How to Catch a Rival Read online

  When I got home, I turned the TV onto a sports channel and headed for the shower.

  As the water cascaded down my body, I wondered if the reason for my introspective mood was that the team had started the season on such a high, and that was making me anxious.

  It was always challenging to keep the momentum going. You win a lot and people expect you to keep winning, but if you lose a game, they ditch you like you can never recover from it. I always preferred to see a mix of wins and losses early in the season. It kept the kids on their toes, and the final win would taste so much better.

  I planned out in my head the bones of my strategy for the next couple of training sessions to throw the team off. It was a gamble, and we could lose a game or two, but I knew it was the best long-term strategy.

  My cock hardened as I ran soap through it. Yes, I was one of those guys who got hard thinking of football. It was the adrenaline, the excitement of thinking about a game, feeling invincible on the field. Even though I wasn’t playing it professionally anymore, football was still in my blood.

  I ignored my cock’s pleas and finished the shower quickly, settling in front of the TV for a couple of mind-numbing hours before going to bed.

  When I woke up the next morning, I had the usual text waiting for me.

  Aiden: Run.

  My best friend Aiden’s texts always lacked enough words, but I did need a run this morning, so I got up, got my running gear on, and left to meet him in the usual parking lot.

  “How’s it going?” I asked as we did a slow jog to the sidewalk running alongside the beach.

  “Same same.”

  I looked at Aiden. My frown must have given me away because he frowned back.

  “What’s up, Aid?”

  “Nothing. Had an argument with Richard last night, and when I woke up he wasn’t home. He probably went to the gym or something. He always does that when we argue.”

  “What did you argue about?”

  “Same as always, money.”

  Aiden came from a super-wealthy family but was the most down-to-earth person I’d ever met. He refused to use his family’s money or influence, something that was a bone of contention with his boyfriend Richard, the dick.

  It wasn’t my place to tell Aiden to dump the money-hungry jackass, so I simply put my hand on his shoulder and picked up my pace.

  I’d met Aiden when I’d started running after recovering from my injury. We’d always run the same path and parked near each other. Even though Aiden had a more reserved personality, I’d needed a running buddy and had decided Aiden was going to be it. The rest of our friendship built naturally from that moment on.

  We ran side by side, the only sounds the ones coming from our running shoes on the wide footpath and our heavy breathing. I needed the feeling of pushing my body to that point where the only thing going through my mind was how I was going to cope with the next mile.

  It wasn’t until we were almost back at the parking lot and winding down from the run that Aiden broke the silence. He looked a little more out of breath than usual.

  “So, you gonna tell me what’s bothering you?”

  “Nothing’s bothering me, what do you mean?”

  “You were pounding the sidewalk as if your legs have an expiration date,” he said.

  “Man, don’t even joke about that.”

  “You know I didn’t mean it like that, but you were clearly trying to outrun something. How about we grab a coffee and talk about it?”

  I nodded.

  The last mile was painful despite the slow jog. My knee started aching, which was a sure sign I’d overdone it again. I’d been good with my recovery, making sure I could still be active, but occasionally, when I took my frustrations out on the sidewalk, I always paid for it with a swollen knee and a few days’ rest.

  It was still early in the day but warm enough to sit outside the coffee shop. The bitter taste of the coffee and the warmth of the sun on my face was the perfect combination for post-run pick-me-up.

  “Here.”

  I opened my eyes to see Aiden holding a bag of ice. He maneuvered one of the spare chairs in front of me, and I lifted my leg to rest on the chair, placing the ice on it.

  “Fuck, that’s cold.”

  “I believe that’s how ice works,” Aiden said. “Now, talk time.”

  I chuckled. Aiden was the least bossy person I knew. Even as he was telling me what to do, I could see his concern that I’d pushed myself too far today. I couldn’t disagree with him.

