The End Game (Thron series Book 1)

by S. Tron

  I look inside the box, all our memories‏.

  ‏"I stayed at home, I took care of our babies, I still do, now I want to study. when you said you want to do your master's degree I stood by you, now you're telling me, you can't be with the children two nights a week‏?"

  ‏"I'm sorry, I want to, I just can't, it's not easy for me like it is for you, I don't know them‏"

  ‏"Do you even try to know them? You come home, and your head is still at work‏!"

  ‏"It's not like you make it any easier‏!"

  I close the box, wishing I could put my heart there too, put it back in place, just above the other box with my Lingerie I bought for him. "I could never wear them for another man‏."

  A knock on the door breaks the silence, "come in" Sam shouts, he and Matty go out of the room, the same time mum and I come from mine. Matty is wearing only her shirt; Sam is right behind her. "Now‏ת‏ now missy, where are your pants?" I ask her‏.

  ‏"Mummy potty‏!"

  ‏"Well done, baby! Let's get you dressed‏!"

  ‏ my brother at the door "everyone's waiting outside, the taxi is here‏"

  ‏"Ok give me one minute" I rushed to help Matty, put the last of my stuff in, close the suitcase and give my hand to her, we walk together outside, I hug everyone, I give my mum a big hug with reminders, everything she needs to know for a week with the children. It's silly because they sleep there sometimes and she knows them very well, but I think it's more for me than her‏.

  Last, I kneel to my babies, Sam gives me a big hug around the neck "I got this mum" he says, and I laugh, it's the first time I'm leaving them since their father died. He is stronger than me right now. Matty, on the other hand, holding herself from crying, I see it in her eyes, she closed fists and closed mouth‏.

  ‏"Come here baby girl; it's only for a week before you notice I'll be back, you have all our family around you, I'll be back in no time" a tear rolls down her face, I kiss her and wipe the tears away. "You know, both of you, you are my everything, I love you" my mum picks her up, I give them more kisses and get in the car, holding my tears at bay‏.

  ‏6. Andrew

  ‏"So as I was telling you it's a week, you need to do your best to make it happen," Marcus says in his gravelly voice‏.

  I think before I answer him "Jude is going to be here in a few hours, I need to see if she is capable of winning a gold medal, in a week, also to be all fun and games so she will want to stay?" I want to kill him‏.

  Marcus was the best trainer in history, he never ran, just knew how to help me be the best, he knows me better than my parents, Marcus is my best friend, so how come now he asks me to do that? He knows I can't be fun and games, he knows all I see is end game, a woman in that age is a no brainer, Jude had one lucky shot, did it, and that is it, nobody in his right mind will take a runner in that age, he would not. That's for sure‏.

  ‏"Yes, it is also your reputation on the line, you stop running, stopped training runners, you think you can choose your next great thing? Let me tell you something Andrew, you are a pain in my ass; I tried to pick you up, gave you the best runners, you screwed it up, time and again, now is your last chance to gain some respect, by being a trainer, you have to make it happen! I met this woman, yes she is over age, she is never done it before, but she got what takes to be great, I see it in her what I saw it in you, that's why you are the right man to train her. With the proper training, Jude can do it! Not only 10,000m but also 5000m without a sweat, so get your head out of your ass, start working on a training program, remember it needs to fit the schedule we send you‏".

  I don't know what made me so irritated in his monologue, the fact that he is right about me, my missed opportunities or, the way he spoke about her‏.

  ‏"Are you getting something out of it? You push me hard enough to make me wonder.‏"

  I say with venom. Marcuse looks angry, "I will let that one slide, be careful in that tone boy, or, I will pass her to a different trainer.‏"

  That only makes me furious; I shut my mouth from the fear of losing her. Why I keep going there, and to question Marcus motives?! It is probably because I know I need this chance. I don't even know that woman, already terrified of losing her. I'm afraid of losing my chance, that's all‏.

