Riding the Surf (12 page)

Cheyenne wiped her tears away quickly. “You cooked?”

“Your brother did.”

“What? He doesn’t know how.”

Derek glared at her. “It wasn’t hard to figure out.”

Cheyenne eyed
the plate. “Is that raviolis?”

Derek nodded.

Cheyenne grabbed the plate and started eating.

When Derek looked at her, he noticed that her waist was smaller and her arms were thinner. He’d been so absorbed in Paola that he hadn’t spoken to his sister since the last fight they had. When he remembered Ryder, his blood boiled.

Paola rubbed her back. “So, is everything okay?”

Cheyenne shrugged. “I don’t know…I just feel like my life is falling apart. My boyfriend and I have been fighting, I’m falling behind on my bills, and…it’s just been hard.”

“Why are you always tight on cash?” Derek asked. “You’re a waitress. They make decent money.”

She ate the bread then wiped her mouth with a napkin. “I’ve just had a lot of bills.”

Derek eyed her suspiciously. “What are you not telling me?”

“Nothing…”

“Don’t fucking lie to me,” Derek snapped.

Paola raised her hand. “Calm down.”

He breathed through the anger and ran his fingers through his hair. “What’s going on, Cheyenne?” he said through gritted teeth.

“You’re going to be mad…”

“Yeah, I can tell,” he said.

Paola continued to rub her back.

“Well, Ryder needed money for his trucking driving school.” Derek clenched his fists at his side, knowing exactly where this was going. “So I helped him pay for it. Since it’s a vocational school, it’s expensive.”

Derek paced around the room, trying not to hit anything.

“He said he’d pay me back.”

He took a deep breath and sighed. “You should still have your savings. I told you ten percent of your paycheck always goes in savings.”

She looked down. “I gave it to him.”

Derek grabbed his face and breathed through the anger that shook his body. Unable to control it, he marched out of the bedroom and slammed the door shut, rocking the building. He walked outside then punched the stump of a tree until his knuckles turned bloody. He screamed and the neighbors eyed him warily.

His sister was so fucking stupid. He wanted to slap her across the face as hard as he could. Derek knew he was failing their dad. He needed to get Cheyenne in the right direction, but every time he tried, she kept fucking it up. Derek wanted to kill Ryder. Nothing would give him greater pleasure. He was totally taking advantage of his sister and he couldn’t control the rage he felt. He was going to round up the guys so he could beat Ryder to an inch from his life.

When the neighbors kept staring at him, he walked back inside his apartment and slammed the door closed. He washed his knuckles in the sink then wrapped them in a cloth. When he went back to the room, he thought he was clam, but when he looked at Cheyenne’s face again, he snapped.

“WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?”

Cheyenne started to cry. “I just wanted to help.”

“He’s taking advantage of you. Don’t you fucking see that? He doesn’t love you. He just wants to fuck you and take your money. I’ve never been more disappointed in you in my life. Why are you doing this to me?”

The tears poured down her cheeks.

“I can’t take this anymore,” he said, walking back and forth. “You’re such a selfish brat. How could you do this to me and dad? You’re ruining my life with this. Do you know how much it hurts me to see you like this, weak, pathetic, gullible. God, I fucking hate you.”

She sniffed. “You aren’t listening to me.”

“Shut the fuck up. It’s him or me, Cheyenne. You either lose your brother or you lose your boyfriend. Pick.”

“What?”

“I fucking mean it. I can’t be in your life anymore if you’re going to stay with him. I’ve tried everything to make you see reason but you don’t listen to a word I say. You’re the older one so you should know better. I shouldn’t have to yell at you like this.”

“Derek, I was evicted from my apartment…I have nowhere to go.”

“You can’t stay with him and his mommy?” he snapped.

“Please…”

“Then end it with him.”

She looked away and said nothing.

“Then it looks like you’re homeless.”

“Don’t make me beg.”

“You can if you want. It won’t change anything,” Derek said. “I’m not going to change my mind.”

“All
my stuff is in my car. I’ve been living in it for the past week, sneaking in here after you go to bed. I don’t have money for food or my cell phone. Please help me, Derek.”

He shook his head. “I love you so fucking much, but I’m not helping you unless you break up with him. I know you think you love him but you don’t. When you’re away from him, you’ll understand what I’m saying.”

“I can’t do that…”

“Then get out of my house.”

“Derek, please.”

“Fuck you.”

Paola looked at him. “Come on, Derek.”

He looked at her, keeping the anger out of his voice. “Baby, I know you’re trying to help but please stay out of this.”

She stared at him but said nothing.

“Then what am I going to do?” Cheyenne said. “Be homeless?”

“And I’m getting my key back. You aren’t eating my food or using my shower.”

Cheyenne covered her face and fell to her knees. “Please, Derek. Please.” She sobbed hysterically at his feet.

Derek stared at her, feeling the pity rise. He sighed, hating himself for what he was about to do. Paola stared at him expectantly. He kneeled then wrapped his arms around her, holding her to his chest. “Okay. You can stay here.”

“Thank you,” she said between her cries.

He kissed her forehead. “It’s okay.” He rubbed her back, feeling her shake in his arms.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do,” she said. “I can barely pay for gas.”

“You can stay here, Cheyenne, but I’m not giving you money for any reason. You’ve lost my trust.”

“What?” she asked, pulling away.

“You’re delusional with this guy. I can’t trust that you won’t give him my money. I’m sorry.”

She was stung by the insult. “I would never do that, Derek.”

