She beams, pleased with herself.
“Come on,” I say after a moment. “Let’s take a quick break.”
Bailey nods, and together we turn our boards toward shore, paddling through the gentle swell until the sand rises beneath us and the water drops to our knees. We step out of the water, boards tucked under our arms, cold waves dripping down our legs as we cross the warm sand.
Bailey drops her board beside our bags, grabs a water bottle and twists the cap off. And I do the same, tilting my head back for a long drink, the sun warm on my face, the ocean still roaring softly behind us.
Bailey lowers her bottle and squints toward the beach. “So,” she says casually, “should I go ask that guy for his number?”
I follow her gaze again. And the same boy is there, waxing his board, still pretending not to stare.
A laugh slips out of me. “Yeah. Do it. You’ve got the confidence.”
She grins, but then her expression shifts just a little.
“You know,” she says, eyes drifting toward the horizon, voice light, “I think what really helped my confidence lately was watching you and Ryan.”
I freeze at the sound of his name.
She shrugs one shoulder. “You two made it look so natural. Like Oscar-worthy. I mean, the way you guys acted? Totally convincing.”
A nervous laugh escapes me. “That’s because—”
I stop. My eyes widen. Bailey turns slowly, already smiling like she’s watching fireworks she personally set off.
I slap a hand over my mouth. “Crap.”
Her grin explodes. “I KNEW IT!”
“Ugh—no, no, I didn’t mean—Bailey—”
“I knew it!” she shouts, throwing both hands in the air. “You just admitted it was fake! I’ve been waiting weeks for you to slip.”
I groan, dragging my hands down my face. “That was a trap. You totally baited me.”
“Obviously,” she says smugly. “And it worked beautifully.”
I peek at her through my fingers. “You’re impossible.”
She beams. “Spill. I want everything.”
I hesitate, chewing the inside of my cheek. But she already knows, so what's the point? I let out a big exhale before opening my mouth.
“Well… I wanted to make my ex jealous,” I admit quietly. “And Ryan wanted people to stop setting him up for dates.”
Bailey’s head snaps toward me. “Wait—WAIT—your ex Jacob Walker?” she blurts. “As in the guy Ryan literally punched yesterday?”
I blink at her. “How do you even—”
She lifts her chin proudly. “Please. I am basically the Baylin source of gossip.”
A reluctant laugh escapes me. “That’s true.”
“And there are videos…” she adds carefully.
I close my eyes for a second. “Right.”
She waves a hand. “Okay, continue.”