Page 50 of The Rival (Looking to Score 2)
How’s everything going?
I throw on a clean T-shirt while I wait for her to reply.
Hey. Just fine. I found a paddleboard in the shed, so I gave it a try today.
Yeah? I type back. Sounds like fun.
It wasn’t. Total disaster. She adds a crying emoji face.
Uh-oh. I wonder what happened, but I don’t have to wait long, because Aspen’s next message appears.
I got to experience that freezing cold water again.
Fun, I type back with a chuckle.
How’s hockey camp? she replies.
Good. I’m done for the day. Going to meet my sister and nephew now.
Have fun!
Will do, I text her. Then I pocket my phone and gather up my keys and wallet.
I can’t help but think how easy it is with Aspen.
• • •
“Uncle Alex,” Jaxon calls out when he spots me.
We decided to meet at a go-kart track near my hotel, and I’ve just parked my car when I spot them on the sidewalk near the entrance. I jog the last few paces and lift my nephew into my arms.
Surprised, I say, “You got taller.”
“Yup,” he says proudly.
I greet Nelle with a kiss on her cheek.
“You look well,” she says, giving my shoulder a playful punch.
“Thanks. So do you. How’s life?”
Nelle fills me in on the latest drama with the teachers union she’s a member of as I lead them both inside, where we grab a table and purchase some tickets for the arcade. Then Jaxon disappears into a maze of arcade games, and we follow, Nelle watching him closely.
We stand back while Jaxon feeds a ticket into a game of Skee-Ball and begins tossing the balls at the target.
“How’s your summer been?” Nelle says, straightening the bill of my baseball cap. “Staying out of trouble?”
“Yes, Mom.” I roll my eyes. “It’s been really chill. I’ve actually been hanging out with a girl named Aspen.”
Nelle’s smile widens. “That’s interesting. Is she similar to Eden?”
I snort. Aspen is basically Eden’s complete opposite. “Not at all.”
Eden had trouble giving up control in most things. She had a spreadsheet for every occasion. Even letting me cook was like some big ordeal. I didn’t chop the tomatoes the way she liked, or my garlic wasn’t minced fine enough. Whereas Aspen just lets me do my thing and appreciates it.
“Maybe that’s a good thing,” Nelle says, making a pleased sound, but I don’t respond.
I have no idea what the hell I was thinking telling Nelle about Aspen. Aspen and I are a very temporary thing. Someone fun to distract myself with this summer. And Nelle isn’t likely to forget that I brought her up. With my luck, she’ll be asking me about bringing Aspen home for Christmas. And by Christmas, we’ll be long over. We’ll be back to hockey player and assistant.
What was I thinking even bringing her up?
“It’s not a big deal,” I say. “She’s just a friend.”
Nelle’s expression softens, her smile growing. “Okay. If you say so.”
“I’m serious, Nelle.” My tone holds a warning, but my sister just smiles. “Don’t think too much into it.”
I don’t bother explaining that Aspen and I are both coming off breakups, and that this is a rebound. I’m pretty sure there’s a law against nature about explaining to your sibling that Aspen and I have mutually agreed to blow off steam by hooking up this summer.
The only reason I brought it up is because I’d feel weird not telling anyone about Aspen. She’s who I’ve been spending all my time with, after all.
“Let’s go drive some go-karts before we have dinner. You game?” I ask.
Nelle calls out to Jaxon, and he leads the way.
After a couple of laps around the track and a slice of pizza, Jaxon finishes his game and jogs over to where we’re standing by the windows. “I lost. Twice,” he says glumly.
“You know how many times I’ve lost in my life?”
He shakes his head.
“Lots.” I hoist him up onto my shoulders. “So, don’t sweat it, kid. Losing makes you hungry.”
“But we just ate,” he says in protest.
I chuckle. “Not hungry for food, little man. Hungry for more, for competition. Hungry to improve. And win.”
“Oh,” Jaxon says in a knowing tone.
Nelle gives me a look. “We’d better get going.” She’s always been pretty strict, and I have a feeling by the time they make the drive home, it’ll be long past Jaxon’s bedtime.
I walk them out into the parking lot and over to where Nelle’s parked. “Pick out the SUV you want, and text me,” I tell her.
She rolls her eyes. “The van’s still got some life in it.”
“Not for you, it doesn’t. I’m buying you the SUV.” Last Thanksgiving, she admitted to me she liked the look of the new SUV model when I pestered her about the minivan starting to show its age.
“You want the one with the built-in screens to watch movies, right, Jax?” I say, setting him on his feet beside the minivan, and he cheers.
