Unfiltered & Undressed (The Unfiltered Series) (9 page)

WILL

Seeing Lauren again had been like having my fingernails ripped off one at a time. Two days hadn’t been long enough. Hell, two years might not be enough.

I wondered if I could talk Tess into moving away from here, but I knew she’d never go for it. The old house had too many memories…for both of us, really.

Eventually the summer would end, and so would Lauren’s lease. She’d be gone soon enough, I told myself.

Until then, I’d do my best to avoid her.

I almost didn’t notice her at all. Watching Tess had been something else. It had been years since we’d spent this much time together, and I hadn’t expected her to be so…what? Improved? Good?

Fucking amazing
, that’s what she was.

She’d blown my mind out there. Finding waves no else could. Staying up when I’d have said it was impossible.

She was incredible.

She was like me.

The old me.

Part of me resented her for it, even while I cheered her on. I hated that that part of my life was over, even though I wouldn’t want it back.

Tess wanted it though. The competitions. The travel. The accolades and recognition. The sponsors and fame and fortune.

She didn’t get that there was a downside to it all. That coming up through the ranks was tough, and competition brought out the ugly side in others. That the money was hard to come by, and the schedules were brutal, and that most competitors never succeeded the way I had.

And that sometimes—more often than not, really—your body took a beating. Something I’d learned all too well. I flexed my knee, trying to stave off the pain that always came after working it too hard. Like today, after surfing with Tess.

She was determined, though. And if I was being totally honest with myself, she was damn good. She had a chance.

But that inner voice was there, warning me it was a bad idea. I couldn’t risk letting Tess get hurt. Not the way I had. Or worse, because a knee injury was nothing—pain, I could live with.

That was when I’d noticed Lauren, sitting with Zane, and it felt like someone had punched a hole in my chest. I had no idea how this girl had managed to get to me in such a short amount of time, but she had. I hadn’t stopped thinking about her for days, couldn’t stop wanting her, craving her. And seeing her now...

I forced myself to concentrate on Tess instead.

Catching up to my sister, I wrapped my arm around her neck and told her, “Come on—let’s get this over with.”

‡

“You sure you wanna do this?” Big Chuck asked, and I looked out the window, to where Tess was waiting for me. She was watching with the same uncertain look she’d been giving me ever since I told her what I’d planned to do. But the wheels were already in motion. Even if I wanted to, there was no backing out now.

I rubbed my hand over the familiar surface of my board one last time and fought the lump in my throat. “Don’t really need it anymore.”

“Yeah, I heard. Tough blow,” Chuck said.

Shrugging, I passed the surfboard across the cluttered counter of Big Chuck’s Pro Shop, but Chuck stopped me. “Signed,” he said. “Dude wanted you to sign it.”

“So he’s just a collector?” Seemed a shame to let a board like this gather dust in some basement somewhere.

“Nah. Just a fan, I guess. For that much cash, if he wants his board autographed, who’m I to argue, right?”

I took the Sharpie Chuck handed me and tried not to feel guilty about defacing my lucky board. It wasn’t that much cash, but hopefully it’d be enough to get Camden off our case for good. In time to get Tess settled into a routine before school started up again.

When I was done, I passed the pen back to him.

“Sorry to hear about your mom, man,” Chuck said.

“Thanks.” I rubbed the back of my neck, suddenly eager to escape the crowded store I’d spent so many hours in growing up.

Chuck counted out the money, taking his time. “How’s Tess handling it?”

I glanced out at the sidewalk. She wasn’t paying attention now, and I studied her carefully.

Things were getting better, both for her and with her. At least that’s what I told myself to keep from running away, which seemed a million times easier than holding it together. Camden still had legal guardianship of Tess, and so far I’d managed to keep him at bay by paying him off with as much money as I could scrounge together. But that couldn’t go on forever.

I was already working double shifts at the bar, teaching swim lessons, and doing odd jobs whenever I could find them. If I had more willpower, I’d have taken Lauren’s money. It should’ve been easy cash. But I’d realized right away I couldn’t spend that much time alone with her and keep her at arm’s length. And Tess deserved my full attention. She deserved me not getting my head twisted up over some girl.

