More Than Love (NG3)

8 - Escape

I have reordered chapters 6, 7, 8. This was chapter 6 published Tuesday. Chapter 8 published Friday is now chapter 7. Make sure you don't miss any.

Reed ignored his father's probing look as he left work on Tuesday night. He needed to skate, score and slam a few bodies into the boards, but they didn't play that way. Also, he was gentle, a lover and not a fighter. So why was he not loving his father and wanting to fight him?

He was tired of the pressure. As much as he had a disheveled childhood, Reed always looked up to his father. He viewed him as a great man who had important work to keep him from his son. As a child, when Reed went to work with him, he listened to him talk to the people who worked for him with authority. He became larger than life in Reed's eyes, especially before he was old enough to understand Davis' weakness for women. Occasionally, Davis would take him to see a building he had designed. Reed would stare at the brick and steel and think he wanted to do that when he grew up.

So much hadn't changed. He still loved and admired his father, but he didn't have the same vision. Large commercial clients led to large profits. Reed grew up reaping the benefits of those profits, including his five-year architecture degree. He worked hard during his intern period and his experience at Davis Architecture helped him pass his examinations. It wasn't until after he earned his certification that his discontent started. He knew he was still early in his career and didn't want special treatment because he was the boss's son, but he wanted to like the work which consumed his life.

The men's locker room was almost empty when he arrived. Most of the guys were warming up on the ice. He hadn't had time to go home to change out of his work clothes, so he unbuttoned his shirt enough to lift it over his head. As he put on his pads and gear, he thought of Sasha and the years she helped him. By the time he laced up his skates, he was late.

Grabbing his stick, he burst out of the locker room and stepped onto the ice. There was a decent crowd for a weeknight, as he heard Bowman yell. "Good. With Davis, we're even."

He didn't prefer going by his last name, but it was their thing. Kevin Bowman had been his friend since Mites and they played hockey together right through highschool. Growing up, he had Robbie and Kev as his best friends.

Kevin skated over to him and pounded him on his back. "You made it."

He had texted he would, but often he still didn't leave on time. He planned to make the most of it and as soon as the puck dropped, he aggressively went for it. By the time they left the ice, he was physically exhausted and less stressed.

Kevin called to him from the shower. "Drink?"

Reed laughed. "Not tonight. Work comes early."

"I got it. I wanted to tell you something."

"What?" He probably got promoted. He loved his project management job.

"I met someone, and she has friends."

"I can't think about meeting anyone until I feel better about my job."

"When's that going to be?" Reed shrugged. "Your old man is cool, but I could never work for mine."

"Mine isn't that cool, at least not at the office."

"Is there a rule that says you have to work for him?"

"If I love him. It has been our dream since I was a kid."

"I know. You were convinced you would be a Bruin and an architect. I just wanted to be a Bruin and now we get ice time at nine at night."

Reed laughed. "Ten on Fridays. I wanted to surf professionally too. In my spare time, that is."

When Reed was young, he would draw blueprints. Sasha encouraged him. He liked to create welcoming family homes. Reed didn't need to study Freud for that one. Once he spent weeks on a castle design. When he finally showed it to his father, feeling proud, after the initial praise, Davis pointed out the defects. 'You need a load-bearing wall here', among other valid but dream crushing points. He remembered Sasha was angry with his father. In his memory, the worry of them fighting was worse than the criticism. He grew up waiting for his father to leave Sasha like he had his mother. Eventually, he did.

"Man, you look miserable. Sure you don't want to go for a drink?"

"Nope. Can't. Too much work tomorrow."

Reed had too much work all week. By Friday morning, he felt weary. At Ten, his father called him into his office to view his design. He had just watched Ellen walk out of the boss's office deflated. Did Reed expect a different outcome?

He was proud of his design. His storefronts had aesthetics and instead of a rectangle box with a flat roof, his plans had a pitch roof with the utilities in the eaves rather than taking away from the retail space.

He didn't sit, but stood as his father reviewed his work. When he looked up, he said, "This isn't what the client asked for."

"No, it's better."

Davis shook his head and Reed felt disappointment course through his body. "Go back to the drawing board. I have plans for the weekend, but it looks like you'll be working."

Davis' mention of plans hit a hot button with Reed. How did the older man keep meeting women?

Reed snapped. "I've worked my forty hours this week. I'm done. If you want a rectangle box, copy the last plans I did or the one before. I'll be back on Monday morning, not a minute before."

Reed turned and walked out. If Davis had a reply, Reed didn't stick around to hear it. He grabbed his phone and keys, leaving his laptop behind. Once outside, he had no idea what to do. He had the day ahead of him until his ice time twelve hours later. He could go home and sleep.

Instead, he took the on-ramp for 95 North. He needed two things: Sasha and his board. The more Massachusetts rushed under his wheels, the better he felt. He had his notifications and Bluetooth off. It felt freeing to be unreachable for almost two hours, less without traffic.

It was noon when he parked at Rick's to grab lunch. While he waited for his cold turkey sandwich, he sucked in a breath and looked at his phone. He had multiple text messages and missed calls. None were from Sasha, but he would see her soon.

His father's texts escalated, but leveled out. The last one said they could discuss it on Monday and his day off was coming out if his PTO. Reed's accrued paid time off could take the hit. He was never sick and rarely took vacation days. Maybe Kevin's idea had some merit. It would serve Davis right if Reed left the firm. Did he dare discuss it with Sasha?

Disappointed, he arrived at the cottage to find it empty. Sasha's car was not in the driveway, but she left the door and windows of the cottage open, letting the ocean breeze in. She wouldn't be gone long. The breeze felt robust, which made Reed smile. He had a different idea of a good day on the beach than most.

Ignoring all his messages, he sat and ate before changing into his wetsuit. Too bad his friend Robbie couldn't join him, but it was a workday. Reed felt guilty. As he carried the board, he admired the house Alex Goodwin, built on the beach by the town lot. It was owned by a guy around his age. He would love to design houses for someone like Alex to build.

Sitting at the edge of the dune was a painter. Reed glanced at the canvas and then at the beach in front of her. It looked identical. "Wow!"

She turned her head and smiled. Many beautiful women had smiled at Reed, but something about the honey hair beauty's smile touched him deep inside. His distressed mind instantly calmed. Maybe it was the sound of the surf.

"I could say the same thing about that." She waved her paintbrush at his board. Her voice was sweet as it washed over him like a warm blanket.

Trying to be cool, he shrugged. "It's like riding a bike. Do you sell your work because I would buy that?"

"I'm hoping to get a gallery showing soon."

He smiled. "Good luck. The waves are beckoning."

She waved her paintbrush. As he caught wave after wave, he couldn't stop her smile from hijacking his thoughts.