by Casey Diam
It should be like riding a bicycle, but I was thinking way too much when I never used to. Fear had embedded itself inside my head, and I would not be able to do this unless I faced it and got rid of it.
As Lee held the video camera up, Sean continued to encourage me. “This is baby stuff, Gabs, I know you can do it. You’ve been doing jumps better than me since you were five. You fucking got this, okay? It’s you and the mountain. We’ll go first.”
I plugged in my headphones and turned up the music while I watched Hunter slide down to the jump and fly off the lip, doing a few simple spins before Sean followed suit, grabbing the tail of the board before disappearing behind the jump.
I can do that. I know I can.
I tweaked my knee, and my board slid down the slope. I danced on my toe and heel edge, slowing the momentum as memories filled my head of when I used to do this every day for hours. I went up the jump and off the lip, doing a little grab. My board landed on the snow a second later, and I was in complete control. My heart leaped with a joy I hadn’t realized was missing while my brothers screamed random things from below where they’d stopped to watch.
Chapter 52
Ryker
Three months later . . .
The wind whipped across my face, and I pulled my neck gaiter up to cover my nose.
There was something intriguing about listening to Japanese over the loudspeakers at the Winter Olympics in Japan, but I also had no idea what they were saying, so I waited impatiently for the English commentator to come on, because my baby was next.
“Gabby Taylor is currently in sixth place, and we haven’t seen much from her in her qualifying runs or on her first and second run. So, this is it,” the commentator finally remarked, and they might as well have remained silent. The last thing Gabby needed was more doubts.
She’d already been receiving some backlash about her competing and then being selected for a spot on Team USA when more and more people had found out about Chase, so I knew she’d been holding back, but fuck all those people for putting doubts in her head. They didn’t have the slightest idea of what she was capable of.
“Can she do it?” the man continued over the speakers. “Can she make it onto the podium today?”
I was standing in the audience at the bottom of the course, waiting, watching, praying, and mentally telling her that she could do this.
Gabby had gotten a 64.3 score on her first run and a 70 on her second run, but since each run was counted separately with it being the best of three, she still had a chance.
Come on, baby, I encouraged as the commentator went on to state the scores she had to beat. “She will need at least a 78.5 . . .”
The girl in the current gold medalist position had an 83.5, and the bronze spot holder had a score of 78.4.
Gabby started down the course a second later, but since some parts were blocked from view, I wouldn’t be able to see her in person until the second big jump, which was when I saw her mid-air. I stopped breathing, tears welling in my eyes. She was going for it. Holy shit.
The crowd started to scream. I started to scream. Her dad, mom, and brothers standing next to me began cheering.
“Cab 16 with perfect landing, one more jump, and after that—oh my God!”
My hand went over my mouth even though my gaiter was over it as chills ran through my body at the sight of Gabby spinning through the air.
“A frontside triple-cork 1440. What just happened? Oh my God!” the commenters shouted, their excitement carrying through the crowd as Gabby landed flawlessly and navigated down to the flat before unstrapping her board. When her score on the board came up at 98.2, she tripped on her board and almost fell on her ass.
“Gabby Taylor has put down the biggest run of her life, of today, and has taken the gold medalist position in the last run of the day with a 98.2.”
“What?” I said, looking at Sean and Hunter as we all started to go crazy.
“Dude, holy shit.”
“Holy shit.”
Later that night after the medal ceremony, we were inside a restaurant in Tokyo on the fifty-second floor. A treat, if you will, but I had other intentions. I looked into the camera on my phone as I live-streamed walking away from our table and signaling for Sean.
“So, I have some news, guys,” I said, staring into my phone. “And it isn’t about how my girl just got a freaking gold medal that weighs more than our son while setting a record score in her event, but damn—” I bit my lip. “Yeah, this is not about that.”
Taking the ring from my pocket, I set it on the tip of my pinky and wiggled my finger in front of my face.
“So, I have this,” I whispered, peeking over to where Gabby was talking to a few people to make sure she wasn’t looking my way. “I’m about to propose, and shit, I’m nervous. She has no idea. She thinks we’re just here to eat and celebrate her win today.” I drew in a breath. “Man.”
Why was I doing this live-streaming thing again? As if it weren’t nerve-wracking enough that her family was about to watch me propose, I thought it would be fun to have all our friends back home, along with most of my half a million followers, watch me do this. What if she said no?
I chuckled at Brody’s comment. “I’m here for you, dude.”