The cash from selling my board would have to do for now. Maybe I could use it to convince Cam to sign guardianship over to me. Then I could work on giving Tess the kind of life she deserved.

Chuck handed me the bills. “She’s okay then?” he asked again, when I never answered him.

I lifted a shoulder. “She’ll be okay. We’re figuring things out.” I pocketed the money and left my board behind, the last reminder of the days when I’d been on my way to being a champion.

But I had a different life now, and a new future.

I stepped out of the pro shop, and grinned at my little sister, whose shiny blonde hair was naturally highlighted from spending hours in the water, the same way mine had always been.

Familiar green eyes looked back at me. “We good?” she asked, biting her lip nervously.

I nodded. “We’re great, Tess. Everything’s great.”

LAUREN

It took me a good week to decide I needed someplace regular to be, like a job or some other activity to get me out of the house on a regular basis. I’d gone down to the beach several times, lying to myself at first that I hadn’t been trying to catch another glimpse of Will or his girlfriend. But when I’d come home disappointed I realized I was wrong, that was exactly why I’d gone, and I knew it had to end. I didn’t want to add stalking to the list of things I wasn’t proud of.

I still couldn’t swim, even though Zane had tried his best to convince me he could teach me if I’d just give him a chance. He was fine and all. Decent enough company while Emerson spent more and more time with Lucas, but mostly, I preferred to be alone.

Except that was a lie.

Mostly, I was still pissed at Will for convincing me he was different. And for making me feel something I’d never felt before.

When I pulled into the parking lot of the West Beach Rec Center, I wondered if this was the right call. It was one thing to imagine being the kind of do-gooder who made the world a better place. It was another actually going through with it. Maybe I wasn’t the kind of person for a job like this, even if it was just a volunteer thing. But I couldn’t stand the idea of going back to my couch.

Inside wasn’t at all like I’d imagined. It was less office-y and more gymnasium-ish. There was an odd assortment of kids who were playing video games and table tennis and just hanging out in general. It was less organized than I thought it would be, more chaotic.

“Can I help you?” a rumpled-looked man asked, coming out from behind a desk. He attempted to straighten himself, tucking in the front of his short-sleeved shirt with one hand while he smoothed his comb-over with the other. I felt like I’d interrupted naptime or something.

“I’m Lauren Taylor. I called earlier about the volunteer position.”

His eyes narrowed, making it seem like he was having a hard time remembering, which seemed unlikely since I doubted they had that many volunteer positions, or that many people clamoring to fill them. But then he pasted on an over-bright smile. “Oh yeah, the IT girl. Norman Wall.” He held out his hand and I shook it. His grip was warm and doughy. “But you can call me Norm. I believe we spoke on the phone.”

“Well, not
IT
, exactly,” I explained again, because we’d already had this exact conversation. “But I know my way around a computer. You said you wanted someone who could teach the kids online basics?”

He led me through a doorway, into a small classroom with several long tables, upon which were computers that looked like they’d been teleported from the 80s. The clunky screens were dull gray and their plastic hulls were yellowed with age. Not exactly state-of-the-art.

“Tell me a little about your computer background,” Norm said, pulling out a chair, and I got the distinct impression he took his job here very seriously.

The machines around me hummed loudly, and I wondered how many of them were on their last legs. “Let’s see,” I started. “I’m a business major at ASU-Rio Verde, where I’ve taken several business and technology courses during the past two years.” I left out the part where the bulk of my IT experience had been gained off-campus, from operating my striptease webcam. Personally, Norm might appreciate that little tidbit, but I doubted that info would be a big hit at the rec center’s board meeting.

Before I could think of anything else I could use to pad my imaginary resume, Norm started bobbing his head enthusiastically. “I think you’ll fit in great here.” He slid a stack of papers toward me. “There’s the matter of a background check, standard stuff for all our volunteers, but we’d like you to start right away.”

‡

“I’m taking you out to celebrate!” Emerson gushed, squeezing me in one of her ginormous bear hugs. She didn’t scream in my ear, so that was a plus.

“Geez, Em, it’s not a real job or anything. It’s a volunteer gig at a youth center, for Christ’s sake.”

