Vain: A Stepbrother Romance

by Hunter, Chelsea

  “Mick. Mick!” There’s someone yelling overtop of the crowd.

  I squint to see if I can tell who it is. It’s Jaime. Good fucking Lord.

  “What do you want?” I hiss at him.

  He glares. “It is not what I want. It’s what you owe me.”

  “We’re still under contract, so anything you make from this operation, I get a piece of.”

  “Jaime, you are such a fucking crook. Why didn’t I see this before?”

  He shrugs. “It’s nothing personal. It’s just business.”

  Jaime has some kid beside him. I can only assume, after his run-in with Greg, it’s a bodyguard. He looks rather small to be a bodyguard, though.

  I nod to the stranger. “Who the fuck is this guy?”

  “Oh, that’s right, you don’t pay attention to surfing anymore. This is Blane Vandeer. He’s a surfer from Brazil. I guess you can call him your replacement.”

  My blood begins to boil. I want to hate that kid, but why should I? He’s trying to make a living, just like me.

  I look back to Jaime. “I have a proposition for you.”

  He raises his brows. “Oh, yeah?”

  “I am going to surf in the next contest. If I beat your boy here, you rip up all the contracts you have with me and absolve any outstanding debt.”

  Jaime laughs. “Why would I do that?”

  “If your boy here wins, I will give you all of the money that I owe you, plus the Shelby Cobra you have been trying to get from me for all these years.”

  Jaime blinks at me, hard. “Are you serious? From what I heard, you can’t even walk, never mind surf. On top of that, you are going to give me your 1.5 million dollar car?”

  I smile. “Yup.”

  Sam pipes up. “Mick, don’t do this. There has to be another way.”

  I understand her concern. I’m not sure I can surf, and now I’m putting this all on the line. I need to do this to break away from Jaime, though. I need to be able to start out with a clean slate. I need to do this for Sam and me. Besides, I don’t even own the Cobra. As my accountant said, I’m worse than broke. The worst thing that happens here is I go bankrupt. Done deal!

  Chapter 25 Training - Mick

  “Mick, don’t do this. There has to be another way.”

  “Deal,” Jaime says.

  Jaime shakes my hand with all the greed in the world. I am amazed at just how slimy he is. I never thought he was my friend, but I also never thought it would come to this. I need to start training, and training hard.

  “Mick!” Sam snaps once Jaime has walked away. “Why would you do that?”

  “No time for that now, I need your help. Can you train me to win?”

  “I don’t know, Mick.”

  “I need you to say yes.”

  She sighs. “Yes.”

  “You don’t believe it now, but you will soon enough. We are going to get our lives back, and it all starts tomorrow.”

  Sam and I barely talk for the rest of the day. We don’t even go home together. I’m not really sure she wants to be with me. After all, I have put everything on the line. But I truly believe I can do it. We agree to meet up at the beach the next morning to start the lessons with our new clients, after their lessons will be mine.

  ***

  As I’m teaching people how to surf, it amazes me how much insight I’m able to gain. I never really had to think about the how of it before; it’s always just come to me naturally. Now, however, I have to think about it. I am able to understand and break down how I used to do what I did and what people need to do in order to master the skills of surfing.

  I have great success that day. Every single one of my students is able to stand on the board. A few are even able to turn. As surfing goes, to turn on your first day is quite a feat. There is a great deal of satisfaction in teaching, something I never thought I would ever say. I truly and thoroughly enjoy it.

  As I finish with my last student, I looked over to see Sam. She’s majestically standing on the beach, her arms across her chest. She’s trying to be mad, but a smirk falls across her face. She loves the fact that I am teaching and I think she loves the fact that I am that happy about being in the water.

  My grin cannot be contained as I watch her watching me. This was the woman I love.

  Once the last student is done, we begin working on my surfing. I grab my favorite board and head out to the water. Nervousness washes over me. I think about the impending competition and how embarrassed I’ll be if I can’t surf. I sit up on my board, waiting for a wave. Looking down at my leg, I can see the scars where the shark sunk his teeth into my flesh. My heart pounds just looking at it.

  “What’s wrong, Mick?”

  “Nothing. Just thinking about something that happened to me once.”

  “Mick, if you’re scared, do it anyways.”

  She knows what I’m thinking about. In fact, most times she knows what I’m thinking. My life has changed so completely in the past few months, and there is no way I’d be here today without her. She’s so beautiful, so perfect—she is my everything now.

  I nod at her and make my way into the next wave. I spring up to my feet and steady myself on the board. It’s an amazing feeling. This must have been what it felt like when I surfed for the first time. It amazes me that the water is pushing me, supporting me. I am at one with the ocean, and I feel at peace.

  I begin to make wide, sweeping turns along the wave. Granted, I don’t have the same strength that I did before, but I’m able to maneuver the board around. All of that strength may come back with a little bit of time.

