by Jordan Ford
Anyway, some chick named Harley taught Savannah how to surf. I wonder if it’s the girl from school. It’s gotta be. How many other Harleys who surf could possibly live in Ryder Bay?
Conversation soon turns to plans for the rest of the weekend, and of course my little ride in a cop car pops up. Griffin frowns at me, getting all tense and quiet. I scowl back at him but don’t say anything. I’m so focused on our little stare down that I miss Denee inviting me to spend the day with Savannah and Griffin tomorrow.
“Awesome!” Savannah grins at me, and it’s only then that I figure out what has just been said.
“What?” I jerk to look at Denee.
She just giggles. “It’ll be good for you. You can hang out with some decent people. They’ll keep you out of trouble.” She winks at me, and I nearly choke on my spinach.
Marshall gives me a half-hearted pat on the back and I finally manage to rasp, “I thought I’d be grounded for the weekend.”
“Well, according to you, the only thing you did wrong was stand by and not stop someone from graffitiing.” Denee’s lips are fighting a grin as she prods a piece of orange with her fork. “I don’t feel like that warrants a full-weekend grounding. I’d rather you hang out with these guys and go have some healthy fun.”
I shoot out of my chair. “I don’t want to be forced to hang out with people I don’t even know.”
Denee is startled by my sudden movement but hides her reaction quickly. Her voice is smooth and calm as she softly retorts, “You have to spend time with them to get to know them, Jace. That’s how you make new friends.”
“I don’t need new friends. I have my own!” I point at her. Marshall doesn’t like it; I can tell by the look on his face and his unsaid “Stop shouting at my wife, kid!”
He clears his throat but doesn’t temper down his glare. “Yeah. We know you have friends. And they’re miles away. These guys are right here.” Marshall’s deep voice leaves no room for argument as he gestures toward Griffin and Savannah.
I growl in my throat and storm away from the table, slamming my bedroom door shut.
I hate this feeling. Like I’m being forced to live a life that everybody else is picking out for me. I have no choice over where I live, and now they’re forcing me to hang out with people who they’ve decided are a good fit for me.
Next thing I know they’ll be arranging my marriage and mapping out exactly what I’m gonna do with my life. But all behind my back, of course, because why the hell should I get a say in anything?
I pick up my pillow and hurl it at the wall. It smacks against a painting of the ocean, knocking it askew before falling onto the bed. Anger is raging through me, begging me to jump out the window and do something crazy. My muscles are vibrating, pleading for a rush, a thrill, a—
Hayes’s scream pierces the back of my mind and my legs buckle. My desire for extreme wilts under the weight of my guilt and I plunk onto the edge of the bed, resting my head in my hands. I have no idea how long I stay that way, but eventually I sense a different kind of noise in the house.
Like it’s gone quiet.
Savannah must have left. Or she’s making out with Griffin in his guest house.
I groan and flop back on my bed, covering my face with my arm. Staying in this tiny room is getting painful. I should have spent my afternoon emailing Snap, but I couldn’t think of anything decent to say. She doesn’t want to hear that I was picked up by the cops again. She was pretty sympathetic about the last time in Sterling Beach, but repeats just make me look like an idiot. She won’t want to know that I am incapable of sensible decisions.
Maybe that’s why Denee and Marshall are forcing my hand, making me hang out with their hand-picked friends.
But I want my old friends back!
I thump the mattress with my fist then, go still when I hear raised voices in the kitchen.
“I wasn’t going to contradict you in front of him, but I still think you’re being way too easy! He should be grounded, not going off to surf with those guys tomorrow!”
I open my door a crack so I can listen in.
“Don’t be so hard on him, Marshall. Sitting in his room all weekend won’t benefit him at all. He needs to be out there realizing that life here can be wonderful and fun. He doesn’t need to hang out with loser troublemakers to have a good time.”
Clenching the door handle, I pull in a sharp breath. Is she saying my friends are losers?
