I never slept better.
* * *
It was the next day, nearly noon, and I was standing inside Wax, looking at the new shipment of T-shirts we’d got in with the Rivera Frozen Foods branding on the back.
Turned out, being sponsored by Tori’s family was pretty kick-ass. Her dad was cool as shit about it, coming down here a couple of times now to check out Wax and talk to me about what all I needed from them and what all they needed from me.
My other sponsors never stepped foot inside where I worked. Not once. It was more about my name and how I could benefit them. What the fuck did they care about me owning a surf shop? They weren’t getting anything out of that.
Not John, though. He cared. Wasn’t shy about letting me know that either.
I didn’t need them to do anything for me, and I told him that. Being sponsored was never about what all I could get out of companies. I just cared about surfing. Someone wanted to back me and put my face on their products or give me shit for free? That was up to them. I never asked for it. John understood how I felt about it and said they would support me in any way I needed. He was honored to be backing me and that meant a lot.
Straight up, though, being that it was Tori’s family and knowing how much this meant to her, knowing how fucking huge this was, I was the one who felt honored.
It was why I was staring at another shipment of T-shirts advertising them and why the boards I used were now detailed with their logo.
Tori got a huge fucking kick out of that.
“Can’t believe how these things are selling,” Cole commented, stepping up beside me after I’d opened up the boxes. “Seriously, I’m pretty sure you could put a hemorrhoid cream logo on a tee and triple their sales.”
I slapped his shoulder, grinning. “Leave that one to you, man,” I said. “You should reach out and see if they’re looking to sponsor.”
“Right,” Cole chuckled. “They’d probably fucking pass. And my luck, that shit would get around. I’d never get laid again.”
We shared a laugh, then the bell chimed behind us, indicating someone was stepping inside the shop. I turned my head and watched Tori walk inside.
She was wearing a sweater that dipped low in the front and showed some of her cleavage—all fucking class, though—tight faded jeans that had tears up the front of one thigh, and black knee-high boots. Her jeans were tucked into them. Her hair was half up out of her face, except for those pieces that always fell out and wouldn’t stay behind her ears. Her eyes were lined black. Her lips were painted red. And she was smiling big at me as she lifted her hand to wave.
“’Sup, babe?” I greeted her, turning sideways so I could see her better. “Got the shirts in. Perfect timing.”
“Oh, good!” She clapped her hands together and started walking over. “I told Dad they were set to come in this week. I wanted to grab a couple for him and Mom.”
“Set you up with that,” I replied.
“I’m heading out. Gonna go grab something to eat,” Cole said. He turned and tipped his chin at Tori. “What’s up?”
“Hey,” she greeted him, smiling as he walked past.
“Later, man,” I called out.
“Later,” Cole replied, getting to the door. “See ya around, Tori.”
“See ya,” she said back, keeping her eyes on me.
Cole stepped outside.
“Hey, you,” Tori said, stopping in front of me. She rolled up onto her toes and tipped her chin up. “Kiss,” she requested.
I grinned at her, keeping my arms pulled across my chest and not bending down. “Fuck?” I countered.
Her head jerked back and her eyes widened. She grabbed my elbows for balance, informing me, “Syd and Brian did it on the desk in the office once.”
“Shit,” I muttered. “He christened the place before I did? What a dick.” I bent down then and kissed her soft mouth. “You look hot.”
“So do you,” she said through a smile, rocking back onto her heels but keeping her hands on me.
“Yeah? Wanna fuck?”
Tori swatted my arm and made a face, letting me know she was down but trying to cover that desire.
I chuckled.
“What size you want for your folks? I got ’em up to 2XL.”
She thought for a second, dropping her hands and leaning to look behind me. “I think Dad is down to an extra-large now. He’s lost close to twenty-five pounds.”
“That’s great, babe,” I replied, meaning that.
I knew how important getting his weight down was for his heart. Not just from Tori telling me, but from Travis mentioning it.
Tori looked at me again. Her mouth was lifted. “Yeah. I’m proud of him. I know it’s been hard. Mom is a medium. And she wanted to send my aunts both out a shirt. I think they’re larges.”
I jerked my chin, then I turned around and fished her out the sizes she needed.
“Got something for your dad in the back,” I said, handing her the shirts. “I’ll grab it for you. You meeting up with them today?”
“Yeah,” she answered. She held the shirts against her chest. “Dad has a follow-up with Travis at two and then we’re going to grab something to eat. It’ll be early, though, so I shouldn’t be home too late.”
“Take the time you need, babe. I’ll be there.”
“I know,” she said, eyes closing when I wrapped my hand around the back of her head and kissed the top of it.