"All along the eastern shore
Put your circuits in the sea
This is what the world is for
Making electricity
You can feel it in your mind
Oh you can do it all the time
Plug it in, change the world
You are my electric girl"

MGMT—"Electric Feel"

Erik stood close enough to see Sugar compete, but far enough away from the judge's station so he didn't have to interact too much with fans and spectators. The Men's Championship heats weren't happening for another few days, so he was free to observe and hang out with Colin.

"Waves are small," Colin said.

Erik nodded.

"She can handle small waves. San Diego has a lot of them."

"You talk to her?"

"Earlier."

"What's her mental state?"

Erik bit his bottom lip.

"She's good. Real good."

They watched Sugar and Australian Vera Eisner along with France's Katriane Varte paddle out for the start of their heat. All three women sat far in the water. Vera was a veteran with precise moves needing to compete in the WQS to get back into the World Tour after an injury and a dropping in ranks that prevented her from an automatic slot back on the major world tour. She needed to advance for a chance to be a wildcard for the following year. Katriane was a newbie with the skills to body Sugar, and Erik was bummed she was going against someone like that so early in the event. C'est la vie.

"She feeling the pressure?" Colin asked.

"Little bit."

"C'mon Sugar!"

A familiar voice rang out and Erik stepped forward to look past the throngs of bodies to see Sugar's family posted up near a home-brought flag that had the Black Nationalist red, black, and green colors on one side with the flag of Mexico on the other billowing above them loud and proud. Her parents were surrounded by her friends and her brother. Belmira sat on a blanket next to Belinda sipping on a Pepsi bottle.

Sugar shook her hands and stretched her arms above her head as the heat started. A swell rolled through against the backdrop of the Huntington Pier and Sugar went for it, dropping left and kicking up spray as she skimmed a clean mini-wave by gliding to the top of the small peak, then jumping her body backward on the board and riding in backward for a smooth five seconds before hopping forward again then kicking out. She threw up West Coast hand signs to a cheering crowd.

"That's my, baby!" Belinda Moreno shouted while standing up and pointing at the water.

"Aaaaaajajajaja-hoyyyy!"

Sugar's father Cedro gave a loud shout and threw up a West Coast sign back at his child.

Colin grabbed Erik's arm.

"Nigga! This girl is coming straight with the attitude!"

They gave each other a pound as they watched Vera take the next wave with a conservative but respectable display. Katriane seemed jazzed by Sugar's energy and tried to throw in some snazzy aerials and tricks too with less fanfare.

Sugar's next run was a bit of foot agility. The wave was crappy, but she made the crowd focus on her smooth tiptoes to the nose of the board and then the low crouching on the deck as she changed direction so fast that it made Erik's head feel like it had whiplash. She was able to get a small, impressive aerial at the end.

"I wish these waves were bigger," Erik said.

"She's making it work…ooh, she should've bailed on that one. She's going to get dinged on points…oh snap, Katriane fell so she's good."

"She's trying to take every wave, I dunno if that's the lick."

Colin glanced over Erik's shoulder.

"She's getting high eights and nines—"

"Gotta do better."

"All she has to do is keep more nines…ooh shit, that better be a ten…ah! 9.8…still good. The crowd is in her pocket."

Erik could feel the electricity in the spectators as they watched the future of surfing show all the way out.

"She's scoring in the same range as Belmira."

"She's dope too. Be nice to see them matched up," Colin said.

"Be like us back in the day."

"You know how I felt about that performative shit. Get the two Black guys to compete against each other. Divide and conquer."

"Sometimes. In the beginning. But you proved your worth. Shoulda stayed in it."

"That's all you. That killer instinct. Not in my nature. But fuck…she's got it. She's staying on they ass."

"She has something to prove."

The heat was done after twenty minutes.

Sugar advanced to the next round and she didn't need to be told that as she rode in with her fist in the air and her parents giving grito shouts and ululations. As his mother used to say, showing their color in public. He enjoyed it. And he enjoyed watching her.

The taste of her was still on his lips and tongue and it excited him to know that those long dark brown legs led to the center of a place he wanted to be. Soon.

The past seven days without seeing or hearing from her was torture. He didn't know how much he relied on her energy to keep him going until she was gone from his life. The children made him happy. Having Deuce back with him made him ecstatic. But it would've been even more soothing to have her there with them.

Marina asked about her every day, and even Deuce with his typical snarky mood inquired about her after he saw her mugshot online. His son was incensed when he saw Crampton grab Belmira's hair, but he was impressed when he saw Sugar jump into the mix without hesitation to help her friend.

A tap on his shoulder made him turn to his left. One of the surf contest commentators stood with a greasy grin on his sunburned face.

"Killmonger, happy to see you!"

Erik shook the man's hand.

"Good to be here."

"Sugar really came out of the box smokin'! I heard what you said about her recently. How long have you been mentoring her?"

