by Dean, Ali
“Yeah, come on.” He’s already turning around, and Beck starts to reach for my hand before shoving it in his pocket.
“See you tomorrow,” I tell the girls with a wave, trying to keep things from being even weirder. I think it’s the first time I’ve witnessed Griff or Beck be rude to anyone, and I’m not sure I want to ask why.
Chapter Thirteen
Beck
“You wouldn’t know she’s never ridden this course before,” Griffin says. We’re standing on the edge of the course, a couple photographers crouched in front of us. The ladies are warming up, and I can’t take my eyes off Jordan.
“Yeah, she’s on fire,” I murmur, too mesmerized to engage in conversation. There are twenty women competing today, with Jordan taking the place of someone who dropped out with an injury. It’s a decent lineup of pros, about half Americans, half international. The focus will be on the rivalry between Sarah Kase and Aya Nomura. They’ve both been consistently top in the world for years now, and unless there’s a big upset, one of them will take the win today. They’re the biggest names by far on the lineup.
It’s hard to know if it’s only bias, but when I watch Jordan ride, her style grabs my attention like no one else’s. Sarah Kase is athletic and aggressive, known for her showy tricks and catching big air. But she lacks finesse, her movements choppy and abrupt where Jordan’s are smooth and flowing. Jordan’s got the athleticism too, but she embraces the natural movements of her body, dancing into each carve and trick. Or maybe I’m just in love with the chick.
“You’re being really fucking obvious, man,” Griffin says.
Jordan dismounts and I finally snap my eyes off her to look at my best friend. “People can’t tell who I’m looking at,” I scoff.
“Yeah okay,” Griff says with a chuckle. He glances over my shoulder and I turn to follow his gaze. While I thought we were in the audience here, apparently there’s another row of people behind us without a great view of the course. And they’re watching me and Griff. There’s a security barrier up, otherwise I’m sure we’d be signing autographs right now.
Sighing, I turn back to him. “All right, I’ll do the Brazen rep thing now. You got the hat too?” He reaches into his backpack and hands me a baseball cap with the logo. Then I head over to our audience to sign autographs and spread the word about the early limited release of the hoodie and hat I’m wearing.
* * *
It’s not all my bias, because Jordan makes it to the finals later that night with seven other riders. I haven’t had a second alone with her all day, and it’s killing me.
We get a couple hours between the prelims and finals while the guys compete, but Griff comes with, and so does Brie Charles. She didn’t make the finals. Despite all the shit Kelly put her through, she’s still an old friend with me and Griff, and it’s good to spend time with her.
We take an Uber to a deli that’s far enough away to escape the skateboarding crowd. Once we’re at a little table with our sandwiches, Brie asks Jordan, “So how’d these guys find you? How’d you stay off the radar for so long?”
Jordan glances at me before answering. “I took a hard crash at the Riptide half pipe right after I moved to Summerside. Beck was there and helped me out, gave me a ride back to campus.”
Brie shudders. “That half pipe is no joke. You must have been okay though if you’re competing now? Griff said you’re a freshman so I take it you just moved to Summerside.”
“Yeah, it was just a hard fall, concussion. No broken bones.”
“Careful with those concussions, girl,” Brie warns. “That’s cool though, sounds like it worked out for Griff too that you crashed that day.”
Griff tells her about Taylor’s video and how he actually met Jordan because he recognized her from that.
“So is Taylor taking all the credit now for discovering her?” Brie asks on a chuckle. She remembers what a little punk he was following us around when we were younger, trying to prove himself.
“He’s been cool,” I admit. “Our little Sly is finally starting to grow up and get mature and shit. It’s weird.” Living with the guy the past couple months, I’m finally able to admit this.
“You just didn’t like him because Naomi had a crush on him.” Brie laughs harder.
Griff puts down his sandwich. “What? No way, Naomi had a crush on me, not Taylor.”
“Whoa. What? That’s messed up, man,” I tell him.
