by Dean, Ali
“Wow, you’re one hell of a friend, Beck. I’m not sure I’d do that for any of my friends.” She laughs. “I guess I’d have to see the skatepark first. I mean, a private park designed by Archie Jameson? That would be the life. Where is it anyway?”
“It’s between here and L.A., so only sixty miles or so, and on the beach.”
Jordan stops swinging her legs. “Jeez Beck, you should have told me that sooner. I thought you were going to be in Australia or somewhere crazy far and I’d never see you.”
“You won’t see me much. We only get one day off every two weeks or so during filming, and that’s three months long.”
“Oh. Still, that’s better than I thought.”
She leans her shoulder against mine. Talking about this sucks. I start to slide my hand around her waist but freeze, remembering I promised not to touch her like my girlfriend in public.
“I started regretting signing that contract the day I met you,” I admit. “But it’s done now, so gotta see it through.”
“It won’t be bad.” I haven’t told her yet that we have to wait until after the entire show has aired before the relationship clause is no longer in effect. That’s over a year from now.
I’ll tell her those details soon. It’s still so early, we shouldn’t have to be thinking about how things will be a year from now. If any girl can handle this though, it’s Jordan.
Chapter Eleven
Jordan
With Saturdays free from working at Happy Beans, I spend all afternoon at Rampas with Summer, Naomi, Taylor, Griff and Beck. It’s one of the best afternoons, the group of us taking turns working on tricks, cheering one another on. With three pros, four I guess if I’m included in the count, we get a little audience, but I’m even getting used to that too. The group is all high-fiving and fist-bumping, so I don’t have to second-guess if the onlookers gathered around will wonder if Beck’s hand lingers on mine a little longer, or we share too many secret smiles.
“The girls could hold their own at competitions now,” I point out to Beck and Griff as we watch their sisters.
“Yeah, they got a lot better over the summer,” Beck says, brushing his arm with mine. “Or maybe the big improvements happened once you arrived.”
“They’ve definitely been hitting it harder with all of us here, skating together. But yeah, I’m giving Jordan most of the credit,” Griff says.
I laugh and shake my head. “That’s not my point. I’m just saying they’d be in the mix if they wanted to go to some contests. It’d be fun to have them with me. With us,” I add.
“I’ll be there next weekend, Jordan,” Beck reminds me. “Speaking of, I’ve really got to get moving on a research paper tonight so I don’t have it hanging over my head in Oregon.”
“I can study with you,” I offer. It’s not like it’s a sacrifice to sit by Beck on a Saturday night, even if our heads will be in books.
Taylor skates over to us holding up his phone. “You guys want to head over to Coby’s place? They’re grilling. He specifically said you both are invited,” Taylor adds, nodding at Beck and Griff. “So he’s forgiven you for crashing and having a little temper tantrum at that party.”
It wasn’t exactly a temper tantrum. I open my mouth to defend Beck, but he’s laughing. “Yeah, Coby’s a good guy. But I’ve got to write a paper tonight.”
My phone buzzes in my back pocket and I slide it out, finding a text from Lucy. There’s a missed one from Ellie as well. “The girls want me to go there too. I guess the waves are good for beginner surfers.” Rolling my eyes, I start texting back, letting them know I’m hanging with Beck tonight.
“You should go,” Beck says, moving closer beside. “You told me how much fun it was surfing and that you were itching to give it another go.”
My thumb pauses over the screen. “You want me to go? Without you?”
“I’d rather go with, but we’ll be out of town next weekend. Go have fun with your friends.”
I glance up at him. He’s got this soft little smile on his lips and I have to remind myself not to grab his shirt and pull him in for a kiss. It’s a little thing, him telling me to ditch him for my friends, but it feels bigger. Beck’s stuck working tonight because I asked him to come with me next weekend. Plus, Davis will be there, on the same turf where things almost went in the opposite direction for us. But he’s right, I spent the day with this crew, and I do want to hang with the girls, surf again. It’d be easy to spend all my time holed up with Beck, and him giving me a push is just one more tiny little act of selflessness on top of others I’ve only begun to recognize. I’m not the only one he makes these sacrifices for, but I’m part of a select group in Beckett Steele’s world, and that’s pretty damn awesome.
