Rivals by Jeff Adams-4
878 Words
Alex and I grabbed lunch after the pickup game and then I headed home. I was grateful my parent’s car was gone. Even though I hadn’t technically lived at home for a couple years, I’d still have to answer to some extent for staying out all night without more than a text to Trevor.
Trevor’s door was open at the top of the stairs and he was sprawled on his bed, laying on his back, talking on the phone. I waved as I passed and he held up a finger to get me to wait.
“Julie, Mitchell just got back,” he said. “I’ll see you tonight. Picking you up at 7:30, right?” He paused and I heard a faint female voice on the other end. “Yeah, I’ll see if I can snag him before he goes back tomorrow. Brunch maybe.” Another pause. “I’ll have it sorted by the time I see you. Love you.”
He keyed off and stuffed the phone in his pocket.
“You didn’t have to hang up,” I said. “I was just saying hi.”
“Naw, it’s good. She knew I was waiting for you to get back anyway. She wants to know if you’ll come to brunch tomorrow. She’d like to meet you since you’re the only family she hasn’t met yet.”
“Well, I…” I felt bad for what I was about to say. I was supposed to be here seeing family, not spending it with someone I’d just reconnected with.
“…told Alex you’d see him before you flew home?” Trevor finished for me.
My brother knew me too well.
“Sorry. I’ll tell him I need to do some family stuff. You’ve talked so much about Julie, I’d love to meet her.”
“Bring him along.”
“A double date with my little brother? Hmmm. Okay. I’ll see if he’s into that.”
“I promise I’ll be on good behavior.” He sat up, cross-legged on the bed.
“Of everyone in the family, you’re the one I’m the least worried about embarrassing me. I have a greater chance of saying something stupid in front of Julie.”
“True,” he said, giving me a smirk.
I grabbed one of the pillows off the bed and smacked him in the face. He grabbed it before I could swing it another time and ended up taking it from me. He sprang up, stood on his bed and started pummeling me in the head. I grabbed another pillow and worked to block his attack. I wanted to jump up on the bed, but I also didn’t want to break it. He’d had this bed forever and I wasn’t sure what two adult-sized people jumping on it might do to it. We didn’t pillow battle long before we both collapsed on the bed in giggles.
“We haven’t done that in ages,” I said as we both maneuvered into sitting positions on the bed. “Good thing mom wasn’t here. I still don’t think she’d appreciate our roughhousing.”
“She never did, even when it was outside. At least dad always recognized a good natured brawl when he saw one.”
I nodded in agreement. “Very true. Hell, he usually egged us on.”
“You really like him, don’t you?” Trevor asked, pulling the conversation in a different direction.
“Yeah. I think I really do,” I said without hesitation. “I feel like I’ve known Alex forever, which in some ways I have, I guess. Last night was so comfortable. I’ve never had a date that was easy going, yet exciting at the same time.”
Trevor smiled, and it didn’t look like one of his sarcastic ones either. He was a good guy, but he did like to pull my chain sometimes.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said, somewhat defensively. “Seriously, I’m glad last night was good. You’ve never sounded thrilled with anyone you’ve dated. It’s good to hear you so positive.”
“Except we live a couple thousand miles apart.”
“Move back?”
I knew he’d say that. He wasn’t happy when I moved west. He knew it was a great opportunity for me. He had designs on staying in the area and becoming an English teacher and was hoping I’d stay around and maybe work with one of the local sports teams.
I sighed. “I have to admit I’ve thought about it in the past twelve hours. Don’t get me wrong, I like Cali and my job, but it might be worth giving up to see what can work here. With him.”
“So come with Julie and me tomorrow. He already sorta knows me since we’ve seen each other at the rink. Julie doesn’t bite, except when appropriate.” He winked and I saw a distinct glint in his eye. “And you can see how he is around other people just hanging out. He certainly fit in the game today.”
“Okay, first, TMI, bro. You don’t hear me talking about what I was doing last night.” I popped him again with a pillow. “You’re right, it went well with the guys today. I’ll call him and see if he’s up for it.”
The garage door opened, meaning that mom and dad were home, no doubt laden with bags since mom had surely been out looking for Christmas bargains.
“Were mom and dad pissed when I didn’t come home last night?” I asked, curious about what grilling I might get.
“Don’t think so. They knew you were going out for coffee. I told them this morning that you stayed over and we were all meeting for the game. Dad never looked up from his reading. Mom had a slight smile. I think all you’ll get is grilled for details since I didn’t offer any. Speaking of, do I get details?”
“Haven’t I told you enough?”
“I guess,” he sounded exasperated.
“Mitchell, you’re back,” came mom’s voice from downstairs. “Come talk to us.”
“I’ll come down in about five minutes to see if you need to be rescued,” Trevor said.
“Thanks.”
I extended my fist and he bumped it before I left the room to face the parents and, most likely, discuss my maybe boyfriend.
- Writer