“Baby steps,” she explained, like I was on my way to something bigger and better rather than getting out of the house a coupla times a week. “And I don’t care if you’re ‘tired,’ I’m taking you out, so hurry up and change.”

When I realized she wasn’t going to budge. I laid out my terms too. “Okay, fine. Anywhere but The Dunes.”

“I knew you’d say that. Lucas and Zane picked some honky-tonk, dive bar where we can get shitty drunk and you don’t have to worry about running into you-know-who.” She lifted her eyebrows and I wondered just how much she knew.

I thought I’d been doing a pretty good job hiding my feelings and covering up everything that had happened, not that I figured she’d notice. She’d been so wrapped up in Lucas I was pretty sure our little beachside bungalow could’ve caught fire and Emerson would’ve complained that the A/C was too low.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I tried to bluff.

“Mm-hmm. I saw him cut in with you and Zane that night when you were dancing. And the way he couldn’t take his eyes off you, and how you got in each other’s faces and you stormed away.”

“Doesn’t matter,” I told her. “I don’t plan to see him again. Like ever.”

“’Course it matters. People don’t act like that unless they’re into each other. Trust me, I’ve been into a few guys in my day.”

I had no idea I’d been so transparent.

“No. It doesn’t matter,” I insisted, brushing past her to go to my room so I could change. Suddenly, getting shitfaced seemed like a great idea. “He has a girlfriend.” I slammed my door, not wanting to hear Em’s response, or her advice. I just wanted to forget all about Will.

A half hour later I was ready, and in a way better frame of mind. This time I was wearing one of my own dresses, a yellow halter with a silver and turquoise buckle that clasped just above my waist and showed off my curves to full effect. Somehow it seemed like the thing to wear to a honky-tonk. Zane and Lucas were already waiting for us, and from the appreciative look on Zane’s face, I knew I’d picked right.

Emerson gave me the once over. “For someone who says she doesn’t like guys gawking, that dress doesn’t leave much to the imagination.” From anyone else, that might’ve been considered a dig, but from Em, it was a full-blown compliment.

“Thanks. You look pretty smokin’, yourself.” I grinned, wondering how Zane had even noticed me while she was in the room. Emerson had those long legs I coveted, and showed them off every chance she got, like now, in her daringly short denim skirt. The cowboy boots, a throwback to her Dallas roots, were a nice touch.

Her platinum blonde curls fell in perfect, cascading waves and she tossed them over one shoulder. “I know.”

“Sexy as hell, baby,” Lucas agreed, throwing a possessive arm around Emerson’s waist and planting his lips on the side of her neck.

“All right, you two. Lauren and I don’t want to watch this crap all night. Let’s blow,” Zane protested, reaching for the door.

Lucas didn’t release Emerson, just started hauling her toward the door while he continued to maul her neck and her ear. “Hear that, babe? Zane wants to blow. We might need to find a whole different kind’a bar to take him to. What’d’ya think?” Em giggled in the circle of Lucas’s arm, and I couldn’t help the smile that found my lips.

Zane shoved Lucas as they stumbled past him through the doorway, and I realized this was exactly what I needed.

They continued making digs at each other all the way to the bar, which was exactly the kind of place Emerson had described—a hole in the wall cowboy joint, a lot like most of the hole in the wall cowboy joints back in Arizona. There was a jukebox against one wall, and someone had put some sappy song by Carrie Underwood on repeat for the first fifteen minutes we were there. By the time we were having our second round, “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” by Big & Rich had started, and Emerson was dragging me out to the dance floor so we could show these “city boys” the way things were done.

Except, Zane wasn’t a city boy. He’d already told me he was Iowa born and raised. So when his boots hit the floorboards, he kept up better than I did, and before I realized what was happening, he and Emerson were spinning circles around me. Lucas didn’t bother trying to keep up with either of them, and after a few minutes, I stopped trying too.

When I met Lucas at our table, he handed me another beer. “She’s something else, isn’t she?” He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

I smiled, because I knew what he meant. Em was a whirlwind, and not just on the dance floor. She’d been my best friend from the first day we’d met two years ago, when both of us had been transplants at ASU-RV. She was as wild and outgoing as I’d been introspective and cautious, but she never tried to make me like her, and I wouldn’t change a single hair on her head.