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She shrugs. “Thanks, I guess.”
“So, what now?” she asks.
I clear my throat and settle my bag at the foot of her bed.
"Hey, hey, what are you doing?"
"I need to sleep in here tonight in case he drops by."
Her cheeks burn bright red. "No, not a chance." She points to the living room. “Couch.”
“Ok, fine,” I grumble, giving her a tiny wave as I leave the room. “But be ready in twenty minutes. It’s time for your pampering.”
***
Kennedy and I grab a snack at a cafe on the water as we wait for Brinn to finish at the spa. Surfers litter the ocean, bobbing up and down, waiting on the perfect wave. Kids line the beach, jumping in the waves and building sandcastles. It all looks so peaceful.
“She agreed?” Kennedy asks when our food arrives.
“Yes, thankfully. I still can’t believe Trevor would stoop to this level.”
“You could be wrong about this,” he points out.
“Maybe, but I wouldn’t put it past him.”
Trevor and I were close growing up. Having only one cousin each, we didn’t have a choice. There was no one else to play with at family gatherings. So, we naturally gravitated to each other.
We had fun together. Our favorite game was emulating the family business. We took turns in different roles. One of us would be a movie star or professional athlete and the other a security guard. We loved stuffing our clothes with towels to make it look like we had muscles. Then we’d put on black clothing and sunglasses to complete the look.
But, when we got into high school things changed, got more competitive. We both tried out to be the starting quarterback on the varsity football team. Growing up in our family, we knew being a leader was crucial. What better way to show everyone we were leaders than to be the quarterback?
I got the job. Trevor was my backup for two years. He hated every second of it, but his father wouldn’t let him quit. He watched while I got all the attention, earning all-conference honors my senior year.
Once I left for the military, we stopped communicating altogether. He came back to Seaside Bay after college, hoping to garner favor from Grandpa by working in the Shieldify office. I give him credit, he has put in the time. But he’s also made big mistakes.
Kennedy has connections all over our town and knows all about his gambling issues. Trevor gets into a deeper and deeper hole every year. With a baby coming, I’m sure he’ll take even more risks.
I’m thankful for the silence as we eat, a break from all this talk about Trevor. As our waitress clears our plates, Kennedy sees a group of tables with chess boards on the other side of the deck. “Care for a game like old times?”
My parents worked long hours growing up. They always gave me their love, but couldn’t always give me their time. It was ok because Kennedy was always there. He taught me to play chess when I was eight years old. We played several times a week all the way through high school.
I put my arm around him. “Sure. I’ll try to take it easy on you, old man.”
The chessboard sits between us, a battlefield of black and white squares. Each move is a calculated strategy. Kennedy studies the board with a keen eye, contemplating his next action. The pieces are poised for a dance of intellect. The quiet hum of concentration envelops us.
The familiar click of the clock punctuates our silent duel, measuring the passing moments. As the game progresses, Kennedy breaks the silence, his gaze unwavering.
"You know, you seem distracted," he remarks, eyes never leaving the board.
"Distracted? I'm locked in on our game."
"Not in our game, Jackson. With everything going on. Your grandfather’s retirement, Trevor, Brinn…”
I make a move, my bishop gracefully gliding across the board to capture his knight.
He arches an eyebrow, obviously unaware the move was coming.
“Brinn? What do you mean?”
