by Cassie Mae
He nods and pulls his phone out, keeping one arm wrapped around me. He gives my hip a little squeeze as he sets the phone on speaker. Ringing fills the air between us, and I watch Aislynn’s name blink across the screen.
“Excuse me,” she answers after the third ring. “Aren’t you supposed to be knocking Vans with your girl? Why are you calling me?”
A snort billows from my nose, and I quickly slap a hand over my mouth and flick my gaze to my very red-faced boyfriend.
Boyfriend. I really like that identifier. Never really used it before now.
“Bit of a favor to ask,” he croaks out. “We can’t get Mad’s car to start.”
“Ahh, and you need a rescue team.”
“Or just you.”
“Ha ha. You just gonna leave the car there?”
Tanner and I share a look, and I take his cue and pull my phone out. Luckily, I’ve got my policy saved in my mobile files.
“Mad’s gonna call a tow,” he says. “Think you can come give us a lift?”
“Hmm… hang on.” Her voice grows distant, and I hear her giving the rundown of our situation to someone else. I hope it’s not Pete or Candace.
Something muffles, and she hops back on the line. “Find something to do for three hours. We’ll be there soon.”
We? I want to ask, but Tanner jumps in with a “thank you, Ais” and hangs up. I scroll through my policy with a relieved sigh, finding the AAA section and calling the number.
“So,” Tanner says when I’m done, “what are we gonna do for three hours?”
“Well, I’d say let’s makeout, but I think the tow truck is going to take our backseat.”
“Damn.” He pushes us off the car and heads toward the trunk. “How about we try to talk the place into letting us play?”
I follow his gaze to the rec center, and that familiar warmth that comes from the thought of jumping on my board envelops me.
“I’m game.”
We collect our stuff—two boards, a camera, and more drinks, then slam the trunk down and plant our butts on the curb until the tow shows. Once they take my car, Tanner grabs my hand and leads us inside.
It’s eerily quiet compared to the zoo it was just an hour ago. Almost like we’re back at Troublemakers, just the two of us and our boards.
Our feet hit the empty hallways, our steps echoing off the walls. A janitor pushes his cart around the corner and nods to us with a grin, his wheels squeaking. Tanner’s camera bag keeps bumping into my hip as we walk, but I like it. I like that he’s so good at it. I can’t wait to see what he does with my audition tape.
“You really think I could land a hardflip?” I say, cutting through the quiet.
“Hell yeah.” He tilts his head toward me. “You thinking of giving it a shot?”
“Maybe.” I lift a shoulder. “I only land it about twenty percent of the time. I think I want the odds to be more in my favor.”
“That’s what practicing is for.” He hops in front of me and starts walking backward, pretending to hold his camera. “I could get a real good wide shot of it for the tape, if you want. But I think you should surprise them during the competition.”
“If I get in.”
“If you get in,” he mocks. “Like you won’t.”
I give him a playful slug to the upper arm that turns into another kiss. He stumbles a bit since he’s still walking backward, and I’ve taken away his ability to concentrate.
After a few laps around, we finally find someone to ask if we can use the course. The guy says sure, then lets us in through the prep area. Several boarders we saw compete are still there, shooting the shit. Some bragging, some are beating themselves up for a rough run, but most have smiles on their faces and sweat in their hair. The best.
We go through a curtain and step onto the skater’s playground. I immediately drop my Millennium Falcon to the ground and hop on.
“Come on, boyfriend!” I call back to Tanner, but he’s too busy pulling his camera out to board with me.
A few judges are still in their seats, turned toward each other and mulling over the boarders they saw. Today was just day one of two, so I assume they’re deciding who will be competing tomorrow. They changed the rules a few years ago for amateurs, making it so there was one boy and one girl selected for sponsorships. They’ve yet to do it for the league I’m in. I aged out of amateur the year before the change. Lucky me.
I gear up for a grind, doing a simple one that I land but just barely, my toe catching the board enough to balance the wobbly landing. All the sitting today has made my limbs a bit numb.
