Page 32 of Double Trouble

We pack our boards in her trunk, and she takes me to the passenger side. She opens the door for me, and I humor her, giving her a peck before taking my seat. After shutting me in, I take a look in the backseat. Sure enough, she’s got all the road trip necessities: Gatorade, Dr. Pepper, water—for some reason—Doritos, Oreos, and sunflower seeds. I meet her eyes as she slides behind the wheel.

“We going for the whole weekend?” I ask, gesturing to the food and sliding my camera bag off.

“If you change your mind about the sex thing, I bet that can be arranged.”

She gives me a wicked look, and I swallow my tongue. I never said I wasn’t up for that possibility… just that I have to tell her first. Tell her I love her.

Which I’ll do today.

I will.

If I can get my tongue to work.

“So,” she says before I manage to get a word out, “ready to blow this popsicle stand?”

A dorky chuckle is all I can do to answer, and she gives a proper laugh and leans over the center console. “I was only teasing, boyfriend. Let’s just have fun, okay?” She presses a kiss to the tip of my nose, and I assume a high school Tanner grin wraps my dopey face.

I guess I am her boyfriend.

***

About three hours later, Maddie pulls into the Amateur Boarding Competition’s parking lot. It’s not as packed as I assumed it would be, but we’re a little early. She pulls into a spot, and we both get out with a groan.

“Feel like driving on the way back?” she asks through a sky-high stretch. I try not to get distracted by her stomach as her shirt lifts.

“I can do that.” I stretch my arm across my chest. “But only if you open my door again for me.”

“You got it, boyfriend.”

That’s number five. She’s been very liberal with the term since it slipped out in her parking lot back home. Once at our first rest stop about an hour into the trip. The third time was when I dozed off, and she woke me up with a poke and a “you’re supposed to entertain me, boyfriend!” Number four came when we were at a stoplight, and she pulled me by the collar and demanded a kiss.

I’m not used to being with a girl so outspoken about being with me. It’s different, weird, and I’m unsure how to navigate, but I love it all the same.

We each grab our preferred drinks, and I take my camera out of its bag and sling it over my shoulder. Then, being bolder than I usually am, I take her hand and interlock our fingers. The wide smile on her face tells me it was the right move to make.

The competition is at a rec center that converts to an ice skating rink during the winter months. But summer is the board’s time to shine, and the closer we get to our seats, the faster Brink’s feet move. We take a spot close to the middle so I can get good shots of not just the pipe tricks, but the floor work, too. We’re across from the judges, and I plan on making sure their faces are in several shots. After all, we’re here to study what is gonna impress them.

I put my camera up and adjust settings. I zone out from what’s behind me, to the side, and only focus on the screen, panning around, zooming in and out, pressing buttons until I’m satisfied. I imagine Brink down there, landing a pop shuvit and then waving at the camera like it was nothing.

Mad bounces in the seat next to me, and the corner of my mouth picks up. I stop fiddling with my camera, setting it in my lap and taking her hand again.

“Think they’ll let us go down there when it’s done?” I ask.

“Gosh, I hope so.” She rests her head on my shoulder and heaves out a contented sigh. “I’d love to board on that. And I could use all the practice I can get.”

I snort. “You’d wipe the floor with all of them.”

“I’m still a granny on wheels.”

“Tony Hawk is still around, right?”

“Still… I think this year is my last chance. Gotta make it count.”

I don’t argue with her. It’s unfortunate, but yeah, twenty-five years is pushing it. At twenty-six, she won’t even turn a head, no matter how good she is. There’s too much at stake at that point. Big investment for not as many years, potentially.

I kiss her crown, and we settle in… me with my camera and her with her Gatorade. The place fills up, and I’m glad we got here early because I have prime recording from where we’re at, and since we’re in the front, I don’t have to worry about random heads getting in the way.

A buzz rumbles between our hips, and Mad pulls her R2D2 covered phone out. Her smile immediately drops, and she rolls her eyes before stuffing the cell back in her pocket.

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