First and Only

by Olivia Howe

  “One year too long, Jack.” Adam looks so blissful around his family—he’s always been that way.

  “How’s the ol’ training going? That last knockout was badass. You showed Clint Withroll who’s boss.” Jack sips his beer. “Is that why you never come to Massachusetts to see me? Too caught up with being a famous asshole?”

  “Being undefeated doesn’t just get handed over to me. I gotta work at it every day. I’ll have to make a weekend out of coming to see you soon.” Adam smirks and grabs a beer from the kitchen.

  “You’ll be undefeated until you step into the ring with me,” Jack says sarcastically.

  “Is that a bet?” Oh, these boys and their bets. “You really wanna step into the ring with an undefeated boxer?”

  “What are you like 190? Let’s do it.”

  “Okay, amateurs, let me get in on this,” calls a voice from afar as the oldest Wilson brother walks toward us.

  “Kurt, it’s been a while, brother.” Adam and Kurt hug, patting each other on the back.

  “How you been? I’ve seen a few of your fights on TV, but my business is taking over my life,” Kurt says, his voice deep and masculine. At six feet tall, he towers over me.

  “How’s your brokerage firm doing?”

  “Best in Atlantic City, baby!”

  Ivy looks at me. “Too much testosterone. Let’s go find Mom. She’s going to be so happy to see you.”

  I follow her into the backyard where the rest of the family is hanging out. There’s a fire going next to three large tables filled with food and booze. No wonder no one is inside!

  The sun peeks through an oak tree, forcing me to squint my eyes. Its leaves are starting to change colors into brilliant red, soft yellow, and neon orange. It’s a marvelous sight to behold.

  Adam snaps his fingers in front of my face. “Mandi, are you still with us?”

  I playfully slap his arm away. “No… I’m hopping a plane to Pluto.”

  He smirks, causing his dimples to pop out just a tiny bit. “Have you seen my mom yet?”

  I shake my head. “Not yet.”

  Just then, Mrs. W. sneaks up from behind us. “My Adam. Look at you.” She grabs his arms and examines her not so little boy. Her long blonde hair drifts down her back and out of her face, showing her beautiful bright features. She’s wearing a colorful, flowy shirt with jeans and knee-high boots. She’s always had great style, but it’s even better now.

  “It’s always nice to see your beautiful face, Mom. You look amazing, like always” He kisses her gently on her forehead as her cheekbones rise. They both look over at me. “You remember Mandi, don’t you?”

  She gasps. “Of course I do. I couldn’t forget a sweet face like that. How are you?” She squeezes me tight with her motherly hug.

  “I’m great, Mrs. Wilson. You have a lovely home. I hope you don’t mind me being here.” I bite my lip, waiting for her response as I continue to hug her. I didn’t realize how much I missed her until now.

  She lets go and stares at me. “You are always welcome here, sweetheart,” she says and then looks at Adam. “Oh my, you remember, back when you two were in high school, I think it was Ivy’s birthday party? Well, anyway, Adam shoved cake in your face, Mandi, and you looked at him, stunned. You weren’t expecting it at all. We all stared at you for a few minutes and your expression never changed. And then, out of nowhere, you picked up your piece of birthday cake and shoved it in Adam’s face. No one was expecting it. It was the funniest moment I can remember. Ivy was laughing so hard and didn’t stop for hours, it seemed.”

  “I remember that clear as day.” I look at Adam with one eyebrow raised. “I spent a few hours on my hair and makeup and Adam ruined it in seconds.”

  Adam covers his smirk with his hand. “About that… Have I ever apologized? If not, I’m apologizing now.” A ripple of laughter floats through the air. It’s so nice to be back around the Wilson family.

  Mrs. W. hugs me again, rubbing my arms when she’s done. “This family has missed you so much. It’s such a surprise to have you here. I’m so happy you came.” She looks up at Adam. “Now, you two go get something to eat. The annual football game is about to start. The boys have been patiently waiting for you to arrive.”

