Chapter Ten

 

Kaiden

“Okay, this time we do a half-spin off the first ramp, then go blindside to a 50-50 grind on the rail all the way down it. Half-spin, then, two three-sixties on the last two ramps near the bottom.”

“Piece of cake.”

Cooper laughed and smacked my back as I lowered my goggles. “Then, I say we stop for lunch, I’m fucking starving.”

Every day during my first few weeks in Port Raven, Cooper and I had met up on the advanced hills and challenged each other the best we could with what we had on hand. His skills rivaled my own, and I loved the competition.

Emerson was back in the classroom and came home most nights too tired to do anything more than clean up, eat, and mark papers. I got the sense he was avoiding me. Ever since the bathroom incident, he’d been acting weird. The tension between us hadn’t broken, so I kept myself occupied.

The lessons I taught happened in the evening from six to eight, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Saturday, I taught two classes, one in the morning and the other in the early afternoon. It was fun, even though the groups I’d been given were novice riders, kids between the ages of six and ten who’d never ridden before. For the first time in my life, people looked up to me and respected me. It was a foreign feeling.

Cooper and I spent all our free time together. I’d learned he was the youngest of three, his two older sisters didn’t live in town any longer, and he’d only recently moved away from home. He was one hundred percent straight but blushed significantly when I’d expressed my disappointment and told him he was cute. Other than working his two jobs, the other being a part-time produce stocker at the local grocery store, he spent all his time boarding. How could I not crush hard on the guy when he shared my love of outdoors?

It was nearing three in the afternoon, and we’d been sweating on the hills since ten that morning. I was ready for a break.

“Timed runs,” I said, shoving my coat sleeve up to get at my watch. “Slower rider buys lunch.”

Cooper squinted down the hill, and I could see him running through the course he’d just suggested, probably looking for enough ways to shave time so he’d win. “Deal. You ride first. Stop time-taking once we cross the orange flag there.” He pointed, indicating to one of the markers at the bottom that kept riders in the right area.

“Yup, perfect.”

I locked in and shifted my feet until I was settled comfortably as I noted all my upcoming jumps and the kinked rail halfway down the slope. I kept a finger on my watch timer button and glanced back at Cooper.

“Okay, give me the go.”

I shimmied closer to the edge of the slope and waited.

“Ready,” Cooper stated, giving a brief pause. Then, “Go!”

I hit my timer and launched simultaneously, zeroing my entire focus to each obstacle and seeing the maneuvers Cooper had laid out inside my head before I made them. I needed to cut corners as much as possible and ensure I didn’t lose any momentum when I came out of jumps. Fumbling, or anything less than a perfect landing would cost me time.

My first half-spin was flawless. I landed and veered toward the rail, calculating my next jump to ensure I landed center on the bar. Going at it blindside was trickier, but nothing I hadn’t done a hundred times before. I hit the next ramp exactly as I planned and landed square on the rail, grinding a perfect 50-50 through the entire kinked length, feeling each curve as it moved through my body. When I landed back on the slope, I cut time by angling toward the inside of a few barriers instead of going around them as I flew toward the next launch point.

Sharp, cold wind bit at my cheeks. The rush of flying down the slopes at top speed pumped adrenaline through my veins in the most delicious way. Being connected, mind, body, and soul made me feel alive like nothing else ever had. Boarding had always been my drug. I loved the ride. It was an addiction I’d had since the first day I’d locked my feet on a board. For years, Emerson and I had spent every winter on the hills back home. We taught each other, challenged each other, and offered guidance and suggestions on our journey’s to become better. I missed those days. I missed the simple, uncomplicated connection we’d once shared.

I caught air on the next launch and spun a perfect three-sixty, landing with grace, taking the impact with bended knees. The final jump was roughly a hundred feet away, and I aimed, gearing up for the final stretch. My landing was jarred, and I leaned to the left to compensate, losing some speed, and cursing myself. I raced to the orange flag we’d marked as the end, reaching for my timer and tapping the button just as I flew by. I ground sideways until I slowed to a stop. Turning, I ripped my goggles off and smiled up toward the top of the hill where Cooper waved and gave me a thumbs-up.

