Chapter Sixteen

Zoey

Parker’s friends spent the next few hours taking turns teaching Zoey each of their trademark skills. Most of it was too advanced, but they watered it down, and by the end, she could do a wobbling 50-50 on a low rail. When she landed with only a small slip, but didn’t fall, they applauded her.

She flushed at the praise, pleased at her progress, and gave The Guys and Shawn hugs. “Good luck tomorrow. All of you.”

“Aye, we’ll need it,” Shawn said, laughing. “P-Mad here, he was built to dominate. Should go pro.”

Pro? She looked Parker over, who carefully avoided her gaze. He’d always told her this was just a hobby. What was going on here?

“But I won’t.” Parker scuffed at the snow with his boot. “I like doing this for me rather than a sponsor.”

“Purity,” one of the Tylers said. “Respect, man.”

“But you’re still going to try to smoke Big Man, right?” Shawn asked. “This is your year. Say it and own it.”

He rolled his eyes. “This is my year.”

They must be talking about Luke, from the wickedness in Shawn’s eyes. So there was a part of Snowmass that wasn’t Luke Madison’s playground. Zoey nodded to Parker. “You know, I was so busy taking my lessons I didn’t see you practice. Would you run a few for me?”

Watching him out here had been an education so far. His confidence was so much higher, his presence larger, his dominance more certain. He was a whole different Parker, and she wanted to see more of him.

Shawn elbowed him in the ribs. “Come on…give the girl a show, eh?”

Parker ducked his head. “All right, all right.”

While he jogged up to the top of the course, Shawn leaned in close to Zoey. “He’s a special guy.”

Zoey’s stomach clenched. Was Shawn interested in Parker? The thought made her want to punch something. God, possessive much? “He is. He’s been my best friend forever.”

“Oh, we know.” Shawn gave her a knowing smirk. “He told Mandy and me all about you last week before you came. He was excited to see you.”

Shit, did Parker have two groupies? Or more? “Mandy?”

“My girlfriend.” Shawn’s forehead wrinkled. “Wait, are you not down with that?”

Zoey had burst into relieved laughter, then felt guilty for being relieved. “No, I’m totally fine with that. I just…”

“Naw, I get it.” Shawn patted her arm. “Here he goes. He’s magic.”

Parker waved at them, then jumped onto the downhill. He took the first rail full speed, turning his board perpendicular to the jib. He came off easily, like he was stepping off a low curb, and zigzagged to the smallest kicker, about eight feet tall, and made a tail grab, before landing like he did this all day. He curved to the next jump, this one twice as tall, and spun off the edge, grabbing his board as his body whirled through the air.

Zoey’s mouth hung open.

“You okay, there?” Shawn asked, looking like she was in on a secret. Her eyes gleamed, and one side of her mouth turned up. “To tell the truth, I get a little lightheaded watching him up there, too, and I don’t go for guys.”

Parker skidded to halt next to them, grinning. “How was it?”

“Phenomenal,” Shawn said, giving him a fist bump. “You’re ready.”

“Zoey?” he asked. “What did you think?”

“Phenomenal.” She swallowed hard, forcing herself to think, to breathe, to focus. He’d called it a hobby. Whittling was a hobby—what Parker was doing was art. She couldn’t wrap her brain around this. “You’re amazing, Park. I mean it.”

“Thanks.” He stared at his feet, but like Balthazar earlier, the tips of his ears turned pink, and it was adorable. Luke would’ve given her the “you know it, baby,” smirk, and said something suggestive about his “talents.” But Parker couldn’t even bring himself to look at her when she praised him, like he was embarrassed by it.

“We better go,” Zoey said. If she stayed here another minute, she’d forget all about her vow to step back and figure out why she was feeling so out of control. Right now it felt like the snow was melting at her feet. What else didn’t she know about him? “You still need to shop, and we won’t have time tomorrow.”

“Shop?” Shawn wrinkled her nose. “People do that?”

Zoey let out a shaky laugh. “When they don’t want to be disowned by their Moms on Christmas morning, sure.”

“Ah, then yes, he needs to get to it.” Shawn picked up her board. “See you tomorrow.”

She headed back to the park, The Guys in tow. Zoey watched her go. “She’s something else.”

“She is.” He touched her hand. “Zoey, about earlier…”

She turned away as tears welled up on her lashes again. Too. Much. Crying. Too much feeling, too. Her heart would split down the middle, it was so full. “Let’s not talk about it. Luke was wrong to play a joke on you like that. I didn’t know. If I did, I would’ve waited for you.”

Parker watched the boarders running the course. Maybe he realized she didn’t want him to see her cry. “It’s fine. I’m sorry I was upset. I was mad at Luke, not you.”

“I know.” She shook off her frown, determined to keep things from getting weirder than they already were. “There’s a boutique I want you to see. It has perfect stuff for your mom.”

Okay, a truce then. “Perfect for a guy with…” He checked the banking app on his phone. “A hundred and fifty-nine dollars?”

“Do you need to get everyone a gift with that budget?”

“Just Mom and Dad. I’m giving Luke coal.”

She laughed. “What about me?”

He paused, but admitted, “I already have your gift.”

Oh.