“All right, here goes. Wish me luck, guys, and I might have to go into hiding if she turns me down, so if you don’t hear from me after this—” I let out a breath and gave the phone to Sean to continue filming as I walked over to Gabby, the back of my neck tingling.
Holy shit.
I stopped at her table and touched her shoulder. She looked up and smiled. “Hey.”
I lowered down to one knee.
“What are you—”
I took her hand in mine.
“I can’t remember the exact day we met. All I remember is this amazing girl who could land jumps that no one else I knew could. I remember how shy you were and how kind you were. I remember your signature pigtails that I used to pull on. I remember how special you’ve always been to me, even when I was a complete idiot.”
“Oh my God,” she whispered, seeming to catch on to what was going on.
“I wouldn’t have admitted it before, but I’m sure I knew deep down that one day I’d end up here on my knees in front of you like this. I just didn’t know that it would be happening this soon. Although I guess they say that the early bird catches the worm, not that I’m comparing you to a worm or anything. And I’m making a fool of myself,” I muttered.
She laughed.
“What I’m trying to say is that I love you, Gabriella Taylor. You and Chase are my world, and I just need to ask you something really important right now. Do you like my hair like this?”
She chuckled. “Yes.”
“Another important question, do you still rock out to eighties and nineties rock in your room?”
Her chest jerked as she continued to laugh. “Yes.”
I leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “Do you still think about me when you come?”
Of the rare occasion I got her to blush, this was one of them. She covered her face with her free hand for a second. “Yes.”
I lifted the ring between us. “Will you marry me?”
She nodded with the biggest smile on her face. “Yes. Oh my gosh.”
Epilogue
RYKER
One year later . . .
“What the fuck?”
I stared at my wife and my brother’s girlfriend in front of a mirror at the gym doing jumping squats in these itsy-bitsy colored tights that left nothing to the imagination. “What the fuck is going on here?”
“Dude!” Ash said.
I cocked my head at the few admirers they had. “For that house plan, there’s a home gym, right?”
“Oh, hell yes, and if there wasn’t, there would definitely be one added. Oh my God, I need to propose like today, dude. What the fuck?”
“Yeah, I don’t think these dudes give a shit, that’s my wife.” My sexy-as-fu
ck wife with the most perfect ass I’d ever seen. I watched as her booty bounced when she landed and shot up in the air again.
“I’ve never even seen her in that before,” Ash said as we neared the two goddesses stopping traffic in the gym, and I could be wrong, but I was almost sure one of the thirsty-ass dudes standing around was taking pictures of them.
Jesus, don’t let me punch anyone today.
“I think it’s that clothing line that’s been sending them stuff to advertise,” I told him.
Gabby had become a brand ambassador for several huge companies who sent her stuff all the time, hoping to win her over, which had to be where she got those spandex-type shorts.
A few months post Olympics, after tons of interviews, she ended up with a huge payday when a sports channel approached her with a pitch to create a short series on YouTube with all the clips she had leading up to the qualifications, selections, and finally the Olympics. She ended up paying off the balance on her parents’ mortgage last year, which they tried to talk her out of but she did anyway.
“What do you want to do?” I asked Ash before I went over there and kissed the shit out of her instead, because damn I loved her.
“Besides tell her she can’t wear that shit out of the bedroom anymore?”
“Yeah, it isn’t like they’re in L.A. working out on the beach or some shit, we need to put that ass in check. United front, dude.”
We bumped our fists.
“And you know if Averie keeps said ass from me tonight, I’m blaming this shit on you.”
“Same deal.” I grinned. “We’re getting too good at this.”
He laughed. “Oh, man, they’d kill us if they heard us right now.”
The girls both glanced at us approaching in the mirror, but they continued their workout.
I walked right up behind Gabby as Ash did the same to Averie, blocking the view that should only be ours to see anyway.
Gabby held up two fingers, showing us they had two more to go. Once she straightened from her last one, she let out a heavy breath and turned to me. I handed her my water bottle before she decided to bend over and get her own.
Sorry, dudes waiting on that show, but I’m not sorry.
“Thanks.”
As she swallowed a huge gulp, I said, “I’m all for you ladies being great entrepreneurs with this fitness app thing, but we’re gonna have to draw the line here.”
“We?” Gabby asked. “What are you talking about?”
“Yup, Ash and I,” I said, glancing at Averie.
“What?” Averie asked, slanting her head at Ash. “What is he talking about?”
“You’re showing a little too much, Sweets. These shorts are way too sexy, I can see too much, which means these other dudes in here can see it too,” Ash said to Averie as I told Gabby, “You and I should work out together today.”
