Brazen Girl by Ali Dean Page 0,63

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.

There’s nothing to be done about Felicity, assuming she’s the stalker, for the moment at least. And we still don’t know who the bubblerollie Instagram is. Even if that particular threat isn’t present anymore, I’m not so confident there won’t be others. I’ve got no way to stop them or defend her, not in a way that will actually be effective. It keeps me up at night, this inability to do anything but attract the sharks in the first place.

Now she’s going to open up, make herself more vulnerable, and I understand why she’s doing it. But it makes me want to shield her somehow, and since there’s no way to do that, I have to swallow down that instinct and let it ride. It’s getting harder to do.

I wonder sometimes if I shut Dad out because he was an easy target, one