I roll over and face Courtney with a lack of enthusiasm. “Go away.”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she waves a cup of coffee in front of me. “Look what I have for you.”
I prop myself up on an elbow, reach for the cup, and take a sip, letting the warmth sink into an empty stomach. “Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me…thank Ian.”
“He’s here?”
“He was. He’s down at the beach now. Surf report’s calling for the best waves of the summer.” She yanks the sheets off the bed. “So get dressed, girlie. We have some waves to catch.”
“I don’t surf.”
“But you could learn.”
I mumble something, unintelligible—even to myself—and get out of bed. I brush my teeth, trade PJs for a bright blue bikini, and pull my chestnut brown hair into a ponytail. I step out into the kitchen. Courtney hands me a beach towel and a protein bar, and we head to the beach.
It isn’t even nine yet, but the ocean is already full of boards. Courtney races toward the water with her bright pink long board, and I set out my towel and prepare to fall back asleep. I have a talent for napping, and I mean talent. I can fall asleep anywhere and anytime. I don’t have narcolepsy or a sleep disorder; I just have a propensity for shutting off my brain and relaxing. For years, Mike diverted my thoughts, but now I will borrow Ryan’s gorgeous face to distract me from reality. So I close my eyes and test my skill, conjuring up a pair of green eyes, and within minutes…