Below the Barrel (Saltwater Springs #2)

1. Maliah | Saltwater Springs

ONE

MALIAH | SALTWATER SPRINGS

The sound of my heartbeat pounds in my ears, erratic and loud, echoing the chaos swirling through my mind. Tomorrow, I leave for the World Surf Championship Tour, and I couldn’t be any less excited. I’ve looked forward to this moment my whole life, allowing the dream of making it here be the fuel that pushed me to work my ass off and earn this spot. Yet, as I sit across from Koa, my ex-boyfriend, teammate, and now tour-mate, I’m dreading what’s to come.

Staring at him feels like someone has shoved my head underwater and is holding me under, preventing oxygen from getting into my lungs. I stupidly never considered the possibility that we would both earn a spot on the Championship Tour together, but that’s exactly what’s happened. I am going on tour with the one person who I can’t bear to be around, the one person who I loved with everything in my being, the one person who ripped my heart out in a matter of seconds.

The world fades into a distant buzz, and Gabriel's voice becomes muffled as he talks about the surfing techniques we should focus on this year to push us through to the finals. But instead of listening and taking mental notes, a thousand thoughts race through my mind at once. Each thought clamouring for attention, yet not even one making any coherent sense as I stare at Koa.

He leans back in his chair, muscular arms crossed over his broad chest, stretching the fabric of his black long sleeve shirt. Dark strands of hair curtain his forehead as his grey eyes track Gabriel. He’s sun kissed from our countless hours training in the sun, and he’s put on more muscle since our split just over a year ago.

His eyes slide away from Gabriel and land on mine, causing my heart to painfully thud in my chest. My eyes widen momentarily, feeling both hyper-aware and strangely numb under his gaze. As I stare into his eyes, I’m caught between the desire to run away and the stubborn instinct to confront this uncomfortable situation head-on, but as I move to open my mouth, my words get stuck in my throat.

Tightness forms in my chest as he studies me, my breathing becoming shallow and even more erratic. I can’t talk to him, not when my feelings are still so conflicted. Sure, I might have loved him once, but he broke my heart, and I can’t forget that.

I can’t forgive it either.

I’ve never cried over anyone in my life as much as I did for Koa after our breakup, and I refuse to let anyone else have the power to make me feel that way again. So instead, I do what I’ve done for the last year. I channel my sadness into anger and give him the dirtiest look that I can muster, before rolling my eyes and returning my attention to Gabriel.

It’s best to keep Koa at a distance, for my own sake.

“I’ll be flying in for most competitions, and we can jump on a video call for training sessions on the days I can’t make it there,” Gabriel says.

Gabriel is the coach for The Saltwater Shredders, the professional surf team that I’ve been a part of since my teen years. Despite Koa and I going on tour together for the next year, Gabriel can’t join us for the whole tour because he still needs to train with the rest of the team here, in Saltwater Springs, and try to get them into qualifiers for next year’s tour.

“How does the pairing situation work?” Koa asks, his deep voice vibrating through me and causing the hairs on my arm to stand.

“Every surfer will start off with a solo competition in California, and based on the results of that surf, you’ll be paired with another surfer of similar skill level.”

“So, what happens if we get paired with two other surfers, how will you coach us then?”

“You won’t be paired with other surfers,” Gabriel says simply, leaning against his oak desk and crossing his legs at the ankles.

His piercing blue eyes find mine and my hands start to tremble from my pent-up anger. I slide them under my thighs to try and hide my emotions.

“So, what you’re saying then, is that no matter how many points we score or don’t score, Koa and I will inevitably be paired together at the end of the day?” I muster enough courage to ask.

Gabriel grins. “Exactly. Think of this as an opportunity for you two to put whatever bullshit happened last year to rest. It’s time you two learned how to work as a team again.”

“And what happens if we can’t?” I challenge.

“Then there won’t be a spot for either of you on the team when you return from the tour.”

My blood runs cold, and my eyes slide back to Koa who’s eyeing Gabriel. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, his features schooled into a mask of indifference, but I, on the other hand, feel a tidal wave of emotions.

“You’re going to kick us off the team because we won’t be friends? Are you serious right now, Gabriel?” I ask, my voice shaking as I begin losing control of my emotions.

“Deadly,” he says as his grin fades away and he meets my eyes with a warning look. “I’m not asking for you two to become friends. I’m asking for you both to figure out how to move past your shit and learn to work as a team again. That means no more ignoring each other, or getting upset when you’re paired together during practice, or fighting.”