  ‏"I'm sorry Marcus, I have nothing but respect for you, and Michael, you both looked after me like I was your own, still do‏"

  ‏"I know" is all he says, getting up and buttoning his jacket "I leave you to it, make a training schedule, don't ‘wing it', be prepared‏"

  I sit all night and work on a schedule, her schedule is strange, but I try not to go sideways, Marcus said the daily schedule is essential, he noted Jude had other things, we need to help her. I guess he is referring to her obligations to promote GB Team, the ones he wants me to accompany her in. I finish around three o'clock at night, thinking to myself, Jude has no real education, she has no husband, her job is replaceable. What is holding her back? And if there is a reason, will it hold her back while running? Pro athletes get years of training to learn how to separate life from performance; you can't let a fight with your mother stop you from winning a race. I need to understand, I go to the kitchen counter, but the folder is gone. Probably Marcus took it; I will have to go to the source, speaking to her. I look at the microwave clock and realize, Jude probably arrived at her hotel, I contemplate to text her. I go to search for my phone. I see Marcus texted a few hours ago‏,

  We arranged for a hotel near your house so you can walk her every night and make her feel welcome

  That is a shitty move; I speak at my phone "if you wanted me to be a chaperone, you just had to ask you pompous ass!!!" of course he can't hear me, and I will never say it to his face, I need to walk the lady home. Every. Damn. Night‏.

  I pick it up again and scroll my messages from Marcus, finding her number I text

  be ready in the lobby at 9 am. ready to run. A

  A bit harsh, but the best way to test her abilities, if Jude can keep up with me, she can do it‏.

  See you then‏.

  This was not in my schedule, schedule I just sat five hours to make. If I want to be at my best for this run, I need to go to sleep‏.

  I feel anxious and excited, I think of all the things that could go wrong, I think of all the great things that could happen if nothing goes wrong, and I think of those eyes, long legs, and my cock twitch, I try to block it out. Be professional, keep your head out of the gutter‏.

  I do not know how long it took me to fall asleep. I wake up, turn off the alarm and sit up, I'm tired. I think about jumping in the shower but know there's no point, going for a run, there's no need for bathing. Washing my face, I put on running shorts and a t-shirt. Opening my shoe cupboard, all good looking brand new running shoes, looks like heaven, I close the door and go outside, putting on my old grey running shoes, they feel good, they know me. I lace them up, lock the house and look at my watch, I still have a few minutes to spare, there is a coffee shop right outside the hotel, I will buy us a coffee‏.

  ‏8:55 and I changed my order for the fifth time, I feel a warm hand on my arm "excuse me, please, are you Andrew Bedford‏?"

  ‏"Yeah yeah I am. And I'm in a hurry" I say in a dismissive tone, not bothering to look at the speaker, probably a woman, by the gentle touch and smell of lavender. Looking in confusion at the menu‏.

  The feminine voice continues "it's just that I‏…"

  ‏"Listen, lady; I'm in no mode to give an autograph, I don't know what she wants and what's the best way to tell a lady ‘welcome to the UK hope you save my career'. please, bugger off.‏"

  I turn in anger to see the woman who spoke, SHIT SHIT SHIT, Jude is standing there smiling, like the Cheshire Cat waiting for it to dawn on me, the barista has no patience for us, huff loudly‏

  ‏"do you know what you want‏?"

  Jude asks me, the barista answers

  ‏"he always takes black strong, no sugar, no milk‏"

&nb
sp; ‏"I will have the same then‏"

  Still smiling, Jude reaches a hand to a small pocket in her yoga pants, I already passed the barista ten quid. We move aside and wait for our order. I'm a complete asshole, still speechless; I didn't apologise, I didn't say anything. I am still gawking; she's beautiful. Her hair is in that tight bun, and few curls flew out, her eyes are sparkling, so green, it's like looking at the ocean. Jude is tall, very tall. I'm six points two, and she does not seem far from me, she wears a simple long sleeve shirt, and old black yoga pants, those are not running clothes, her shoes are almost worn out as mine. Not like most runners, she has curves, beautiful body, most runners are skinny, and bony, she isn't, nice tits not big and not small, narrow hips and a mighty fine ass. Round and beautiful and it's the cherry on top her long legs, very long legs‏.

