Defying Gravity

by Kendra C. Highley

  “Hey, Zoey. What’s up?” Ben asked.

  Happiness oozed through the phone, almost more than she could handle, and a lump formed in her throat. “Not much. Snowboarding a little. Angsting over a guy.”

  “Really?” He sounded intrigued. “There’s a guy out there who meets your high standards? That’s a statistical improbability.”

  “You could probably use that as your math thesis—the statistical improbability of a guy meeting my standards.” They laughed. “But, yeah. There is.”

  “Whoever he is, he sounds like a guy I need to meet. I’ll give you back to Paige, now.”

  “I think he misses you,” she said after a pause long enough for a quick kiss.

  “Oh, maybe a little.” A pang hit Zoey right above the heart. She missed them, too. “But I think his world’s complete right there in his mom’s kitchen.”

  Paige’s blush was audible. “Probably so. I know mine is. But, enough about me. What are you going to do?”

  “He has that contest tomorrow. They both do. I don’t think I should distract him before then. Or Luke, for that matter. They’re doing some pretty extreme tricks and jumping off ramps taller than my house. I don’t want Parker breaking a leg because I dumped my feelings on him.”

  “What if he says something to you? About the window, or the sleigh ride?”

  Zoey rubbed her temples. “I’ll be honest.”

  “Good for you.” Paige paused. “And, Zoey? Don’t worry so much about what people think. Honestly, if the StuCo found out you snowboard, they’d love it. Beautiful, badass Zoey—that’s what they’d say. Plus, you deserve a guy who thinks you’re amazing on the inside, not just the outside. Because you are.”

  Tears welled up in Zoey’s eyes. Damn it—that was three times today. Choked, she said, “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” Paige made a kissy noise over the phone. “Now, go land that man!”

  Zoey laugh-cried, sure her nose was running, but she didn’t care. “I’ll do my best.”

  But which one? The safe one she might only have for a little while? Or the risky one who already knew how to make her dreams come true? She knew what her heart wanted, but her head had decided to make her work for it.

  She set her phone on the nightstand and turned off the lamp, hazarding a look at her blinds. They were closed, making her feel raw and shy, unsure of what tomorrow would be.

  A faint light seeped through her window—Parker was still awake.

  She couldn’t go on like this. She had to figure out where she stood with Parker, and with Luke, and she’d decide.

  Tomorrow.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Parker

  Zoey’s face. God, the look on her face was going to be seared into his brain forever. Parker bit back a grin. He’d put on some sweats and flopped on his bed to think over what just happened. He had no idea what made him decide to show off like that, but she really liked it. Even with the distance between the houses—which wasn’t much—he watched her turn red, and her eyes were wide.

  In that moment, right before he dropped the blinds, he could almost hear her thinking, “Has he been working out?”

  Yes, Zoey. The answer is hell yes.

  He smothered a laugh, unable to keep it in anymore. What was she thinking right now? Wondering where that towel went? He didn’t think she was going to give him a hard time about it later. No, she’d probably act like it didn’t happen. If she did, he’d play it cool, too.

  But what if she said something? What if there was more to her pink cheeks than simple embarrassment? If this was the thing that tilted her attention his direction, he wasn’t above using it. He’d fight dirty.

  Maybe he should’ve left the blinds open, let her see all the goods.

  Parker threw his head back and laughed, feeling better than he had in weeks.

  Luke appeared in his bedroom doorway. “What’s so funny?”

  “Oh, nothing.” He hadn’t seen Luke since the blow up at Two Creeks, but his brother didn’t seem all that bothered and Parker decided to let it go—he was in too good a mood to ruin it. “What’s up?”

  Luke crossed his arms and leaned against the doorjamb. “About tomorrow…you talked me into the competition to show off for Zoey, didn’t you? Or, more like to show me up in front of her.”

  Parker put a hand over his heart. “Who me? Never.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Okay, maybe a little.”

  “I thought so.” Luke shook his head, his smile looking forced. “Did you apologize to her, yet? For being a dick at the café earlier?”