  We both nod and go over to the three tables that are loaded with steak, potatoes, hotdogs, hamburgers, fries, and more. Mrs. W. was always a damn good cook and did a lot of it, with a family of three boys and a girl. I dig in, going for the fruit and a hamburger first. I spot the beer and pop it open then find an empty seat at the picnic table. Adam sits across from me with food piled onto his plate.

  “My mom was right.”

  “About?” Confused, I wait for a response.

  “No one can forget a beautiful face like yours.”

  I must be blushing. I get awkward when I receive compliments—especially from Adam Wilson. “Thank you.”

  “You’re blushing.”

  I blush more. “Thanks for pointing that out.”

  A football comes flying past my face out of nowhere. Adam has fast reflexes because he catches it. “What the hell, Jack? You’re lucky I caught that.”

  “Let’s play. We’re all waiting on you, like always.”

  Adam throws the football back at his brother. “You can wait for two more minutes, prick.” Jack laughs hysterically at his brother’s spiteful words. “He’s so annoying.”

  I laugh. “You love him.”

  Adam hurries to eat, washing it down with a beer. “I better get out there and show him how to play football.” His laugh sends a grin to my face. It’s such a beautiful sound.

  “I’ll be your cheerleader.”

  He winks at me before making his way to the grass. Adam huddles up with his team and Jack does the same—pumping their teams up by hollering and patting them on the back.

  Adam has the ball first. They all line up, getting ready to get as far down the field as they can—hoping for a touchdown. I know Adam wants to get one so he can rub it in his brother’s face. I hope he does, just so I can see Jack’s reaction.

  The ball is in one of Adam’s cousin’s hands. I haven’t met him yet. He’s getting ready to throw it, so Adam’s in the end zone ready to catch it. The ball leaves the quarterback’s hands and flies swiftly through the air. Adam watches intently, moving in the direction to catch it.

  “Touchdown!”

  “Now that’s how you play football!” Adam shouts in Jack’s face as he shakes his head. Adam’s team huddles together—still screaming.

  Adam looks at me and points. I clap my hands and shout, “Woo-hoo!”

  ***

  I spend most of the time at the reunion picnic talking with Serena and Ivy. We talk about my time in college and my decision to move to Chicago. Serena believes it is fate that brought us back together in the same town.

  “How are you parents, Mandi?”

  “They’re doing pretty well. I don’t talk with them much,” I admit.

  “Why not, sweetheart?” Serena looks sad by my comment.

  “Ever since they moved to Maine, we’ve been so distant with one another. When I call, Mom and Dad are usually busy or I catch them at a bad time. When they call me, it’s usually brief. They just ask how I’m doing and the usual small talk. I think they’re still mad that I didn’t stay in college longer, or become a doctor or something.”

  “Your mom was always strict with you about school,” Serena says, still remembering when my mom made me be home before the sun went down to finish my homework and get ready for bed—making sure I got a solid eight hours of sleep.

  “I know she’s proud of me, but she would’ve been prouder if I became a doctor or lawyer, something successful.”

  “It sounds to me like you’re doing well for yourself. Be proud.”

  The men play football pretty much the whole afternoon. Adam’s team wins, so Jack sulks and acts like an ass. He doesn’t take losing lightly.

  I don’t know why I was so worried that Adam’s
family would think I was a burden to their reunion. They all seem to be fond of me, joking around and talking with me.

  Adam takes me home although I told him he didn’t have to—I could have taken a cab, but he insists.

  “This is me,” I say, breaking the silence.

  “This is you,” he says back sarcastically. I slap his arm playfully and open the car door. He shadows me, walking me to my front steps. “Thank you for coming today. I don’t think I would’ve had fun without you.”

  “I had a really nice time.”

  There’s a moment where we just stare into each other’s eyes. You would think it would be awkward, but it is far from it. Gazing into his eyes, I’m taken back to high school and feel like a teenager again. I would’ve died for a moment like this with Adam Wilson. There was always a connection between us and I know we both felt it. We’ve always gotten along so well and spent so much time with each other back in the old days. Why was he with Clarissa? Why was I with James? In this moment, I want him to kiss me.

