Page 16 of Judging Duke

“One day you’ll have to explain it to me. What did you want anyway?”

“What makes you think I want anything? Can’t I call my sister for a chat?”

“Pfft. That almost never happens. Usually you want an update on the Fletcher family. I don’t know why you don’t reach out to Robbie either. I know it’s been a long time, but let bygones be just that.”

One of the reasons I didn’t go home was because of Robbie. If he knew I was home, he’d want to see me, but the guilt and shame I felt about the night of the accident kept me away.

Realising I did only call when I wanted something, I made small talk.

“How are things at the restaurant?” My parents had moved away from the pub and opened a place in Chester, by the river. It was popular and busy. Isla had taken on the role of manager, a position she was born to do. The customers loved her, as did the staff.

“It’s going well. Race day soon and you know we’re always busy then. Why don’t you come? We could do with the help, and I’m sure you’d get a free meal thrown in.”

“I might just do that.” Race season was almost over, but there was one meet left. Lately I’d been thinking more about what I’d left behind, old memories surfacing. Not all good ones.

“Let me know. Mum and Dad would really love to see you again, and even though you’re an annoying little shit, I’d be happy too.”

Isla was older than me, but not by much, and we’d been close when we were younger. The years I’d spent away had driven a wedge between us, but bit by bit, I was trying to repair what we had.

“So, what did you really call for?”

“Simon Fletcher. What do you know about him?”

“See, I knew there was a reason.” She tutted but continued. “I don’t know much. He kind of disappeared, much like you did. I heard he’d got into indie movies, but I do wonder how much of that is true. Robbie has been getting some pretty expensive treatment, from what I hear.”

“That fits with what I know.”

“What do you know? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Simon turned up at the spa yesterday.”

“Fuck, Duke. Has he seen you?”

“No, thank God. I’ve managed to avoid him. But what I did find out was that he’s an award-winning porn star.”

Her intake of breath was audible. “No fucking way!”

“The best of it, he’s a gay porn star. I’ve seen the evidence.”

“How did you find out?”

“One of the porters here said he recognised him. Insisted on sharing one of his videos with us all.”

“Did you watch? I know you always had a thing for Simon.”

“Did not.”

“Did fucking too, Duke. You idolised him. If I didn’t know better, I’d say that was the only reason you were friends with Robbie.”

“You know that’s not true. Robbie was my best friend,” I whispered.

“I know, I’m sorry, but you can’t deny you had a thing for him.”

I said nothing. She knew I had. At one time, we told each other everything. When had that stopped?

Oh, yeah. When I’d left them all with nothing but a note. It was a wonder she spoke to me at all.

“Anyway,” I said, wanting to change the subject.

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