Brazen Girl: Brazen Series Book 3 Page 17

  Camila jumps on Beck, literally, as soon as she catches sight of him. She runs across the arena like a crazy person, calling his name. Then she leaps into his arms, legs wrapped around his waist, leaving him no choice but to go with it. Okay, he could push her off and shove her to the ground, but this is Beck we’re talking about. He doesn’t have it in him to be that harsh.

  Wait, hold on. Maybe he does have it in him. I watch as Beck pries her hands off his neck and kind of pushes her off of him. I can tell he’s exercising restraint to be gentle when he’d rather tear her off him more aggressively. She doesn’t go easily, and she tries to make it look smooth when she finally gives in and detaches herself, laughing.

  My eyes dart to Sarah, who watches with narrows eyes. She didn’t come over or say hello when she first spotted us, but I notice resolve take over her expression before she takes long strides in our direction.

  Summer leans closer to me and murmurs, “Didn’t the contract end today?”

  “Yeah, it ends today.”

  “Then go over there and put your arms around him or something!”

  “But I don’t think we’re allowed to be public until tomorrow.”

  “Who cares?” Naomi asks from my other side.

  “What if it messes with my focus? I need to be thinking about competing, not all this,” I say waving in the direction of the two girls now facing off Beck.

  “Go save him!” Naomi hisses. “He needs you.”

  I look around at the rest of our group, who look somewhat helpless as they watch this unfold. Are Summer and Naomi right? I’m the only one who can rescue Beck, but is now the time? What about the big kiss we had planned after we competed tomorrow?

  Someone shoves me from behind and I turn to find Zora. “Go!” she mouths.

  Without overthinking it, I move until I’m standing beside Beck.

  When Camila notices me, she gives me this look that is both dismissive and disgusted. I’m not sure if she thinks I’m some random fan and doesn’t recognize me, or if she’s just that rude. She at least pretended to be nice to me when we encountered each other before.

  Sarah doesn’t seem to register my presence. She’s zeroed in on Beck and clearly has something she wants to say.

  Since I’m not entirely sure what to say myself, she beats me to it. “The season finale was bogus, wasn’t it?” Sarah sounds triumphant as she throws this question at Beck.

  “You know he can’t talk about that,” Camila answers haughtily.

  “You were perfectly happy to tell me your version of the story,” Sarah says with an eyeroll. “And anyway, cast is allowed to talk.”

  “Yeah, but we have an audience,” Camila informs Sarah.

  Beck still hasn’t said a word; I’m not even sure he’s registered I’m beside him. I glance up at him and find he’s scrutinizing Camila and Sarah.

  “Jordan, what are you doing here?” Sarah asks. “I thought you decided not to compete anymore after that crash.”

  At least she’s not faking niceties, asking how I’m doing, when clearly she doesn’t care. “I changed my mind. I’m competing today.”

  Camila switches her focus to me then, too. “Seriously? I thought you couldn’t even come back for classes. I didn’t see you on the roster.”

  Before I can answer, Sarah asks, “How’d you get in to Southskate anyway? Wait, I don’t know if I want to hear the answer to that.”

  Camila starts to snicker but then her apparently ex-friend shoots her a scathing look. “Probably the same way you got in the finals on Shred Live.”

  “Hey,” Beck starts to defend me but I put my hand on his arm, stopping him. The heat has definitely moved from him to me, and that was my intention, wasn’t it? I’m not the same girl who was intimidated by these two at the Oregon Cup. I know what they’re like and how they tried to use Beck to gain popularity on the show. I’ve got nothing to hide or be afraid of anymore when it comes to their type.

  “I’m here because I have good friends. Brie was invited and asked if I wanted to take her spot and give competing another shot. The location and timing before classes start up was perfect, so here I am.”

  Before either one can respond, I feel a presence behind me and another at my other side. Someone places a hand on my shoulder and I hear Taylor say, “Some of us have real friends who support each other because we genuinely like and respect each other. I know it’s hard to imagine friendships that don’t involve using and manipulating one another, but Jordan actually has that.”

  I glance over to find Moses beside me. “So be careful how you treat her. We’ve all got her back.”

  Camila puts her hands on her hips and opens her mouth, but only a little squeak comes out. Her eyes take in everyone around us, from Brie and my roommates, to Naomi and Summer, to Griffin Perry himself. She shuts her mouth.

  “Well, that’s sweet. She’ll need all the help she can get when she takes another crash. Nothing like a charity case to make you feel good about yourself.” Camila spins and saunters off like she just made some major comeback. It might have stung a year ago, but I have to refrain from laughing this time. Having ten badass friends surrounding me definitely helps with that.