He just shrugs and goes back to his sandwich. “She totally did.”
We spend the next hour unwinding at that little table, laughing about old times and letting Jordan and Brie get to know each other. I’d forgotten how easily Brie fits into our group, and I miss her. It wasn’t only Kelly using our friendship to try to bring her down that led us apart. Brie’s family moved north, to the Bay Area, and that’s her home base. We don’t see each other regularly like we used to.
As we wait for an Uber back to the arena, Brie tells Jordan, “Well, I hope you beat Sarah today. She could stand to be taken down a few pegs.”
Jordan laughs. “Yeah right. She’s Sarah Kase.”
“You weren’t far off her in the prelims, Jordan,” Griff points out.
I want to pull Jordan to me, tell her how damn special she is on a skateboard, but I bump her shoulder instead. “Just do your thing.” I don’t think she’s put much thought into the scoring and places or prize money, and it’s working for her. She goes out there to ride her best runs for the pure fun of it, the challenge, not to beat a specific skater. But I do have to agree with Brie. Sarah has been at the top too long and her ego is getting out of control. I’m not looking forward to sharing a house with her on Shred Live for three months.
Jordan takes a deep breath before admitting, “I always thought Sarah was super cool. She was one of my favorite pro skateboarders. But last night she came across… I don’t know, not very nice. Not like I thought she’d be. And today she was even worse.”
“She used to be a pretty cool chick,” Brie says. “But winning the world championships went to her head. Not everyone can be as humble about being the best in the world as our guy Beck here.”
“It just means you’re the best that day, that moment,” I clarify. “I don’t win every time and plenty of other guys could have beaten me on a different day. I had some good runs at the right time.”
“You’re just helping my point, Beck,” Brie says.
The Uber pulls up then and as we head to the arena, I’ve got that same excited nervousness I get before I’m competing, but it’s for Jordan. I love watching her compete almost as much as I love doing it myself.
Chapter Fourteen
Jordan
I’m breathing hard when I dismount after my last run in the finals. My body is humming with the thrill of what I’ve accomplished. Four out of five nearly perfect runs. I fell on the third one, but the best and worst scores don’t count anyway. Beck’s ex was right about one thing – consistency is everything when it comes to competing, and I’ve shown today that I’ve got it.
Aya Nomura throws out a hand for a high five. “Great job today, Jordan.”
It takes me a second to respond, because it’s Aya Nomura! Two-time world champion. And she knows my name! “Thank you. You too.”
We watch the scoreboard, and there it is, I’m in second place behind her. It doesn’t seem real. I know I rode well, but second place to a world champion? I’m shaking my head when I feel an arm around me.
It’s Griffin and I move to return the hug. “You were unbelievable out there today.”
All of this is unbelievable.
Beck is standing beside Griffin, and I guess Griff’s move gave him permission to do the same. Friends can hug. It’s hard not to melt into him further, especially when he rests his chin on top of my head for a beat.
Beck squeezes hard but lets me go, muttering in my ear, “That’s my girl.”
There are two more women who have to do their last run, but only Sarah Kase has a shot at
moving ahead of me. I couldn’t care less. It was a dream to make the finals, and standing on a podium at my first real pro contest? It blows my mind.
Watching Sarah take her last run, I know I’ve only moved ahead of her because she fell on two runs, which means one of those goes toward her average. She gets higher in the air than any woman on the course today, and each trick is sharp and confident. But even with a run like that, her average score ends up being lower than mine.
She’s standing near us when the scores go up, and I already told her nice run when she dismounted. There’s a camera on her when it shows she got third, and I notice a mask slip over her face as she forces a tight smile.
Once the cameras are off, she turns to Griff and Beck, who are still standing nearby.
“So Beck, I thought you were taking time off because you needed the time for classes. How’d you get roped into coming up here just to watch?”
