The Green Room Read Online Free PDF Page A

at her son’s nature, which was irreverent from day one, but she was a “boys will be boys” kind of mom.
    Robbie still gazed at Nahoa, and the young man smiled at him. “Wanna go out and help me practice?”
    Leila’s head swiveled to the shore break in front of them, where the waves crashed onto the sand and sent a foaming sheet of water up the beach. Her smile shrank.
    â€œWe’ll go out and down a bit.” Nahoa pointed to set of gentler, curving waves about a hundred yards to their left. “Storm and I won’t let him out of our sight.”
    Storm’s mouth dropped open and she promptly clamped it closed. She hadn’t planned on this. She wasn’t at all comfortable in big waves. Laniakea wasn’t breaking big today, especially in terms of North Shore winter surf, but some of the waves were taller than she was, though she’d bet the surf report would place them at three to five feet. Still, if she showed Leila that she was frightened by the water, Leila wouldn’t let Robbie go. And Robbie would be bummed. More accurately, judging by his worshipful expression, he’d be devastated.
    â€œMe either,” said Goober. “We all watch out for each other.”
    â€œI brought a tandem board,” announced Nahoa. He turned to Ben. “I’ll take Robbie and you can use my new Lanipuni.”
    â€œIs that the seven-footer Mo‛o was bragging about?” Ben asked. “The thruster with his special skegs? Thanks, man.”
    Hamlin had sidled up to Storm and draped his arm over her shoulders. “You okay?” he asked softly.
    Some of the tension in Storm’s shoulders abated and she gave a tiny nod. The tandem board was good news. Robbie would share it with Nahoa, who would paddle out, catch the wave, and keep the boy out of the danger zone. And she’d stay as close to them on her own board as she safely could.
    Robbie didn’t allow any delays in getting into the water. He barely let Leila apply sunscreen to his face and shoulders. Storm stayed quiet and ignored Leila’s questioning glances. It was all she could do to keep from revealing her nervousness when she picked up her board.
    Trundling down the beach behind the frolicking Robbie and tall men, Storm took deep breaths and told herself that the waves at Laniakea weren’t that much bigger than what she normally surfed. She hoped. When she leaned over to fasten her surfboard leash around her ankle, she noticed that her fingers trembled a bit.
    â€œHey, you’re goofy footed,” Nahoa said. “So am I.”
    Nahoa’s gestured to his left leg, where he’d attached his own leash. “It’s good luck.” He grinned at her and Storm knew he’d seen her trepidation. Being goofy only meant that they surfed with their right foot forward, as opposed to their left, like the majority of surfers. It didn’t really bring luck, but the comment made Storm feel better.
    â€œWe’re just going out to play.” He squinted out at the water. “And be part of the ocean and her power.”
    â€œThat’s what I like,” Storm said. “Being in the water, feeling that clean purity.”
    Nahoa’s dimples deepened. “That’s what it’s all about.”
    With the first cooling splash, she began to relax. Soon her mind and body were occupied with the mechanics of paddling and watching the currents and waves, and much of the apprehension she’d felt washed away.
    Nahoa and Robbie were about ten feet in front of her, while Ben and Goober flanked the little group. Getting out past the breaking water wasn’t difficult, in large part because the experienced surfers knew where the shoulder of the wave would be easiest to swim over. Plus, they were patient with her and didn’t make her feel as if she couldn’t keep up. That was a relief, especially on the North Shore, where catching and riding waves can be