“You’re too soft, baby. He was brought home by the police, and you managed to sweet-talk Troy out of any kind of punishment. The kid was at the scene of the crime. He ran. How do we even know he’s telling the truth?”
“I want to believe him. He needs someone to believe in him!”
Marshall lets out a heavy sigh. “You’re being a crutch. You’re enabling him to keep up this reckless behavior.”
There’s a sharp slap, as if she smacked the counter with her hand. “I am giving him the support he so desperately needs right now. No one else has his back. He needs someone in his corner, and if that’s me, then bring it on!”
There’s a long pause, and I don’t even realize I’m holding my breath until Marshall starts talking. He’s much quieter now, and I have to strain to hear him. “What if he gets worse? Drugs on his first day at school, then brought home in a cop car on his first weekend here? I know you said you’d do your cousin this favor, but come on. Maybe she’s asking too much.”
“Marshall, I know it’s hard, but we have to do this.”
“Why? He doesn’t even want to be here. We have a happy home. I don’t mind helping out someone like Griffin, who actually cares about more than just himself, but Jace is a selfish little prick!”
I flinch and am about ready to slam my door when Denee’s soft reply reaches me.
“He’s been rejected by everyone who is supposed to care about him. His father left to be with another woman; his mother can’t cope with him. Babe, we have to make this work. We can’t give up on him. We have to help him.”
“What if he doesn’t want help?”
“He does. He just doesn’t realize it.”
I swear my heart has stopped beating for a second. And for some weird reason, my eyes are stinging. What the hell is wrong with me?
I quietly shut the door and stumble back until my knees hit the edge of the bed. Plunking onto the mattress, I press my feet into the floor and lean my elbows against my knees.
My eyes still hurt, like they want to cry, but that’s BS. I’m not crying just because Denee won’t give up on me. I’m tougher than that.
I jerk up and sniff hard, warding off whatever emotion is thrumming in my chest right now. It hurts, in this weird, fiery kind of way. I rub at the pounding, desperate for some kind of distraction.
Moving to my desk, I open my laptop to email Snap. I don’t know what I’m gonna say to her. I might just let my fingers move of their own free will.
As I rest my hands on the keyboard, I gaze at the screen and can’t help picturing the girl I bumped into on the street today. Her sweet blush makes my lips twitch.
It makes me wonder again what Snap Dragon looks like. I bet she’s got a sweet blush. Grabbing my pen, I start to sketch an image of the girl on the street, and before I know it, her face is staring back at me. I brush my thumb over her forehead and am finally ready to email Snap. I’m not going to tell her about the girl I nearly knocked over. I’m not going to tell her about my shitty day. I just want to talk to her about anything else.
So I start by telling her how much I’m craving a large pepperoni pizza with extra cheese.
14
A Mega-Awkward Intro
LETTIE
It’s nearly lunchtime, and I’m seriously craving pepperoni pizza.
Bass and I have been talking food most of the morning. When I woke up to his email, I was so stoked. I went to bed feeling kind of weird last night. Jace’s skateboard is hiding under my bed. I grabbed it when Savannah was in the shower yesterday afternoon.
I feel kind of bad for having it. I need to get it back to Jace, but I’m not sure how. I don’t really want to walk on up to Harley and start talking about him. I barely know her. Even though she lived with us for a while, I made sure to steer clear. I didn’t want to get caught up in her drama.
Sigh.
My fingers stop tapping and I reread what I would put into my ultimate sundae. Bass’s is off-the-charts sweet with caramel sauce, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows and fresh cherries. I’m more of a strawberry girl. Oooo!
“Fresh strawberries, blueberries and raspberries,” I murmur while I add a little more to my dessert concoction.
Even though we’ve moved on to sugar now, I’m still craving pizza.
I wonder if I can order delivery.
I close my eyes and picture a large pizza box next to me as I dive into the novel on my nightstand. Munching yumminess while swooning over the MC, Harding Peters, sounds like a freaking awesome way to spend my afternoon.