I open my mouth to argue, but I’m cut off by Koa. “That shouldn’t be too hard,” he says, turning to look at me. “It’s not like we haven’t done it before.”

I dig my fingers into my palm as I hold Koa’s gaze.

That was before you obliterated my heart.

“Good,” Gabriel says, slipping that forced grin back in place. “Have fun at your going away party tonight, and I’ll see you both in the living room bright and early tomorrow morning.”

Gabriel pushes himself from his desk and walks out of the meeting room without a word or second glance, leaving Koa and I alone. I keep my eyes fixed on the floor, refusing to meet his gaze, silently hoping he’ll leave too.

I should know by now that hope is a useless thing to have.

Koa stands from his chair, shoving his hands into his shorts’ pockets, and walks towards me. He comes to a stop when our shoes are mere centimetres apart, as his cologne causes my head to spin. He still wears the same cologne I bought for him all those years ago, the one that smells like lavender and rosemary blended with cedar wood and patchouli that creates an intoxicatingly addicting scent.

“What?” I grind out, raising my eyes to his.

His eyes sparkle with mischief as he stares down at me. “Are you excited?”

“Ecstatic,” I reply dryly, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Oh, come on Maliah, you can do better than that,” he says in a low voice.

My heart betrays me once again with its erratic thudding as I stare up at him. The fact that his voice alone has this effect on me is enough proof that I’m totally screwed. How is it possible to still be so damn affected by him after everything he’s done? And how do I survive the next year, fighting our attraction while spending almost every waking moment together?

“Oh, believe me, I'm well aware that I can do better.” I look him up and down with a bored expression before standing up and confidently leaving him behind in the meeting room.

For a brief moment I feel strong and powerful, as if my words cut him as deeply as his actions cut me, but it doesn’t take long for the doubt to creep back in. I told him I could do better, but do I believe that?

Deep down I know that I deserve better. I deserve someone who respects me, who cherishes me, who doesn't betray my trust. So why can’t I let him go? Am I doomed to a lifetime of reliving the memory of what Koa and I once were, before it all went to shit?

I clench my jaw as I stomp my way up the stairs and into my room, slamming the door behind me, and throwing myself onto my bed next to my half-packed suitcase. He ruined love for me, and now it feels like he’s going to ruin surfing for me too.

He ruins everything.

“You have to text us every day,” Kairi, my best friend and teammate, says.

Her naturally tanned complexion glows under the bar lights at our local beach bar, The Kooky Coconut, while her hair stops just past her shoulders, curls framing her face. Her hazel eyes track my every move, my every expression. I’ve learned that if anyone is going to know that I’m hurting, it’s her. She is too attentive for her own good.

“And a video call at least once a week,” Eliana adds.

Eliana is the social media manager for The Saltwater Shredders and my best friend. She joined our team about four months ago and although she had a rocky start with Griffin, previous surfer turned youth team coach, they quickly warmed up to each other and are now exclusively dating.

Her brown hair falls past her shoulders in thick waves and her ivory complexion, along with her freckles, make her green eyes pop. She’s drop dead gorgeous, and I’d be lying if I said I never worried about Koa taking an interest in her because of how perfect she is, but I quickly learned she only had eyes for Griffin.

I laugh as I wrap my hand around my glass, swallowing past the building emotion.

“I’ll try my best,” I say. “I don’t know how busy this tour will make us, but I’ll try to text you guys at least once a day.”

Eliana gasps before reaching out and gripping onto Kairi’s arm with wide eyes. “She said us. I’m not imagining it, right? She said us to refer to her and Koa.”

I roll my eyes and bring the paper straw of my strawberry daiquiri to my lips and take a long sip while her and Kairi giggle together like children.

“Is there an us when it comes to you and Koa?” Kairi asks.

“There was, once upon a time, but not anymore,” I mumble with the straw in my mouth.

They both release an exaggerated huff. “I’ll never understand why you guys don’t just give your relationship another go. It’s obvious that you two still love each other,” Kairi says.

I lower my glass back to the table and turn to face them both.

“It’s more complicated than that. Too much has happened between us to be able to move past it and try again.”

“Like what?” Eliana pushes.