“What? Averie and I have our leg day plan,” Gabby said, glancing at Averie.
“Yeah, but apparently, these dudes didn’t get the memo that this ass is mine.” I grasped her waist with one of my hands as she handed me back my water.
“It is yours.” She grinned, and I couldn’t help but return her smile. “They only get to stare, but my husband, on the other hand, gets to do whatever he wants with this.”
She turned with a smirk, showing me her ass, as I said, “You’re still working out with me today.”
“Fine. You okay with that?”
“I don’t know,” Averie replied. “Should we let them suffer?”
“No,” Ash and I said at the same time.
Averie sighed. “Apparently, they both want to be cavemen. All right.”
I knocked Ash’s fist. “Chest day tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.”
“You two are ridiculous,” Averie said as Gabby bent to grab her water, and I was almost certain she wasn’t wearing underwear.
“Babe.” I took her arm, tugging her toward me and leaning down for a kiss. “Way too sexy for your own good.” I sighed. “These shorts have to go. To me, these dudes’ eyes are like hands all over you. And it makes me want to fuck you—hard.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“I am a hundred percent serious.”
“I know you are, husband.”
Damn, I loved it when she called me that.
“Then after this, that’s exactly what we’re doing in the shower. We can pick up Chase from the daycare after.”
“I would like that.”
“It’s going to be the highlight of my day.”
“Picking up Chase?”
My hand connected with her ass before I realized what I was doing.
Fuck.
“Sorry, babe,” I whispered, tossing an arm around Gabby’s shoulder.
“Did he just—” Averie turned around to face us. “Ryker!”
I shrugged.
What could I say?
I might not be an asshole anymore, but I wasn’t exactly a gentleman either.
The End
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ALPEN SPRINGS #1 -Ash and Averie
Bad Choices and Heartaches is the second novel in my new series, Alpen Springs. Read or listen to Ashton and Averie’s heartfelt story in book one by clicking on the image below!
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Chapter 1
Paige
It was like any normal night that summer.
Reese, Alaina, and I would be sent to bed before ten.
Mom was strict with our bedtimes, but we never obeyed. Alaina would be up, messaging her boyfriend—or so she said. At thirteen, she wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend. I wasn’t either, and I didn’t, but I would still be up late, practicing chords on my guitar or writing corny teenage lyrics. Reese, on the other hand, was the oldest, and if it were a weekend, she would be on a date with her high school sweetheart. But it wasn’t a weekend, so she was lying in my bed with me, watching television as I strummed my guitar.
“It isn’t fair that you have the musical talent,” Reese said.
“It isn’t fair that you’re leaving me to go to college in two weeks.”
“I know,” she agreed, picking up her phone.
We went silent as we caught the moment of reality; maybe it would be something we could both look back on.
“Hey, let’s go steal Laina’s phone and text her boyfriend,” Reese suggested.
“I’ll be there in a second. I need to put Dad’s guitar back in the studio,” I muttered.
As she exited my room, I turned my attention to the Kim Possible episode playing on the television. It was almost finished. Kim was propelling off a building to save her best friend, Ron. He had tried but failed in his attempt to help fight the bad g
uys.
Five minutes later, I changed into my nightdress. With Dad’s guitar in hand, I jogged a few stairs down to the first floor. Usually, I would switch on the lights before I came down, but a lamp was already on by the couch.
There was no need to tiptoe around the mansion late at night. My sisters and I even joked about having a party on the other side of the house without Mom or Dad ever knowing. But something was different about tonight as I walked through one of the three family rooms. Dad must have been working late. I could see the light glowing from inside his music workroom. Though with the studio door wide open, I didn’t expect to find him inside.
He didn’t mind what time we went to bed like Mom did. Although, when he saw I was up this late, he’d frown and then smile before hugging me good night.
A glass-breaking scream penetrated the walls of the house, and a weird, stifled blow followed. Then there was silence. It was either Reese or Alaina. It hadn’t sounded like they were playing. That scream was more like a cry for help. A signal to someone that something was wrong.
My feet stopped moving, the hairs on my skin stood as a chill passed through my body. I turned, still maintaining a tight grip on Dad’s guitar. Two choices swirled around my head: go see what was wrong or leave Dad’s guitar since I was already so close to the studio. I chose option two because, as much as I wanted to rush to my sisters, a gnawing feeling encouraged me toward the studio.
My dad was reclined in his chair, head hanging over the back, and there was blood. Glops of blood. On the wall. The floor.
Dad.
My chest constricted. The organs inside my body shuddered as I walked toward him.
