.
Waves were cranking today. He was ready to score at the top of the leaderboard.
His practice runs had been good, though he’d been raked over by the waves each time he’d paddled out.
The runs were going to be gnarly today, no doubt about it. But with waves this impressive, all the guys should have notable showings.
He was just going to have to be the best.
He ran over to Ben’s tent while he had a few minutes before the first heat started. Victoria was there in a white sundress, taking his breath away as usual. He leaned over to kiss her.
“Best of luck today, though I doubt you’ll need it.”
He loved her confidence in him. “Thanks, babe.”
He grabbed a sports drink from Ben.
“Those waves are killer today. And by killer . . .”
They didn’t have to say the words to each other. Alex knew what Ben meant.
The waves could make for some spectacular rides. But they were also dangerous.
“I know. I’ll be careful.”
Ben grabbed his shoulder. “Go kick the Pipeline’s ass.”
Alex grinned and made his way to the water.
He paddled out along with three other surfers. Priority indicated he or Matt could drop in first. Not seeing a wave he liked, he let Matt take the drop.
Matt rode the wave like the pro he was. Scored high, too.
Shit.
That was okay. Alex thrived on pressure.
He sat out there and waited through two other waves. Then a big one came and he dropped in, sliding into the barrel.
Now it was just him and the wave, alone in the tube. This was his sweet spot. He’d surfed his entire life and when he was on the water riding a wave he felt an adrenaline rush like nothing else. He could reach out and touch the monster, so he leaned in and ran his hand along the underside of the wave, then flipped out the end of the tube and did an aerial.
He could hear applause, the sound of clapping carrying across the water, and he knew he’d mastered it.
His second and third heats were good, too, though not as stellar as the first one had been.
Good enough to land him solidly in the top three at the end of the day. He’d move on in the championships. And at his age, with all these young and hungry surfers coming up and nipping at his board, he’d take it.
He made his way to the tent where Tori came over and threw her arms around him.
“You did it. You were amazing.”
Having her confident in him made a difference. “Thanks.” He brushed his lips across hers, then shook Ben’s hand.
“Took some chances out there on that monster wave,” Ben said.
Alex shrugged. “You know me.”
Ben smiled. “Yeah, I do.”
“I was so afraid during that first heat,” Victoria said. “But oh, my God, Alex, the way you rode inside the wave—you were beneath it for so long before you came out the other side. I know I need to learn the lingo—but it was amazing.”
He slung his arm around her. “Trust me. I know what you’re talking about. It felt amazing, too. I had a good run.”
“It sure seems that way. So now that the competition is over, what happens?”
“It’s an accumulation of points,” Ben said. “He’ll move onto the next competition, and do it all over again.”
“Where’s the next one?”
“Australia.”
As they made their way back to the hotel, Tori shook her head. “It must be an incredible life to be able to travel the world like you do.”
Alex nodded. “It has its benefits. Then again, you do the same thing, don’t you?”