Recklessly (24 page)

In the few minutes it took to cool down, his cell phone rang, and he knew it was Abel without even having to check. “Well, you cured me, and we should probably go before my brother shits a brick,” he said when Lana walked out of the bathroom. Hand in hand, they strolled down the beach toward where he needed to be to speak with media before the finals started. Lana seemed wary about walking with him with their hands clasped because so many people were staring, but she didn’t let go. And he probably wouldn’t have let her. He wanted her up in the front, in the cordoned off VIP viewing area, watching.

“Wait, I know you…you’re keg, right?” a woman said at Lana’s left. It was clear that she was speaking to Lana as she was walking in stride with them, and his heart thudded in ominous apprehension.

“Excuse me?” Lana asked her, seeming to sense it too; her hand tightened around his.

“You know,
keg
…like I heard Wes isn’t the first surfer around here to
tap
that,” the woman said, and her pals laughed.

“You need to back the fuck up…
now,
” Wes said. “Leave her alone.”

A mixture of anger and embarrassment flashed on Lana face, but she was steely after that when she spoke. “I sure would like to tap my fist to your mouth, and see what you call me then, but you’re really not worth it.”

“Just because
ho
and
housewife
share the same two first letters, Wes, it doesn’t mean you can actually turn one into the other!” one of the other women yelled out.

“He’s trying to be Captain Save A Ho,” her friend responded, laughing. But at least they weren’t following them, even though they were making a spectacle with their laughter, still mocking her. Rage broiled in Wes’ stomach but he kept his tone as mellow as possible for her.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, Wes. I am,” she said with a curt tone.

“You know I don’t care what anyone says about you, right? ‘Cause
I
know you’re an amazing, sexy, smart, beautiful person…”

“And an extreme cuddler, don’t forget that…” Lana nodded with a slight smile. “I’m a big girl, Wes. I’ve had to deal with people saying that crap for years.” She didn’t seem complacent about the insults only that she’d found a way to make them not get to her, and for some reason that made him even angrier.

“I don’t like that they do that to you.”

“I don’t like it either, but why even give them the time of day by getting really upset? How important must
I
be if my very existence and the very sight of me pisses them off?” She shrugged. “I’ve always held the belief that if you react so negatively to someone doing something that doesn’t
really
impact yours or anyone else’s well-being—like just living their life—you’re giving them a lot of power over you. So, if anything, it’s a compliment that I get under their skin so much. Sometimes crazy bitches are so crazy they don’t even realize when they’re making your ego bigger ‘cause they’re acting like crazy bitches.”

“That’s quite the bright side to see, Lan. You’re a modern day Mother Teresa.”
But I’m not.
Those women were responsible for their rudeness, but there was one person who was behind all of this, even if it was indirectly. Brody Swift.
That motherfucker.
And once Lana was settled in the VIP viewing area, Wes stomped toward where Brody and his entourage were sitting, a few stands down.

“Wes!” Abel snatched his arm. “What happened?”

“Some chicks were talking shit about Lana.”

“Okay, but what does
he
have to do with it?”

“Are you serious?” Wes smirked. “Not rocket science, bro.”

“Okay, I get it, but this is the shit I was talking about earlier. Look at you, about to go all Bruce Banner over this—”

“Don’t you mean The Hulk?”

“No I meant Bruce Banner. You’ll be The Hulk when you’re actually at the apeshit stage. Just so you know, Sterling won,
by the way.
He’s talking to the press about
the final.
Remember that? You know, the final for you to get back to Padang? You’re here to surf, numb nuts.”

“Really, fuckhead? I wasn’t aware. And I’m not going to hit him or anything,” Wes assured. “That’s the fastest way to take myself out of the competition and have to hear your nonstop bitching. I’m just going to talk to him.”

Abel wasn’t convinced, so he walked alongside his brother to Brody. A hush settled over Brody and his friends—both guys and girls—and Brody stood up just as Wes reached him. Aggression pulled Brody’s expression tight and he glared at Wes with disgust, fists clenching.
Well, the feeling’s mutual
, Wes thought.