  He clears his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. Can I do that for him? I wonder. “We should do something like this again sometime,” he says. “I miss the old days.”

  I feel like a teenager.

  “Definitely.”

  “See you soon, Mandi.”

  “See you soon, Adam.”

  CHAPTER 3

  OAK STREET BEACH IS BEAUTIFUL this time of year. Tourists eat this place up. The view is undeniably gorgeous. In front of me is the flat expanse of Lake Michigan. Surrounding the waterfront are tall skyscrapers. At night there is a beautiful view of the Drake and then twinkling lights up Lakeshore Drive.

  Walking is my favorite thing to do in the Windy City. It helps clear my mind and I find stress floats away when I head over to the Lakefront Trail and up to the little sandy beach.

  Kids run around there, chasing each other, while parents relax on benches and sip lattes or read the paper. I even take off my shoes and dig my feet into the chilly sand, barefoot. It’s brisk, but I love the open space during the cool weather. I think about the famous Adam Wilson being in Chicago. Even though I haven’t seen him in so long, the conversation between us flowed so freely. It was like rewinding to high school again.

  I wonder if he’s married or if he has any kids. I never asked those questions the night I saw him. I was too caught up in the moment. There still so much I don’t know about where he’s been and what happened when we parted ways.

  I remember back to when we used to hang out outside West Ashley High School in Charleston, home of the Wildcats. Football games were raucous and popular. If you were anyone, you went to the Wildcats’ football games, especially if they were home events. But Adam and I, we never watched the game. We just went to socialize with our friends and to lend moral support for my boyfriend, James, who played on the team. Adam was popular for a lot of reasons. I was popular because I was dating a football star and because I was best friends with Adam and Clarissa, the most loved couple in our class. Everyone wanted what they had. Well, what we thought they had.

  Sometimes I would overhear girls gossiping around school about me and Adam. They thought we were having an “affair” or something, because Adam and I were best friends. Adam and I only laughed when we heard people make those accusations.

  But James and Clarissa weren’t impressed. I know they were both jealous but never admitted it. James always told me that I hung out with Adam too much and got pissed off at me a lot. He would try to say something to Adam and me, but we both told him he was overreacting, that we were only friends. Clarissa, with her snotty attitude, always had something to say about the situation. Fortunately, over time, they both gave up and realized that Adam and I were only just friends.

  As much as I know Clarissa had an attitude problem, she was always there for me through thick and thin, bad and good. I could always count on her to be by my side if I was in the right or wrong. She was always there when I needed a shoulder to cry on. Yes, she needs an attitude adjustment, but no matter what, she’ll always be my friend, no matter how far away we live from each other.

  But I always thought there was a connection between Adam and me. Not because we hung out a lot, but because we both loved almost all the same things. Yes, I have always loved chick flicks and he loved action, but mostly the same things we loved—video games, French fries with chocolate ice cream, cookies-and-cream chocolate bars, plus we were both addicted to strawberry and banana smoothies. I don’t ever remember not having a twinkle in my eyes while I was with him. We never acted on it, whatever it was, if it even was something at all. For us, it was strictly friendship. That’s it.

  I wonder how he felt about me back then. Did he have any of the same feelings? If James and Clarissa hadn’t been in the picture, would he and I have been together?

  I remember when I first set eyes on Adam. Clarissa and I had gone to the movies with a girl named Haley. Haley was popular—very popular. She was friends with these two other sophomores, Adam and James, and invited them to come along with us. We showed up at the movies, and Haley had picked a horror film that was scary as hell. I hate scary movies; always have, and always will.

  James sat next to me. Adam sat next to Clarissa. Haley did this on purpose. She always loved playing cupid. Why couldn’t it be the other way around? That’s because Haley probably thought they were a match made in heaven. She always thought she was right, and her charm and bubbly personality made her hard to say no to.