“Feeling the drive?” Tanner guesses correctly. I give him a kinda wave, then push into a soft slide. Maybe I need to do a few of these before any fancy work. I won’t do anything on the pipe today… not without my helmet.
The time flies once I get in the zone—too quickly for my taste. Before I know it, Tanner’s waving me over and tucking his camera away. Sweat pours from my hairline and down the back of my ears, soaking into the collar of my red t-shirt. He smirks at the state I’m in and offers me the sleeve of his shirt to wipe off.
“That’s sweet, but I got it,” I say, using my already sweaty shirt to clean up. No sense in making him damp, too. “Is Aislynn here?”
He nods. “Just outside. You wanna go or do a couple more runs?”
“She drove three hours. Let’s not make her wait.”
“Too bad.” He gestures to just over my shoulder. “You had a captivated audience.”
I follow his gaze, my brows rising at all the judges watching me and whispering to each other. I shrug it off. It wasn’t my best run, and I’m in need of a lot more practice. Besides, these judges can’t do a thing for me. I’m too old.
“Come on,” I say, grabbing him by the camera strap and tugging him back through the prep area and following the long hallway outside. He eventually snags my hand, and we interlock fingers as we step out into the setting sun.
“You owe me big!” Aislynn calls out from a red F150, her pink hair practically shining in the orange sunlight. “Do you know how much gas this thing takes?”
I feel Tanner chuckle next to me, and he reaches for my board, tossing it with his into the bed. He rolls the bed cover down, keeping our rides safe.
A guy I’ve seen before but don’t really know sits in the front next to Aislynn, his beach blond hair poking out from the sides of his fedora. He lifts his sunglasses, his piercing blue eyes connecting with me.
“We would’ve been here sooner, but Miss Small Bladder had to stop four times on the way here. Four. And she kept drinking!”
He lifts up a thirty-two ounce bottle of water that Aislynn snags from his grasp. “It’s important to stay hydrated, Tristan.”
He takes it back before she gets too much of a sip. “You are cut off until we hit Muncie.”
She exaggerates a pout, and Tristan sets the drink into the cup holder on his side of the truck. Tanner opens the back door for me and offers a hand, which I need, because the truck is a beast.
As soon as he slides in behind me, and we buckle, I snuggle into his side, setting my hand on his leg. He plucks it up and plays with my fingers.
Aislynn’s eyes light up as she watches the exchange. “Gosh, you guys are cute.” She faces the windshield and puts the truck in gear. “One day I’ll find love.”
Tanner stiffens underneath me, and his panicked eyes jut out his window. I press my lips together. I’m sure Aislynn didn’t mean that we were in love. She’s just saying things, like she always does.
I settle my head on his shoulder and let out a deep sigh. “Thanks for this, Aislynn,” I say. “I don’t know what’s up with my car.”
“Hopefully it’s not dead,” she says, pulling out onto the main road.
“Amen.” I don’t want to think about what I’ll do if it is. Adding a car payment on top of my bills is terrifying. I have to get this sponsorship.
“I’m Tristan, by the way,” the guy says, spinning in his
seat. He sticks his hand out for me to shake. “I think we’ve met before, but only briefly. At Candace’s New Year’s party.”
“That’s where it was! It was driving me crazy.”
He grins and backhands Aislynn in the upper arm. “She’s not great at introductions.”
“Leave me alone,” Aislynn says, swatting him away. “I’m tired.”
“Just let me know when you want me to drive,” Tristan lilts, and it gets him a death glare.
“You are not touching my baby. Your only responsibility is to hit me if I start dozing.”
“Aye aye.” He salutes her, and Tanner and I share an amused look. At least if we can’t make out on the way home, we’ll be entertained.
The day isn’t over yet, but I’m running out of time.
And I’m going to tell her today.
I love you, Maddie.
The words play in the back of my throat, aching to be said, but my brain keeps telling them to chill out. Wait till we’re alone again.