“You better stop looking at me like that,” he murmurs. “Or I’ll have to throw you over my shoulder and bring you into the back of the van in front of all these people.”
I swallow, heat flaring in my lower belly.
“Can we come?” I hear Summer asking, and our attention is pulled in her direction. She and Naomi are facing Taylor, but it’s Griff who answers.
“No. I’m not going, I’ve got a date. But even if I was, you’re too young and you know it.”
Both girls exchange eye rolls with each other, Summer mouthing “date” with air quotes.
I take a step forward. “We’re just grilling and surfing. They know my friends. Why can’t they come with me and Taylor? We’ll look out for them.”
“I don’t know, Jordan,” Taylor says. “Coby probably wouldn’t be real down with a couple of high school girls hanging at his place anyway, even if you are Beck’s and Griff’s sisters,” he adds.
“You do know Jordan’s only a couple years older than we are, right?” Naomi sasses.
“Yes, but you’re jailbait, she’s not,” Taylor says with a shrug.
I glance at Beck, who declares, “Sorry Rugrat, Summer, you’re not going.”
That seems to be the final word, and Summer and Naomi don’t argue. I’ve got mixed feelings about all the guys shutting them down. I mean, I get it. Most of the guys there will be in their twenties. But I’ll be there, and I’m responsible. I suppose I’ll be out on the water surfing though. Then again, it wasn’t all that long ago I fell into this jailbait bucket too. So what do I know?
After showering at the guys’ apartment, Taylor gives me a ride to Coby’s place on the beach. I find the girls lying out in the sand soaking in the late afternoon sunshine.
“Oh good! We needed some motivation to get off our asses!” Lucy greets me, jumping up.
“Taylor gave you a ride?” Ellie asks.
“Yep.”
“Oh good, I’ve got on my cutest suit and I shaved everything this morning.”
“So, not playing hard to get anymore?” I wonder.
Ellie glances back at the group of guys standing around the grill. “Well, I’ll strut around down here for a bit, go out and hit some waves. Then we’ll see what he does when I come back in.”
As we watch Ellie stand up slowly with a dramatic stretch, Lucy leans closer to tell me, “That’s Ellie’s version of hard to get.”
Zora hasn’t moved yet and when I glance down, her eyes are still closed.
“She was snoring a minute ago. Girl started drinking at lunch,” Ellie tells me with a shake of her head.
My eyes move between Lucy and Ellie, who are both watching Zora. Lucy sighs beside me. “She’s been drinking a lot lately.”
“Should we say something?” I wonder. These are her best friends from home, so I feel like I should defer to them. Maybe passing out from drinking in the sun freshman year of college isn’t all that worrisome for Zora? I’ve got no idea.
Ellie squats down and peers at Zora. “Maybe she’s just tired. She got up early to surf this morning.”
Leaving Zora to snooze, we paddle out to the waves. The water’s cold, but it feels good after hours of skateboarding. The waves are smaller than last time and I actual
ly catch a few, managing to stand up on the board. It’s exhilarating, and so addicting, I don’t come back in until the waves die down and there’s nothing to surf.
Grilling is in full swing by then, and Zora is up looking refreshed. She high-fives me for catching some waves, but her smile fades a moment later as she catches sight of something behind me. Or someone.
I follow her gaze. “Is that Felicity?”
“She goes by Fliss now,” Zora clarifies. “And that’s her friend Daisy.”
“I didn’t get the vibe this was her kind of scene.”
Zora shrugs. “Hot guys at the beach? It’s everyone’s scene, isn’t it?”
“Hot girls too!” Lucy reminds us, throwing an arm around Zora as she joins us. “How was your nap?”
Zora shakes her head. “Disorienting. All that surfing and sun hit me hard.”
Lucy and I exchange a look, silently wondering why she left out “alcohol” from that sentence.