I noted my time—one minute, four seconds—and waved back, indicating I was ready to time him, too. My slightly imperfect final jump would cost me, and if Cooper rode a perfect course, I knew he’d beat me easily.

I watched as he fit his goggles over his eyes and positioned himself at the edge of the slope. Once ready, with knees slightly bent, he waved one last time, letting me know he was going to start.

The second he left the top of the hill, I started the timer. Cooper was good, and as I watched him conquer each obstacle with grace, eloquence, and the flawless skill of an Olympic contender, I knew he’d beat my time. He was perfection, and as much as I loved the challenge of racing him, I envied his abilities. The moment he whizzed by me, I hit the stopwatch and didn’t even have to look.

Cooper was laughing, his chest heaving with the thrill and surge of adrenaline as he slid to a stop and came up beside me. He clasped my shoulder and tried to muss my hair before I shoved him away laughing and hating him at the same time.

Smug asshole.

“Damage?” he asked, his smile huge and knowing.

“Fifty-one seconds. I got one-oh-four.”

He threw his hands up and cheered. “Yes! Long-standing champion. Bow to me.”

I tossed a snowball at his head instead. He ducked out of the way before gathering his board and tossing a thumb over his shoulder.

“Shall we? I’m starving, and someone owes me food.”

We hitched our boards under our arms and laughed as we wandered toward the road leading away from the hills, the one which took us back to the main road I’d walked the first day. The sky was gray and heavy. Apart from the squeals of people riding the distant hills, the only sound was our labored breathing and the snow crunching under our boots.

This was the life. If I’d had any idea Emerson lived in such a place, I might not have given him such a hard time about leaving South Belle.

“Do you mind if we go back to my brother’s place? I think we have the stuff to make tacos and we can chill with a movie or something. I’m trying to save some bucks so I can move out.”

“Yeah, that’s perfect. I don’t mind. Will he care?”

“Nah, he works until later anyhow. Doesn’t usually get home until five most days.”

“Cool.”

By the time we collapsed with food in front of the TV, it was nearing four in the afternoon. Neither one of us had realized how late it had gotten while we were boarding. We decided on Aliens and ate silently as we watched the movie. The coffee table was trashed with our assortment of toppings, and I’d warned Cooper to eat over his plate. The last thing I needed was Emerson having a cow because we got salsa on his couch.

We finished stuffing our faces and collapsed on either end of the couch, sprawled out with full bellies and no cares in the world. Shortly after five, the front door opened, and Emerson came in.

I glanced over the couch just as he set his messenger bag down and kicked off his loafers onto the mat. When he caught my eye, it was brief. His gaze went immediately to Cooper who was peering at Emerson as well. Emerson flinched and froze on the spot.

Cooper flew off the couch with the same uncertainty Emerson showed. “Mr. Cartwright?!” Cooper’s gaze flicked to mine and returned to Emerson. He looked ready to bolt and had turned a healthy shade of red.

Emerson composed himself quicker than Cooper and nodded in greeting. “Cooper.”

“You know each other?”

Cooper took a minute to drag his gaze in my direction. “Mr. Cartwright is your brother?”

“Umm, yeah, and I call him Emerson.”

“My students call me Mr. Cartwright, Kai.”

“Students?” I bounced my gaze between them. “How the fuck old are you? Are you in high school?”

Cooper tucked his chin and stared intently at the ground. “No. I graduated last year. Mr. Cartwright taught me—”

“Math,” I finished for him. “Jesus. Okay, this isn’t weird at all.”

The heat of Emerson’s gaze seared into me, and I gave him my best “what the fuck” look. It was a small town. How was I supposed to know Cooper was an old student?

Emerson sighed, and his features shifted to something a little more pleasant as he turned back to Cooper. “Nice to see you again, Cooper. How are things going with you?” His smile was anything but genuine. Forced. Grating. I wasn’t sure Cooper noticed seeing as he was examining the carpet with a surgeons scrutiny.

