Brazen Girl by Ali Dean Page 0,52
big fight and there’d be crying, maybe then we’d need to have make-up sex. I mean that was best case scenario.”
“No, Beck.” I glance over my shoulder as I pull on a sports bra. “This is best case scenario. Don’t you think?”
“Yeah, I guess I’d be pushing it if I still wanted make-up sex even though we didn’t fight?”
“We’re going to fight soon if you don’t decide which park we’re going to in the next five minutes and then go downstairs and get breakfast ready for me so we can get moving.”
He hesitates a second so I add, “But if we do fight over that, there won’t be make-up sex afterward because I’ll have to find someone else to take me skateboarding.”
Beck lets out a low whistle but he follows my orders. Five minutes later, a toasted bagel with cream cheese is sitting on the counter waiting for me with a banana and glass of orange juice. I can hear my roommates around the house, probably getting ready to go to work. Sydney must have left.
“You mentioned you might want to compete again, but you didn’t mention going back on social media until just now. Why would you want to do that?”
“I know it’s a long shot, and probably sounds stupid, but if there’s a chance down the road of getting a pro deal I’ll need to have an online presence. I can’t avoid it forever if I really do want to be a pro skater.”
Beck places his elbows on the counter and leans forward, studying me as I eat my bagel. “You really want to compete and be a pro? You’re not just saying it because you feel like you have to prove something or… okay, that’s not what I mean. I just want you to do it for you, because you want to. Because it makes you happy. Not for me, or the haters, or anyone else.”
This time, I can tell him honestly, “I want to do it for me. I thought I could be happy going back to doing my own thing, being on my own. I didn’t even mind so much being the fifth wheel with my friends back home,” I say with a smile. “It gave me an excuse to do my own thing, which is what I thought I wanted. But I missed this. I missed you, obviously. But I missed all of it. That energy from competing. The extra momentum to stick a new trick or get a clean landing when I ride in the park. It gave me a sense of purpose I hadn’t had before. And I want it back.” It’s hard to put into words, but Beck nods as I speak, and I think he gets it. If anyone would, it’d be him.
“Good, because Griff’s dying to have you back as his female brand rep.”
That has me putting the bagel down and glaring at him. “Don’t do that, Beck.”
He blinks. “Huh?”
“Don’t patronize me. I need to earn a pro deal. Brazen’s huge now. They don’t need me. Griff does not need to do me any favors after I quit on him right before the launch.”
“He’s not. Just last night we talked about this. All the girls from Shred Live are super hot right now. Hot in terms of good brand rep material,” he adds quickly. “But they aren’t who he wants. Believe me, once you watch the show you’ll see why.”
“Now this I’m having more trouble taking your word about.” I eye him suspiciously. “What about Brie? I thought she was moving here and working for Brazen now.”
“Yeah, she’s our best choice right now. Brazen’s sponsoring her and she’ll be helping with marketing, but she’s not as good as you, Jordan. She’s awesome and we love her but she’s not top in the world.”
“Um, I’m not top in the world either, Beck. Not even close.”
“Yeah, but you can be. You will be.”
“Your confidence in me is a little biased.”
“You trust everything I tell you about Shred Live, but you won’t trust the world champion when he says you’ve got potential to be the best in the world too? Think about that, Hotshot.”
“Hotshot?”
“Yeah. I’m fired up right now. You can’t tell me you want this and not let me get fired up. Hurry up and finish that. We’ll call Griff in the car. When you hear his reaction, you’ll know I’m not the only one who believes in you.”
“Man, I have a lot of work to do to get there.”
“Technically, I