"Only a couple of months."

The man slipped Erik his business card.

"I would love to do an interview with you two soon for the Waveline Podcast. It's great to see women of color thrive in the sport."

"Black."

"What?"

"Black. Sugar is Black. If we come on there, we're going to talk about Black women in the sport."

"Gotcha. Give me a call when you have time. Look forward to seeing you out there. Don't stay away so long again, you hear?"

The man patted Erik's back and trudged through the sand back to his area.

"Hopefully some sponsors will hit her up," Colin mumbled to Erik.

"They will. She just needs to place high in this thing and the next few events. She'll have the pick of the litter. Sponsorship has been tight with newbies, so she really gotta stand out. Money ain't rolling like it used to."

"Who you telling? Bruce and I have to get more bang for our buck. If she places high or wins, we're going to approach her."

"Serious?"

"Serious."

"That's w'sup, Black."

"We have a new campaign coming up with our Slater Wave Pool partnership. You guys talking still or…?"

"We're cool. Egos always come out when talk turns to records and shit. Y'know how it be…"

"Two sharks making nice. Well, keep playing nice cuz our girl could be the face of some things. Those fucking mugshots…my nigga, those two were serving looks with that shit. How they ain't been modeling gear is beyond me. You see this from the other night?"

Colin pulled out his cell and scrolled until he found Belmira and Sugar.

"Where was this at?" Erik said enlarging the photo.

"Some club out here. Dog, them come hither looks is too much. These two can be like you back in the day, a breath of fresh air. Shake shit up in the industry. We need something new. This economy now and the economic fallout from ten years ago? Shiitttt, we need a fucking change in direction. We need something to attract more people to the sport."

"Think she's it?"

"I know it. You know it too," Colin said taking his phone back.

"It's a grind though, dude. Folks out here starving and struggling just to get noticed."

"Cutthroat Island. What else is new? That's why I found my niche and got the fuck out. It's also why you were smart enough to branch out and diversify your portfolio. Being Black has been our good fortune. It can be hers too."

"The irony."

"It's not lost on me. Just stating the obvious. Look at her. People can't get enough of her. That jail shit just catapulted her into the limelight. We have to take care of her."

"I'll take care of her," Erik said looking Colin dead in his eye.

"Understood. Just be careful."

They walked away from the beach and toward a refreshment stand. Erik didn't want to talk to Sugar at that moment even though he was dying to. He wanted her to revel in that win with her family and keep her mind straight. The fact was, he couldn't afford to be seen cozied up with her too much.

Calista was making wild accusations to her lawyers about Sugar. The sad reality was that the accusations were becoming true. They had sexual contact, and even though there had been no full intercourse, he wanted it. Wanted it so bad he could taste it every time he looked at her. It wasn't just the release he wanted with her, he wanted to love her…give her love. He couldn't bring himself to tell Sugar how he really felt because of his divorce battle. He also didn't want to put that pressure on her, especially if she didn't feel the same way. His heart told him she did just by her responses to him physically. But the suspicious part of his own nature came into play. He'd known plenty of young women wanting to play games by wanting a Sugar Daddy. He'd played that role before only to have it reverse once those same women had a taste of the "D" and then shit switched up. Hence having Dax on his payroll. Sometimes those young women grew upset when he cut them off after moving on to the next flavor on his plate. Erik would send the Pitbull, and Dax would give that NDA reminder chat with a deep growl behind it.

Erik didn't suspect Sugar of being like that. Using him for gains. Had she never kissed him, he may very well have given her a little help and then been about his business. He felt ridiculous sometimes when he thought about it. A little one-minute kiss. Out of perhaps a couple dozen kisses from different women across the globe in over a decade.

He wanted to smash so badly, but he also wanted it to be special and have meaning for her. Just to hear her sigh in his ear had him weak in the calves and that was an anomaly of the highest order. Catching feelings this bad had him questioning everything about his life. How could he pursue a woman he was supposed to mentor? People would think he was doing it to get between her legs. His children were at the top of his list for love and protection and he wanted to place her there too without destroying his fragile family.

He had the feeling that Calista had him under surveillance to catch him in another liaison so she could prevent him from having permanent split custody. She was fighting him on allowing the children out of the country when he traveled. She was concerned that their kids would be spending time with his "whores". Erik just wanted the freedom to take Marina out for competitions. His daughter was ready to take the plunge, her confidence bolstered from Sugar's camp and her new training. Marina surfed twice a day and made him take her running. She started a little weight training in their Mission Beach home and was signing up for more junior league open invitationals. Instead of watching anime like Deuce, his baby girl watched his old surf videos and any wave riding online. Muffin had the talent. Their bond grew stronger.

How could he juggle all that home life and want to have Sugar too?

"Killmonger! Killmonger!"

