Riding the Surf Read Online Free Page A

attracted he was to strong women. Normally, he went for skinny girls with no muscle tone. This girl was different.
    She raised an eyebrow. “Did you hear me?”
    He couldn’t remember what she said. “Huh?”
    “Are you okay?”
    “Oh. No. I’m fine.”
    “So, you’re okay?”
    “No. I mean, yes.”
    She nodded her head slowly. “Okay, then.”
    “Yeah…”
    “Well, have a good day.”
    “I’m Derek.”
    “Hello, Derek.” She grabbed her board and walked to the water.
    When she wasn’t looking, he smacked himself in the head. He sounded like such an idiot. Derek knew how to pick up on women. It was easy and natural for him. But with this girl, this supermodel, perfect woman, he was totally lost.
    She paddled into the water then rode her first wave.
    Derek’s mouth dropped. “Holy shit.”
    “What?”
    Derek looked u p to see Thatcher approach him. “That girl…”
    He looked over his shoulder and spotted her. “Yeah?”
    “She’s fucking awesome. She’s better than me.”
    Thatcher grabbed his towel and started changing. “How’s your wrist?”
    Derek ignored him. “Look at her go!”
    “You’ve never seen her before?”
    “You have?” Derek said when he looked at him. “I’ve never seen her. And if I did, I would have remembered her.”
    “She’s usually here in the morning.”
    “Do you know her name?”
    “Paola.”
    Even her name was hot. “Do you know her?”
    “We’re friendly,” Thatcher said.
    “You’ve got to introduce me.”
    “Weren’t you just talking to her?”
    “Yeah…but it didn’t go well. I kinda made a total idiot of myself.”
    Thatcher smiled. “Someone is smitten.”
    “Have you seen her? She’s like the hottest chick I’ve ever seen in my life.”
    Thatcher shrugged. “I’ve seen better.”
    Derek rolled his eyes. “That’s right. You’re in love.”
    “When you fall in love, your partner becomes the most beautiful thing to you. She outshines everyone, makes everyone seem dull in comparison. Even the sunrise looks dark.”
    Derek stared at Paola again.
    “You know she was the winner of the competition for the girl’s section, right?”
    “She was?” Derek asked. “I don’t pay attention to the girls.”
    “Apparently,” he said with a laugh.
    “That explains a lot.”
    “Yeah.”
    Derek stood up then grabbed his board. He stared at her for a long time before he finally turned away, walking back to his truck.
    “Can we drive separately tomorrow?” Derek asked.
    Thatcher smiled. “I figured you’d ask that.”
    “I’m going to try to talk to her.”
    “Are you going to sound intelligent this time?”
    “What do you know about her?”
    Thatcher shook his head. “Not much. I said we’re friendly, not friends. When you’re surfer, you tend to know everyone on a first name basis.”
    “I guess I’ll find out more tomorrow.”
    “Good luck.”
    “I have a feeling I’m going to need it.”

4
    Derek sat down at the table in the cafeteria then leaned back in his chair. His appetite wasn’t as strong as it normally was. Now Paola was on his mind, her tight waist and her powerful legs. He never felt so embarrassed in his life. He sounded like he had the intellectual capacity of a five year old when he spoke to her.
    “What’s your problem?” Coen asked. He wasn’t affectionate with Sydney like he normally was. His hands were on the table and he wasn’t close to her. Sydney picked at her cup of fruit and didn’t touch him either. The frustration was evident in Coen’s tone. He was dark and angry today.
    “She didn’t put out?” Derek asked.
    “Not yet,” he said with a sigh.
    Sydney glanced at him then ate a strawberry.
    “It’s only a matter of time,” Derek said.
    Henry eyed the newlyweds then turned to Ren. “I couldn’t last.”
    “Neither could I,” she said with a smile.
    Derek watched Coen and Sydney again. “It’s like you hate each other.”
    “Well, we aren’t too fond of one another,” Sydney