  “I’m not sure what to tell you, Aid. Recently I’ve just been feeling a little out of sorts. I miss home, miss proper seasons, the forest air, my family.”

  The sea was calm this morning, a contrast to how I was feeling inside. I stared at it, trying to channel the peace I needed.

  “How about having a break? When was the last time you went home?”

  “Too long ago,” I confessed.

  “Why don’t you take some time off then?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  Aiden waved his hand. “My family don’t approve of my chosen career, and they disapprove even more that I won’t accept their money. Let’s not even start on me being gay. My life is the definition of complicated.”

  “At least your family know who you are.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Yesterday, I met a guy. Really cute and up for some fun, but I couldn’t find the energy to go through the motions of a hookup.”

  “You could try dating people properly for a change. But you still haven’t answered my question.”

  I knew Aiden hadn’t meant it as a dig. More than anyone, he knew I wanted to settle down, but he didn’t know what it meant if I ended up wanting a guy instead of a woman.

  When I’d got picked by the Marinos, I hadn’t wanted to ruin my chances of a career in professional football by coming out. Not that my teammates were homophobic. Some were the best allies and worked hard raising money for local LGBTQ causes. I’d felt like a fraud next to them and had always joined in their fundraisers, but it hadn’t taken away from the fear of not being picked by future teams because of my sexual orientation.

  “My parents don’t know about my injury, or that I don’t play anymore,” I confessed.

  I couldn’t look at Aiden because I knew he’d offer me comfort I wasn’t sure I deserved.

  “They also think I’m straight.”

  After a moment of silence, I couldn’t help it. I turned to face Aiden, flinching as my knee ached under the melting bag of ice.

  “So let me get this straight,” he said. “Sorry, no pun intended.”

  I couldn’t help laughing because Aiden’s face was so serious.

  “Your parents think you still play football, and you can’t date anyone properly in case you fall in love with a man and have to come out to your parents?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “I agree, it’s complicated.”

  I wasn’t sure if he was going to part some words of wisdom that I needed to come clean to my parents, but my cellphone rang in that moment, pausing the conversation. My brother’s name flashed across the screen.

  “Hey, little bro, what’s up?”

  “Wren, um…can you come home?”

  I straightened my back at the sound of Troy’s quiet voice.

  “What happened? Are you okay?”

  “It’s Dad. He’s in the hospital, he had a heart attack.”

  I gripped my phone tight, trying to keep my reaction calm for my brother.

  “Is Dad…”

  “He’s in surgery at the moment. Mom didn’t want me to call you until Dad was out but… I’m sorry, Wren, I’m so scared.” My chest felt tight as I struggled to take in the fear in my little brother’s voice.

  Even though the sun was warm I felt cold all over. What if my dad didn’t make it?

  “It’ll be okay, Troy, Dad is strong. I’m going to get a flight out as soon as I can, okay?”

  “Thanks, Wren. Can
’t wait to see you.”

  “You too, little bro.”

  I nearly jumped when Aiden touched my arm.

  “What’s up?” he asked.

  “Looks like I’m going home sooner than I thought,” I said.

  3

  Tom

  “Good morning, Mrs. Harris. How did you get on with the easy peeler?”

  The sweet old lady had been a customer of Mason’s for years and wouldn’t trust any other retailer. Only a few days ago we’d spent an enormous amount of time going over the different vegetable peeling tools Mason’s sold to find one that would make it easy on her arthritis.

  “Oh, dear, it’s fantastic. I can go back to making my apple pie now that I don’t have any trouble peeling the apples. Speaking of which, I made one yesterday for Abi and Jonas.”

  Mrs. Harris placed a cake carrier on the countertop. How she’d even carried the thing all the way here with her walker, I didn’t know.

  “Thank you so much, Mrs. Harris. That’s really kind of you. I’ll put it out back for Abi.”

  “Tell her my thoughts and prayers are with her and poor Jonas. Let’s hope for a speedy recovery.”

