Below the Barrel (Saltwater Springs #2)

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

KOA | SALTWATER SPRINGS

My hammer hits the final nail in place. I step down the ladder, and watch Maliah’s reaction as she stares at the wooden sign I just finished hanging over the front door of our newly renovated house: Salty Sweets Bakery. The letters curve softly, carved and painted in a way that makes them stand out, familiar yet new. She traces the edges with her eyes, her lips parting in a silent gasp, and when she turns to me, her eyes are glistening.

“Thank you,” she says softly, her voice full of awe, and I feel her hands slide up to rest on my chest as she leans in and kisses me softly.

When she pulls back, she takes a deep breath, and looks around with a mixture of excitement and anxiety.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” I ask her, genuinely wanting to make sure this is what she wants. “It’s a big step, taking a break from The Saltwater Shredders.”

Part of me can’t help but worry that she’s stepping away from the team just because I did, but I need to know this decision is hers.

She gives me a reassuring smile. “Surfing…it was always my father’s dream for me. I used to think it was mine too, but maybe it’s time I find out what my own dream looks like,” she says, her gaze drifting back to the sign. “I want to try something new and see how it feels after a few months.”

Her words are steady, but I can see the nervousness playing on her face. It means even more that she wants me here with her as her partner—not just in life, but in this new business venture, too.

I pause, glancing down, feeling a need to ask something else. “Have you heard from him?”

She shakes her head slowly. “No,” she says. “And it’s better this way, at least for now. There’s a part of me that…that hates him for what he did.”

I pull her close, rubbing her back as we stand together. “He’ll come around.”

As much as I dislike her father, I don’t think he’s a complete asshole. He’ll realize what he did was wrong, and I know it’s only a matter of time before he shows up, showering her with apology gifts.

We head inside together, grabbing the trays of Maliah’s baked goods off the kitchen counter and making our way to the living room to settle on the couch, our sides pressed close. Tomorrow is the grand opening of her bakery, and she’s planned a whole night of taste testing her menu while we binge SurfFlix episodes together.

She hits a button on the remote and the episode starts. I try to focus on it, but my eyes keep drifting to her, watching her laugh and cringe. She reaches for the remote and pauses the screen, freezing a shot of her talking to Charles with me in the background glaring at them.

“You looked so jealous whenever I was talking to him,” she teases, her eyes glinting mischievously.

I grunt, remembering those moments too clearly. “Yeah, well, I should’ve punched him harder.”

I shift, glancing down at her. This has been on my mind for a while now. “About that night he touched you,” I start slowly, searching her face. “I know you didn’t want to risk us getting kicked off by saying anything then, but now that the tour’s done, are you sure you don’t want to press charges?”

She shakes her head, sighing, her expression going soft but resolute. “I don’t want to go there, Koa. He’ll get what’s coming to him one day.”

I nod, respecting her choice. If she wants to move past it, then I’ll make sure that’s what happens. I brush her cheek with my thumb before I pick up a pastry she made earlier today, some kind of rich chocolate tart.

“This one’s dangerous,” I say as I take a big bite and groan in exaggerated bliss. “Pretty sure people will keep coming back for these.”

She laughs before picking up something that looks like a mini pie and taking a bite, closing her eyes on a sigh as she chews away. There’s a bit of whipped cream on her lip and I can’t help but lean forward and lick it off. I watch her cheeks instantly redden and her eyes open wide.

“I love that I can still get these reactions out of you,” I say in a low voice, feeling my pants tighten. “I really love it.”

She smiles shyly before shoving the rest of the pie in my mouth and hitting play on the TV again. By the time we finish the tray of pastries and reach the last episode, Maliah’s groaned at every dark outfit I’ve worn on screen, which is pretty much every single episode.

“We’re fixing your wardrobe as soon as the grand opening is over tomorrow,” she declares, shooting me a look.

I laugh, pulling her closer to me and pressing a kiss to her forehead. “That’s fine with me. I have no reason to wear black anymore.”

She grins up at me, and I take her lips in a kiss, feeling that same spark we’ve always had. It deepens, growing more intense, until nothing else exists except her. I lower her onto the couch, hovering above her as I slowly pull down her shorts while she unbuttons mine. I slide her thong down her smooth legs and burry myself inside of her for the fourth time today.

Today is the grand opening of the bakery. Almost everyone in Saltwater Springs has shown up, thanks to Eliana’s relentless social media blitz. There’s a line leading up to the pickup window and Maliah is behind it, handing out orders with the happiest smile I’ve ever seen on her face. This is her dream come true.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Griffin making his way towards me. I feel the tension in the air as he comes to stop next to me; things have been weird ever since Maliah and I decided to take a break from the team. He didn’t take the news too well, especially with Gabriel, Zalea, and Zale off the radar lately.

“Any news?” I ask him as he crosses his arms and watches the crowd.

Griffin nods. “Yeah, all three flew to Hawaii last night but Zale should be back in two weeks.”

“What about Gabriel?”

Griffin hesitates before turning to look at me. “Gabriel wants me to step up and lead the team until he returns. He asked me to pretty much rebuild it from scratch.”

I nod, feeling a strange mix of pride and sadness for the team we built. The Shredders are in good hands with Fin, that’s for sure, but it feels like the end of an era.

“If anyone can do it, Fin, it’s you.”

He sighs before turning his attention to Eliana. “I sure hope so.”

As we watch Colton work the crowd alongside Eliana, and Kairi heads inside to help Maliah, a few fans approach, holding out their phones and asking for pictures. I’m used to it by now. It was definitely a shock at first, normally fans only want pictures with Griffin but ever since SurfFlix aired, I’ve had my fair share of obsessed fangirls.

I look over their heads toward Maliah and notice that she’s watching me with an expression I can only describe as jealous amusement. She tries to hide it, but I catch that little flash in her eyes. I chuckle to myself and pose for a few quick photos, making a mental note to tease her about it later the way she’d teased me about Charles.

Once the fans move on, Griffin rejoins me, a warm smile on his face. “So, any progress on the wedding planning?”

“Yeah,” I tell him. “We’re heading to Hawaii at the end of the month. We’re going to start planning it with my family—should be an experience, to say the least.”

He laughs, nodding knowingly. “Same here. Eliana’s got everything scheduled down to the hour for next year.” He grins. “Invitations are going out soon, so you two better keep your calendar open.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I reply.

Griffin claps me on the shoulder, his gaze steady. “I’m really happy you two worked out all the bullshit. It better stay that way,” he says with a smirk. Then he adds, “And hey, if you both ever decide you want back on the team, there will always be a spot for you. No questions asked.”

I nod, appreciating his words more than I can say. We share a quick handshake before he heads off to help the others. I glance over to see Maliah walking toward me, slipping her hand into mine as she watches the crowd and the bustling bakery. Her eyes sparkle, full of excitement and warmth as she leans into me.

I take a deep breath, feeling gratitude settle over me. Not too long ago, it felt like I’d lost her for good, like everything I’d wanted was slipping right through my hands. But now? Now I’ve been given this second chance. She’s here, we’re here, together, and I know in my bones I’m never letting anything, or anyone come between us again.

This is our beginning, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.