  Sarah smirks and then she does a slow clap. “Guess I wasn’t the only one who didn’t buy the production on the season finale.” No one says a word, and her smirk fades a little as she realizes she might not be the biggest loser here, but she doesn’t exactly stand on higher ground either.

  “See you out there, Jordan,” she finally concludes with a tight smile. Apparently, I’m worthy of her fake niceties now.

  My hand itches to reach for Beck’s, but since we managed to get through that without announcing we’re together, I hold back. One more day, and I won’t have to do that anymore. I’m motivated to be patient until then. For the first time in my life, I’m actually looking forward to showing off with dramatic flair. As long as it’s with Beck and we’ve got our crew behind us, I’ve got it in me to do just about anything.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Beck

  The first day of the competition is street style. This was, and I guess still is, Griffin’s strongest style, but Jordan and I both do better on vert or park, which involves ramps, bowls, and catching air.

  It’s Jordan first time competing at street, and maybe that’s for the best, because it takes the pressure off. She knows it’s not her strong suit, she just wants to get out there. Jordan still places in the middle of the pack, and given the competition is top notch, it’s a pretty incredible result. She seems satisfied, especially since she comes in a few spots ahead of Camila.

  Sarah got second, and beating her at street was never really on the table today.

  Jordan’s too focused on the competition now to rehash the encounter with Camila and Sarah earlier. When I saw those two as we arrived this morning, I remembered my initial theory that one or both of them could have been the accounts bullying Jordan online. I still can’t figure that out, and it’s driving me crazy that I may never get answers.

  Either way, Camila and Sarah have shown their true colors. If it wasn’t already clear, Jordan’s going to have to keep her guard up around them. Those two are going to be at a lot of the same competitions.

  “What’s on your mind, Beck?” Jordan asks as we lie in bed at the rental house.

  After sex in the shower, I’m feeling pretty relaxed, but like she reminded me this morning, she knows me too well. “Oh, just thinking about how it sucks you’ll have to keep running into Sarah and Camila as you compete.” I didn’t want to bring them up, but Jordan demands honesty from me.

  “Hey, I thought I handled them pretty well today.”

  I’m lying on my back and I turn to face her now. “You did. As usual, it made me hot for you and I had to use all my self-control to wait until tomorrow to start groping you in front of everyone.” I’m completely serious, and Jordan knows it.

  She smiles. “Me too. But it felt good making a point without having to
say you’re my boyfriend. I’m not against leaning on you, Beck, but it’s kind of symbolic or something to me that I can stand up to them without that, you know?”

  “I get it.” I do. I try to put myself in her shoes sometimes, and it would be frustrating to be with someone who’s got this unshakeable status in the skateboarding world. Like it or not, I’ve been put on some sort of pedestal.

  “You still want to show everyone we’re together though, right?”

  “I’m ready. I actually can’t decide if I’m more excited about competing park tomorrow or showing everyone we’re together and giving the middle finger to Camila, Sarah, Bikini Girl, the bubble account, Felicity… Wow, there’s a lot. Who am I forgetting? Kelly, and a few dozen other random people online.”

  “Good. But the competition part, that’s for you, right?”

  “Yeah Beck, that’s just for me.”

  * * *

  The women compete in park first the next day, and I’ve never been so worked up for anyone’s competition as I am for Jordan.

  Brie and Griff are on either side of me and they’re both trying to calm me down. “She’ll be fine, man,” Griff reassures. “She’s been skating great.” We both know that while this is true, she’s still missing something that puts her in the next league. She had it before the crash, and while everything else has come back, and then some, the final piece hasn’t quite clicked yet.

  “Look at her, Beck,” Brie says totally unnecessarily. I haven’t taken my eyes off her. “She’s in the zone. She’s focused. Nothing to worry about.”

  It’s true. I shouldn’t be worried. I don’t even know if it’s worry that’s got my adrenaline pumping. Jordan’s made it clear she’s sticking to easier tricks. No inverts or anything she’s remotely shaky on. This was her choice, and while I hope she’s up for taking risks at some point, I’m relieved it’s not today. The worst that could happen is a stumble causing her to land on her knees maybe, but the odds are low and she’s wearing knee pads anyway.

  “Yeah, I don’t know what my problem is.”

  Brie leans until her shoulder brushes mine. “You want her to love it out there again, and have fun. That’s not a problem, Beck, it’s sweet.”

