Swell (34 page)

‘Poor guy,’ I sighed, ‘and just before Christmas too. Could it be any worse?’

‘Fucking loser,’ said Oli, spitting his gum at my feet. ‘Well he can forget his fucking contract for next year that’s for sure.’

Apparently it could.

Worse still was yet to come when I heard the gate to the driveway sliding open. I ran through the garden, my veins bursting with adrenalin, to greet Chuck but the flash red Mustang in the driveway made me stop short. I peered at the darkened windows, holding my breath when the door opened and a Jimmy Choo with a silver heel appeared on the end of a slim ankle.

‘Portia. What are you doing here?’

She was spooned into a gold dress that highlighted her neat waist and tiny hips. Her caramel skin looked flawless and her yellow gold bracelets and necklace glinted in
the sunshine. The reflective bronze lenses of her sunglasses concealed the expression in her eyes as she slithered towards me, her hips swaying dangerously.

‘Bailey, what a pleasure as always,’ she hissed. ‘Have you gained weight?’

‘No I think perhaps you’ve shrunk, it happens to people when they age.’

A beetle wandered casually past Portia’s foot. She stabbed it with the chrome heel of her shoe and took pleasure in grinding it to a pulp.

‘Oh I’ll miss your British wit,’ she pouted.

‘Really? Leaving so soon?’

Portia stepped towards me and brought her face up to mine.

‘It’s not me who’s leaving, honey, it’s you. End of the tour, end of the book, right? Goodbye, Bailey Brown. Portia is here to stay.’

Portia addressing herself in the third person was not a good sign.

She ran a talon down my cheek.

‘I let you get to me and play your little tricks, but not any more. Jason needs a good woman right now after everything that he’s been through and I am that woman.’

Engulfed in a cloud of perfume, I coughed.

‘What about his son?’

‘I’ve been following him in the magazines and I ain’t seen any sign of a child. I think you played me.’

Her eyes narrowed. I moved back.

‘What you’re really saying is you couldn’t find yourself another man so you thought you’d do a quick backtrack while he was vulnerable and pounce like a cat on a mouse?’

Portia threw her head back and laughed at the sky.

‘Jason ain’t no mouse, girl, he is all man. It’s just such a damn shame you’ll never get to find out. You were right about one thing though, girlfriend’ – she looked me up and down – ‘why would he look at someone like you when he can have me? You are so not his type.’

I swallowed and watched as she swayed past me and headed for the house. I was not about to get involved in a catfight over a man but Portia’s games were the last thing I needed, blowing into the camp like a tornado and pulling up the invisible guy ropes that were just about keeping us secured with her evil tongue and feminine wiles. I dragged my hands back through my hair and let out a cry. Fixing Jason had just got a whole lot harder.

‘Ricky, you have to help me,’ I pleaded. ‘I need you to deflect that girl who just arrived. Where did she go?’

Ricky flicked up the rim of his cowboy hat and nodded towards Jason’s bedroom. I glanced in the direction and saw Portia’s arms slide around Jason’s waist before she kicked the door shut with her foot.

‘Well she didn’t waste any time.’

‘She’s a fit piece of ass, pardon my French. Who can blame him?’

‘You stupid men,’ I said in exasperation, ‘when will you ever learn?’

I left Ricky with a look of disgust.

Chuck made it back from the airport just as Cain’s heat entered the water. Jason was due to surf in under thirty minutes but he had been holed up in the bedroom with Portia for over an hour. I was in a foul mood and very confused. I felt like telling Jason where to shove his world title and his book for that matter, but I had already got other people involved. It was too late to turn back now even if I did end up looking a fool. I sincerely hoped Chuck’s passengers had not made a pointless journey.

Ben was the first to emerge from the car. He shook his shoulder-length hair, smiled at the sunshine hitting his face and then turned to wave at me. His damaged eye was hidden under some very trendy sunglasses.

He helped Izel out of the car. She was wearing two prosthetics and stood with the support of crutches that bent her arms backwards uncomfortably at the elbow. Ben held a hand protectively behind her back but did not touch her as he was well aware how feisty the thirteen year old, petite Mexican girl could be if she felt she was being condescended to. Wyatt was in the front passenger seat. Chuck opened the wheelchair and helped Wyatt into it. The three new arrivals beamed like cheerleaders.

