Page 54 of Puck Love
“That’s me. Don’t forget it,” Trinsky teased, tugging the bill of Eddie’s ball cap playfully.
Eddie scowled and began speaking with his hands. I didn’t mind. It gave me a chance to study the brothers.
Huh. Trinsky had never mentioned that his brother had Down syndrome. His charity wasn’t specific to kids with Down syndrome. Or maybe I hadn’t read the info blurb carefully.
Eddie was a solid foot shorter than Trinsky with straight brown hair, apple-round cheeks, and a big, gracious smile that made his blues sparkle mischievously. Okay, so maybe they didn’t look alike, but I’d bet they had a mischievous streak in common. I was intrigued on so many levels. Less than two minutes in their presence, I could tell the brothers were close. Trinsky kept a hand on Eddie’s shoulder, leaning into him protectively.
Not that Eddie seemed timid. At all. He rolled his eyes as he spoke with his hands. I didn’t understand the language, but I was pretty sure he was teasing Trinsky. Yeah, I liked this kid.
“S-sorry. I didn’t mean to be r-rude.” Eddie grinned and continued in a fast-paced yet stilted manner of speech. Some words were crystal clear, others difficult to make out. “I told Mase that I’ve seen y-you on TV. And at two games when your team p-played Denver. You’re good. Not as good as Mason, but he’s my brother and I have to s-say that.”
I snickered at Trinsky’s faux growl. “Understood. Are you on your way to the beach?”
“Gee, Captain Obvious, how’d you know?” Trinsky teased, pouring on the sarcasm.
“Bite me.”
He smiled, a saucy, lopsided smile meant just for me. “Meet us out there. I left you a suit in the courtyard in case you didn’t bring one. It’s private…no one will see your kibble and bits.”
Eddie giggled. “I’m sorry about Mason. He has a naughty vo-vo-vocabulary.”
“I remember. Hey, I didn’t mean to crash your party. Are you sure you don’t mind?” I asked, stepping off the curb to make room for a little kid on a scooter.
“The beach is for everyone, Milligan. Join the party. But put the suit on and be prepared to do some competitive body surfing. Fair warning: Eddie always wins. He owns this beach.”
“That is a fact,” Eddie agreed solemnly, fussing with his glasses.
“So you’re gonna lose, and we got rules about that. What do we say, Eddie?”
“No crying in surfing.” Eddie held up a single digit, adding, “Or body surfing.”
“I can do that. And I’m pretty sure I’ll come in second place.”
Eddie gasped in delight and set a hand over his mouth.
“Oh, it’s on, Jakey. It’s on.” Trinsky narrowed his eyes theatrically and motioned for Eddie to follow him.
I hadn’t brought a suit as I’d assumed we’d spend the afternoon naked in bed, but this was cool. It might have been better if Trinsky’s navy striped trunks fit me, though. I tightened the drawstring as much as possible and trudged to the beach where Trinsky and Eddie were frolicking in the waves.
“He found us,” Trinsky called, emerging from the ocean like Triton or some kind of sea god.
“Are you ready to play?” Eddie held up his hand and squinted. He left his glasses on a striped towel nearby, and I got the feeling he really needed those to see properly.
“Hang on. We should give Jake a chance to warm up. He hasn’t been in the water yet.”
Eddie nodded, plucking at his neon rash guard. “And he needs to look out for jellyfish. We see them sometimes.”
“True. Okay, in competition, we take turns. Since there are three of us, we go two at a time and the man out judges,” Trinsky explained. “Yo, Ed. Do you want to rest or do you want to get more practice in with Jake and me?”
Eddie dried his face with the towel and put his glasses on. “You go. Tell me w-when you are ready.”
I followed Trinsky to the water’s edge and dipped my toes in, wincing as a cold wave nipped at my ankles. “Shit, it’s cold.”
“Only at first. Jump in. It’s not so bad.”
“I don’t trust you. This is retribution for the water temp at the swimming hole, isn’t it?”
“How’d you know?” He chuckled, wading in deeper and diving under an incoming swell. “Get out here, Milligan. You can’t catch waves from the shore!”