“I wish I could believe you.”

Cheyenne dropped her gaze, unable to look at him. “I’m sorry.”

He pulled her back into her arms and held her while she continued to cry. When she was done and her tears subsided, she pulled away.

“I’m sorry I ruined your night,” she whispered.

“It’s okay,” he said. “You’re lucky Paola is so cool about it.”

Cheyenne turned to her. “I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Paola said with a smile. “I know how much Derek loves you.”

“I like her,” Cheyenne whispered. “Keep her around.”

Paola smiled, overhearing the whispers.

“I intend to,” Derek said.

“I didn’t know you had a girlfriend,” she said. “When did this happen?”

“Well, it’s complicated,” he said. “We can discuss it later.”

“Okay.”

Derek stood up then pulled Paola from the bed. “We’re going to enjoy the rest of our evening. Don’t bother us again.”

“Can you help me move my stuff?”

He glared at her. “Tomorrow.”

“I can help,” Paola said.

“Absolutely not,” Derek said. “Ignore my sister.” He shut the bedroom door then stood in the hallway with her. “I feel weird asking this, but do you want to go in my bedroom? Since my sister is here, I thought you’d like some privacy.”

“That’s fine,” she said.

“Okay.” He took her inside his bedroom then locked the door behind him.

His bed had a dark blue comforter with dark wooden dressers. He was glad he cleaned it the other day. Normally it was a mess. She sat on the bed and parted her knees slightly.

“We didn’t get a chance to have dessert,” he said.

“I know you did,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

Derek smiled. “And it was very sweet.” He turned to the door. “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

He went into the kitchen and saw his sister sitting on the couch, flipping through the channels. “Keep it down,” he said.

“I will,” she whispered.

He grabbed the cake and took it back to his room.

“What’s that?” Paola asked, eyeing the plate.

“Tiramisu.”

“Now I know you didn’t make that,” she said.

“You got me.” He sat next to her and held the plate in his hand.

She grabbed a fork and dug in. When she put it in her mouth, she moaned. “This is so good.”

He took a bite. “It really is.”

“I can’t remember the last time I had sweets.”

“What? Are you crazy?”

“I was on a strict diet for modeling. I guess I’m just used to it.”

“Your body really is smokin’.”

She smiled.

“Do you just surf?”

“I do weight training a few times a week.”

“It shows,” he said. “When I first saw you, I thought you weren’t real.”

“Oh.”

He caught the sadness in her voice.

“What’s wrong? What did I say?”

“Nothing…”

He put the plate down. “Talk to me.”

“I don’t want to say.”

“Why? It’s me. You can tell me anything.”

“It just doesn’t come out right.”

“I’ll take it the way you want me to,” he said.

“Well, I’m just…used to guys hitting on me, especially when I’m in a swimsuit. I feel like they don’t really care about me, just what I look like naked. I don’t mean to sound conceited, but that’s how I feel. I don’t feel loved for who I am underneath.”

“That’s totally understandable.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “And I’m not going to lie and say you aren’t the hottest chick I’ve ever seen. But I do love you for who you are on the inside. You’re caring, passionate, and the most selfless person I know. You’re nothing shy of amazing. I—I don’t mean to be vulgar, but I’ve fucked models before. I’ve never fallen in love them. Believe me, I care about who you are, Paola. Your beauty is just a plus.”

She looked at her hands in her lap.

“I like that you are so strong around other people, but you are vulnerable when you’re alone with me. You let your emotions and thoughts shine through. I can tell you’re comfortable around me. When you touch me, I feel your fingers shake slightly, like you can’t stay still. I love watching you ride the waves, like you’re in a different place. I see the concentration on your face, unyielding and determined. When you told me about your mother, I knew there was so much more to you. And when you told me what you did for your family, becoming a model, I was in awe of you. You’re an amazing person, Paola. You’re complicated but so simple. I feel like I understand you better than anyone else. When you move, I see your desires. When you look away, I can tell what you’re thinking. I’ve been selfish my whole life. When you came along, I changed. I always put you first.”

Paola met his gaze. “That isn’t true.”

“What isn’t?”

“You aren’t selfish. You take care of your sister. I see how much you love her.”

“And you saw me scream at her, telling her how disappointed I was.”

“You tell her that because you love her. A guardian doesn’t care if they are liked or not. They do the right thing even if it’s hard. It would be easy for you to turn away and let her ruin her life, but you don’t. You grab her and lead her down the right path. And when she doesn’t, you grab her again and bring her back, hoping that one day she’ll actually do it.”

He stared at her. “You don’t…think I’m an asshole?”

“I think you’re a wonderful man.”

He pressed his forehead against hers. “It’s nice to hear that for once.”

“Well, I have a feeling this is a recent change.”

“I feel like that chapter in my life ended and a new one began. I don’t even know that guy anymore. And I normally check out girls all the time but…I haven’t looked at anyone since I met you.”

Her eyes softened.

“I’m really glad that Nancy and I got together. She taught me so much and pulled my head out of my ass. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have this.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it. “For that, I’ll always be indebted to her.”

“That’s cool you guys are still good friends.”

“We’ll always be friends, no matter what.”

“Do you still have feelings for her?” she asked hesitantly.

“No, I don’t see her like that anymore. As soon as she got with Thatcher, everything changed. The love they have for each other is like a beacon of light. You can’t be near them and not see it. They make more sense than she and I ever did. I’m nothing but happy for her. Which reminds me…you want to have lunch with my friends tomorrow?”