“Going well. Working and trying to decide what I want to do with myself. I didn’t want to go to college until I was sure what I wanted to take.”

“Smart.”

Emerson inhaled and scanned the room. When his eyes fell to the coffee table strewn with dishes, I reacted on impulse. I jumped up and made quick work of collecting all the dishes and leftover food before beelining it into the kitchen to clean up. Emerson followed after me while Cooper sank back onto the couch, probably sensing the tension between us.

“I’m not sure how I feel about you bringing people here. Students particularly.”

I glared over my shoulder. “He’s not your student anymore,” I snapped turning back to the dishes.

“Kaiden, he’s nineteen. Why is he here?” Emerson’s harsh whisper didn’t hide his obvious dislike over the situation.

“We were hungry after boarding, so we came back to eat. So what if he’s nineteen. Is that a problem? I’m twenty-three.”

“No, I mean who is he to you? Is he a friend? A boytoy? God, please say no.”

I gritted my teeth and stacked the last plate in the drain before turning. “Does it matter?”

It would have been easy to put his mind at ease and explain Cooper was a co-worker and friend, that he would never be more because he was pin-straight, but seeing Emerson’s anger simmer so close to the surface egged me on for some reason. Pushing his buttons was too easy, and I was curious how he’d react.

“It does matter. Answer the question.”

“Don’t worry, Em, we’ll close the door to my room while we’re fucking.”

His jawed firmed, and the instant fire behind his eyes made my heart beat faster. Emerson wasn’t just pissed, he was livid, enraged. Without comment, he turned his back and rooted through the fridge, aggressively shoving things aside as he fetched a bottle of water. When he slammed the door, rattling the condiments on the inside, and went to go around me, I should have corrected the situation. But again, some inner pull propelled me forward and took control of my words.

I blocked his way, getting right in his face. “You don’t have a problem with him spending the night, do you? He’s kinda vocal. I can tell him to keep it down, but you should hear the noises he makes when I suck his cock. Oh, Kaiden, just like that. Yeah, baby, oh, God—”

My back hit the counter hard enough to wind me and halt my dramatic rendition of an imaginary sex life Cooper and I would never have. The control shifted away from me and landed directly in Emerson’s palms. His hand clamped my chin in a vice grip, his hot breath fanned over my face sending shivers to ripple up my spine.

“Shut your mouth, Kaiden. Not another goddamn word. Do you hear me? I don’t want to know anything about your sex life. Especially if it involves a student of mine, past or present. Thank fucking God he’s at least legal because I’d hate to have to pound your ass.”

Double entendre intended?

“I’d rather be completely oblivious about your sexual prowess. Leave me in the dark. In my mind, they don’t exist. Do not have sex in my house when I’m around. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to see it. I don’t want to smell it. Understand?”

His look could have melted iron, and he wasn’t backing down. Somewhere deep inside, I knew my words cut him deep. But why? Why did it anger him so much? Why was I feeding off that anger? Why did I feel such an urge to provoke him and bring it to the surface? Why did his damn speech make my knees weak?

I’d hate to have to pound your ass! I swallowed, hearing that simple line over and over again.

My heart tripped and slammed, shooting the blood through my body at a fantastic rate of speed. I was hot all over, burning on the inside. The release of adrenaline was so much more intense and thrilling than it had ever been riding the slopes, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. My stomach turned over, fluttered, and sent goosebumps to skitter across my skin.

Emerson pressed closer, his body literally trapping me against the counter. Hard muscles I’d never bothered to note before crushed me in place. I was too aware of our connection, wanting to shove him away and yet keep him in place while I sorted out my head all at the same time. Every place we touched was seared into my brain, taunting, tempting, throwing me off balance. My breath came short, but before I could speak, he went on.

His voice dropped to a whisper; husky and raw. “I didn’t bring you here to make a mess of your life. Think for once. Use your fucking brain before you make a mistake. He’s young, Kaiden. Nineteen is a vulnerable and impressionable age.”

Tell me about it. I was nineteen four years ago, remember? I said nothing, too consumed with the muddled reactions monopolizing my every nerve ending.