‘I’m so happy to see you all.’

I forced a smile.

‘We wouldn’t miss this for the world,’ said Wyatt.

‘After all,’ giggled Izel, her accented words rolling in the back of her throat, ‘we have been coaching Jason all year.’

‘We want to make sure he’s been listening,’ Ben stepped in with a laugh.

‘So, B, where’s the man of the moment?’ Chuck chirped.

I could tell from his expression that he was in no doubt our plan would work.

‘I’m afraid there’s been a slight hiccup,’ I said.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

I shielded my eyes when Chuck burst into the bedroom.

‘What the fuck?’ Portia screamed. ‘Get this asshole out of here, Jason.’

‘Are they naked?’ I mumbled, not wanting to look.

‘No,’ Ricky replied with a note of surprise.

I stole a glance at Jason. He was standing facing Chuck, while Portia sat fully clothed on the bed. Her hair was still pulled into a tight bun and I could tell she had been crying.

‘Get out of here, all of you,’ Portia yelled, her face an angry flush of colour. ‘This is between me and Jason.’

‘There is no you and Jason, Missy,’ Chuck spat, ‘if he’s got any sense.’

We all looked intently at Jason.

‘Just give us a moment, please,’ he sighed.

‘We don’t have a moment, dude. This is it now. Time is up. Are you going to do the comp or what?’

‘No he isn’t,’ Portia hissed at Chuck whose hands closed into tight fists. ‘He’s coming back to L.A. with me.’

‘Over my dead body, bitch.’

‘Then so be it, Chuck.’

‘Stop it, both of you!’ Jason shouted. ‘I am here. I’m not some asset to fight over like you’re in the divorce court for God’s sake.’

‘Eugh like I’d be married to a loser like him.’ Portia rolled her head dramatically. ‘It’s you I want, Jason, you know that and you want me too. I can tell.’

‘No, Portia’ – Jason dropped his head wearily – ‘I don’t want you. I haven’t wanted you for a long time. That’s what I’ve been telling you for the last hour, you just won’t listen. I think you should go.’

My heart leapt unwittingly and before I knew it a smile had spread across my face.

‘What the hell are you grinning at, you English freak? You think he wants you? No way, bitch.’

Portia hurled herself at me and only Chuck’s quick thinking saved my eye from being pierced with a stiletto heel.

‘Funny,’ I laughed, ‘I suddenly feel as if we’ve come full circle. I’ll say one thing for you, you’re consistent.’

‘What? What are you talking about you whore?’

While Portia struggled in Chuck’s tight grasp, I reached out and took Jason by the elbow.

‘I’ve had enough of this. Come here, Jason, I want to show you something.’

He let me lead him to the front window and we looked out across the lawn to see Ben, Izel and Wyatt making themselves comfortable at the lookout post. They were visibly thrilled at being so close to Pipeline and their laughter carried on the breeze. Jason swallowed.

‘What are they doing here, Bailey? Did you do this?’

I nodded.

‘Yes. Yes I did. I wanted to remind you of the people you have inspired with your surfing. To bring you your very own fan club who could help you through the day.’

‘This is blackmail.’

‘No. This is the only way I knew how to show you what you were throwing away. You give people hope, Jason and you encourage them not to quit, yet here you are quitting at the final hurdle. You’re not even going to try to jump it because you’re scared of what’s on the other side.’

He shook his head vehemently.

‘You’re wrong. I just think surfing Pipe would be disrespectful to Rory.’

‘I don’t believe you.’

Our eyes locked together and for a moment I saw anger burning inside him but I carried on. I had nothing to lose. I would be leaving in a few days regardless and if Jason disagreed and still refused to surf, we would all be in the same position as we currently were. I had to risk it.

‘If you want to know what I think…’

‘I get the feeling I’m going to find out whether I want to or not.’

‘I think Rory would be so angry with you if you let the year end this way.’

Jason swayed at the mention of Rory’s name.

‘In fact as far as I can see you will be disrespecting him a lot more by turning your back on the very thing that Rory lived for. He loved surfing, Jason. He also loved you and he would hate to see you throwing away your world title and handing it on a plate to Cain.’

Jason bit his lip.

‘Don’t let Cain win, Jason, please. Don’t let Rory down. Do this for Rory or for those kids out there or’ – I paused – ‘just for yourself.’