  Getting to the end of the wave and flopping back down, I look back to see Sam catching the next wave. She’s a great surfer in her own right. She has the old school moves and a real grace about her. She’s a real joy to watch. I don’t know why I never thought about dating someone who I had something in common with before. It seems so obvious now. I paddle out again, watching her, and she leaves her wave early so she can meet me.

  “You’re looking good out there,” I tell her.

  Sam smiles. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

  We surf for about an hour after that, laughing and joking all the way. This is what surfing is about. I regret making that bet with Jaime, but it may be the only way to get him off my back. I hate him with all that I am, and I need to be able to start a life with Sam and our new baby. I just needed to win one more time!

  We continue to teach lessons that month and surf every night. I get back a lot of my surfing skills, but I am definitely not the surfer I used to be. I’m not sure I can win the competition, but I hope I can at least beat that kid and win the bet.

  It’s now the day before the competition. Coincidentally, I have to go into the hospital for a checkup on my leg to be sure everything has healed properly. Sam accompanies me to the appointment. She’s been acting weird the whole day.

  “What is your deal today?” I ask her.

  “Nothing. Why?”

  “I don’t know, it just seems like you’re up to something.”

  “Just happy to be with you.”

  I shrug. “Okay, Sam, whatever.”

  The doctor is ready to see me as soon as we arrive. I guess that is just the treatment you get when you’re a famous surfer in Surf City USA. He’s quite pleased with the progress I had made. No doubt surfing for the last month has probably helped to strengthen my leg. It’s almost strong enough for me to surf the way I was used to—almost.

  “Keep up the good work, Mick. You have made an almost miraculous recovery. I don’t think I need to see you anymore, so with that, I will wish you the best and say goodbye.”

  “Thanks, doc. I would like to say I am going to miss you, but I will be glad to be out of hospitals for a while.”

  Sam and I walk away from the doctor. I’m glad this is almost all behind me, and also glad my leg is now “doctor-approved.”

  “One more thing, Mick,” the doctor says.

  I turn to him. “Yeah?
”

  “Good luck.”

  I smile. “Thanks, doc.”

  As we walk away, Sam grabs at her stomach. “Oh, my God!”

  “What’s wrong, Sam?”

  “I don’t know, Mick. Something doesn’t feel right!”

  “Is it the baby?”

  “I think so.”

  Looking at Sam, I notice water is dripping on the floor. The doctor comes over and puts her in a wheelchair. He grabs an orderly passing by.

  “Take this woman to the maternity ward immediately.”

  Chapter 26 – False Evidence Appearing Real - Mick

  Fear courses through my entire body. As we practically run to the department, where the look on Sam’s face is one of intense pain. I am scared, we could be losing this baby now. The doctor on duty immediately brings us in and conducts an examination.

  “Let’s get you to an ultrasound machine. We need to see what’s going on.”

  “Is everything okay?” Sam whimpers.

  “We don’t have enough information yet. Time is of the essence.”

  Tears begin to flow from Sam’s eyes as I hold her hand. Sam gets onto the bed with some difficulty as the technician puts jelly on her stomach. My feelings regarding having a child are all clarified in one simple moment. I was not sure just how much I wanted that child until I thought it would not be OK. As I watch the technician search for my unborn child, a flicker appears on the screen. It’s a heartbeat.

  “That’s good, right, doctor?” I ask.

  “Yes, that part is good. The concern is your water has broken.”

  We wait for what seems like hours, but it must have only been a few minutes.

  “Ah, there it is,” the doctor says at last.

  “There what is?” Sam replies.

  “It seems you have a gall stone.”

  She frowns. “What?”

  “Thankfully, these two things are not related. You have gall stones, which can cause tremendous abdominal pain. The liquid was not amniotic fluid—it was most likely urine. A reaction to the pain, or to the pregnancy and an inability to control your bladder. All good news, guys. Everything is okay here. Use Tylenol for the pain, these stones will pass.”

  What an anticlimactic ending. Just like that the fear is over. What is left to be said? “Thank you, doctor.”

  I am going to ensure that no ill ever comes to my child. All of my life comes into perspective in that one moment, and now I feel I have a purpose. I hug Sam and kiss her, and we share some tears of joy as we leave the hospital to prepare for the next day.

  ***

  I awake early to prepare. This contest is a strange one, as it is a one-day competition. Kind of an “all or nothing” challenge. There’s a lot riding on this for me and my impending family. Sam and I make our way down to the beach.

  “Good luck, Mick,” she tells me. “I know you will do great things.”

  “I love you, Sam. Truly, I do.”

  Just then, Jaime walks over with his prodigy. He makes a face. “Aww, how cute. Love. Are you ready to lose, Mick?”

  “I am just here to surf. Nothing more, nothing less.”

  “Are you going to use that old crappy board? Looks like its a hundred years old.”

  “Yup.”

  Jaime laughs. “You’ve changed, man. Doesn’t bother me. I have a nice place in my driveway picked out for my new car.”

  “An asshole to the end, eh, Jaime?”