Rounding out my dessert email, I add a couple of x’s and click Send. I smile as the email whooshes out of my inbox, relieved that Bass and I are back on track. I didn’t mention my encounter with Jace yesterday. I don’t know why I don’t want to tell him. I guess it just feels weird that I was semi-drooling over this stranger when Bass holds my heart fair and square.
Looking at my bed, I picture the skateboard beneath it and realize just how important it is to get that thing out of my room. I’m just going to have to suck it up and find the courage to talk to Harley…without Savannah listening in. My sister will only ask questions and want to know everything about this Jace guy. From the friends who approached him when I left, I’m not sure I want Savannah knowing anything about him. I can tell he’s a bad boy, and there’s something just a touch thrilling about that. Sav will get all protective, and that will only piss me off.
No, my chat with Harley must be a covert operation.
Picking up my phone, I’m about to focus back on my grumbling stomach and pizza when there’s a knock at my door.
I immediately stiffen but murmur, “Come in,” because I know that’s what I’m supposed to say.
“Hey, sweetie.” Dad’s head pops through the gap and he grins at me.
“Hey.” I smile back. “What’s up?”
“You’ve been in your room all morning. Time to get out and face the world.”
“Dad,” I groan his name and look to the ceiling. “I was about to order a pizza and get reading.”
“Sorry, kiddo, but it’s the weekend, and you need to get out of the house.”
“But I went out yesterday! Can’t I just have a pajama day today? I haven’t had one in…in…”
“Like two weeks?” Dad gives me a droll look. “You clocked up plenty of those over the summer break. No more, Lettie-Lou.”
I grit my teeth. I used to love that I was his Lettie-Lou and Savannah was his Savvy-Sue. Now it’s just annoying. But I don’t have the heart to tell him.
“Come on. Everyone else is out and about. Go hang with Johanna or something.”
My nostrils flare as I press my lips together and look to the floor. My long hair drapes over my shoulder, mercifully hiding my expression.
“Lettie?” Dad’s voice pitches with concern, and I quickly look up, forcing a smile.
“Jo’s busy this weekend, so…you know, that’s why I was going for a PJ day.”
“Sorry she’s not around, but I don’t want you spending the afternoon here by yourself. Louis is playing at a friend’s house, and I’m leaving for the hospital in twenty minutes. If you can’t find someone to hang out with, then you’ll need to go with Savannah. She’s having lunch with some of her friends.”
“Ugh! No, thank you.”
“Well, what are you going to do, then?”
“I don’t know! Go for a walk along the beach or something.”
“By yourself?” Dad cringes.
“There’s nothing wrong with being by myself, Dad!”
“You’re nearly fifteen. You shouldn’t be spending so much time alone. You should be out socializing.” Dad shakes his head. “I’m making the decision for you. You’re going with Savannah.”
“Dad!”
“It’s nonnegotiable, Scarlett. You’re going.” His pointed look leaves no room for argument. “Get dressed.”
He shuts the door and I give him the finger, because I know he can’t see me.
This is so unfair!
I don’t know why Dad has got it into his stupid head that being alone is a bad thing. There’s nothing wrong with reading in my room all day. I don’t want to be like Savannah with millions of friends. I’m not that type of person. I’ve only ever needed one or two close friends.
The loss of Johanna curls my stomach into a tight, painful knot.
At least I have Bass.
He’s all I need.
Reed flitters through my mind briefly, but I’d hardly call him a close friend. He’s sweet and everything, and yes, maybe he could be Bass, but I can’t quite believe it.
Stripping off my clothes, I take a quick shower and am just brushing my hair when Dad starts knocking on my door again.
“You nearly ready?”
“Yes,” I mutter, shoving a book into my bag and flinging the strap over my shoulder.
When I open the door, Dad glances down at me with a big smile. “Good girl. Proud of you.”
“Whatever,” I mumble, brushing past him and thumping down the stairs.