A small group of white children ran up to him wanting to have pictures taken. Colin helped by using the four separate cell phones the youngins thrust in Erik's face for the photos.

"Killmonger."

Now a group of women with revealing swimsuits, dark tans, and honey mouths stepped in front of him. He took photos, ignoring some of the extra close pressings of bodies against him.

"I hope you win..."

A buxom raven-haired cutie purred trying to direct his attention to her cleavage and a tiny bikini bottom that barely covered her vulva. Any other time, he'd be all over it. But it rolled over him. He looked, but…that was it. Sugar was in his mouth and in his heart, and he had to protect her from scandal, and he also had to protect his children from more domestic disruption.

###

Her lips were tight, and her eyes were focused on his with so much intensity that it made Erik feel like he was staring at his younger self.

This bold, mouthy, assertive, gifted, and insanely beautiful young woman had surfed her bodacious ass off into the finals.

And now he was giving her advice on how to slaughter her bestie. Belmira.

"She's not your friend out there. That's your damn enemy. Hear me? No hand slaps. No dap. No peace signs. No kind words of encouragement. The waves are perfect and may jack up more. Get your ass out there and leave their blood in the water. Understand?"

She nodded.

"Let me hear you say it."

"She's my enemy."

"Not ya homie, not ya girl, not your best bud since you were thirteen. That's now a stank ass bitch. A bitch who wants to take your things. Same for Augustina. I saw those pictures of you at brunch with Augustina and having that sisterhood feminist bonding. Fuck all dat shit. Hear me?"

"Yeah, Coach."

He heard footsteps next to them in the parking lot near his jeep's driver's side door. They were partially hidden from so many prying eyes. When he looked over to his right a photographer was trying to take shots of them.

"Get the fuck outta here!" he shouted.

The photographer's face drained of color with Erik's thunderous voice attacking him and he moved his ass on with no photos taken.

Erik turned his attention back to Sugar. Her hair looked like a giant black sun and the orange bikini she had on made her darker skin pop with amazing red undertones. He tried to keep his eyes from dragging up and down her body, but he gave a sly glance at her thighs. Lord help him.

"You don't need to rely on tricks this time out. These judges want to see skills in the basics with a tiny bit of extra. Use your speed and that finesse you got when you're carving. If you can find a small tube, take it. Just don't get caught in the backwash and crash into the pier. People love that tube shit. When you do it, it looks hella cool."

She smirked and her glossy lips made him move in closer when he knew shouldn't.

"It's yours if you want it, Sugar. Unlike golf, or tennis which have individual players playing against other individuals, surfing is the ultimate 'just you' sport. Just you and the waves you choose. You fly or fall on your own. Got it?"

She nodded. He cocked his ear toward her.

"I got it, I got it," she said. Her face looked annoyed.

"Don't make no stank face with me, girl. You gotta say that shit out loud with your chest. I need to hear it from you."

She rolled her eyes.

"Keep rolling them eyes."

He didn't mean to put that much gruffness behind his words, but she caught it, and something flickered behind her eyes. Her lips moved, and she brought her legs closer together. His right hand dropped down by his crotch and he leaned forward so only she could hear him.

"Don't act up out here. You know what happens when you do."

A small sigh escaped her lips and her right hand dropped to her mound and he saw her touch where her piercing was behind the material of her bikini bottom.

His eyes darted around, and he blocked her from view as he pressed his index and ring finger against her hidden jewelry.

"I know you like it when I punish you. I like it too."

Tiny minuscule swirls from his fingertips had her mewling against him. It was so wrong. So reckless. He couldn't help himself.

"I feel you getting fat, girl."

He patted her vulva lightly making her gasp before he returned to her hidden clit. Grabbing the towel Sugar had in her hand, Erik held it against his burgeoning erection in his thigh-high black board shorts.

The danger made him take more risky chances. He pushed her against the jeep and slipped his fingers down her bikini bottom and pinched her clit.

"…wet…" he groaned slipping his fingers up inside of her.

His shorts had the rare zipper and Sugar unzipped him and pulled out his dick through the opening. She stroked him and the breath got caught in his throat.

"Such a dirty girl. Lettin me do this to you…"

They both looked around to make sure they still had privacy and they did, most people packed onto the beach waiting for the Women's qualifying finals.

"…fuck, Sugar…lemme have you baby…please. Tonight. I'm fucking losing it over you."

Her eyes were trying to focus but they were so glassy watching his face. He gritted his teeth when her fingers twisted under the ridge of his bulbous head.

"Lemme have you—"

"Yeah!"

"Tonight?"

"Yeah! Oooohhhh…!"

That simple affirmation made him explode.

Erik's hips jerked forward, and his glutes clenched tight as his semen shot out all over the side of his car.