  I guess there are advantages to starting late‏.

  She takes both drinks and hands me one "nice to meet you I'm Jude, since I'm late because of an asshole that took ages choosing coffee, I won't hold your lateness against you", and she sips her coffee, pink, pale full lips, Jude moans a little, soft, appreciative moan. I feel my dick twitch at that sound, suddenly very aware of my running shorts‏.

  ‏"Do you always feel the need to break the awkwardness?" I ask her, which is kind of shitty, we just met, and Jude was sweet even though I was a complete douche‏.

  ‏"No. The opposite, usually I don't speak, usually listen to everyone around. You'd be surprised how much you learn about people from just listening. It's just that, it's just, nevermind‏."

  ‏"I'm sorry I'm an ass. Please finish‏"

  ‏"You looked so shocked and embarrassed; I had a feeling it will help you if I make a joke and we could laugh it out‏"

  That is nice, I think to myself. "So you feel the need to help people?" she doesn't answer‏.

  ‏"Well then, let's finish the coffee and get to know each other while we run," I say‏.

  ‏"Sorry I don't run and talk, I can't run without my music‏"

  ‏"First lessons in being a pro athlete, no music. If it's hard you can not speak, but from now on, no music, no earphones.‏"

  Jude frown and dump her coffee. "where to?" She asks and starts running towards the park‏

  Oh, she shouldn't have done that. All I see is that round ass I want to bite into. I need to focus, those kind of thoughts have no place in the schedule. I collect myself and run after her. Jude has a naughty side to her. She doesn't know where she is going, but I will get to her soon‏.

  I am maybe going to enjoy this training, after all‏.

  ‏7. Jude

  I could not stay another second standing there. From the moment I saw Andrew in the coffee shop, I was mesmerised. I know who he is from my Google search. All I got were photos of him in the different competitions. There isn't a lot on him, most of it my brother already told me, I didn't learn anything new about him‏.

  What I did learn from my search, what my brother didn't tell me, he's hot, that's an understatement. He's ridiculously hot. Andrew is taller than my brothers. The pictures I saw of him he was lean and muscular like all runners, in that skinny, zero percent body fat, kind of way. Now he is muscular and broader, smells like citrus, probably a body wash, I could not take my eyes off of him‏.

  Usually, around people, especially man, I get flustered, my chick flashes and I'm embarrassed, also because of my stupid blushing. Andrew was so embarrassed by the way he spoke to me, I presume, it helped me stay calm and collected‏.

  He was mean before he knew who I am, I could understand that, but after, he was still an ass. And that made me want to run alone, then he told me in his affirmative voice, no music, that basically, I don't know anything about being an athlete, which is, of course, true, Andrew didn't need to be mean about it, we both knew it. So I start running, I knew that if we continue our talk, eventually I'll blush. Not in a cute way, in the face completely red and sweaty way. Andrew is so handsome I will probably lose the ability to speak, make a fool out of myself. Or maybe gape at him with drool running down my chin. He has dark brown hair, wavy and soft, dark brown chocolate eyes, a strong square jaw and full lips. The thing that got me the most was his stubble, clean and neat stubble could make my legs go weak. That was the only reason Daniel kept his that way. Andrew Bedford made my knees go weak and my panties wet, not ideal in our case, so, I run‏.

  Every time we went on a holiday, with or without the children, I packed my running shoes and yoga pants, searched the place we were going to, and every morning went for a run. Daniel used to tell me I'm an addict; I do sport the same way I smoked and worked. No matter what is going on around me, I put my children first, but he was always last, he said it once as a joke, that I love my phone more than him. I used to ignore this kind of comments. He was the same; the only difference is, he put the children last, that infuriated me. I was first that I knew, he adored me, giving his body and soul. Though he never helped me in the house, never saw the exhaustion of raising the children, never took the children by himself, maybe it was my fault for not telling him I needed help. He was so smart, an aerospace engineer, companies, offered him so much money to come and work for them. He was loyal to the spice research institute. He looked up at his boss like a father. He got to do what he loved; I let him do whatever he wanted, even if it meant I need to stay at home or in a shitty job, I changed so many workplaces I can hardly remember all of them. He had a lot to say about me changing workplaces; he did not understand my wish to be close to my children. If something happens, I wanted to be five minutes away, and things happen, all the time. They get sick, they hit their heads and a lot more, I stayed at home with a sick kid, I took care of them, I still care for them. I love them, and I loved it. When I finally felt they're big enough, I decided to go back to school. I finished all my exams with excellent results; it was very hard to study and be with the children and keeping a job. I wanted to study in paramedic school. I love helping people, thinking of what Andrew said before, he only just met me, already he could read me, that's frustrating‏.

