Dave laughed. “Man, that babe just ripped your heart out and fed it to you.”

Boone wasn't so freaking amused. He caught the next wave in and found her coming back out through the white water.

“Yo, Blondie,” Boone said. “You jumped my wave.”

“My name isn't ‘Blondie,’” Sunny said. “And when did you buy the beach?”

“I was lined up.”

“You were late.”

“My ass I was.”

“Your ass was late,” Sunny said. “What's the matter, the big man can't take getting beat by a girl?”

“I can take it,” Boone said. Even to himself, it sounded lame.

“Apparently not,” Sunny said.

Boone took a closer look at her. “Do I know you?”

“I don't know,” Sunny said. “Do you?”

She lay out on her board and started to paddle back out. Boone had no choice but to follow. Catching up with her wasn't easy.

“You go to Pac High?” Boone asked when he got alongside.

“Used to,” Sunny said. “I'm at SDSU now.”

“I went to Pac High,” Boone said.

“I know.”

“You do?”

“I remember you,” Sunny said.

“Uh, I guess I don't remember you.”

“I know.”

She kicked it up and paddled away from him. Then she spent the rest of the session kicking his ass. She took over the water like she owned it, which she did, that afternoon.

“She's a specimen,” Dave said as he and Boone watched her from the lineup.

“Eyes off,” Boone said. “She's mine.”

“If she'll have you.” Dave snorted.

Turned out she would. She outsurfed him until the sun went down, then waited for him on the beach until he dragged his ass in.

“I could get used to this,” Boone said to her.

“Get used to what?”

“Getting beat by a girl.”

“My name's Sunny Day,” she said ruefully.

“I'm not laughing,” he said. “Mine's Boone Daniels.”