“Look, you need to handle your fangirls,” Wes said, controlling the urge to shove him as he got right in his face. “Stop letting them talk shit about Lana.”

Brody was unfazed. “I told you, I don’t control what’s said. You should grow some balls and a backbone if it bothers you that much.”

“No, how about you call them the
fuck
out on it when they do it instead of just sitting around like a little bitch, Percy,” Wes said, smirking.

Brody’s eyebrows pulled together and his expression darkened further. “A little bitch?”

Abel did the shoving before Brody could and pushed Wes back. “Good, you understood me; I annunciated well,” Wes said.

“Lana Langston must have quite the magical box. Lana Langston and Her Magical Box, has a nice ring to it. What do you say, Brody, you would know, right? You knew of its wonders before Elliott, right?” one of the guys yelled out, and Wes was flooded with anger, but Abel was holding onto him.

He stared right at the women behind Brody. “If he lets strangers talk about the
mother of his child
that way, he’s
not shit
. Imagine what he’d let them say about you. Remember that. He was in love with her, by the way, might still be. They were together for years on and off. She wasn’t just
some ass
to him. He’s just too much of a dickhead to admit that.” He pointed at Brody as Abel pulled him away. “She’s the goddamn mother of your kid, asshole! Do
not
disrespect her anymore! Any of you.”

“Okay, now that it’s out of your system, can you
please
go surf now?”

“Yes, boss,” Wes said when they were back where Lana and Wes’ other guests were sitting. The warning siren sounded just as Wes was slipping into his blue sponsor label-covered surf shirt, and Abel handed him his surfboard.

“What was that about?” Lana asked, brow furrowing as she ticked her head in Brody’s direction.

Just taking care of you.
Wes pressed a kiss to her cheek and smiled. “Nothing.”

*

The waves lived up to the area’s name, providing some of the most treacherous conditions Wes had seen in a long time, with the barrels so colossal it appeared as though the ocean was actually folding in on itself; it made for the perfect final. Every roll of a wave offered the perfect tube for Wes to collect high scores from the judges, with one ride earning him a perfect ten.

Sterling delivered ideal competition to make it interesting and exciting, but Wes garnered the win that he had been (mostly) confident about. He got his winnings at the winner’s podium and was formally announced as the wildcard for the competition in Bali.  He posed for the media and the crowd, leading them all in a “Deuce is wild” cheer after he flashed his tattoo in his signature pose.

Teahupo’o was a tiny fishing village, so nightlife was nonexistent regularly, and the contest sponsors had managed to turn it into a party city for the duration of the competition, but for the biggest event, the after-party following the final, everyone had to travel several hours away to one of the luxury resorts in a more tourist friendly town. The hotel was a beautiful place, structured like most of the resorts in the South Pacific: thatch roofed buildings, various lagoon style infinity pools and expansive greenery. Each pool area had its own DJ, genre of music and bar with seating arranged for the surfers and their guests, and large photos of past parties scrolling on a screen.

The Reaper Crew had a contractual obligation to attend the Wave Saver and Lava finals after-party so Wes and the surfers had to be there early for media interviews on the red carpet, and because he knew Lana would be on his arm later, he had put some effort into his look. Black Nikes, black button down and jeans, and a black Lava hat. Dressed up, Elliott style.

Wes and Brody bookended Christian and Abel during the pictures on the red carpet, and Wes decided he would avoid Brody tonight, call a silent truce, as long as he stayed away from Lana. Then he posed with the Lava girls in some promotional photos, and did some interviews required by his sponsors. He waved Dylan and Kai over once they were past the entry ropes.

“Char and Lana were taking
forever,
so I left…” Dylan explained. “From what I saw, though, she looks really pretty, Wes.”

After another half an hour, Lana and Charlotte arrived at the start of the carpet to receive their VIP passes, and a fiery feeling, which was almost warlike in the way it struck him, fell over Wes as he stared at Lana.
Wow.
Her hair draped over her shoulders in loose curls, and she was wearing a tiny, body-hugging, hot pink dress that an overestimation would’ve placed at mid-thigh. It was a style Dylan was calling “bandage” because of the all-over tight fit to accentuate the curves of a woman’s body. Oh, it was accentuating all right, and not a single guy who was checking her out would not have sold his first born’s soul to be that dress. And the shoes.
Holy fuck.
Black. Open toe. High enough for them to almost be at eye level with each other he guessed. His dick was definitely on alert. High alert.