Silence descends upon our table as I stare at them both with my lips pressed together. I haven’t shared the details with anyone about why Koa and I broke up. Experiencing that pain once was more than enough for me and I refuse to experience the emotions again just to explain the situation to somebody.

“It doesn’t matter, it won’t change anything.” I turn towards Kairi. “Plus, you’re wrong. He doesn’t still love me.”

She lifts an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

I roll my lips and close my eyes while I nod. “I’m afraid so.”

“Then can you explain why his eyes haven’t left you all night?” She juts her chin out, signalling that I look over my shoulder.

I blink at her once before turning my head and glancing behind me, my eyes instantly finding Koa’s. He sits at the bar with the rest of the guys, but instead of joining in on their conversation, he has his back to the bar as he faces me.

He’s wearing a black dress shirt and pants. Ever since we broke up, he’s purged his closet of colour, choosing to wear black as if every day were a funeral. Going for a moody bad boy vibe, I assume.

I meet his gaze for a few seconds before turning back to face the girls, my cheeks growing warmer with each second. Avoiding their questioning eyes, I shrug and take another sip of my drink. I’ve caught Koa staring at me probably as many times as he’s caught me, but I don’t let myself think anything of it. It’s hard enough living together and surfing on the same team, I don’t need to fill my head with pointless theories over his staring.

So quit the team and move out.

It’s a thought that’s bounced around my mind for nearly a year. If I hadn’t been with The Saltwater Shredders since I was seventeen, I would’ve quit months ago, but the team has become a family to me and the thought of leaving and never seeing them again, all because of a stupid guy, has always stopped me from acting on that thought.

Sure, every time I see Koa, or breathe his cologne in, or hear his voice, I feel like somebody has thrown a handful of daggers at my chest. But seeing Kairi, Eliana, and the rest of the team has made that pain bearable.

“I really thought you two were back on speaking terms after The Cove party,” Kairi says, busying herself with the wrapper of her straw.

A few months ago, Gabriel left us for the weekend to go visit Zalea. She’s the older sister of our teammate, Zale, and also in a situationship with Gabriel. Zalea used to be part of The Saltwater Shredders but decided to leave the team and go solo a few years back.

In Gabriel’s absence, we may have thrown a beach bonfire party at our local private beach, The Cove. It was such a great party up until Griffin’s criminal ex-girlfriend showed up and sprinkled her bad luck all over the place. Eliana and one of my teammates, Colton, were thrown into the freezing ocean when the old boat dock broke apart beneath them.

Not only did they almost drown, but Colton needed CPR. The events from that whole night freaked me out too much to sleep, so I’d gone to the kitchen sometime around two in the morning to get a glass of warm milk in hopes that it would put me to sleep. I hadn’t expected to run into Koa already pouring himself a glass. One look at me and he was pulling out a second one from the cupboard, pouring the steaming milk into it and then sliding the glass towards me.

We’d sat in silence, side by side at the kitchen island, for thirty minutes while we drank from our glasses. It reminded me of when we were still together, staying up late and being each other's comfort.

When the exhaustion had started to hit, I’d stood up and walked toward the stairs only to find that Koa was right behind me, also heading up. When I stopped in front of my room door, I glanced over my shoulder to find him watching me. His eyes spoke volumes, more than words ever could, but I couldn’t handle it. I quickly hurled myself into my bedroom and slammed the door shut behind me.

“Well, you thought wrong.”

I bring the straw back to my lips and chug the rest of my drink, ignoring the blinding pain of brain freeze, before slamming it down on the table and sliding out of our booth. I turn to face Kairi and Eliana, both watching me with rounded eyes.

“Enough about that,” I say, forcing a smile, “let’s go throw darts. I finally got my hands on the mug shots of Eli’s stalkers.”

Eliana perks up in her chair, eyebrows raised. “Alex and Meghan?”

Alex is Eliana’s ex-childhood friend who was currently serving time in prison for blackmailing her. Meghan, on the other hand, is Griffin’s ex girlfriend. She kind of lost her mind and almost killed the guy, then tried to ruin Eliana’s life. She’s in a psych ward getting the treatment she desperately needs.

“Yup!”

“How did you get your hands on those?” Kairi asks, suspicion coating her features.

I look at my nails innocently. “It doesn’t matter, let’s go.”

“I can’t,” Kairi stares at her glass with a pinched expression.

“What?” I whine. “Why not?”