  After that night, Adam and Clarissa started dating, and James and I started dating, too.

  I loved James, I really did. I loved his big brown eyes and the way he said my name when he was mad. But as time went on, I saw something in Adam that I never found in James. Adam was polite. He always really listened to everything I had to say and knew exactly how to make me feel better about myself. Adam never cared what anyone thought about him, even though most everyone thought he was great. There’s not anything not to like about him. He has values and wanted so desperately to accomplish something as a fighter. We had chemistry that was undeniable.

  I wasn’t always attracted to Adam, I know that. At first, I was all about James. He was my high school sweetheart, after all.

  Once we were juniors in high school, we found ourselves hanging out, studying together a lot, and often double-dating. Adam and I were officially best friends then. One night, Adam and I were alone at his house when James and Clarissa had both ditched us for other friends. Clarissa had gone to a party with Haley and James had some football thing.

  So Adam and I hung out, and it was awkward at first, but then we got to talking about life and our goals for the future. Mrs. W. cooked us dinner, which felt very… normal and right. Ivy was young then. She loved hanging out with the older kids and usually talked my ear off whenever I was over. After we ate, Adam and I played video games and continued doing that together all through high school. We had an amazing night. That’s when I started to fall for him, I think. He became the person I most wanted to be around, not my boyfriend James.

  My phone chimes and I open the text message.

  Hey. It’s Adam. What are you doing right now?

  How in the world did he get my number? I didn’t give it to him… I know I didn’t. That I would’ve remembered…

  How’d you get my number? LOL.

  My phone chimes again. Butterflies swarm my stomach, the warm kind.

  It’s a secret. What are you doing right at this moment?

  Why does he want to know? I’m actually surprised to hear from him.

  Walking on Oak Street Beach.

  I wait for Adam to reply, but no texts come in. Okay…, I think. That was very weird. He asks me what I’m doing and when I tell him, he doesn’t text me back. I want to know how he even got my phone number. It’s not like it’s in the phone book or anything.

  Thirty minutes pass, and I take a seat on a bench overlooking the lake. I could stay here forever, but I have to get home at some point to feed my
cats.

  A hand brushes my shoulder and I jump up out of the seat. Shock fills my face and my stomach drops at who I see.

  “You were always such a scaredy cat.”

  “Was not…”

  “Mandi, admit it. You never liked scary movies. You hated Halloween. Should I go on?” Adam sits on the bench and gestures for me to join him. “I’m not a monster and don’t bite!”

  “Ha-ha. Very funny, Adam.”

  “Is this what you do with your free time?” He looks out at the lake. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Yes, I have no life.”

  “No friends?” Adam asks.

  “One friend.” I peek up at him.. “I’m not the outgoing type, remember. I was always the shy one back in high school. I only hung out with you, James, and Clarissa. You know that about me.”

  “Yes, you are. You’ve always been the sweetest person.” He scans the horizon in front of us.

  “Not so much anymore. I’m still sweet, yes, but I don’t like interacting with people anymore.”

  “And why is that?”

  “I’m a loner. I like to be alone,” I point out.

  “You’re with me now.”

  “I didn’t have much of a choice.” I look at him and wink.

  “Why didn’t you ever marry?” he asks. His question feels like he has quickly ripped wax off my skin.

  “I haven’t found the right guy. Except for my two adorable cat guys, I guess.” He looks at me with his eyebrow raised. “Yes, I grew up to be a crazy cat lady.”

  “You said it, not me.”

  I giggle and then want to ask him something serious. “Where have you been for ten years?”

  Adam runs his fingers through his short, curly brown hair. “I’ve been working on my career non-stop. My trainer always has me doing intense training, mental and physical, plus exhibition fights lined up to keep me primed. We travel a lot. I’ve never wanted something so much in my life. Being in the ring is like a drug. I’m not kidding. It’s the best feeling ever and addicting.”