Maddie snuggles into my side, and I rest my cheek on the top of her head, the soft tunes of country music playing in the background. Aislynn and Tristan sing along, their voices blending together in perfect harmony. They probably karaoke together on the weekends to standing ovations.
The sun slips away, and pretty soon all I see out the window is my own reflection staring back at me. Nerves prickle up and down my side where Mad’s resting. She’ll occasionally add to the conversation, so I know she hasn’t dozed off, but she stays put against me.
I won’t let myself get too excited. This is how it is during the initial week of dating. The touching, the cuddling, the kissing… it’s all well and good until suddenly it’s not. Suddenly it’s too tight of a hug, too long of a kiss, too stifling to cuddle. It scares me to push, so I let her make all the moves. But even then, I wonder if she truly wants me to respond the way I’m dying to.
My thoughts get heavy, and my lids droop. I don’t want to sleep; I want to stay awake for every moment I get with her in my arms, but my body has other ideas, and soon I drift away.
***
“Hey, boyfriend.”
A small whisper rouses me, and I flinch. Mad lets out a soft giggle and pokes my cheek.
“Wake up, sleepy.”
I suck in a deep inhale, my eyes blinking open and trying to focus on something. Her hazel eyes and grin greet me.
“Hey,” I say, stretching from underneath her. A pang goes up my spine, and a hiss slips through my teeth. Backseats were not made for sleeping.
Mad quickly glances at the front where Aislynn is still singing, bopping along to the music with Tristan beside her, flicking through his phone. Then she turns to me. “I know it’s late, but… can I come to your place?”
I lift a brow, my brain still trying to wake up. “Huh?
She drops her voice even lower, rising so her lips are at my ear. If she thinks this’ll help me concentrate more, she’s dead wrong.
“I’m not ready to go home. Can we watch a movie or something?”
She wants to come to my place. She’s never been there before, and my mind zaps to coherency. Where’s my laundry? Are my dishes done? Shit, my bathroom…
“Uh…”
She shakes her head and slams her eyes shut. “It’s okay if you don’t want—”
“I want.” Damn, do I want. I could tell her I love her, right there on my couch, no one around except Hawk. “It’s just…” I scratch the back of my head. “It might be a mess.”
She snorts. “Like I care about that.”
I cringe. “Don’t speak too soon.”
She gives my ribs tickle fingers, then pushes up, leaving my side cold and lonely. Her face pokes between the two front seats.
“Hey, you can just drop me at Tanner’s.”
“Ooh, okay,” Aislynn says, not missing the opportunity to make it awkward. I put a hand over my face as Mad plops back down against me.
We’re at my apartment within ten minutes, and Aislynn gives us a wave as we hop out. “Have a fun night and use protection.”
“You too,” I tease, getting a stunned look from Tristan. I know he’s gay, but the joke lands well with Aislynn, who tosses her head back and laughs.
We grab our boards and my camera from the truck bed and tell them both thanks a million times before they head off. Mad curls in on herself, running her hands up and down her arms. It may be summer, but nights can still bring a chill to anyone in short shorts.
I kick her board into my hand and carry all our stuff toward my apartment. I’m on the second level, so we climb a few stairs before she offers to take her board so I can get my key in.
I really hope it’s not a disaster. My desk is covered in cords, and I’m pretty sure there’s a basket of unfolded laundry sitting on my couch. I did take the garbage out this morning, at least.
“Tanner,” Mad says through a laugh, and I give her a sideways glance, my hand on the doorknob. “I promise, I don’t give a shit what your place looks like.”
“Now who’s reading minds?” I tease, then hold my breath as I push the door open.
I flick the light on to my apartment, my stomach a nervous knot as I watch her reaction. She’s in my space now, and I wasn’t expecting it and had no time to plan for it either. I was right… I have a laundry basket on my couch… but Hawk must’ve knocked it over, and all my clothes spread out on the floor. My desk is covered in clutter—cords, flash drives, and empty Dr. Pepper cans and bottles. My helmet sits on the floor near a pile of shoes I try to kick to the side, like that’ll help hide them.