  Jordan’s name is called then and I’m vibrating with more anticipation than I do when they call my own name. It’s her first run of five, and the moment she drops in and carves across to the platform in the middle, I know she’s just fine. Jordan’s powerful and graceful as she maneuvers around the bowl and up and down the verts. The tricks aren’t too difficult but she executes them with such finesse her score might rival those doing more difficult tricks. When the buzzer signals time’s up, the crowd cheers louder than they have for anyone else so far. At first I think that might just be in my head since I’m her biggest fan, but then I notice even the people in the stands around the park are on their feet. “What’s going on?” I lean over to ask Griff.

  “She’s getting a standing ovation.”

  “I didn’t know that happened with skateboarding.”

  “Me neither.”

  Brie leans over to tell us through the cheering, “It’s probably because of those posts. Everyone’s heard about her crash and how she couldn’t skate for months afterward.”

  With all eyes on Jordan, she keeps skating around the edge of the park, getting closer to us.

  “I thought you were going to wait until after your last run tonight?” Griff asks.

  “We are.”

  “No, she’s coming for you, Beck,” Brie informs me a few seconds before Jordan stops on the other side of the barrier separating us.

  She looks at me with hopeful eyes. “I’m sorry, I can’t wait any longer.”

  Jordan doesn’t make a move to jump over the barrier and I’m too dumbstruck by the happiness radiating off her to budge. Griff shoves me with his elbow and that knocks some sense into me.

  She’s waiting for me to make the next move. An instant later, I’m hopping the barrier and standing in front of her. She jumps up, wrapping her legs around my waist, and the cheers that were loud before become deafening.

  “You don’t have to wait to kiss me ever again, okay Hotshot?”

  “Okay.”

  “You have fun out there?”

  “Yeah, Beck. Stop talking and kiss me.”

  We’re both smiling when our lips connect, and when my hands grab her ass, she deepens the kiss. Her legs squeeze my waist and I nearly forget about the hoots and hollers chanting around us. At some point we hear our names over the loudspeaker and come to our senses.

  “Well gentlemen, it looks like Jordan Slattery is taken. Thank you for making that clear, Beckett Steele. Now, on to the next competitor in the lineup today…”

  Jordan slides down me but I can’t quite pry my hands off her hips yet. “I thought the message was supposed to be that you’re off the market, not me,” Jordan says with a little pout.

  “I like it better with you the center of attention,” I say into her ear over the noise that has yet to die off.

  “We’ll just have to make a scene again later after one of your runs so it’s super clear,” Jordan says with a decisive nod.

  “That’s cool with me.”

  “You gonna let me go now so I can do the rest of my runs?”

  “That’s just about the only thing I’ll let go of you for.” I finally release her, and she hops on her board, heading down the side ramp leading to a warm-up and cool-down zone. To anyone else, she looks completely cool and unfrazzled, but I can see the flush in her cheeks and the heat in her eyes when she glances back over her shoulder.

  I don’t know how long I stand there, my heart so full it’s impossible to move. Finally, Griff tugs my arm and I climb back to the other side of the barrier.

  He pats me on the back. “Well, if the kiss didn’t do it, the lovestruck expression on your face as you gazed longingly after her definitely did the trick.”

  Everyone now knows Jordan Slattery’s my girl. Or that I’m her guy. Either way, I know we’ve got what it takes to deal with whatever comes next. Jordan can handle stalkers, bullies, head injuries, and the appearance of me cheating on reality television. No matter where or from whom the next strike comes, she’s totally got this. And I’m the one who gets to be there with her every step of the way.

  Brazen Tricks, the fourth and final book in the Brazen series, releases September 12, 2020.

  About the Author

  Thank you for reading Brazen Girl! Please consider leaving a review!

  Brazen Tricks, the fourth and final book in the Brazen series, releases September 12. You can preorder it now HERE.

  Ali is a USA Today Bestselling author of sports romance books. She has always loved to read, especially when there's a happily ever after, but found that there weren't enough books out there featuring girl athletes. So, she decided to work on that. Like the heroines in her books, Ali is an athlete, with running and skiing her favorite sports these days. Ali hails from Vermont and now lives in her own happily-ever-after in Colorado with her husband, boy-girl twins, and golden retriever Pancake. When she's not pursuing an outdoor adventure, Ali's less healthy passions include ice cream, coffee, and beer.

  Get to know Ali Dean by following her on any of her social media and author links below.

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  This right here is what I live for. The steady rhythm of my feet landing softly on dirt. Colorado sunshine heating the fresh morning air. Birds singing as they swoop in and out of trees. And Dave frolicking beside me with his tongue lolling out to the side.

  I want to capture the exhilaration and peace flowing through my veins, pulsing through my soul. Who needs a vice when you can attain an utter sense of being alive with such simple ingredients? Blue sky, fresh air, and, of course, man’s best friend. Dave’s feeling it, too - runner’s high. Endorphin rush. Call it what you will.