"Fuck, baby, look what you made me do…big mess all on my ride and shit—"

Sugar kept stroking, squeezing his tip as she worked out more hot cum from him, watching it spill from her hand in large stringy drops all over the dark pavement. He felt her walls clench around his wet fingers then and he gave her short deep thrusts. Her pussy tugged and pulled, and he groaned knowing his dick was going to be there soon enough feeling that tight heat all snug around it. Tugging and pulling all over his thickness.

"I'm gon' fuck the shit outta you, girl. Just wait!" he gasped removing his fingers and gripping his dick, finishing off the last strokes that emptied his balls.

Voices.

Erik quickly tucked away his dick and zipped up his shorts as Sugar grabbed her towel from his shoulder and held it in front of her. An excited young couple walked three cars down away from them.

He was being stupid. Out in the open risking it all just to touch her.

They were definitely fucking after the day was done. He had to get it out of his system or else he would lose his damn mind pining for her and doing dumb shit like fingerbanging her out in the open. He was smarter than that. She had him fucked up. That was his only excuse.

"You go first, I gotta clean this off."

"With what?"

"I have water in the back."

She pushed up against him.

"Sugar, c'mon…we can't—"

She kissed him. Mouth open. Her tongue was still the sweetest thing in the world to him.

"I want you. I feel mixed up, Erik. I can't help it. I wish you could take me right now…right here—"

"Damn, Sugar…"

She pressed her forehead against his and they just held still. The scent of her hair was mint, her skin chocolaty cocoa butter lotion, and an orange-smelling sunblock.

"Go ahead of me. Remember what I told you."

He had to push her away to make her move. When she finally wandered off, he grabbed a gallon-sized water bottle from his trunk and dumped it all over the side of his car door. Nuttin' in public like some horny teen. Jesus.

His life had come to this.

###

From the start it was war.

Erik could tell Sugar took his words to heart because the moment they all stepped into the water together, she did not let up.

The waves were reaching five feet and at the height, the three women looked like they were dancing on tiptoes across the peaks near the Huntington Pier. Sugar and Belmira knew each other's styles and weaknesses, but Sugar was well versed in staying on someone's ass when she put that pressure on both women. Her only real problem was that she relied on a lot of trick moves instead of the solid oldies but goodies he told her to do, but she must've felt the need to do them since Belmira was throwing up nines and a few tens to Sugar's eights and high nines. Some people had to learn the hard way.

The one bright spot was the often rare and perfect tube that Sugar snatched like Prometheus stealing fire from Zeus that netted her the only ten of her final heat. Crouched low she projected herself through it and they all thought she was about to fall when her right rail hit the side of the water wall. She corrected her balanced in a crazy display of agility and flexibility and shot out like a cannonball in a spray of thick white foam that had the crowd clapping and cheering like crazy. Belmira and Sugar had an intense back and forth of shredding great waves with a global audience watching them.

But Erik saw it.

Sugar's body language could be read like an open book, and the way her shoulders slumped forward as the last three minutes ticked away, he knew that she knew that Belmira had won.

Sugar was the second-place winner.

And she hated it.

As the women left the water, Sugar gave Belmira dap and they both walked over to Sugar's parents to leave their boards. Belinda and Cedro, along with Robert and her two San Diego besties, Yolanda and Asia, gave Sugar hugs and kisses and congratulations until it was time for the two women to go to the winners stand.

Sugar did her best to stand there thrilled for her friend, but the coldness in her eyes let him know she was not handling it well. It probably didn't matter if Erik reminded her that she beat out fifty-nine other elite women surfers from around the globe, that she and Belmira threw out impressive high scores before averaging, and that she had just received a check for thirty-thousand dollars.

Nah.

Sugar stood there with her gravity-ignoring hair and bruising brown eyes simmering with a fire that Erik knew all too well.

That girl needed to be a winner. First place only. Fuck all that number two bullshit.

After it was all said and done and she stood near her family with her second-place trophy and money as pictures were taken of her and Belmira, Erik decided to step in and lift up her spirits with a pep talk-

Two sets of wildly flailing arms wrapped around his midsection nearly knocking him down.

"Daddy! Surprise!"

Marina's excited voice startled him. He looked down at his son and daughter with their wide grins on their faces. Turning around he saw Colin standing with Calista who wore big glasses and an even bigger floppy sun hat.

"They wanted to come and see you compete tomorrow," Calista said.

Behind her, Erik saw the stone-faced discomfort of his soon to be ex-in-laws, Margie and Todd Salinger.

"Are you surprised, Dad?" Deuce said.

His son had a genuine happy face and Erik hugged him and Marina tight.

"Yeah, I'm surprised. I'm happy to see you both."

He didn't want to, but his eyes flicked up toward Sugar.

Erik never wanted to see that look on her face again. The sparkle of tears he saw her wiping from her eyes were not from her family's joy about her success.

It was from his failure.

As a husband. A father. And a lover.

Fuck.