  Parker stood slowly, leveling a cool glance at his brother. “Yes. And I’m sorry I busted up your lunch, but you were the dick who caused the problem by ditching me.”

  “I could say the same about you a few days ago.” Luke sighed. “But, bro, all’s fair in love and war.”

  Parker’s fists clenched at his side. “I thought you said you weren’t going to fight dirty.”

  Luke pushed off the doorjamb, wearing his cocky grin. “I said I wasn’t going to fight that dirty. We’ll leave at eight tomorrow. Set an alarm, sleepyhead.”

  “Ditto.” Parker watched his brother retreat to his own room.

  Tomorrow, Zoey wouldn’t even remember Luke’s name.

  The next morning, as soon as they hit the kitchen for a quick bite before going to Snowmass, Dad clapped his hands together. “I have something for you two.”

  He pulled two bags out of a kitchen chair. They were from Dad’s company store, and Parker caught his eagerly when Dad tossed it to him. “Thought you guys would like the latest for your show today.”

  Inside the bag was a brand new jacket, black with a green splatter pattern, and the company name down one sleeve in white. They were next year’s design. “These haven’t even gone on sale yet!”

  Luke was nodding in appreciation. His was white with a red splatter, and black logo—almost mirror-imaged. He weighed the jacket in his hand. “It’s light.”

  “But warm. They’ll keep you comfortable all day. There are vents if you get hot.” Dad smiled. “A couple of hats in there, too. Knock ’em dead today.”

  Parker had already stripped off his old coat and put the new one on. He always wore black pants, unlike most of the more colorful boarders at the terrain park, and the new coat fit like it had been made for him—and it probably had. “Thanks, Dad.”

  “Yeah, thanks,” Luke said. “See you up there.”

  “Don’t forget your helmets!” Mom called from the pantry.

  Luke rolled his eyes. “Mom, half the guys up there won’t be wearing them.”

  “And you’d risk brain damage like the rest of them?” She came out of the pantry and put her hands on her hips. “Go get a helmet.”

  “Fine, fine.”

  While Luke went in search of a helmet, Parker winked and held his up. Mom gave him a quick hug. “That’s my boy.”

  Finally, they were allowed outside. “Where’s Zoey?” Luke asked as they loaded their gear in the Jeep.

  “She’s coming up later with Mom and Dad.” Parker patted down his pockets to make sure he’d transferred everything from his other jacket. Contest nerves always made him obsessive about his gear. “No sense standing around in the cold for the next few hours.”

  And it was cold. Nineteen degrees with a sharp wind out of the north. Mom had frowned up at the sky a few times during breakfast, making Parker wonder if they were in for weather. Mom had an uncanny knack for predicting a big snow. But, so far, the sky was mostly clear, a light, high blue that only showed up in the dead of winter.

  They climbed into the Jeep and took off for Snowmass. Luke kept both hands on the wheel and didn’t bother with the radio. He always got nervous before a competition, and he had more reason this time.

  “You know,” Parker said. “You don’t have to do this. I was being a jackass, talking you into entering.”

  “Nah, I’ll do it.” He cleared his throat. “I ride j
ibs on occasion, and I’ve been known to jump. It’ll be fun.”

  “Okay, but the next time you run a boardercross, I’ll enter so you can show me up.”

  “No.” Luke’s voice was flat. “Boardercross is a bunch of knuckle-draggers looking to lay out somebody. Kid like you should do stuff with more finesse and leave the brawling to me.”

  That was the closest Parker’s brother had come to a compliment for a while, and he stared. “Now you’re scaring me. You hit your head or something?”

  Luke laughed. “No, but I might today.”

  They turned into the resort, and Parker didn’t have time to ask any more questions. As soon as they hit the main concourse, Luke turned on the charm and the swagger, gathering girls to trail behind them like the Pied Piper.

  A few tried to hang onto Parker, but he smiled and gave them a polite brush off, before plowing ahead to the registration table.

  “Parker Madison?” The man working registration smiled. “I was hoping we’d see you today.”

  Parker didn’t know him, but nodded. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

  The man handed him his competition jersey and number.

