For now, we wake up each morning together, and usually hit the gym for a quick strength workout. We’re pretty spoiled with the living situation too. Not only does the condo complex have a gym and pool, but now Beck has moved into the Jay Beach house, we have a little private workout area and a pool there as well. After we eat breakfast, we go skateboard somewhere together for hours. Sometimes we’ll be alone and other times friends will join. When we break for lunch we usually try to hit up a pool or the beach to cool off in the summer afternoon heat. If we’ve got the energy, we skateboard some more later in the afternoon. Beck usually cooks me dinner and then we spend the rest of the night in bed.
“This has been the best two weeks of my life,” I tell Beck as we lie on the bed in the back of the van.
The sun is rising and we’re in the parking lot at Riptide. Even though we’ve got two pretty great places to stay at night, I wanted to get away without any roommates before heading to Southskate tomorrow. I still haven’t skated at Riptide since the crash, and if I’m going to do it, now’s my chance without anyone around.
“Yeah, me too.” Beck’s fingers stroke my back, and I can tell he’s not totally awake yet.
“I have an idea.”
“What’s that?”
“Instead of engaging the bare minimum on social media, I want to open up and tell a little bit of my story.”
Beck’s hand stops absently stroking my bare skin and moves to my hip. I’m lying on his chest, and in one strong pull, he slides me up his body until my face is inches from his.
“Are people giving you shit already on social media?” He’s awake now, that’s for sure.
“No, Beck. I promise, this time I’ll tell you, okay? Maybe not about every single message and comment, because once everyone knows we’re together I’m sure there will be a lot, but I’ll tell you if there are threats.”
“What prompted this idea then? It’s not like you.”
“Nothing really. It’s been nice having minimal action on social media these past two weeks since opening new accounts. But I know that won’t last. Not after Southskate. I guess I realized I’m not really giving people anything else to talk about or think of me if who I’m dating is the most interesting topic. Maybe I need to tell them a little bit more about who I am besides a skateboarder who is connected to Beckett Steele and Griffin Perry.”
Beck’s concerned expression softens as I speak, and now he gives me a smile. “I can help with that.”
“I actually already wrote up a little story. I thought I’d post half of it today and half of it tomorrow since it’s so long.”
“A story?”
“Yeah, just a condensed version about how I came to Summerside to skate the best parks, and ended up meeting you and Griff, your sisters, Taylor. I don’t get into the online bullying, I think that’s just giving the trolls attention and asking for more of it at this point.”
“So this little story, how much of it is about you and me?”
“None of it. That’s the point. I want people to see I’m more than your girlfriend. You’re part of the group that’s supported me all this time, but once they learn we’re together, I don’t want to be just Beckett Steele’s girlfriend.”
“No, you want to be someone else’s too?” he teases.
“I want to be me, Jordan Slattery.”
“I get why you don’t want to share about the stalker and threats, but are you only going to talk about the good stuff or will you talk about the recovery from the concussion too?”
“I want to talk about the recovery too. I think I even want to tell people about how I couldn’t skateboard at all for four months. I can’t be the only one who’s experienced this. And maybe if I share my story it will help others.”
“And then you’ll tell them not only are you skateboarding again, but you’re competing again too.”
“Exactly.”
“I’m inspired just hearing you tell me this and I already know your story,” Beck says quietly.
“Oh? What kind of inspiration are you talking about? Because I haven’t missed how your hand is sliding down underneath my underwear.”
I suck in a breath when he squeezes my ass cheek. “Sorry, I’m listening. And I love this idea. I want you to do it.” He pulls his hand up, resting it just above my panty line. But I can feel him hardening underneath my leg that’s resting over his middle.
“Beck?”
“Yeah?”
“You can touch me now if you want.”
“I feel like an asshole. We were having a conversation.”
Smiling at him, I reach behind me and move his hand back to where it was a second ago. “I think it’s cute that me taking control of my social media persona turns you on.”
“Everything about you turns me on,” he confesses a little sheepishly. “But especially watching you figure this out on your own terms. First you decided to watch Shred Live so you could be ready to handle whatever comes your way. Now you’re opening up, showing vulnerability to the same crowd you never wanted to deal with in the first place. The same people who hurt you before, who were even responsible for that concussion. All to go after what you really want.”
“You mean you?”
“Yeah, me.” Beck doesn’t deny it. “But also competing, and loving skateboarding without being afraid. Not having to hide.”
“Sounds like you’re really in love with me.”
“I really am.”
“I’m sort of amazed how much sense you’re able to make while you have this boner literally moving around trying to get closer to me. How can you focus? I know I’m struggling.”
Beck laughs. “I didn’t want you to think I wasn’t paying attention. But I’m serious, it all turns me on.”
“Better do something about it quick, Beck, because I want to hit Riptide before anyone else shows up.”
“Really? I thought you’d jump off me and demand we get going.”
I sigh dramatically. “I can’t skate in this state either.” Beck smiles before moving into action, sliding my underwear all the way off before getting to his own. I wouldn’t have thought a quickie could also be loving and sweet, but Beck has it down. By the time we emerge from the van, already sweaty and flushed, I’m in the perfect state of mind to tackle the park that’s starred in my nightmares on occasion these past few months.
Beck
I look at Jordan as I hand over her board. She’s standing outside the van, glaring at Riptide like it’s her nemesis. As soon as the board is in her hands, she hops on and skates off. If I didn’t know better, I’d be a little insulted I’m forgotten so quickly. But I do know better. She wants me here with her when she does this. I was there the first time she skated after the crash, and I’ve been there for each milestone since. Jordan needs me, and she’s okay admitting that to herself now.
The ocean is calm this morning, which means there aren’t any surfers out. With the exception of a few walkers or joggers, we’ve got the area to ourselves.
My eyes flick to the half pipe, the giant structure that’s taken so many down, including Jordan. I’m excited for her as she faces her demons head on, but there’s also a rage simmering inside me. I don’t have anyone to take it out on, not even an inanimate object like the Riptide half pipe. After all, it’s the same structure that brought us together nearly a year ago.