Love or war?

Chapter Two

I turned the key and walked into my house. I hung up my backpack and slid off my shoes. I tabbed a bowl and filled it with grapes and blueberries, my favorite snack. I let my dog out and sat on the couch. So I need a plan. How can I get Ace to me? I could do something outrageous. But that would get me the wrong kind of attention. I bet some surfing would help me clear my mind to think. As I opened the sliding door to let my dog back in I texted Naomi.

Meet me at the beach in 10?

Sure! See you soon! :)

I ran up the stairs and changed into my surfing suit. I grabbed a beach towel and slid on flip flops on my way out the door. I grabbed my lime green surf board and started down the sand path to the beach.

I came up gasping for air and coughing. I see Naomi paddling over with a worried expression on her face. I can't get words out yet but I'm ok so j give her the hang loose sign so she knows not to be worried. She just smiles back and I finally catch my breathe. I climb back on my board and we just start paddling.

"So this Ace thing," I break the silence

"Yeah what's with that?"

"Well I really like him and I want him to feel the same way,"

"I think he already does,"

"No way!"

A wave crashed and cut our conversation short.

Once we came out of the water we sat on the beach and switched into our tanning bathing suits.

"You never finished telling me about your plan," Naomi started to question me again.

"Well, I have been thinking if Ace sits with us again at lunch tomorrow I can ask him if he wants to go surfing and give an excuse why you can't go." I explained to my best friend.

Then someone interrupted us.

"Alani?" someone called

I instantly knew who it was. Who couldn't recognize that heavenly voice? My head whipped around to see Ace running towards us. Shirtless I might add. I had to stare at his feet to keep myself from being mesmerized by his flawless six pack. As he ran up to us I waved. He crouched by us us kind of out of breathe. I laughed to myself a little because it seemed like a lot of work for him to jog a few feet.

"Hey Aidan and I are going to get some ice. Team and wanted to know if you wanted to join us?"

I didn't know what to do but thankfully my bestie came to the rescue again.

"Sure sounds like fun!" Naomi answered as she nodded towards me and I just smiled and hopped up.

As we trudged through the sand over to the ice cream shop I was having a mini heart attack. I've had guy friends before but they were like brothers and so I didn't care what they thought of me but this was different.

Ace opened the door and held it for all of us. I walked through and thanked him as the cool air conditioning hit my body. I looked down realizing I was in my bathing suit but I looked around and so was everyone else. I kind of stayed back and walked with Naomi as the guys came in.

"Ladies first," Aidan gestured us to walk ahead.

"Don't worry it's on me," Ace added.

What a sweetheart. I let Naomi go first because she acted like it was nothing and we had been here thousands of times so she knew what she wanted. After she ordered I told the cashier what I wanted and then we told the guys we would get a table. We settled on a booth by the window and the guys came over delivering the ice cream. We chatted and laughed for what seemed like forever. Ace was so funny I never wanted to leave.

"So Aidan has to go home but I was gonna go catch a quick wave. Wanna join?"

"I can't but Alani can!" Naomi winked with a hint of a smirk as she walked to the trash can.

"You down?" Ace asked

"Sure!" I answered trying not to sound too excited.

"Awesome!"

With that I helped Naomi pack up her stuff and I changed then it was finally time to get what I've been waiting for forever. To catch a wave with THE Ace Smith!