Mad’s eyes are lit with amusement as she takes in the small space.
“What?” I ask, bracing for the assessment.
“Nothing.”
“Come on, I can take it.”
She tilts her head toward me. “It’s not nearly as bad as you made it seem.”
Bull shit. “There’s crap everywhere.” I throw out a hand to my mess.
“But it doesn’t smell. And that laundry looks clean.”
“It is… but you haven’t seen the bathroom yet.”
“I’ll hold it.” Her eyes trail down to my leg, and I feel a couple of claws dig into my knee. Before he makes the climb, I pick up my cat and hold him in my arms.
“Who’s this?” she asks, reaching for his ears.
“Hawk.”
“As in… Tony?”
“The very same.” He meows and climbs up to my shoulder, nibbling on my ear. “He’s a bit clingy.”
“And very handsome.”
“Careful,” I warn as she continues to rub the guy. “He attaches easily.” Something we have in common. I pry him from my shoulder and move him to the couch, shaking my head at the mess he made of my clothes. I crouch down, gathering up the piles. “So…” I ask Mad, “why don’t you want to go home?”
Her smile fades, and she toys with the hem of her shirt. “Can we… not talk about it tonight? I mean, I just had a killer day, boarding and being with you—”
“Car breaking down…”
She wrinkles her nose at me. “Despite that, it’s been the best day I’ve had in a while, and I’d rather not think about my family right now and how much they piss me off.”
I let out a laugh and set the now-full basket on the other side of the couch. “Okay. So, movie?”
“Or we could get to know each other better.” She takes a step toward me, setting her hands on my chest.
I raise a brow and swallow my heart whole. “I think I know you pretty well, actually.”
“Really?” she teases, pressing gently against my chest, urging me toward the couch. “You don’t want to know my favorite color?”
“It’s red.”
She tilts her head, surprise twinkling in her eyes. “All right. Favorite music.”
“You don’t listen to music,” I say with a smirk. “You prefer audiobooks.”
Her eyes narrow, and a playful grin crosses her lips. “Favorite trick.”
&
nbsp; “Kickflip.”
“You know why?”
The backs of my knees hit the couch, but I don’t let her push me down just yet. Call it my arrogance, but I want to have the upper hand in this impromptu challenge, and if she sits on me, I won’t be able to get a word out. “You picked up a board when you were twelve, practiced for a year, and finally landed your first trick—the kickflip—when you were thirteen.”
My smirk fades into something a bit more serious, less flirtatious. I swallow hard and tell myself that she doesn’t mind it when I touch her. Some way, somehow, I became someone a little more important to her, someone she trusts. So I reach up and lightly push her hair from her face. “The scar on your left knee came from a stray thumbtack on a course in the park. You gave up soda when you were eighteen, and every time you steal some of my Dr. Pepper, your nose wrinkles from the carbonation. You got your board from a trash can. You’ve been through three helmets. Your favorite Star Wars character is Chewbacca. You hate coffee but love the smell. Your favorite animal is a horse, and the day Candace offered you the job at her farm, you landed a 360 hardflip like it was nothing. You love your job, and you work with a guy who intimidates the hell out of me. You’re learning sign language to communicate with him better, and you have no idea just how damn beautiful you are.”
The air buzzes around us, and panic rolls strong and hard through my gut. Shit, that all just spilled out there, and I can’t take it back. Mad stares up at me with her big hazel eyes, and I know I just bragged about knowing this girl, but I have no clue what she’s thinking now.
“Sorry,” I blurt, wincing against my word vomit, bracing for the “too fast” speech.
“Why?” she says, her voice a breathy whisper.
“I’m freaking you out,” I say, running a palm down my face. “Aren’t I?”
A smile teases the corners of her mouth, and she shakes her head. “No. I’m just… jealous.” She drops her gaze to my shirt and traces the words written across my chest. “I wish I knew that much about you.”
“My favorite color is black.” I say it like a joke, but she nods, pursing her lips like she’s locking the information in her brain for eternity.
“Your favorite trick?” she asks.