Who was the one on the verge of making a mistake? Emerson or me? What was happening between us? Why was I reacting this way? Why did he throw his weight around and look at me with those eyes? Why was it so easy to piss him off? Emerson seemed to be constantly dancing that same line he’d danced four years ago, but only because I continually pulled him right to its edge.

Testing him.

Taunting him.

Daring him.

What was I doing? What was it about the great beyond of that chasm of the unknown that lured me in and surfaced a curiosity I’d never known?

As though the taut strings holding us together suddenly snapped, Emerson pushed away and cut his eyes around the kitchen. The same uncertainty and confusion I felt was being reflected back at me through his posture and inability to hold my gaze.

“I’m going to shower.”

Before he darted from sight, I caught his arm. I was too out of sorts to allow it to continue. The path was too dangerous. And too… wrong.

“We’re friends. He’s who helped me get a job on the slopes. He’s straight, Em, relax.”

Emerson tugged himself free and was gone.

When I returned to the living room, Cooper seemed to be feigning interest in the movie. He shuffled to face me the minute I sat down.

“Is everything okay? He seemed upset. I didn’t know Mr. Cart—that he was your brother.”

“It’s cool. I didn’t know you were only nineteen. Emerson’s fine. I may have pissed him off a little, but he’ll get over it. I think he was just surprised is all.”

“Me too.” Cooper quirked his brow but didn’t say anything more. I wondered how much of our exchange he might have overheard. When Cooper returned his focus to the TV, I let it go.

Emerson stayed in the kitchen, working at the table until Cooper went home. I wandered in and nonchalantly searched up a snack, silently evaluating the situation before planting myself across from him at the table. Piles of folders, papers, and textbooks surrounded his laptop. He paid me no mind and continued to work.

“Are you still pissed?”

He lifted his gaze a moment before referring to the paper in his hand and squinting at his laptop screen.

“Walking into my home and finding one of my old students lying on the couch with you unsettled me, yes.”

“He’s straight. I was messing with you. I told you.”

“I’m not sure why you think it’s a joking matter.”

“I’m not sure why it gets you all worked up. I’m not nineteen anymore, Emery. I’m entitled to have a sex life without you jumping down my throat.”

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled, focusing a little too intently on his work. It was obvious he no longer saw it. It was an empty apology, lacking any sentiment. “We’re a little out of touch anymore. I shouldn’t have reacted that way.”

It sounded like a convenient excuse.

“We are. Four years is a long time.”

With a weighted sigh, he abandoned his paper onto a pile and closed his laptop. Leaning back, he crossed his arms over his chest. He hadn’t bothered to style his hair after his shower, and a few dark strands fell awkwardly across his brow. He narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips to the side.

“What?” I shuffled, uncomfortable with being so openly examined.

“The last couple of weeks have been chaos. My reading week was spent traveling to South Belle and bringing you here. I dove right back into the classroom, and we’ve barely stopped for five seconds to really talk about everything.”

Oh no, he was about to bring it up. We were going to tread in the water we’d both been avoiding. I held my breath and waited.

“How about we take off this weekend and go skiing? It’s only a little over an hour to some decent hills. There are reasonable cabins we can rent. Jagger and I go often, so I know they’re worth it. We can take a minute and reconnect. Like you said, four years is a long time. Let’s take a weekend and get to know each other again. I miss my brother, and I’m tired of us battling every time we try to talk.”

I opened my mouth to respond and closed it again. Skiing instantly spiked my interest, but two private days under the intensity of Emerson’s power… I hesitated. Was that a good idea?

“You’re uncertain.”

“No.” I jumped and snapped my attention to Emerson. “I just… I’ll need to see if I can get Saturday off. I just started, that may not happen.”

That obstacle hadn’t occurred to me until I spoke it, but I was grateful when it flew from my mouth because it was an acceptable excuse for my pregnant pause.

“Oh, right. Okay, well, let me know.”

“Tomorrow’s Friday. I work in the afternoon. I’ll talk to my boss and see what he says.”