A sigh left Jason’s lips and he grasped his head as if he was in pain.

‘And as for what’s on the other side of that hill,’ I said softly, ‘let’s get to the top first and enjoy the view before we worry about that shall we?’

Jason began to chuckle. He stood taller, pulling back his shoulders to look out towards Pipeline.

‘How do you do it?’ he breathed. ‘How do you read me so well?’

When he turned to look down at me I knew I had done what I had set out to do.

I shrugged.

‘I’ve always had a passion for reading and, besides, you’re my character. I have to know you well or else my book would be very shallow.’

‘You know this is the second time you’ve talked me into going for the thirteenth title. Do you remember?’

‘I remember.’

How could I forget? It was the night Jason found out about Cain and I.

‘What would I do without you?’

I shrugged.

‘Maybe relax and put your feet up?’

Jason laughed and then his face turned serious once more.

‘Promise me you’ll be there with me at the top.’

He offered me his hand. I took it.

‘I promise.’

Jason beamed and took several deep breaths before spinning on his heel.

‘I’ll do it,’ he said.

I followed him out of the door and across the grass towards the lookout. Chuck met us halfway. I gave him a thumbs up and Chuck’s hair stood on end with excitement.

‘The witch is over there cooling off,’ he warned. ‘I said she could stay if she behaves.’

I glanced nervously at Portia who was staring at Ben, Izel and Wyatt. Her hands were raised protectively against her chest as if she might catch quadriplegia if she moved too close.

‘I’ll get your board ready,’ Chuck beamed.

‘No need, here use this one.’

Ricky appeared behind us with the lightning bolt board on which Jason had experienced his first thrilling wave ride.

‘You fixed it up,’ Jason gasped.

‘Just a bit of cleaning and ding fixing,’ Ricky sniffed as if it was nothing.

The board had been lovingly restored to its former glory.

‘I’ve been working on it at night. I don’t sleep much being a ranch owner.’

Ricky shoved his hands into his pockets.

‘I hoped you would change your mind.’

Jason slipped the board under one arm and pulled his father into a tight hug.

‘Thanks, Dad and you know it means the world to me you being here to watch. This is the first time since I joined the tour.’

‘I know, son and I apologise for that but I couldn’t risk people seeing me…’ – his words disappeared as the hooter sounded.

‘Your heat!’ I gasped. ‘It’s started already.’

Jason leapt into action. He pulled off his T-shirt and Chuck bounded off along the beach to find the competition rash vest. Ricky waxed the board and Jason quickly greeted his delighted fan club before running back to me to attach his leash to his ankle.

‘Thank you, Bailey,’ he said and bent down to kiss me on the cheek.

There was a scream and before anyone could stop her, Portia had wrenched the board from Jason’s hands and hurled it to the ground. She jumped up and down on the deck, her metal heels piercing the thin layer of fibreglass and sinking deep into the foam. When she had finished and slumped to the ground, Ricky’s prize-winning surfboard resembled a cardboard box pierced repeatedly with a fork.

‘What have you done?’ Jason’s voice was laden with shock. ‘Get her out of my sight. For good.’

The colour drained from Portia’s aesthetically stunning face. She might have had the most naturally beautiful features I had ever seen, but all at once we saw her for the ugly person she truly was.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Jason and Ricky raced to the board room and unwrapped a new board suitable for Pipeline. Jason’s hands shook as he applied the wax and he protested when Chuck wrenched the competition rash vest over his head until we realised his neck was stuck in the armhole.

‘You need a leash,’ Ricky called after him as Jason sprinted across the grass.

‘No time,’ he called back.

Ricky stopped at the edge of the garden and slowly lowered the leash that he gripped tightly in his hand. The sight of it made my spine tingle. The last time I had seen a leash held tight was in Rory’s hand. It had been apparent that the leash had held him underwater, probably wrapped around a coral head, and Rory’s attempts to unhook it had failed. He had finally found the strength to rip the Velcro fastening from his ankle but it had evidently taken his last ounces of energy to do so.

‘He doesn’t need a leash.’

I touched Ricky’s arm. He was shaking.

‘Run, son,’ he coached from a distance.

‘Shall we run to the water’s edge?’ I suggested.