  “I’ll make sure to tell her, Mrs. Harris.”

  She went to browse the store while I took the delicious-looking apple pie to the office where I’d stored the other cakes, pies, and food brought by the people of Chester Falls and loyal customers of Mason’s.

  I’d thought this stuff only happened in movies, but the evidence was in the overflowing staff fridge that had more food than the Masons could eat in one week. Considering Jonas had had a heart attack, I was certain Abi would intercept all the sugary treats anyway.

  Fortunately, the well-wishers stopped coming in by lunchtime, so I grabbed my lunch and sat on a high stool behind the checkout counter. We had a nice staff area at the back where I usually took my break, but since I was on my own, I didn’t want to close the store, and I was sure Abi wouldn’t mind if I was discreet enough.

  There were no customers in the store, so I took out the sandwich I’d prepared at home and the coffee Indy had put in a flask for me.

  The bitter but slightly sweet taste of Indy’s Brazilian coffee couldn’t have come at a better time. After the events of the day before, I was exhausted, but I also wanted to keep things going in the store for Abi, who was still with Jonas in the hospital.

  When we’d seen Jonas collapsed on the floor yesterday, somehow the first aid training I’d received at my old job at Clarence’s department store had kicked in and I’d asked Abi to call an ambulance while I’d checked on Jonas.

  He hadn’t been breathing when I’d kneeled next to him, so I’d started CPR. I’d had no time to feel nervous or unsure. My actions could have been the difference between Jonas’s life and death, and I hadn’t wanted to think of the possibility of the latter.

  The ambulance had arrived minutes later, but it had felt like hours when all my breaths and chest compressions hadn’t seemed like they were having any effect on Jonas.

  When the paramedics had used the defibrillator on Jonas’s chest, his body had finally responded. I don’t think I’d taken a breath until the medic had said they had a beat. Abi had clung onto me so tight our joined hands were white.

  As I couldn’t go with her in the ambulance, I’d offered to keep the store open and made her promise to keep me updated. I’d kept myself busy dusting shelves and restocking while I’d waited for news.

  The display window had remained untouched for the rest of the day, and I hadn’t felt I should plan anything before I knew Jonas was awake and in recovery. Knowing me, it would end up being more a sad window than a Pride, happy one.

  After waiting for news for the rest of the day, Abi had finally called in the morning to tell me Jonas had had emergency surgery on his heart. He wasn’t awake yet, but the surgery had been successful, and he was being monitored closely.

  Troy came in just as I finished my sandwich.

  “Hey, Troy, any news on your dad?”

  The kid looked tired but his smile told me he had good news.

  “Yeah, Dad woke up this morning. Mom said I could skip school today but asked me to come see if you were okay.”

  “Everything’s under control here. How’s she holding up?”

  “She’s okay now. It was bad yesterday, but now Dad’s awake she’s better,” he said, leaning against the counter.

  “There’s a load of food in the fridge, if you want to take some home with you.”

  Troy laughed. “Did Mrs. Perkins bring a cheesecake?”

  “I’m not sure which customer is Mrs. Perkins but there’s at least three cheesecakes. Who brings cheesecake to sick people?”

  “Right? When Mom hurt her back last year, they thought me and Dad would starve to death so everyone kept bringing food every day. We had to refuse and give some to the neighbors because we couldn’t eat it all.”

  “Well, in that case I might take some home with me tonight.”

  Troy nodded and went to the back office.

  I pulled out the notebook where I’d been sketching my ideas for the Pride window. Now more than ever I wanted Mason’s to win the Pride window competition, so I scanned over my notes and made some more.

  Troy came back minutes later holding a few containers of food.

  “Here,” I said, taking a Mason’s shopping bag from under the counter and giving it to Troy for the boxes.

  “Thanks. Oh, Wren is coming from California, so I guess he’ll be around to help a little while Mom is in the hospital with Dad.”