  Now all he had to do was wait.

  Chapter Twenty

  Zoey

  “Would you stop pacing, honey?” Mom asked, passing Dad a coffee cup. “Come eat some brunch. Tina and Jason won’t be here for another half-hour.”

  Zoey trudged to the table, sat, and picked at a cinnamon roll. She hadn’t heard from Parker this morning, which probably didn’t mean anything—he needed to focus on his competition. She understood, but waiting to talk to him was torture. She’d lain awake for hours thinking about the peek she’d had through the window, and now she kind of wanted to see even more.

  Jesus.

  What about Luke? They were still on to go dancing tonight, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to until she figured out what she wanted with Parker. Should she cancel?

  A wave of cold washed over her. God, she was going to ditch Luke for his brother. After all those months of pining, too. Luke had acted sort of interested, but never really committed. So maybe it wasn’t really ditching him if nothing had happened in the first place. Besides, the more time she spent with him, the less she’d…

  The less she’d enjoyed it.

  Could she really have been so blind? Sure he was gorgeous—how ironic that she’d judged a book by its cover. He was a decent big brother. He was a great snowboarder. But more and more, she thought maybe that was all. A pretty face, always on the lookout for the next new thing. Something she never wanted to be.

  Which left her a pretty outstanding, terrifying option: falling for her best friend. Who might, or might not, want her in return. She thought he probably felt the same way, but if she screwed this up, she could lose one of the best things in her life. One wrong assumption, and she ended up alone on NYE, wishing she never came to Aspen. So how did she figure this out? Parker had been flirting with her…which should make this easy. But what if he was just messing around, thinking they were playing a game?

  And why the hell couldn’t she just ask him and get it over with?

  Because the argument’s a circle, silly girl. To find out if Parker likes you, you have to ask. And if you ask and are wrong, things will get weird.

  But aren’t they weird already?

  What if he was ready for something more? The very idea made her quiver inside, but was it nerves or eagerness? She needed time and space to understand it all.

  The sight of him in the window flashed through her brain again…and now she needed air.

  Zoey stood and paced again.

  “It’s hopeless.” Dad gave Mom a wry smile before turning to Zoey. “They’re going to be fine, chickadee. These boys were skiing by the time they were two, and have boarded all winter for years. Have a little faith.”

  That was the problem. She had faith in their skills. She just lacked faith about her own heart.

  Zoey found a place in the spectator line along the track, just below the second set of rails, with a great view of the first and second jumps. Snowboarders, dressed in everything from skinny jeans to baggy skater pants, with jackets in every combination of every color, milled around, waiting on their turn to take the lift up. More than half of them wore only caps or hoodies without helmets. Hopefully there wouldn’t be an eyeball incident today.

  She shuddered. Taking a blue without a helmet was one thing. Flinging yourself into the air at forty miles an hour without headgear? Yeah, not the best idea.

  “Zoey!” Shawn, dressed in bright blue ski gear, shoved her way through the crowd to stand next to her. “Ready for this?”

  She nodded. “Why aren’t you up there?”

  Shawn waved a hand dismissively. “Won’t let me compete with the fellas. I won the women’s division this morning.”

  “Sweet!” Zoey give her a fist bump, laughing because she’d never do that with anyone at school. Too “dude-bro” for Zoey Miller, Class President. “Thinking about trying for the X-Games?”

  “Aww, maybe in a year or two. We’ll see.” Shawn shrugged. “Now, who really needs to think X-Games is P-Mad. Dude defies gravity.”

  Zoey had to focus on the crowd on the other side of the course to hide her flushed cheeks. “Yeah, he looked pretty good yesterday.”

  Both on the course, and off.

  “Nah, he was keeping it tight yesterday.” Shawn waggled an eyebrow. “Today you’ll see the freak-flag fly, my girl. He’s the best kept secret on this whole damn mountain.”

  Zoey stared up to the starting gate at the top of the course, wondering why he’d never mentioned it to her. She knew he loved the terrain park, but until yesterday, she didn’t know he was that good. She had to live through stories of every one of Luke’s wins, but Parker didn’t talk about it. “He’s full of surprises these days.”