  I was always good with people and was a medic in the military, people often came to our house for a bit of medical advice or to spill their problems, I didn't mind, I liked being that person that help others‏.

  Daniel hated that, did not like strangers coming to our house, did not think I was fit to give advice. He Hated my friends‏.

  I'm a social person, he was not, so I used to go places with friends. I thought it was working for us. One day he said he hated me getting dressed, putting make up for strangers, while at home I go all day with yoga pants that have holes and cut t-shirts, I liked being comfortable in my own house‏.

  ‏"Take the second exit left‏"

  That low rumbling voice cut through my thoughts in a second, I jumped a little, remembering where I am and with who. I nod not missing a bit in my run; my heart is a different story‏.

  ‏"I see why you want your music, you think too hard, I can almost hear it‏"

  I don't know how to decipher his tone, is he annoyed? Mad? He's expressionless. Maybe it's the long, fast, run; he is also trying to focus on his pace and breathing‏.

  Now that my head is back to where I really am, I glance at him a few times, he is definitely not concentrating on breathing, he looks like he's taking a walk in the park, I, on the other hand, feel my messy exterior, curls stuck to my forehead, shirt wet from sweat and pants that feel too tight, my shoes are lovely, I love the quiet of worn-out shoes, new shoes squeak and squash with every step‏.

  ‏"So we're near the end, if we retake a left we'll be back at your hotel, lets Sprint it" and with that he started really running, no way I can go that fast, but being the stubborn woman I am, i lift my feet and give all I have, to get there the same time Andrew does‏.

  ‏8. Andrew

  when I reached Jude I see she's deep in thoughts; I don't think she noticed me running beside her, I glance at her again, seeing her face change, every now and again Jude sa
ys a word out loud, it seems she doesn't notice it‏.

  Jude is an excellent runner, I pick up the pace without saying a word, her face is full of emotions, her eyes glazed with tears, picking up her pace, running beside me without acknowledging my existence, maybe it's on purpose, because of my attitude before, though it does not feel that way‏.

  I opened my mouth to speak a few times, I don't know what to say, even if I did, Jude said she could not talk and run at the same time, so I only give her directions, she's startled as if I woke her up, she didn't lose a bit and compel to my request‏.

  Now Jade looks like she's finally here, noticing me, even glance my way a couple of times, we run in a pleasant warm silence, like two people running together for years, our bodies understand each other, our pace is the same all through the run, the gap between us doesn't change, perfect unison. We are so close it's not possible not to hit an elbow or brush a shoulder. We manage not to do any of that‏.

  We get to the end, now will be her biggest test, when running long distances you need to preserve energy, you run fast but its the last laps that counts‏.

  I tell her to sprint before Jude acknowledge, I start sprinting, feeling the wind blowing, I hear her footsteps right behind me. I like to lead; I love to listen to footsteps behind me, though. I would have loved to see those legs again‏.

  I get to the hotel a few good seconds before her. Jude is out of breath but continues walking past me‏.

  ‏"Giving up already?" I joke standing in place waiting for to come back; I thought she would stop, we will stretch together and talk about our training schedule for the week, she continues walking.

  ‏"Jude?" I almost shout so she can hear me from that distance‏.

  ‏"I'm walking it off, join me‏"

  I run to her side; she is walking at a steady pace, not too fast, not too slow‏.

  ‏"We need to stretch‏"

  ‏"I never stretch, I walk it off‏"