I’m tempted to go straight for the burgers I can smell on the grill but I’m already starting to shiver in this wet bathing suit with the sun disappearing fast. “Make sure they save me a burger. I’m gonna run in to change,” I tell the girls.
As I head through the kitchen toward the screened porch a few minutes later in dry clothes, I hear Taylor say, “I’m sorry, Ellie.” He sounds downright pitiful from my perspective. “I didn’t know this girl was friends with your roommate. I didn’t even know you didn’t like your roommate.”
Ellie huffs and puts her hands on her hips, looking away. I don’t want to eavesdrop but I’m only standing a few feet away. “It’s not even about that. I thought we had something going on between us. Why are you inviting other girls?”
I admire her for coming out and addressing it, especially when she wasn’t even sure what direction things were going last I knew.
“Trip said we should invite some more chicks since the ones here are mostly taken. Daisy’s been texting me and I keep blowing her off, so I figured I’d be nice and invite her. She could hook up with another guy here and get the clue I’m with you.”
“With me?” Ellie’s tone has changed entirely now, from annoyed to hopeful.
I take a few steps back, really feeling like an intruder now.
Ellie glances my way. “Oh, hey Jordan.”
Taylor turns to face me too. “Yo, Jordan, you’re the one who might want to be pissed at me actually.”
“Huh? Really? Why?”
“The girl Daisy I invited over here was asking all about your boy.” He turns back to Ellie. “See, she didn’t even come here for me.”
“Should I be worried?” I ask. I’ve heard Taylor grumble before about girls using him to get to Beck or Griff. Not that I’m going to bring that up in front of Ellie.
Taylor’s only half paying attention now as he moves closer to Ellie and I watch her soften in front of him. “Nah, Jordan. You and Beck are solid. Some blondie with a British accent won’t come between you.”
Solid. We are solid, aren’t we? I move to the sliding glass door and head outside, giving these two space. Beck and I might be a new couple, we might have some kinks we’re still working out as we navigate being together. But Taylor’s right – whatever comes our way, I’m starting to think Beck and I can figure it out. I’m not totally sure I’m ready to have so much faith in us, so much confidence in a relationship that’s got a ton of uncertainty ahead, but whether I’m ready for it or not, the foundation is there, and I’m not the only one who recognizes it.
Chapter Twelve
Jordan
When we step into the arena at the Oregon Cup, I’m nearly knocked on my ass by the emotions that hit me all at once. The place is the size of a hockey arena, with stands and seating for hundreds of people surrounding the structures. There are screens mounted throughout, and equipment set up to move with the riders as we skate. Videos that people will watch on their computers and phones just like I’ve done.
“Kind of jealous you get to compete tomorrow,” Beck says as we walk along the side of a vert.
“Me too,” Griff admits.
“I think I’m still in shock that I’m actually on the list. I keep thinking someone’s going to tell me it was a mistake.”
“You’re on it,” Griff confirms. I know it’s only because of him that I’ve got this chance to compete. I’ve spent every spare minute getting ready, even if I know that what I’ve done in the last few days will have little impact compared to the past thirteen years of skating. Still, it’s a different mindset when I’m at the park now. I’m still skateboarding for me but there’s a bigger purpose, a stronger drive. It’s more satisfying each time I land a trick, and more frustrating each time I wipe out.
As we check out the park I’ll be competing at tomorrow, I’m anticipating frozen limbs and knots in my stomach. The telltale sign of nerves, and not the good kind. The kind that makes me a little dizzy and short of breath, an out-of-body experience. I figure the lack of nerves at the Riptide contest was a one-time thing. I was clueless then, and no one had heard of me yet. The Oregon Cup is a bigger event, and now it’s more than a first-time trial run. It’s the real deal.
I’m so prepared for the anxiety to hit, I even brought my skateboard, knowing I wouldn’t be able to ride it tonight. I’m gripping it, looking around at some familiar faces of pro skateboarders I’ve only ever seen when watching competitions just like this one on a television or computer screen. Gripping a skateboard usually keeps me tethered when I start to slip. It makes me feel like me, and remember who I am. It gives me comfort and strength when I get all panicky and weird and don’t feel like myself at all.
