Page 37 of Cruel Love

“So what?” Max leveled a confused gaze at me. “It’ll be perfect. We can have pics of you with a baby on board and then, in a couple of years, with your daughter learning to surf on a custom board too. Or riding the same board with you. It’ll be cool.”

“I love that. I hadn’t thought of doing that, but it also takes the brand in another direction.” I pulled into the parking lot, and we climbed out. I grabbed a large blanket I liked to use when I went to the beach to sketch, and Max took the rest of the supplies. “Family-oriented and professional boards. It’ll give the company a more well-rounded, wholesome vibe.”

It was after lunch, but the sun was still high in the sky, beating down on us and warming our skin. The water sparkled like diamonds. A lazy, warm breeze rustled the pages of my sketchbook and grabbed a few strands of my hair, making them dance around my face. The rhythmic crash of the waves against the shoreline soothed my soul, and soon, my pencil flew across the paper.

After I finished one design, I peeked at Max’s work. He had birds in flight soaring across the shape of a surfboard in stark black. Words and symbols swirled around them, creating a unique typographical illustration. I loved it instantly.

The day flew by, and we talked excitedly about plans and designs as we put our sketchpads away. Soon, Sky and I would get the website up and running with the little I had for sale and begin taking custom orders. Ideas swirled through my mind.

I wasn’t the only one who surfed. Riley could model some of the boards too. And the director of the art department had agreed that once we were able to transfer our ideas onto the surfboards, I could stow them in a supply closet for students. We would take pictures of the boards on the beach and in the tall grass, carried and alone. The sooner we got to work and took the pictures, we could add to the website’s gallery and set up some ads.

Things were moving fast and coming to life. My business had gone from idea to almost reality and had the potential to support both the baby and me.

Back in the dorm, I paused at my door to unlock it. “How are things going with Jaxon?”

Max’s eyes sparkled, and a smile of pure joy curved his lips. “So good that I’m worried I’ll screw it up.”

“Stop.” I smacked his arm. “He’s lucky to have you.” Leaning against the doorjamb and reluctant to go in, I pressed for more info. “What’s his family like?”

“I haven’t met them yet. He’s got a sister, but he was cagey about her, so there’s maybe some drama there. I don’t know. I didn’t want to pry.” Max slowly walked backward after checking his phone. “He’ll be at my door soon. I’ve got to run, but thank you for today. I’m excited about our new adventure.”

“Me too.” Including him in the business felt right, and I knew Regan would be fine with it. I would call her and bring her up to speed. “And I’m sure Jaxon will open up soon. Have fun.”

I pushed my door open and checked to see if Phoenix had called. I was so caught up in business ideas and trying to push the problem with his grandfather out of my mind that I hadn’t left another message for him. I thought it strange that he hadn’t called back after our first round of phone tag. I tried not to read into it, but that was hard. I wondered whether his grandfather had enough influence that he could come between us.

Exhausted from very little sleep and the long day at the beach with Max, I grabbed my phone, flopped onto the chair my friends had gotten me, and called Mom. I didn’t care what Mr. Bennett said about not telling anyone. I needed to talk it through.

“Mom.” A wave of anxiety washed over me. I knew I sounded panicked.

“What’s wrong, Aspen?” Her tone matched mine.

“Possibly everything but hopefully nothing.” Everything that I’d successfully suppressed all day rushed to the forefront. Just thinking about what Phoenix’s grandfather had threatened me with made me want to hide in my room. I can survive on saltines and water, right?

Getting out with Max had helped a lot, but it was time to deal with things, and I needed to include Mom in the mix since the old man had threatened Dad. “Phoenix’s grandfather came by today. Dad works for his company. Did you know that?”

“I think your father knows that. Why? It shouldn’t matter.”

It did, and I told Mom every nasty threat the old man had made. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve ruined things. Dad could lose his job. I’m not supposed to see Phoenix. Then there’s the baby—I will not get rid of her.”

“Her?”

Oh, right. I hadn’t told anyone other than Phoenix and Max. “I’m having a little girl.” Everything went soft in me for a moment, but then I snapped out of it. “But, Mom, focus. What am I going to do?”

“To be honest, I’m shocked. Is Phoenix anything like his grandfather? Because if he is, you need to stay away from him.”

“No. He’s nothing like him.” I could see a future with him, at least in his current headspace. His nineteen-year-old one drove me crazy. Maybe things could work out if there was a way to combine the two. I wasn’t entirely sure.

“I didn’t think he was, but we’ve only interacted with him when we met him during that dinner where you dropped the ‘I’m pregnant’ bomb on us—in public, mind you.”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” I should’ve thought that through a little more.

“Here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to tell Phoenix what Mr. Bennett said. He’s a part of this and should be included in how you deal with his grandfather.”

“I was going to, but I needed to talk it through first. What about Dad?”

“Honey, if it comes down to it, your father can get a different job. Don’t worry about that.”

“What about the litigations and bankruptcy threat? And the insurance?” Mom’s job didn’t pay enough, and I wasn’t sure if they offered benefits.

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