Below the Barrel (Saltwater Springs #2)

24. Maliah | Peniche, Portugal

TWENTY-FOUR

MALIAH | PENICHE, PORTUGAL

We flew to Peniche just a day after the competition in Tahiti, and the change in scenery hasn’t done much to ease the knot of guilt twisting in my chest. Koa’s been putting on a brave face, but I know him well enough to see through it. The way his jaw tightens every time he moves, the forced smile when he says he’s fine—it’s all just a cover for the pain he’s in.

I glance over at him now, asleep on the couch in the upgraded house Gabriel managed to score for us. It’s bigger than what we’ve been used to on tour, with a few extra rooms, no doubt to accommodate the wildcard who’s arriving soon. Koa’s leg is bandaged up from thigh to ankle, and even though his breathing is steady, there’s no peace on his face. I can only imagine how uncomfortable he is, especially after the long flight we just had.

It's my fault. If I hadn’t screwed up that wave, if I hadn’t lost focus, Koa wouldn’t have had to make up for it by taking the risk that got him hurt. My mistake, my distraction…and now here he is, sidelined because of me. The thought keeps circling in my mind like a vulture, picking at my self-doubt.

Are we just doomed to keep hurting each other? First the breakup, and now this—maybe we’re never going to get it right.

I sink down into the armchair across from him, my phone in my lap. It’s been unusually quiet between us since Tahiti. Koa hasn’t said anything about what happened, hasn’t blamed me once, but that just makes it worse. I can feel the weight of it all, hanging in the air between us, unspoken.

Just as I’m about to lose myself in that spiral of guilt again, my phone buzzes. Gabriel. I hesitate before picking it up, making sure to keep my voice low as I answer.

“Hey.”

“Wildcard’s landing in thirty minutes. Are you ready to head out?” His voice is brisk, as usual, but there’s a hint of concern underneath it. I can’t tell if it’s for Koa or me, or both of us.

I glance over at Koa again. His brows furrowed in his sleep, and the sight of it makes my chest tighten all over again. “Yeah,” I murmur. “I’ll head out now.”

“Good. And Maliah,” Gabriel pauses for a beat, “don’t stress yourself out too much about Koa. He’s tougher than you think.”

“Right.” I force the word out, but the guilt still gnaws at me.

I grab the keys and slip out of the house quietly, shutting the door behind me as I head for the car we’ve rented. The private landing strip isn’t far, but the drive feels longer than it should. My mind is still stuck in the past few days. I can’t shake the feeling that maybe Koa would be better off if I wasn’t such a distraction for him. If I hadn’t let my feelings interfere at Teahupo’o, would Koa be healthy and uninjured, instead of wrapped in bandages and unable to compete?

The sun is setting by the time I pull up to the landing strip. I take a deep breath, trying to shove down the wave of anxiety building up inside me. Gabriel didn’t mention who the wildcard was, and I’m too nervous to even guess. It could be anyone from our old team, or someone completely new.

The plane is already on the runway when I get out of the car. I watch it taxi closer, the engine roaring before it finally comes to a stop. The door eventually opens, the golden light of the afternoon spills out onto the tarmac, casting a soft glow on the figures stepping down the stairs.

I stand frozen for a moment, squinting against the sunlight as they come into focus. My heart skips a beat.

It’s Griffin and Eliana.

Before I can even react, she spots me, her face lighting up with a huge smile. “Mal!” she shouts, sprinting towards me with her arms wide open. I barely have time to register it before she crashes into me, pulling me into a bone crushing hug. I laugh, squeezing her back just as tightly.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” I exclaim, my voice muffled by her long brown hair.

Eliana pulls back, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Believe it! When Gabriel called us, we didn’t even hesitate. I missed you, and this tour is about to get way more fun.”

I grin, warmth filling my chest. Having her here, especially after everything that’s happened with Koa, feels like a breath of fresh air.

Griffin steps forward next, towering over us but wearing that same calm, confident expression I remember. “Good to see you, Malipop,” he says with a nod and smirk, his voice steady and reassuring. “Heard you and Koa had a rough time in Tahiti.”

My smile falters for just a second, the guilt about Koa’s injury creeping back in, but I force it away and nod. “Yeah, but we’re glad you’re here. We need the boost if we want to stay in first place.”

I glance at Griffin, the legend, the guy who came back from an injury that could’ve ended his career. Having him on the team feels like a second chance.

As we head to the car, Elian’s arm loops through mine, and I feel lighter, like maybe things will start looking up again with them here.

As we drive back to the house, the hum of the engine fills the silence between our conversations. Eliana is leaning against the window in the passenger's seat next to me, soaking in the views of Peniche’s coastline, while Griffin sits quietly in the back, his presence calm but commanding. I glance in the rearview mirror, catching his eye before turning my attention back to the road.

“So…about Koa’s injury,” I start, my voice softer than I intend. “He’s putting on a brave face, but he’s in a lot of pain. It’s really hard to watch.”

Griffin leans forward a little, his brows knitting together with concern. “What happened?”

I sigh, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. “He went to the Southern peak at Teahupo’o to make up for the points I lost. He wiped out and landed right on the dry reef.” I pause, the image of Koa’s leg covered in cuts, his leg pouring out blood, flashes in my mind. “His leg’s a mess. They stitched him up, but he’s really been pushing through the pain.”

I can feel Griffin watching me closely, his gaze heavy. “And how are you holding up with all this?” he asks, his tone gentle but direct.

I hesitate, trying to keep my voice steady. “I feel like it’s my fault. If I hadn’t screwed up that wave…he wouldn’t have felt the need to take the risk.”

Griffin shakes his head, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Mal, you can’t think like that. Koa’s always been the daredevil type when it comes to surfing. Even if you hadn’t made a mistake, he’d still push the limits because that’s who he is.”

I glance at him through the rearview mirror, my heat squeezing at his words. Griffin’s calm reassurance feels like a lifeline, but the guilt still clings to me like a shadow.

“We’re in first place,” I continue, trying to shift the focus. “But there’s only a one-point difference between us and second. We need a solid performance in this upcoming competition to hold our lead.”

Griffin leans back, crossing his arms. “Then that’s what we’ll focus on. Don’t carry the weight of something that’s out of your control, Maliah. Koa’s made a career out of taking risks—this won’t be the thing that brings him down.”

His words linger in the air, and I try to absorb them, but it’s hard. Seeing Koa hurt because of me, because of a mistake I made, makes it impossible not to carry the blame. But maybe Griffin’s right. Maybe Koa would’ve taken the risk regardless. That’s who he is after all.

Eliana looks over at me and nudges my arm with a smile. “You’ve got this. Both of you do.”

I offer a small smile in return, grateful for the support. As we pull up to the house, the weight in my chest feels a little lighter, and I take a deep breath, hoping that with Griffin and Eliana here, things will start to feel a little less overwhelming.