  Jaime begins ranting and raving at me, but I have already walked away. The beach is packed as the announcers introduce all of the surfers on the beach. This is an invitational contest, so it’s a small field. The waves are big today, really big. I can feel a lump in my throat as I hop in the water to paddle out. Jaime’s prodigy, Blane, catches the first wave. He’s a really good surfer. I’m unsure I can compete with that, but I have no choice. The announcer calls out:

  “That was a ten-point wave, with a total score of 9.79”

  I paddle into the next wave, cutting back as hard as I can. This is a great one, should be a good score. Looking back, I see the tube creeping up on me. I duck down as the wave comes overhead and surrounds me. I stay in for as long as I can, then rocket out to the crowd, cheering and yelling.

  “Welcome back, Mick! We’ve missed you,” the announcer said. “9.70”

  Crap, just a little off the pace. I’m unable to match that wave or ride for the rest of the time limit, but it’s enough to get me to the finals. It was now a two-horse race and I am going to have to really bring it on to win this next heat. Never have I wanted to win so badly in my life.

  Sam is cheering as I come out of the water.

  “You were so good out there. I am so proud of you.”

  “It wasn’t enough, Sam. It wasn’t enough.”

  “Well, it’s not over yet. You can beat this kid.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I spot the weasel again. “You don’t have it anymore Mick,” Jaime says.

  “Go fuck yourself, Jaime. You are the biggest low-life on the planet. There is no loyalty in you. I was your client for ten years. I made you who you are, the least you can do is not be an asshole.”

  “Mick, when will you learn? It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. I will always win, because I have all of you working for me. You will run out of time, or energy, or just not be good anymore. That is where we drop you. In fact, I am kinda glad this all happened. It saves me from having to get rid of you on my own. You were pretty much washed up, anyway.”

  I leap to my feet and throw an errant punch at Jaime, barely missing his face.

  “See?” he laughs. “You’re too slow to even hit a guy like me. Goodbye… loser!”

  I have to watch him saunter away with my pride in his hand. There is nothing I can do except beat that kid. He’s right, though—it really doesn’t matter where I started. If I don’t win, I’m finished. I look over to Sam as she puts her arms around me in an attempt at consolation. I have to win. I have to!

  I paddle out to meet the kid for perhaps the most important competition of my life. When I get there, he begins to speak.

  “Hey, Mick, I know this may not mean a lot, but I am a big fan. You’re what got me in the water in the first place, and I just wanted to say that it is a real honor to surf with you.”

  “Thanks, kid. Good luck.”

  In any other moment, those words would have felt better. Knowing how much I had to lose, they almost stung.

  Looking out to the water I notice the waves have really shrunk in size, which should favor me with my longer board. I watch as Blane catches the first one. This kid is good—his kickback’s amazing. Then he does the unthinkable: he catches air and lands it, off that tiny wave. Shit! I can’t do that anymore. The score comes out over the loudspeaker.

  “9.0.”

  Wow, low score. Why would they score him so low? My wave is next. It’s a decent wave that I’m able to ride relatively well. I throw in some old school tricks, which make the crowd hoot and holler.

  “9.1.”

  I’m ahead, but not by much. The kid rides the next wave expertly. He is such a clean, technical surfer. He’s definitely better than I am, in this state.

  “9.5.”

  Okay, it’s performance time for me. I ride my next few waves, unable to meet or match his score.

  The horn blows. Five minutes left. I have maybe one more chance to beat him. On his next wave, Blane receives a 9.8, which is as high a score as I have ever achieved, even at my best. It seems all may be for naught. I can’t beat that score. I slump into my board and accepted defeat.

  As I lift my head, I look to shore and see Sam standing there. Her belly has started to protrude with our unborn child. I guess I could give up, but why should I? That would be no way to teach a child how to live. The least I can do is try.

  Looking back, I see as perfect a wave as I have seen all session. I paddle in, and it is a big, powerful, charging wave. I make a few nice cutbacks and ride into the pipe. I real
ize, at this point, I am going to have to do something magical to win. I am going to try and air my board. I don’t know if I have the strength, but this will be my only chance.

  On my next kickback, I power my way down the wave, increasing my speed, then cut sharply to the top of the wave. My board comes up and off of the wave to the cheering of the crowd. For a moment, I am weightless above the wave, looking down. I am going to land this. I am going to land this and win the competition.

  I come back down into the wave hard, but my bum leg betrays me. As I crash down into the water, I feel numb. I close my eyes and let the wave bounce me around, almost not wanting to resurface. I’ve just lost the competition and about every penny I didn’t have. I have disappointed Sam, myself, and now my unborn child. I sadly swim to the beach to the cheering of the crowd. Everyone pats me on the back, saying how incredible that was. This definitely puts a damper on the plan I had for Sam, but it will not stop me from doing it.

  Blane comes up to me and shakes my hand.

  “Amazing, Mick, just amazing. You are an inspiration to us all.”