by Nella Tyler
“Maybe he did,” he said. “But either way, you haven’t lost anything. Can I check into it for you?”
The old fears of being found and taken back to that hell hole of a foster home slipped back in. I had to remind myself they were irrational now. I’m an adult. They can’t take me back. I sucked in a breath and shrugged again, feigning nonchalance, and said, “Sure, go for it.” Acting like I’m perfectly content being broke and homeless seems somehow less pathetic to me.
CHAPTER EIGHT
DRAKE
All morning while I was watching Summer practice her pop-ups, I had to keep a tight rein on my parts down south. I didn’t want her to think that was all I wanted from her, but damn, do I want it. She has absolutely no clue how incredible she is – and then I find out she’s Wayne French’s granddaughter! I couldn’t wait to tell Kobe. She said she had somewhere to be after we ate, but before she took off, she thanked me for the lessons and lunch. She has a lot of pride and I can tell it’s hard for her to accept help, so that meant a lot to me.
I found Kobe behind the counter in his shop with his bare feet up on a stool, taking a hit off of a bong…maybe this has something to do with his drop in business. “Hey, man! What’s up?”
“Well, I found something out today and I’m dying to tell someone… Guess who Summer’s grandfather is?”
He gave me an amused look and said, “Who’s Summer?”
“Oh, shut the hell up and put your big smelly feet down so I can sit.” He laughed and moved his feet. Then he offered me the bong. “No thanks, but back to what I was saying… Wayne French was Summer’s grandfather.”
“No way, man! Are you sure she’s not just yanking your chain?”
“I really don’t think so. She actually opened up to me.”
He raised his burly eyebrows and smiled again, “What all did she open up?”
“Are you going to let me tell you the story or are you going to keep interrupting?” Kobe is one of my favorite people, but for some reason, sex with Summer felt a lot different than it usually did with other women. Something about it was special and I didn’t want to brag about it like I usually do. He was quiet, so I said, “He actually raised her out on the circuit.”
“That explains her interest in surfing. Is she any good?”
“We worked on her pop-up today. That was a problem for her. I haven’t actually seen her surf yet, but she’s got to have some natural talent you would think, considering what’s in her DNA.”
“Yeah, Wayne French was a legend. Why is she homeless?”
“I guess she took off after he died to keep from going into foster care. I’m going to make some phone calls back east and try to find out whom his attorney was or his financial guy. I can’t help but think there should be some money somewhere, and if there is, it should be hers.” Kobe was smirking at me again. “What?”
“I was just thinking about what a hard time you gave me about Phoebe the other day, man.”
“I guess I do owe you an apology for that. Sometimes I get in the Spencer frame of mind and act like an arrogant dick-head.”
“You can’t help what’s in your DNA, man.”
I just shook my head at him as he grinned at me. He’s right, I can’t change my DNA, but I can damned sure treat people differently than the rest of my family does. If nothing else ever happens between me and Summer – and I hope like hell it does – at least I’ll know I did all I could to help her.
“Oh, I almost forgot!” Kobe got up and went over by his phone. He shuffled through a pile of papers there, knocking about half of them onto the floor and he pulled out a yellow piece of paper. “This is the guy who has the space for rent in Laguna. I talked to him earlier today about your school and he told me to have you call him.”
Kobe was the only one I’d talked to about what I really wanted to do with my life. I wanted to teach surfing to kids that wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to learn. I’d been thinking about teaching for a while, but when I came home this time and realized what a huge problem San Diego County had with homelessness, I started thinking about doing it for underprivileged kids. I had done some research on non-profit business licenses and I had some experience with helping my mother with all of her charity work over the years. I just hadn’t gone any further than that because I know the top of my father’s head is going to blow off when I tell him that I don’t want to be a part of Spencer Exports. The very thought of wearing a suit every day and being inside all the time made me feel claustrophobic.
“Thanks, man, I’ll call him,” I said. Right after I have that talk with my dad, I continued in my head. I was not looking forward to that.
“You still gonna do Laguna?”
“Yeah, of course. It’s my last ride if I decide to do this. I came home for Laguna.” The tournament in Laguna was a kick-off to the coming season. Technically, if I planned on not going another season, I should skip it, but I’m not overly confident that I’ll be able to stand up to my dad and do this school thing. If that doesn’t happen, I’m going to spend at least one more year on the circuit, putting off the inevitable suffocation of working in my dad’s company. “I’m gonna take off and get started making those phone calls. Tonight is Lance’s birthday; you want to go out with us?”
“Sure, man, just come by on your way and get me.”
“You’ll wear shoes?”
He laughed and looked at his feet. “They’re kind of sexy to cover up.”
*******
I walked out, shaking my head. When I come home I usually stay at my parent’s house. My room is on the third floor and has its own entrance. It’s been the same since I left home and started traveling at eighteen, four years ago. Nobody really bothers me, but if my mother knew I was there, she’d at least expect me down for breakfast and dinner every day. I remember when I was a kid I’d look forward to those times because it was usually the only time I got to see my dad. He spends so much time at work that he and my mother finally settled on two meals a day at home as a compromise. Sadly, now that I’m an adult, I really don’t have much to say to him.
