And while Syd’s true colors might not be quite as dark as suspected, she only tried to find the stalker in the first place for selfish reasons. She might not be an outcast or an enemy anymore amongst her old friends, but I can’t see her getting a big warm welcome back into the group.
Beck hasn’t left my side since last night. We even showered together this morning. He’s managed to stay quiet through this little meeting with Sydney, but now he asks her, “Why didn’t you tell us sooner? Why did you want to wait until tonight?”
Syd’s eyes go to her feet. “I should have. I told the girls my suspicions when I first had a feeling, but I knew I needed more information. I guess I just decided yesterday I had enough and I wasn’t going to get any more.”
I glance at Beck and I think we share the same thoughts. Syd might not have anything as sinister up her sleeve as Fliss, but her intentions in all this aren’t exactly pure. She wanted to be the hero, and was hoping to find the right moment for that. Maybe she got nervous when Fliss asked to borrow her car, and realized the window of opportunity was closing; who knows?
“We should go get my parents at the airport,” I tell Beck. I tried to talk them out of flying all the way out here but realized pretty quickly they need to hug me as badly as I need to hug them.
As soon as we’re in the van I lean my head back and close my eyes, giving in to the exhaustion. “How are you?” Beck asks for the tenth time today.
“Ready to not think about what happened for at least a few minutes. I know my parents will want to talk about it but I just need a minute.”
Beck starts to turn up the music. It’s one of my favorite bands, and I give him a smile. I’m sure he’s got a million things to say about Sydney’s revelations and everything else that’s gone down, but he lets me be. We’ve spent all day filling in family, friends, police officers, and really haven’t had much time together just the two of us.
When the song ends, Beck asks, “Hey, I never asked how your conversation with Griff went about sponsors. Tell me about it.”
I’m happy for the distraction. “Oh, he said the contract with Brazen is pretty standard. I can’t rep brands in direct competition with them. So, clothing, shoes, skateboards. But anything else is fair game. Sports drinks, food, sunscreen, sunglasses.” I laugh a little, remembering some of the other things he mentioned. “Cars, lingerie, alcohol, or beauty products are fair game too.”
“No lingerie,” Beck warns with a smile.
“Okay then, no underwear modeling for you either.”
“Darn, Calvin Klein gave me a good offer.”
“Did they really?”
Beck’s smile is embarrassed. “Actually, yeah they did. A few years ago, but I turned it down. And again last week, but I turned that down too.”
“Hmm… well, I wouldn’t mind a life-size standee of you in underwear, but only if it’s in my bedroom, for my eyes only.”
The image of Beck modeling underwear just for me is overshadowed by a new thought. My bedroom. I can’t imagine I’ll ever feel safe in there again after Fliss opened the closet door with a gun in hand. Sure, she’s behind bars now, but my mind isn’t always rational about these things.
“What is it?” Beck asks.
“Nothing. I still don’t want to talk about Fliss and it’s about that. So, yes, I can definitely work with other sponsors according to Griff. But he says I need an agent because it’s a conflict of interest if he’s advising me, even though we’re friends.”
“Good, have you reached out to any of the ones I recommended?”
“Not yet. But he also recommended that same lady you thought would be good.”
“Scarlett?”
“Yeah, her.”
“That’s Brie’s agent and she speaks highly of her.”
It’s good to talk business and I’m excited to find someone new I can consult about this kind of stuff. Someone who isn’t my boyfriend or friend, that is. I’m lucky to have so many people who understand the world I’m in and can give advice, but it will be good to also have that outside perspective as I navigate all this stuff.
When I see my parents at the airport, and Mom starts crying before she’s even got me in her arms, I’m right back to reliving the events of last night. It’s the first time I’ve let myself cry since it happened. They aren’t big sobbing tears, but a few streak down my cheeks as I hug my parents.
“Our brave strong girl,” Mom gushes.
Dad takes my arms and inspects me up and down much like Beck did when he first found me last night. “You look exhausted, sweetheart. We won’t make you talk about it tonight. Let’s get to bed, get a good night’s sleep, and we’ll talk tomorrow.”
I might lean on Beck and my friends now more than I do my parents, but they still know me as well as anyone. It’s exactly what I need.
“I have classes tomorrow. And even though I normally whine and complain about going, I kind of want some normalcy,” I admit.
“Fine, I won’t force you to play hooky,” Dad says, patting me on the shoulder. “We’ll take a tour around campus and town while you’re in class.”
“It’s so nice to have you here,” I admit. “I’m glad you didn’t let me talk you out of coming.”
Mom smiles as she lets Beck take her suitcase. “Oh, we’ve been waiting for a good excuse to come visit. This isn’t exactly what we had in mind, but we’re happy you’ll have a chance to show us around. We know how much you love it.”
Mom’s still weepy and I get the sense it’s not only about her daughter being held at gunpoint. It’s that I’m growing up, and all signs are showing that I’ve fallen in love with a location on the opposite side of the country from her. The location, the people, the guy. I give her another squeeze as we walk out of the terminal. This is my home now, and even getting my life threatened by my boyfriend’s best friend’s stalker doesn’t change that.
Chapter Twenty-One
Beck
It should be weird having my girlfriend’s parents staying at the Jay Beach house, but it’s surprisingly kind of nice. They’re a huge part of the woman she is today, and it’s important to me to get to know them better. I want them to know me too, because I intend to be a permanent fixture in Jordan’s life. Jordan insists on going to classes all week, and I take some time off work to show her parents around Jay Beach and Summerside.
It’s Saturday afternoon and they’ve got a flight home tomorrow. The last five days with them have been good for Jordan I think, gave her some comfort when I know she’s rattled by Sunday night’s events. But I also know she’s eager for some solid hours shredding the skatepark. And I know I’m eager for some alone time with her.
I’m flipping burgers on the grill while Jordan and her mom are swimming in the pool. Dinner will be ready soon but I don’t want to interrupt their time together.
“How’d you learn to cook so well?” Jordan’s dad, Ted, joins me on the deck after changing from swimming earlier.
“My mom. But this is a pretty simple meal, so nothing too exciting tonight.”