Chapter Four
Beck
My girl is covered in bruises and there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s been almost three weeks since her first day attempting a 720, and at least she seems to have perfected the fall technique for this particular trick. Three days a week she’s at Summerside taking classes, and Friday through Monday she’s with me, spending hours on the half pipe in our backyard. I knew Jordan was determined, but damn, she’s relentless.
“Someone needs to make hip pads that don’t impede your flow.” I take in the purple and blue splotches on her butt and hips before she slips a form-fitting dress over her head.
“I’m getting closer though,” Jordan says, too focused on the goal to care much about the pain she’s got to be suffering.
“There’s no deadline, Hotshot,” I remind her as I slip my hands around her waist.
“Actually, there sort of is.”
The dress clings to her body and begs my hands to wander, which they do. “No bra?”
Jordan leans into my touch as my hands move up her stomach to her chest, one part of her body that hasn’t been bruised yet from her 720 attempts.
“Or undies,” she confirms, making my hands drift back down, until I remember how tender her ass must be.
“You should take tomorrow off, Jordan. We can go to the beach instead.”
She turns in my arms, her hands holding my forearms as her eyes take in my semi-formal attire. “I want to get a 720 down before the X Games.”
Her words pull me away from calculating if we’ve got time for a quickie before the event tonight. “In November?”
“Yeah, it’ll be my first X Games and I want to do something special.”
“But even if you land it tomorrow, you know a trick like that doesn’t come together every time. Hell, I’ve only landed a 900 twice and I don’t think I’ll ever try it at a competition again.”
“I want to beat Sarah Kase. It’s the only thing I can think of that will give me an edge. The kind of edge she can’t call a fluke, like at the Oregon Cup.”
I’m not sure I’m liking this explanation. Jordan’s been digging the competitions because they’re fun and exciting, not for some personal vendetta. “I know Sarah’s been a bitch to you from day one, and that she was the only one who beat you at vert at Southskate, but is that really what’s driving you?”
“No, I’m going for it because I can’t stop thinking about it and I want it. I’m getting closer every day. The X Games just gives me a sort of deadline, I guess.”
“You know you beat her fair and square at the Oregon Cup. And you’ll beat her again.” I want to remind her of all the other tricks she’s good at and ones she can still perfect that aren’t as dangerous, but I know it’s pointless.
“I probably do need a day off tomorrow though.” She surprises me. “As long as I don’t scare everyone at the beach with my bruises. Come on, we’ll be late to the opening.”
Brazen’s finally opening its first store after months of online sales only. It’s in downtown Jay Beach, not far from the house. Tonight is the grand opening party, and it’s a good thing the space is a big one because we invited way too many people.
“I’ve never been to a store grand opening,” Jordan says as we skate along the sidewalk toward downtown. I usually drive but wanted to save the parking spaces tonight.
“Me neither. It won’t be too different from a regular party.”
Jordan glances behind her. “What kind of regular party are you talking about, Beck?”
“I mean, there’s gonna be an open bar and our friends. It’s not like a shopping grand opening where random people come to shop. People will be drinking and hanging, not buying merchandise.”
“I thought your sisters were working the cash register tonight?”
“Oh yeah, people can buy stuff, but since it’s a private party by invite only, it’s more about celebrating, getting some photos for the website, media buzz, and then regular customers start coming tomorrow.”
“So will I know most everyone here then? I thought you said there will be over two hundred.”
“Oh, yeah I guess there’s also a bunch of skateboarding biz types in addition to our friends and pros you’ve met.”
I’m right behind Jordan, and watching her skate in that tight dress with Brazen kicks on her feet might be the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s the sexy and sporty contrast. So very Jordan. “You really aren’t going to wear underwear?”
“The dress goes below my knee, Beck, don’t worry. I picked this dress to strategically cover the worst of my scrapes and bruises. It’s actually super comfortable, but I’m not going to be hitting the park in this.”
I’m wondering how I’m going to get through a night of catching up with people when I’ve got Jordan looking like this and knowing she’s naked underneath. Jordan slows and comes to a stop as we reach the crosswalk. “Beck, you’re Brazen’s VP. You’re going to have to stop staring at my ass when we get there and look like the professional Griff is counting on you to be.” She puts her hands on my shoulders as she gives this advice.
I groan as I force myself to resist grabbing said ass right here. Jordan’s eyes twinkle like she knows exactly what I’m thinking. “Just give it one little squeeze and then no touching until we’re home later.”
My hands don’t hesitate and slide right over the smooth fabric, grabbing on. Just as I do, a familiar car honks and Zora sticks her head out the window with a wolf whistle. Taylor’s driving, with Ellie riding shotgun and it looks like Brie is in the backseat with Zora as they drive by, waving.
The light changes for us to cross and I grab Jordan’s hand, not wanting to lose the connection just yet. “Taylor’s been happy as hell ever since Ellie got back with him,” I tell Jordan.
“Ellie too. She made a good effort at fake happy for a while there, but it’s the real deal now.”
“With everyone in the house pairing off, makes me wonder if Griff will find his girl or if he’ll be single forever.”
“Brie’s not with anyone, is she?”
“Uh, I’m not sure,” I hedge. Shit. I don’t want to keep a secret from Jordan, but I promised I wouldn’t tell her who Brie’s been seeing just yet.
Jordan doesn’t seem to notice my vague response. She hops off her board and picks it up as we get closer to the store. “Wow, are those people waiting to come in?”
I check my watch. We’re twenty minutes before the official start time, just to make sure Griff doesn’t need any last-minute help. We figured it’d be like a normal party, with people flowing in later, not all showing up right on time. But there are at least two dozen people milling about, and I don’t recognize any of them.
“Some of them have cameras. I know you said there’d be a professional photographer, but…” Her voice drifts off as one of the people in the crowd aims a camera at us.
I’ve had unexpected cameras on me at skateparks, and with the exception of hidden cameras for Shred Live, this is the first time I’ve experienced an unexpected shot walking down the street.