Beck shrugs. “It’s for Brazen. We’re trying to build as much buzz as we can before the official launch in the new year.” He gestures to his hoodie and hat. “I’m passing around codes for exclusive early releases.”
“I don’t know how you’re going so long without competing. It’ll be what, seven or eight months by the time Shred Live filming wraps up?”
My spine straightens at her reference to the reality show.
“Don’t forget the show’s a competition,” Beck says, looking around like he wants to get out of this conversation.
“I guess. I’ll be itching for some real contests though once filming’s done.”
My eyes swing between Beck and Sarah, but neither one is looking at me. I dart my gaze to Griff, who catches my eye, and gives me what I think is meant to be a reassuring smile, but looks more like a grimace.
“You’re doing Shred Live?” I ask Sarah, unable to hide my curiosity.
Sarah turns her head my way, and when she looks at me, it’s as if I’m an annoying bug she wants to squash. All she says is, “Yeah,” before turning her attention back to the guys who really matter.
I don’t get a chance to let it bother me. The other competitors from today come over to congratulate me. With the exception of Sarah, and maybe Camila, though I haven’t encountered her much, the other skaters have been super cool. Really encouraging to me and each other. Their congratulations are genuine, though I notice they keep glancing at Griff and Beck and I realize they’re looking for an opening to talk to them.
I’ve been so focused on the course, on my runs, that I haven’t really been paying attention to anything else. But as I finally let myself look around and take in the scene, I realize we’re the center of nearly everyone’s attention. Sure, the competition’s over now, but the guys are warming up and there are plenty of other things to look at. Still, there’s a crowd forming behind the security barrier, and if I had to guess, I bet it’s more for Griff and Beck than the women who competed today.
“Jordan!”
“Hey Jordan!”
I’m already looking in the direction of the crowd on the other side of the barrier, but it takes me a second to register the voices are for me. My eyes land on two teenage girls, maybe thirteen or fourteen years old, jumping up and down and waving their arms.
If getting second place felt surreal, this moment right here is ten times harder to process. It’s not until Aya puts a hand on my back and tells me to go say hi that I finally take a step forward.
I’m sure I look totally freaked out when I approach them, but somehow these girls don’t care, squealing louder until I’m in front of them.
“You are so amazing!”
“The coolest skater ever!”
“Can we get your autograph?”
“Are you riding for Griffin Perry’s new company with Beckett Steele?”
A poster for today’s event is shoved in front of me along with a Sharpie. It’s already covered with signatures, but I find a space at the bottom and add mine before another poster is placed in my hands. Before I know it, I’m interacting with fans. Yes, fans. My heart beats wildly and my head spins as they shoot over-the-top praise and questions my way, but I do my best to smile and answer. I’m pulled away for the awards right as people start getting braver and asking for photos. It’s like I’m in a dream as I walk over and stand on the podium beside Aya. I try not to look as dazed as I feel when they hand me a check worth two months working part time at Happy Beans!
The men’s final starts up as soon as the awards are done, but that doesn’t mean all the attention is off us. Brie is there when I step off the podium and gives me a hug. She helps me navigate my way through the crowd, pausing here and there for people who want to say congratulations. Beck and Griff are behind us, having a harder time getting through, but we all manage to make it to the street outside to regroup.
“Hotel?” Brie asks the three of us.
“Yeah,” Griff agrees. I glance over at him and Beck, and they look almost as frazzled as I feel, which is strangely comforting. That scene was a bit anxiety-inducing and maybe not exactly fun, but it’s good to know I’m not alone in finding the fan thing draining instead of stimulating. It’s just been a long-ass day and I can tell we’re all feeling its effect as we walk the two blocks to the hotel.
Brie and Griff decide to get a drink at the hotel bar, and it’s not until Beck and I are alone in the hotel room that I remember the other reason I’m off kilter.
“Come here,” Beck says when the door shuts behind us. “I haven’t been able to give you a real hug all day and it’s killing me.”
I step into his arms, because how could I say no to that?