She was laughing at whatever the bouncer had said to her, giving off her unmatchable glow and magnetism. His stomach coiled in anticipation for her to look up and see him. When she did, she winked and blew a kiss. He gestured at her to come over.

“Damn, I get why you like the bad girls,” Kai said to him.

“Hey!” Dylan said, pinching him on the side.

“But I
love
the
good girls
, baby.” Kai kissed her cheek in apology. “
Just
the good girls.
Just you,
Dylan Kimberly Carroll
.
”

“But she’s
really
hot though…” Dylan admitted. “I think I get it, too.”

“Oh, you like Lana, Dyl? You think she’s sexy?” Wes asked as he swung his arm around her shoulders. “What do you find sexy about her? Tell me.
In detail
.
Everything you like about her.
Start with her—”

“Don’t say another
word
, baby,” Kai said, laughing as he cast a warning glare to Wes. “Don’t put my girl in your fantasies!”

Dylan squeezed Wes’ shoulder and shook her head before turning to Kai. “Come dance with me, boyfriend!”

“Sure…be there in a sec,” Kai said, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand before she walked away, and he shot a sly smile at Wes.

“What?” Wes said. “What is it
now
?”

“I know that look…I know you’re going to get mad when I say this, but I’m pretty sure that’s what I looked like when I realized I was in love with Dyl.” Kai gave him a one-armed hug and started to walk away.

“Hey, White?” Wes called after him.

“Hm?”

I know.
Something in his chest wrung it tight at the thought. “Nothing, I’ll catch you guys inside. You know where mine and Abel’s chairs are, right?”

Kai shot him a wide smile.
Stop knowing stuff, asshole,
Wes thought.
“Yeah. See ya in there, Deuce.”

When Lana reached him, he lifted her into a hug. “Damn, you look so beautiful. Feels like this is the second time I’ve won today. That dress is…wow.
Damn
, I already want to take you back to the room. And those shoes. I want them against my ears…”

She laughed. “You like my come and fuck me heels?” she asked.

“You’re looking in the wrong place for the answer to that question,” he whispered before he kissed her on the cheek then traced her ear with his lips.

“Oh? Where’s the right place?”

“You’ll know when I’m fucking you on the beach later.”

“Damn, I wish
later
was
now,
” she whispered back after a moan then she smiled. “But I want to dance with you first. Will you dance with me?”

“Serious question?” And he led her to the first pool area under a wave of greetings, many shouts of “Deuce!” and congratulatory messages, but right now, his mind was simply on holding this gorgeous woman against him and swaying to the music. A hammering beat was shooting through the air and the entire crowd was gyrating to it. A translucent dance floor had been built over the pool and color-change lights flared up from below. Wes pulled Lana right to the center of the dance floor as everyone made way for him.

It was good to be king.

Once he and Lana settled on a spot, Wes placed his hands on her hips as Lana pressed her back against his chest, linking her fingers behind his neck. They danced through several songs, and Wes was really in a partying mood, so they were drenched in sweat within minutes. Lana had a lot to do to keep up, but she did, and he was impressed that she never complained about her feet. Dylan soon danced over and pulled Lana away from him, and the two of them went off as Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” came on; Wes laughed as the women imitated moves from the music video for each other.

Kai walked up to his side and put his arm around Wes’ shoulders, and the two of them stared at the women for a moment. “Whatever you’re thinking, it’s never going to happen,” he joked. “Never.”

“So…is this what it’s like?” Wes asked him.

“Well, if you mean watching your girl act silly and laughing and happy and being herself, and realizing that if you lost
everything
tomorrow but you woke up next to her the day after, you’d be able to face it all, no matter what else happened…” Wes held his composure but Kai’s words were a shot of adrenaline to his chest. “If you mean that…then yes. This is what it’s like, bro.”