I wasn’t sure where to start trying to find Summer’s grandfather’s money so the first person I called was my father’s attorney. Times like this, I wished I had my own. This guy has worked for my father since before I was born, so there is no question as to where his loyalties lie. But he is smart and from what I’ve heard, he’s the best corporate and estate attorney in California.
I had to be transferred three times and wait on hold for over twenty minutes before I finally heard, “Drake?”
“Hey, Vince, yeah, it’s me.”
“Well, hey there, kid! How are you?”
“I’m good, Vince. I’m home for a competition in Laguna next week. I was hoping I could ask you a favor…” I told him the story as I knew it, leaving out the facts about the way I feel about Summer. Partly because I knew he’d take that straight to my father and partly because I wasn’t sure how to even put what I was feeling into words.
“Wow, I used to follow Wayne’s career. I never knew he had a kid, much less a granddaughter. I have to ask, Drake, are you sure this isn’t some kind of scam?”
“I’ll admit that I was skeptical when she told me who her grandfather was, but honestly, unless she turns out to have his DNA, if there is money, it does her no good, right? This was my idea, anyways. She never mentioned anything about any money. She’s been so busy trying to survive out there that I don’t think she’s had much time to think about it. She’s been on the streets since she was fourteen, Vince. She was just a kid. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about it.”
“You have your mother’s heart,” he said. Then he laughed and said, “Since your father doesn’t have one, that’s a good thing.” I laughed, too; he knows my family too well. “Give me a little time to see what I can do about tracking down his attorney and I’ll get back to you if and when I find anything out, okay?”
“Thanks, Vince, I appreciate this a lot
. I have one more favor to ask.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ll give you a retainer or whatever, but can this stay between us?”
“This is a favor for a friend and good Samaritan. No retainer needed, and it will stay right here.”
“Thanks.” I wasn’t convinced that he wasn’t too loyal to my father not to tell him, but his word would have to do. Speaking of my father, I figured now is as good of a time as any to get this shit over with. I dressed in a pair of slacks and a collared shirt and put real shoes on…and I even shaved. I wanted him to have as little ammunition to use against me as possible.
CHAPTER NINE
SUMMER
“No, no, no! You’re switching your feet again! You’ll never stay up on the board like that!”
“Don’t yell at me!” Drake showed up for our “lesson” this morning in one hell of a bad mood. “I’m not sure who pissed in your Cheerios this morning, but don’t take it out on me!”
He looked like he was going to growl at me again, but then he took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry, you’re right. Just watch your feet, okay? I want you to win this thing.”
“You wanna talk about it?” I said that and then wondered where it came from. I’m really not the kind of girl who wants to get involved in or even listen to other people’s problems. I have enough of my own…too many. For some reason, all the rules seem to be different for this guy.
He smiled. “Not really, but thank you. Now come on, pop-up for me again. I know you can do this.” I shook off the urge to hug him or something sappy and stupid like that and went back to focusing on my footwork. For the next two hours, we worked and I fought urge after urge to touch him. He was touching me. Every time he adjusted my feet, he would take hold of my ankle or my calf and caress them with his calloused fingers just slightly before putting my foot where he wanted it. That simple touch and the fact that several times he leaned into me with his hard, wet, naked chest had led me to distraction. I was hot and wet and horny and grateful when he let me go into the water to do a few pop ups in the little waves. The ocean cooled me down and helped me think more clearly. When Drake was in my space, clear and rational thoughts were a stretch.
His mood got better as the morning went on and mine was better than it had been in a long time, until we started coming in off the water and I saw Bennie standing about fifty yards up the beach, just watching us. “We have company,” Drake said. He didn’t look happy about it. From the look on Bennie’s face, he wasn’t happy, either. This is just great. I don’t have a single boyfriend and yet these two dimwits look like they’re ready to fight over me. I wonder what the winner thinks he’s going to get?
With a sigh I said, “Yeah, I saw him. I’ll be right back.” I dropped the board I was holding and Drake sat down in his little lawn chair and pulled out his wax kit. To give him credit, he even faced it away from where Bennie was so it didn’t seem like he was trying to intrude on our conversation. I walked over to where Bennie stood with his arms folded, waiting for me. He hadn’t asked any questions about where I went yesterday, so I hadn’t offered any explanations. I kept telling myself that it wasn’t his business. It also wasn’t the way we usually do things. Our group survives mostly because we look out for each other and use the buddy system. “What’s up?”
“You look like you’re having fun.” His face didn’t look like he thought me having “fun” was a good thing. It kind of pissed me off, so I smiled and said,
“Yeah, actually the most fun I’ve had in a long time-”
“What are you doing, Summer?” His tone was as if he was talking to a child and that pissed me off even more.
“Not that it’s really your business, Bennie, but I’m trying to get better at this so I can win that contest…and the money.”