He chuckles behind me, and I decide to ignore him and not even bother saying goodbye when he heads for the garage.
Savvy is waiting for me at the front door, looking all pretty and excited in her floral summer dress. I glance down at my shorts and black T-shirt, feeling plain and skinny beside her.
Crossing my arms, I watch Dad reverse out of the driveway and am about to tell my sister that she can go alone. She’s easier to argue with than Dad. My mouth is just opening when a truck pulls into the driveway.
“They’re here!” she squeals and opens the door, rushing out to greet her boyfriend.
I take my sweet time, loitering on the landing, until I spot someone staring at me from the back seat. Narrowing my eyes, I quickly work out who it is and my breath jolts.
Jace? Mr. Hot?
What the hell is he doing here?
“Come on, Lettie,” Savannah calls, waving me over to the truck. She’s sliding into the front passenger seat.
“Hey, Lettie.” Griffin smiles at me, giving Savannah’s knee a light squeeze as she buckles up beside him.
I stop by the truck, my eyes still fixed on Mr. Hot in the back. Are they expecting me to sit next to him?
He’s looking at me. Not smiling.
If anything, he seems annoyed.
“Lettie, this is Jace. He’s living with us for a little while.”
I blink but don’t say anything. I didn’t know Marshall and Denee had taken on another boarder. They’re like the human version of a pet shelter.
“Are you coming?” Griffin raises his ginger eyebrows at me.
“Um.” I glance at him and then point to Jace, who has put his window down. “I have his board.” I worry my lip and look at Jace. “I…I have your skateboard.”
“You’ve got my board?” He sits up a little straighter in his seat.
“Yeah, you left it in an alley. And I couldn’t see you, so I brought it here for safekeeping.”
He gives me a confused frown. “I don’t even know you. How did you think you were going to get it back to me?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug, feeling flustered by his intense gaze. Even when he’s irritated, his eyes are beautiful. “Why would you leave your board behind in the first place?”
He swallows and looks away from me, his jaw working to the side as he totally does not answer my question.
Griffin clears his throat and gives me a tight smile. “Don’t worry, he’s grateful. You should have heard him when we stopped in the alley on th
e way over and he couldn’t find it.” Griffin’s seat jerks forward as Jace so obviously knees him in the back. “Do you mind going and getting it for him?”
“Yeah, sure.” I frown at Jace, then hurry back inside to retrieve the board.
Who knows what they’re saying about me while I’m doing it.
Crap. I really don’t want to go to this stupid lunch now. It’s going to be mega-awkward.
The front door locks behind me with a definitive click and I carry the board back to the truck, slipping in beside Jace and handing it to him.
“Thanks,” he murmurs, resting the board on his knees.
I stare down at his tanned skin, quietly studying the shape of his fingers and arms as we drive to wherever the heck we’re going.
Savannah and Griffin try to include us both in their conversation but quickly give up when neither Jace nor I answer with much gusto. The one-word replies get old fast, and Savannah turns on the radio with a loud sigh.
Music reigns for the next ten minutes.
Thank God.
I don’t know how I’m supposed to get through the rest of this afternoon.
Playing with Mom’s vintage ring, I twirl it around my index finger, wishing she was still here. She wouldn’t have made me go out and socialize. Pajama days were her invention. She loved them as much as I did.
15
Trash Talk and Wipeouts
JACE
So this Lettie chick is quiet.
It’s nice knowing her name now. Her sketched picture has been staring up at me all morning, and now I can finally call her something.
It was weird having her right there when I was emailing Snap Dragon back and forth, but I just couldn’t bring myself to hide it away.
I grip the board in my hand, grateful she found it. I thought it’d been stolen. There’s no way you can just leave a board lying around in a public space and expect to get it back.
But I did.
Thanks to her.
I study the design on the deck of my board, running my finger over the skull and around the black eye holes. It’s a really simple design. White skull on black board. I liked it the second I saw it.