They reached the station, where Ethan paid for a round.

    A few minutes later, they were on a boat, heading out to deeper waters.

    The instructor, a tan, middle-aged man with sunglasses, gave Ethan a quick rundown of the basics — how to balance, how to shift his weight, how to control the board without wiping out.

    Ethan listened quietly, nodding along.

    Vanessa, on the other hand, leaned back against the seat with an amused look.

    "You''re taking this pretty seriously."

    Ethan glanced at her. "Figured I might as well get it right the first time."

    "Confident, huh?"

    He didn''t answer, but the smirk on his lips was all she needed to see.

    A few minutes later, the boat slowed down, and Ethan climbed onto the edge, adjusting the ankle strap of the wakesurf board.

    "Alright, here we go," the instructor called out as the boat started moving again.

    The rope attached to the board tightened, pulling Ethan forward.

    He started in a crouched position, letting the momentum build before slowly pushing himself upright.

    For a second, Vanessa thought he was going to fall. Most first-timers did. But somehow, he didn''t. His stance was firm, his balance controlled.

    "Not bad," the instructor said, nodding approvingly.

    Vanessa found herself watching closely, surprised at how easily he adjusted.

    He wasn''t just staying upright — he was already shifting his weight like a pro, moving smoothly over the water.

    "Show-off," she muttered under her breath, but she was grinning.

    The boat picked up a little speed, creating a steady wave behind it.

    Ethan released the rope, letting the current carry him as he maneuvered the board with ease.

    Vanessa whistled. "Okay, okay, I see you!"

    Ethan didn''t look over, but she could tell he had heard her.

    She cupped her hands around her mouth. "You better not fall now! I''ll never let you live it down."

    Ethan didn''t respond. He just adjusted his footing, leaning into the wave like he had been doing this for years.

    The sight of it was honestly impressive.

    As the boat reached the dock, Vanessa hopped out first, shaking her head with a smile.

    She had come to the beach thinking she''d learn more about Ethan.

    And now she had another thing to add to the list.

    He wasn''t just composed. He wasn''t just confident.

    He was the kind of guy who, no matter what he tried, always found a way to be good at it.

    #####

    The ocean breeze drifted through the air as Ethan and Vanessa made their way to a quiet beachside cafe?.

    It was a little spot, tucked away from the crowded parts of the shore, but it still had a perfect view of the waves rolling in under the afternoon sun.

    The scent of grilled seafood and fresh fruit filled the air, mixing with the salty tang of the sea.

    Vanessa plopped down into her seat, stretching her arms with a satisfied sigh. "Man, that was fun."

    Ethan pulled out his chair and sat down, running a hand through his damp hair. "Not bad, huh?"

    Vanessa grinned. "Not bad? You were pulling tricks like you''ve been wakesurfing your whole life."

    Ethan smirked but didn''t say anything. He simply reached for the menu on the table and started flipping through it.

    A waiter came over, and they quickly placed their orders.

    Ethan went for grilled salmon with a side of rice, while Vanessa, as expected, went all out — ordering a full platter of grilled shrimp, fish tacos, and a mango smoothie.

    The moment the food arrived, Vanessa wasted no time. She immediately dug in, scooping food into her mouth with zero hesitation.

    Ethan, on the other hand, ate at a much slower pace, calmly cutting his salmon into neat portions while glancing at his phone from time to time.

    Vanessa, between bites, caught sight of it and raised an eyebrow. "Anything important?"

    Ethan shook his head, locking his phone. "Just checking messages."

    Vanessa tilted her head. "From work?"

    "Something like that."

    She hummed in response but didn''t press.

    Instead, she turned her attention back to her food, shoveling another bite into her mouth before speaking again. "You always eat this slow?"

    Ethan lifted an eyebrow. "And you always eat like you''re starving?"

    Vanessa pointed her fork at him. "Listen, you don''t question a woman and her food. That''s dangerous territory."