“It’s not my business? You’re my…we’re friends. You can’t even tell me where you’re going-”
“So you follow me?”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay. You’ve been really…different lately. Distracted or something. Now I see you with this guy and you’re making moony faces at him-”
I laughed, “Moony faces?”
“Yeah, you should see the way you look at him, Summer.” Bennie looked like he was nauseous at the thought. Then he went on to say, “This guy is not like us. He lives in a big fucking mansion on the water and his father owns one of the oldest and most successful businesses in town. His mother and sister are society queens. He’s a championship surfer with a different woman on his arm in every picture one of the surf magazines snaps of him. Do you really think he wants anything from you other than a piece of ass from a hot girl who thinks she owes him something? He’s no better than those men that proposition you on the street.”
“So, my body is all I have going for me, Bennie, is that what you’re telling me? There is surely no chance at all that he actually likes me-”
“Of course not, you have a lot to offer to the right person. I’m just telling you that this guy is not him.”
“And you know that because?”
“He’s not like us, Summer. He’s not one of us. You shouldn’t trust him.”
“Why is that, Bennie, because he’s rich? I’m not good enough for a rich guy, so you think that surely he’s only using me? How do you know so much about him, anyways? I don’t even know where he lives or what his father does.” It was a little bit unnerving to think that Bennie had been running around checking up on Drake.
“I was worried about you spending time with him out here alone. I’ve known you for a while now and I’ve never known you to trust someone so easily.”
“Maybe it’s because he’s different. Maybe it’s because he’s the first man I’ve met in a long time who actually wants to do something nice for me and doesn’t expect anything in return.”
Bennie laughed, but it was obviously not because he was happy for me. “Oh, right, like that little naked time the two of you spent in the water the other night.”
“You sick mother-fucker! You were watching us?”
“No, I mean… I saw you and anyone else that came along could have seen you, too. Things like that are so out of character for you, Summer.”
“Yeah, anyone else who followed me out to a deserted beach in the middle of the night could have seen me. I can’t believe you watched us, Bennie! That’s creepy!”
“Damn it, Summer! It’s not like that.” His voice got higher and louder as he said, “You took off and I woke up worried about you. You were out here on this deserted strip of beach with a guy you didn’t even know. Anything could have happened and that you do know. We look out for each other, we always have. Living like we do is dangerous, and I know you know that, too. Hell, I haven’t even told you half of the things I’ve seen out here…the young girls like you that I’ve watched men hurt and abuse, take advantage of…” He stopped ranting and I saw his eyes go up over my shoulder. I knew Drake must be standing there before I heard him say,
“You need to back off.” His voice was low and controlled, but definitely serious.
“You’re the one that needs to back off. I’m not going to let you take advantage of her.”
Drake raised an eyebrow and said, “The way you do?”
“What the fuck are you talking about? Summer is my friend and I care about her. I’m not the one looking for a piece-”
“Stop it! Both of you just stop it! The only person who should have any say about what I do or who I do it with is me. Neither of you dick-wads is my father, my husband, nor my boyfriend, so just knock your testosterone-fueled posturing bullshit off right now!” They were both silent, but continued glaring at each other. I wasn’t going to stand by and just listen while these two debated what I should or shouldn’t be doing. I turned towards Drake and said, “Give us a minute, please.”
He didn’t look like he wanted to and he never took his pretty blue eyes off of Bennie’s face, but he finally nodded and went back over where our things were. I turned
back to Bennie, who was still glaring.
“Bennie.” I softened my tone and said, “Drake is a nice guy. He may be rich, but he’s not like the dick-heads we’re used to around here. He doesn’t treat me any differently than he would anyone else and it’s not about the sex. He agreed to teach me and he also agreed to do that after I told him I wasn’t going to exchange sex for the lessons. I believe he’s really doing this out of the goodness of his heart. But, with that being said, I am an adult and if I want to have sex with a man, that’s my choice. You might be the leader of our little group and make decisions about where we sleep and what we buy with our almost non-existent cash, but you do not decide what I do with my own body or who I choose to do it with. I took care of myself for three years before I met you, Bennie, and I did just fine. I haven’t lost the ability to do that.”
He looked like he wanted to be sick and I braced myself. I was sure he had a lot more to say. He didn’t say it, though. Instead he said, “Be careful, Summer, that’s all I’m asking.”
“Trust me, Bennie, that’s all I’m asking.” He looked over at Drake one last time and then back at me.
“I trust you, Summer. I trust you with my life. It’s him I’m not so sure about.”
“Then trust my instincts. They haven’t done me wrong yet.”
He nodded and shoved his hands in the pockets of his dirty jeans. “Okay. I’ll see you later?” It was a question. He was wondering if I was suddenly going to move in with the rich guy.
“Yes, I’ll see you later.” I watched him walk all the way back to where the trail started and led back up to the top of the cliff before he disappeared into the trees. My guess is that’s where he watched me and Drake from the other night. I shivered at the thought – it was kind of creepy. I went back over to where Drake sat. He looked up at me and then over towards where Bennie had just disappeared.