Eliana clears her throat and nods toward the dart board. I glance in the same direction only to find Zale and Colton in a heated game of darts. They both look about ready to rip each other’s heads off.

When Colton returned to The Saltwater Shredders a month ago, after ditching us for The Rip Raiders one town over, we didn’t exactly give him the warmest welcome. But most of us have forgiven him for leaving, except Zale. Though I feel like his hatred toward Colton is more to do with Kairi than anything. They’re both into her but too afraid to actually pursue anything.

I groan as I look back at the girls. “Okay, we’re clearly too sober for this. I’m going to get us shots.”

“Please, no tequila,” Eliana cries out when I turn my back to the table.

I snort as I walk towards the bar and do my absolute best to ignore the way my body reacts when I come to stand next to Koa, whose eyes haven’t left me this entire time. I order our vodka shots and impatiently tap my fingers on the bar top as I wait, but when Koa silently turns to face me in his stool, I feel my body tense up.

“What?” I grunt, refusing to look at him.

“Are you still afraid of heights?”

I turn to look at him and all the oxygen in my lungs disappears as I realize how close we are to each other. He sits at the edge of his bar stool, leaning closer to me with one hand propped on the bar, holding his glass of water.

It should be illegal to look as good as he does. I’m convinced he could wear a garbage bag and I’d still be turned on.

“Yes, why?” I squint my eyes at him.

“Because in less than twelve hours we’ll be on Gabriel’s private plane,” Koa says, his eyes slowly burning a path down my body. “When was the last time you were on a plane?”

I gulp as I watch his eyes continue their tortuous journey down my body, a smirk forming on his face when his eyes pause on my hard nipples poking through my tight T-shirt. Of all days to not wear a bra, it had to be tonight. I mentally kick myself.

“It’s been a few years, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“Might be a good idea for you to buy Gravol before we leave tomorrow. It’ll help put you to sleep for most of the flight.”

I scoff before returning my attention to the bartender, who walks over with a small tray holding three full shot glasses.

“If I wanted your advice,” I say, as I pick up the tray, “I would have asked.”

I pin him with a cold stare, my heart thudding painfully as I watch the smirk fade from his face. I hate being mean to him, but it’s the only way to make sure I don’t cave and give him another chance. I turn around, my long blonde hair swishing behind me as I walk back to the girls.

I drape my arm over my eyes, focused on deep breathing as the plane hits turbulence for the third time in the last thirty minutes. Each time it happens, I get an irrational fear that the plane blew its motor, or another crucial part broke and we’re about to nosedive straight into oblivion.

“You doing okay over there?” Gabriel asks from the seat next to mine, separated by the narrow aisle.

“Yup,” I mumble, “couldn’t be better.”

“Right, well, I’m going to go check on the pilot and find out how much longer we have until we arrive in California.”

I hear the leather of his seat groan as he stands up, his heavy footsteps fading as he moves toward the cockpit.

When we hit another bout of turbulence five minutes later, I’m certain that I’ll puke from sheer fear. I stand up on wobbly legs, glancing at Koa who faces me in his seat fast asleep. He’s wearing all black, as usual, with his hood on and hands in his pocket while he sleeps peacefully.

Must be nice to sleep through this anxiety-inducing plane ride.

I take a deep breath and make my way to the plane’s restroom, gently closing the folding door behind me. I turn to face myself in the mirror and note my pale sweaty appearance.

Great .

Not only do I feel like absolute shit, but I also look like it too while on the plane with the hottest guy on the planet.

Not that I care what he thinks of me.

I splash some water on my face and then dry away the moisture with a paper towel. I should’ve listened to Koa last night and made sure I bought myself a pack of Gravol before flying today. It would’ve been so much easier if I could just sleep through this whole flight like he is. With a deep sigh, I exit the tiny room and make my way back to my seat.

Before I sit down, a small bottle on my food tray catches my attention. It wasn’t there when I left to go to the restroom. I pick it up and read the label as I sit down.

Gravol .

My eyes slide towards Koa who is in the same position as how I left him, hands tucked into his hoodie pocket as he sleeps. I study him, trying to find any sign that he’s awake, but his consistent slow breathing convinces me that he’s asleep. Gabriel’s flight attendant must have dropped it off.

When the turbulence hits once more I don’t think twice about taking the Gravol. I sit back and recline my chair to get comfortable. Within minutes, my eyelids grow heavy, and the last thing I see before everything goes black are grey eyes staring back at me.