His body is strong and comforting, his arms reassuring around me as he rocks us a little. “I was so damn proud of you today.” He pulls back a little. “How are you doing?”
I swallow, suddenly a little emotional and I don’t know why.
“I’m good.”
“Yeah?” He ducks down to get a better look at me.
“It’s a lot to process, Beck. It doesn’t feel real. I think I’m too drained to be as happy as I should be.” I did have that high right when I finished the last run, but everything else that happened afterward, while not bad necessarily, kind of sucked all my energy.
“Come on, take a shower, get comfortable, and I’ll order room service. We can watch a movie.”
That sounds perfect. So perfect, I don’t even want to bring up the revelation that Sarah Kase will be on the show with him. I need to find out who else will be there. I should really find out if he’s got any other exes like Kelly. But we’re finally getting in the groove with this relationship thing and I just don’t have the energy to think about complications. So I nod, but before turning to the bathroom, I take his hands.
“Hey, thanks for coming. I know we barely got to talk at the arena, but having you there, it meant a lot.” I don’t know how to explain it and I’m not sure I want to, but his presence was just comforting. It gave me a little extra confidence and strength. And now that it’s over? My phone is probably blowing up with messages from my parents and friends, but Beck’s the one I want to be with most.
Beck
After ordering room service, I sit on the edge of the bed and try really hard not to think about Jordan naked on the other side of the wall. Part of me wants to go in there and join her in the shower. But my girl had one hell of a day, and I could see in her eyes just how much it all wiped her out. The last thing she needs is me on my knees, experiencing me going down on her for the first time. Even though I can’t get that visual out of my mind. Maybe that would be good for her, help her relax and unwind? I’ve never wanted to not fuck something up so bad. It’s making me second guess all my actions.
My phone rings, and when I see the caller, I hit ignore. Dad’s been trying me all week, and he’s not usually so persistent. Eventually I’ll have to pick up, probably make plans for our quarterly in-person meeting. Not that it’s official, but that’s how it’s been between us for the past decade or so.
; I hear the shower shut off and my palms run over my thighs. A moment later, the door opens and Jordan’s voice calls out, “Hey Beck, can you grab my pajamas? I think they’re still on the floor from this morning by my side of the bed.” My side of the bed. I could get used to hearing that.
“Yeah, one sec.” I pick up the pajama bottoms, sports bra, and tee shirt. “Underwear?”
“Uh, in my bag.”
Unzipping her duffel, I find a pair that look like a feminine version of boxer briefs. Somehow, it’s basically the sexiest piece of underwear I’ve ever touched, probably because I’m picturing Jordan in them.
But that image flies from my head when I see her standing in a towel by the bathroom door. Her hair is pulled up in a towel on top of her head, and she already looks more relaxed than she did ten minutes ago.
Seeing her like this brings me back to her dorm room weeks ago, when she asked me to touch her and I bolted. Remembering that, and how the name flashing on my screen a moment ago had been the biggest fear holding me back, a burst of resolve takes over. It’s time to stop being so afraid of messing this up, and be with the girl right in front of me the way we clearly both want. Her eyes are drinking me in, her breaths getting shorter when I reach her and stand inches away. As I open the door behind her and walk her backwards, she licks her bottom lip, confirming she wants this too. A shiver runs through her, and I shut the door behind us, knowing she’s chilled from the shower. Then I place the clothes on the counter.
I’m not going to make her ask this time. One hand goes to the back of her neck as I kiss her, and the other reaches underneath the towel, clasping her hip firmly in my palm. She moans in my mouth as I let my hand explore her body, drifting to the back of her thighs, the curve of her ass, and up the side of her rib cage to her breasts.
Jordan reaches up and with one tug, lets the towel fall to the ground. I tear my lips away from hers and look down. She pulls the towel from the top of her head, her wet hair falling around her shoulders. Jordan’s completely naked in front of me, and she’s letting me take her in, memorizing each part of her skin.