Olivia
We arrived at Santa Monica Pier.
“This place doesn’t change a bit. We should try the roller coaster and everything!” she excitedly said. The idea made me feel sick but at least I could take a tour here. I had never been here before.
“Well then, ladies? I shall excuse myself now. Come to the beach whenever you’re done here,” Brad excused himself after he kissed Emma.
It was time for us three ladies to take a tour here. So far, I’d enjoyed myself here. This place was much better than the maze room. I didn’t try the roller coaster and just waited together with Emma while Karen rode on it. She was the type of girl who would try this extreme attraction.
After we tried a few of the attractions, we bought ice cream for ourselves. Chocolate for me. Vanilla for Karen, and strawberry for Emma.
“Say, Emma?” Karen started while licking her ice cream. “Why is Brad still working during the summer?”
“Well, he gets a lot busier during summer because most of the people are taking vacations and since he’s one of the best surfer instructors they had, lots of people were already signed up so they could have him as their teacher,” Emma explained.
“Have you ever felt bothered when one of his students is a woman and wanted to flirt with him?” Karen teased.
Emma giggled. “Fortunately, no. I trust him and I know Brad won’t have his eyes to anyone else besides me,” she stated proudly.
I was amazed by Emma. She loved Brad and trusted him fully.
“But, why is Brad wasn’t working yesterday?” I asked.
“He asked for a day off but only for one day. He chose yesterday because you two are going to come.”
“I see. Have you ever caught him with a lady?” Karen continued asking.
“I have. Once. I think it was a year ago when Brad asked me to come with him and at that time there was a young girl, probably around seventeen or eighteen was flirting with him. She had no idea his wife was right there watching them,” she explained, and then she giggled sweetly. “I remember I could see from his body gesture that he was bothered and scared at the same time because I was glaring death at him. He tried to explain to the young lady that he already had a wife but she refused to believe him.”
“And what did you do afterward?” I asked.
“Nothing. Brad was the one who came to me and apologized because the girl was so forceful. He tried his best and at least he didn’t cheat on me. He was so serious when he said that he won’t do that and…” she paused and her cheeks were slightly warm. “He told me that why should he cheat when the woman of his life was right there for him.” Oh, my.
“Aw, that was cute,” Karen awed. “When I will find a man like him? And why he has to be my cousin?” Emma and I laughed at her. I must admit that Brad was a nice guy. He was such a gentleman and Emma was so lucky for having him as her husband.
“So, you two want to have another tour or should we call it a day and see Brad?” Emma asked.
“I want to see him, but how about you, Liv? I know it’s your first time to be here.”
I shook my head. “I’d rather see Brad.” We finished our ice cream and headed to the beach.
Once we arrived, we couldn’t see Blake anywhere. But Emma saw one of his colleagues and called out to him. Max was his name. He was quite handsome with his dark hair, a pair of green eyes, and tanned skin.
“Where’s Brad?” she asked.
“He was surfing with his student and relax, it’s a guy,” he replied which made Emma laughed. “And who are these lovely ladies?”
“Oh, this is Karen-Brad’s cousin and her friend,” Emma introduced us and we shook his hands. From the corner of my eyes, I could see Karen was interested in him. Her eyes were blinking and I could see stars from her brown eyes.
I pulled her a bit. A little far away from Emma and Max. “Come on, Karen. He might be a lot older than us.”
“What’s the big deal? I can lie about my age to him,” she said seriously.
“Come on, don’t do that.”
Karen poked her tongue out. “I’m just kidding.”
I let her go and turned my eyes to the sea. “There he is,” Max pointed out and I could see Brad. Surfing with his student beside him. He looked cool and he could surf smoothly even with the big wave. Easily like he was walking in the park.
Brad slowly reached the shore and went to us. He called out Emma first and kissed her.
“Your lips taste like salt,” Emma commented as both of them were giggling at each other. They are so sweet.
Brad parted ways with his student and they would see each other again tomorrow. “So, did you guys have fun?”
“Yes. Hey, can you teach me how to surf?” Karen asked.
“Sure. How about you, Olivia? Did you change your mind?”
“Um, no, thanks. I’m just going to stay here with Emma,” I said.
Brad and Karen went together, leaving Emma and me with Max. “You two should come to the café over there,” he suggested.
“Good idea. Come on, Liv,” Emma said.
“Um, I’m going to stay here and watch the sea and Karen doing surfing.”
“Oh, okay. Well then, please come to the café immediately if you got too hot here,” she said and walked away from me with Max. I sat on the sand and waiting for the cousins to show up.
I saw Karen already changed into surfing clothing. I saw Brad and he was like explaining something to Karen and later on they go into the sea with the board in their hands. They went quite far from the shore, waiting for the wave. And finally, I could see Karen on top of her board and surfed together with Brad.
