Page 74 of Avery's Hero

I rest my foot on the deck of my board. “You’re not ready.”

He rolls his eyes so hard they could fall out. “That’s B.S.”

Standing up, I immediately drop to the ramp and slide down to perform the perfect 540 degree turn made famous by Mike McGill.

When I sail back up to the ramp, pop up over the lip and catch my board, he looks surprised as hell.

I say, “Your turn.”

He shakes his head. “Let’s go get that ice cream.”

Laughing, I pick up my board. “Suit yourself.”

He falls in stride beside me. His legs are damn near as long as mine now. But when I glance over at him, I realize he’s stopped. When I turn back, his eyes are fixed on something across the park.

Well, technically not something.Someone.

A little brunette with a short denim skirt, tall socks with skulls on them, skate shoes, and a leather jacket that I recognize. It was Linc’s but he ‘lost’ it.

His hand is clenched around his skateboard. His face is hard and far too mature. When she looks up and sees him, she freezes.

“Hey, Dad, I need a minute.” Linc says without looking back at me.

For a few seconds, I wonder what she’s doing out of school, then I remember it’s a Saturday. Linc, of course, is still suspended. But my days and weeks all blur together so much now, I don’t even know what day is what. Iglance between the two of them again. “Who’s your friend?”

“Belle. She goes to school with me.”

“Care to introduce me?”

He glances at me with a pained grimace. “Do I have to?”

I give him a flat look in return.

He grunts and shakes his head. “Come on.”

I follow as he crosses the park, never taking his eyes off the girl like she’s the only thing that exists in the world.

Oh hell. This is not good. I know that look.

Nervously, she glances at me when he reaches her. Linc hooks his thumb in my direction. I’m still too far away to hear what he’s saying.

She chews her lip, and nods at something he says.

When I walk up, he says, “Dad, this is Belle. Belle, this is my dad, Brock Mitchell. He’s the fire chief.”

Belle is maybe five foot tall. Her eyes are soft gray like winter storm clouds and she’s obviously completely taken with Linc. She’s also super nervous about what I’m going to say because when she extends her hand, there’s a tremor in it. “Nice to meet you, Chief Mitchell.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Belle.”

She glances around nervously.

“Where is Emily?” Linc asks as he frowns down at Belle who doesn’t even reach his shoulder.

“She was supposed to be meeting me here, but she’s really late.”

Linc’s eyes sharpen as he scans the park. “Where are your other friends?”

“Busy.”

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