  Shawn barked out a laugh. It sounded like a seal, and the crowd around them chuckled—Zoey included. “Girl, you really have no idea. But you should know.” Her expression went serious. “He’s excellent. I don’t think his own brother even knows how good he is. Luke’s amazing and fearless on boardercross tracks, but he’s a diva. This time, it’s P-Mad’s turn.”

  Zoey let out a slow breath, trying to ease a pang in her chest. Shawn was more right than she knew. “I think so, too. I think it’s definitely Parker’s turn.”

  “Ladies, gents, peeps of all flavors!” a boyish voice announced over the loudspeakers. “Are you ready to have your minds blown?”

  The crowd cheered with reckless abandon, and Zoey cheered along with them. Yes, she was totally ready to have her mind blown—maybe even altered forever.

  “Good to know, because here we go!” the announcer yelled cheerfully. “First up, Jack Boren, from Keystone, Colorado.”

  One by one, the boarders took their first run along the course. Some were pretty good. A few were excellent. And a lot were clearly amateurs looking for a chance to hit a forty-foot jump. There were some big wipe-outs, with one guy being carried off by paramedics. He gave the crowd a thumbs up, but by the time Luke’s name was called, Zoey’s palms were slick with sweat, and her stomach was about to revolt in protest.

  “Oh, lookie here!” the announcer sounded like he was about to wet himself. “We got ourselves a ringer…boardercross legend, and Snowmass’s own—Luke Madison!”

  The crowd roared with approval, and Zoey leaned against Shawn, her knees having gone weak with nerves. Shawn patted her on the head. “He’ll be fine.”

  Zoey held her breath when Luke appeared at the gate. The announcer’s tone became all business when he said, “Luke Madison, number fifteen, dropping in.”

  Luke slid into place at the top of the course, and shook out his arms. He looked small from this distance…and he looked tense. He fiddled with his helmet, obviously uncomfortable, and took a deep breath before tipping over the edge.

  His run started clean and he definitely looked more at home than the amateurs, but Zoey could see h
ow tightly wound he was in the way he moved. He took the first set of rails fine, and landed well, but Shawn shook her head.

  “What?”

  “Meat and potatoes. Dude’s gotta give us more style. Basic 50-50 won’t get him into the top ten.”

  Luke had already made the second rail. It looked like he was shooting for the middle, more difficult ride, but swung out to the right and hit the shorter, flat rail, instead of the graduated one.

  Shawn hissed with displeasure. “Come on, Luke. Don’t take the girlfriend ride. That down-flat-down was fine.”

  Zoey had no idea what she meant, but even she could tell Luke was either phoning it in, or he was being really cautious.

  When he hit the first jump, she got her answer—he went for the smaller ramp on the right, pulling a neat 360 with a grab, but his landing was messy. He stayed upright, and went for the middle ramp at the second jump. She expected him pull out the stops, but he did a 540, wobbling in the air, and came down hard.

  The landing pulled his feet out from under him and he rolled several feet before stopping.

  “No!” Zoey’s heart shot into her throat and she stood on her tiptoes to see if he was okay. At least he’d worn a helmet today. A minute went by—feeling more like an hour—then he got up slowly, gave the crowd a wave and walked off the course.

  She clasped her shaking hands in front of her. Why had Luke agreed to this contest? It was obvious he wasn’t quite ready for it. Was it because Parker dared him, and his ego wouldn’t let him quit? If so, he learned a painful lesson in taking the bait.

  “Ouch.” Shawn shook her head sadly. “He needs to stick to boardercross. Smaller moguls and pack fights are more his thing.”

  “I think he entered because Parker asked,” Zoey said.

  “That’s some kind of brotherly love.”

  Zoey wrapped her arms around her middle. “It’s some kind of something.”

  Three more boarders went, and Zoey was almost out of her mind by the time the announcer said, “Oh, boys and girls, get ready for this last competitor, because you’re in for a show. Please welcome hometown slopestyle master, number eighteen, Parker Madison, from Aspen, Colorado.”