I was amazed at how incredible Karen was. She could surf easily like she was used to it. Like a real professional.
“Hey, cutie,” someone suddenly called and I looked to my side and found a group of men. “Are you alone?” he asked as I immediately stood up.
I didn’t know what to do. I was never good at dealing with this.
“Come and join us if you are alone,” his friend said.
“Um, n-no, thank you.” I was scared. I should run away from them. Now. “Excuse me.”
One of them managed to capture my elbow, holding me in place. “Please, let me go.”
“Come on, sweetie. We saw you are alone here and we can’t stand watching a beautiful girl like you alone here,” he said. And even though he tried to sound pitiful, he didn’t do a good job.
“Please, let me—”
“Let her go, assholes,” someone stopped them. I looked at the person. Stewart?
He moved closer to the group. “Can’t you fuckers hear me? I said let her go. The lady is with me,” he said the guy who was currently holding my elbow slowly loosened his grip on me and they retreated. Cursing at Stewart before they were completely gone from my space. Stewart walked closer to me and touched my shoulders. “Are you alright?”
“Yes. Thank you, Stewart.” My heart was still pounding. There were four of them and all of them looked scary. I didn’t want to imagine if Stewart didn’t show up here.
“You’re really lucky because I was around. Are you alone?”
“No, I was with Karen but she’s surfing now with her cousin.”
“You should just stay at the café over there. It’s safer than being here.”
“I’m sorry.”
He sighed but he looked relieved as well. “I’m grateful that I’m around. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Um, we’re invited to see Karen’s cousin doing his job as a surfer instructor.”
Stewart scoffed. “Unfortunately, he didn’t do a good job of protecting you,” he sarcastically said.
“Oh, don’t be mad at Brad. It’s my choice to wait here,” I covered Brad and then I could see Karen and Brad were heading to us. Karen ran to me.
“You’re okay, babe? I saw you with those sickos seconds ago and hurried to the shore,” she said worriedly.
“I’m okay, Karen. Good thing Stewart is here and she saved me.”
Karen turned to Stewart and was quite surprised to see him here. “Wow, what are you doing here?”
“I’m having a photoshoot but I’m on a break now. Good thing I was on the neighbor but I have to go back now.”
“Well, thank you for saving her. We’re staying in Malibu and you are welcome to visit us if you like,” Karen invited.
“I would love to. I should go back now. See you later, Olivia,” he parted with me and walked away from us.
Karen turned to me. “Why are you not with Emma?”
“I wanted to see you in action. I didn’t expect to be flirted by them.”
“Lots of guys are targeting a young woman like you, Liv,” Brad explained. “I’m sorry I forgot to tell you and I should ask you to stay with Emma.”
“No, it’s okay, Brad. I should be careful next time.” I didn’t want Brad to feel guilty. It was my choice to stay here. “So? Did you have fun?” I asked Karen.
“Absolutely! It was amazing. As I suspected, surfing was fun and you should try it next time.”
“I didn’t know that you can surf.”
“She learned about it before but it was a long time ago,” Brad added.
“I never expected that I still remember everything,” said Karen.
“Once you learned, your body will always remember. Just like riding a bicycle,” Brad said.
Karen turned to him. “Did you just say something dirty to me?” she teased.
“Karen! You are too young to understand that and don’t poison your friend’s head with that stuff,” Brad scolded. What were they talking about?
Karen turned to me and as she aware of my confusion, “It’s better if you don’t know about it now.”
“Well, ladies? I should go back to work now. Can you two wait at the café with Emma until I’m finished?”
“Sure,” Karen replied and Brad walked away from us. Karen and I headed to the café together. “I didn’t know Stewart was here for a photoshoot.”
“I have no idea as well.”
“We should meet up with him tonight,” she suggested.
“Why?”
“I wanted to try the club at Malibu and I heard Brad’s friend owns it so I could ask Brad to ask his friend to let us in. Maybe I should invite Stewart as well. As a precaution, if I got drunk, at least there’s a guy beside me and will not touch me or using me as an advantage. And I got you with me too.”
“I have never been to a club before. And even though I have not; I hated that place. It’s too loud,” I said, trying to refuse her idea. “And we’re still underage.”
“Once a while won’t hurt, Liv. Please?” she begged with her puppy eyes. I really didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to see those guys anymore. But…
Stewart would be there.
At least I won’t be alone if something happened to Karen.
“…fine. But I got nothing to wear.”
“Don’t worry. You don’t need to be formal and just wear a tank top and you should be fine. If you don’t want to get yourself got flirted with some weirdoes, you should wear jeans to cover your thighs.” I guessed I will do that.
We walked together to the café as my mind was busy thinking about what should I wear tonight.