Page 56 of Blaze & Ajax
“Thanks. Now, ah, I need to find a real job… an honest one.”
Cueball clapped my shoulder, but he said nothing, being his usual stoic self.
“Stop by and ask Alpha,” Stone said. “I don’t know if he’s hiring, but even if working part time, you can at least get some work experience. If not, I’m sure he can direct you to someone who can hire you.”
“I will. Thanks.”
The outdoor skatepark was busy as hell after the long winter and cold early spring. There were kids, older adults, people having picnics in the grass, and birthday parties under the pavilions. It was chaos. While I didn’t enjoy skating, mostly because I didn’t know how, it was fun to watch people doing their tricks or trying to.
But my eyes were firmly planted on Ajax as he skated on the ramp, doing flips and shit, taking it so high in the air, my stomach leaped, afraid he’d fall and crack his head open.
Wow, I’d never worried about anyone before.
I’d tried not to pay much attention to Ajax skating over the months, but I’d always noticed how good he was. He was fluid and smooth, despite his size, at least to me. His arm muscles were strong and defined, and I wished I could see his legs through his khaki cargo pants, though I already knew how nice they looked.
Someone clapped me on the shoulder. I turned my head to find Jazz, and I rolled my eyes at her. That girl was trouble and a pain in the ass. Her bleached hair was chopped into a messy bob, shaved on one side, and had strips of bubblegum pink colored through it. She was cute, in a pink punk way, wearing denim overalls with one strap unclasped.
“Aww, grumpy Blaze is in love.”
I scowled at her. “Fuck off, Jazz. I’mnotin love.”
She shrugged. “If you say so.”
“I’m just watching the skaters.” Of course, the more I denied it, the more she could see through me.
“You two are like totally cute together, a couple of grumps with size difference issues, who bitched their way straight into a relationship.” She snorted a laugh. “Seriously, you can’t make this shit up.”
“Well, apparently, you can, since you just did.”
Jazz rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Mr. Denier. All my boys are finding love. It’s so sweet. Now, we just need to find someone for my bro. He’s been lonely lately. Though I probably don’t help, since I’m picky about who he dates.”
That was the most Jazz had ever talked to me. I guess not fighting with Ajax helped with that. “What about you?”
She looked at me with large blue eyes. “I already have a girlfriend.”
“Why don’t you bring her by?”
“She’s different. She’s not extroverted like me.”
“I’m… glad you have someone.”
She raised a brow, no doubt surprised by my ‘niceness.’ Hell, I was, too.
“Thanks,” she said dubiously and took off on her board.
Several minutes later, Ajax hopped off his board and walked straight toward me. He looked pretty sexy in his white T-shirt, which was wet from sweat, clinging to his damp skin.
“Man, it’s nice not to freeze my nuts off,” he said.
I said nothing, unable to take my eyes off him. How different he looked to me now that he knew my story and was still willing to acknowledge my presence.
“I told Cueball and Stone about us,” I blurted.
Ajax smirked, stood toe-to-toe with me, and bent forward so close I felt the heat from his skin. “Did you now?”
“Is that okay?”
He wrapped his arm around me and placed his hand on the small of my back, pulling me against him. My fingers dug into his biceps. “It’s more than okay.”