  I hadn’t met the elusive older son of the Masons’. Hadn’t even seen a photo. But if he had the same gentle manner the rest of the family had, I was sure I wouldn’t have any trouble working with him in the store.

  After closing up I distracted myself with the Pride window plans, and I didn’t leave until nearly nine o’clock. I saw Indy through the Spilled Beans’ windows as I walked past and wondered if he was up for sharing dinner.

  “We’re only open for broken hearts,” Indy said when the door bells gave my presence away. He didn’t even turn from where he was cleaning the coffee maker.

  “How about for a free dinner?”

  “Lock the door behind you and tell me what you’re offering.”

  “I’m not sure, you know. I think it’s some kind of casserole.”

  All the chairs were upside down on top of the tables, so I picked the table closest to the counter and pulled the chairs back down, using one to hang my burgundy suit jacket on. Today I’d kept my look simple. I wore jeans and a white shirt, all perfectly fitted, of course.

  I handed the casserole dish to Indy so he could reheat it in the oven and went behind the counter to fix us a drink.

  “Do you remember the first time I came here and took over your drinks?” I asked.

  Indy had given me a lecture about not stepping into his space. I’d sat and listened and had then asked him to try the cocktail I’d prepared for him.

  “That was before I knew you had magic hands.”

  I quirked an eyebrow, which he caught as he was coming out of the kitchen area.

  “I’m dead on my feet today so you’re having water, or whatever you have in the chiller,” I said.

  “Water is fine, thanks.”

  Indy sat down with a giant sigh and propped his legs up on a spare chair. I knew it was hard to be on my feet all day in the store, but the pace at Spilled Beans was relentless. I didn’t know how Indy did it, and always with a genuine smile.

  “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” he asked. “Not that I’m not thankful for the food and all.”

  He sat up and put his hand to his chest. “This is a broken-hearts visit, isn’t it? Tell me, who is he, and we’ll fix you right up.”

  “I really have no idea what you’re talking about, but now you’ve mentioned this broken-heart thing twice I need to know.”

  “Ah, it’s nothing. Sometimes people come here as I’m closin
g and they like to chat. It’s always about some kind of matter of the heart. I keep telling them I’m a barista not a therapista, but…” He shrugged.

  The oven dinged and Indy moved to get up, but I gestured for him to stay where he was. I plated the food and brought it out. My belly rumbled at the lovely smell, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since my sandwich earlier on.

  Indy released his dark-blue hair from the elastic band that kept it up while he worked and dug into the food.

  “Hmm, I love Momma Ruth’s casserole.”

  “How do you know who made it?”

  “Have you been to Benny’s yet?”

  I shook my head. Chester Falls wasn’t a big town, but it seemed there was still plenty I hadn’t seen.

  “You have to go there. Momma Ruth is the best cook in town. How did you get this if you didn’t go to Benny’s?”

  “People have been bringing food for Abi and Jonas all day. I’ve lost track of who brought what, but now you mention it, I remember a girl coming in wearing a yellow shirt with a badge that had the name Benny’s on it. All I kept thinking was how the color made her look washed out. She’s meant to be in bright-green clothes that complement her light complexion.”

  Indy looked at me, shaking his head and bringing his hands up to massage his scalp. His hair was long and wavy. It was a shame it lived constrained by the elastic band, but I couldn’t deny Indy rocked the man-bun look better than anyone I’d ever seen.

  “Trust you to do a fashion makeover in your head when someone’s handing you food.”

  “It’s in my blood. Can’t help it.”

  I looked out toward my store and imagined what it would be like to stay late making sure everything looked beautiful or doing the window display. No, it wasn’t my store. Yet. But I prayed to Coco and all the rainbow fairies out there, it would be one day.

  I gazed over to a poster on the wall I hadn’t seen before.

  “Oh, what’s that?”

  Indy followed my line of sight and then got up to go behind the counter, bringing back what looked like a smaller version of the poster.