None of that is happening though. Instead, I feel like this is where I was always meant to be. Like all those moments of anxiety were only holding me back before, keeping me from being where I truly belonged. Maybe it’s because I’ve got Griffin Perry and Beckett Steele at my sides, flanking me, but I don’t think so. If anything, being with them and getting all the lingering stares and greetings should give me even more of that imposter feeling.
No, this sense of rightness, it comes from inside of me. This determination that tomorrow I’m going to show the skateboarding world that Riptide’s little contest wasn’t beginner’s luck. That I can hang with the best. That I’m here, and I don’t think I want to ever go away.
“We should see if we can sneak in later tonight,” Beck murmurs. “Remember when we used to get away with that?”
Griff reaches around me to give Beck a shove. “I’m a businessman now, Beck. I can’t be engaging in delinquent behavior.”
Beck throws an arm around my shoulder. “Guess I’ll have to recruit a new sidekick. How about it, Jordan? Want to break in tonight and get the park to ourselves?”
I look up at Beck and gesture with my eyes to the hand he’s got on my shoulder. Sure it could be interpreted as a friend move, but he clearly forgot already. I get it. Faking it doesn’t come easily for either one of us. He drops his hand and before I can answer, Griff reminds us that we’re both repping Brazen and to behave ourselves.
A woman’s voice comes from behind us. “Beckett Steele behave? We all know he likes to break rules.” My spine instantly straightens, hating the way she sounds as if she knows him better than I do. Beck might have a little bit of a rule-breaking streak, what with the storage closet and the parking garage, but he’s not exactly a bad boy. This girl’s talking as if he is, or he used to be, and I’m not familiar with that guy.
We turn around, and it’s Sarah Kase standing behind us.
I always wondered if she wore her signature neon sports bra and booty shorts even when she wasn’t riding, and now I’ve got my answer. She’s got a hoodie on over the bra, but it’s unzipped. Beside her is another skateboarder I’ve watched at the X Games before, Camila Gonzales.
I can feel both guys on either side of me stiffen. “Hey Sarah, Camila,” Griff says. Beck doesn’t respond to Sarah’s comment.
“Oh come on, I haven
’t seen you guys in months. Where’s my hug?” Camila puts her arms out and steps forward for what might be the most awkward ten seconds ever. Sarah follows suit, while I stand right there, in the middle of the hugfest. Am I the only one here who notices the guys aren’t real into body contact with these girls?
“So is this the girl you brought to the competition?” Sarah asks, eyeing me up and down like I’m a charity case.
“This is Jordan Slattery,” Beck answers. “She’s repping Brazen’s women line now. This is her first contest on the pro circuit.” It is? Did the Riptide contest not count? I guess it wasn’t officially part of the pro circuit and didn’t count toward world rankings.
I’ve idolized Sarah for years. Behind Beckett, I’ve probably watched her ride more than any other skateboarder. She rides like she doesn’t take crap from anyone, and she’s totally fearless. But I don’t like the vibes she’s giving off, and the way she referred to me as “the girl you brought” to Griffin.
I still haven’t said a word, but as my hero-worship for Sarah starts to fade, I put a hand out and tell her it’s nice to meet her. I introduce myself to Camila too, who suggests that I ditch the guys.
“You should have girls showing you around your first pro contest! Let’s show her the ropes, Sarah.”
“Oh yeah, we can introduce you to the other ladies competing tomorrow too.”
“Actually,” Beck interrupts before they can drag me away. “We were just swinging by for a quick peek at the setup and to register. We’re headed to get some food.”
I want to roll my eyes even as I breathe a sigh of relief. Oh Beck, can you please try a little harder not to sound like my boyfriend?
I turn to Griff, wanting to make it clear it’s a group friend thing, not a date thing. “Yeah, Griff, I’m starving. You said there’s a place with kickass lasagna near the hotel, right?”
He did say this, and I am really looking forward to that lasagna, but I was hoping to spend more time roaming the arena and getting the feel for the layout before tomorrow.
