Squash

Felix took his time lacing up his trainers, he knew as soon as he left the changing room and got onto the court Myles would be swatting the ball at him. He thought that just because he was ready to go everyone else should be or suffer the loss. And unfortunately for Felix he’d been late leaving the office so he knew that Myles would already be on their pre-booked court warming up and then waiting to fire the ball at him as soon as the door shut. Felix supposed he should be grateful that he waited for the door shut after that one time the ball had bounced out into the corridor and they’d been reprimanded by a particularly surly receptionist. It gave him enough time to at least drop his water bottle at the side of the court. 

         Felix finished one shoe and moved onto the other, mentally preparing himself for Myles’ ribbing and the occasional pointed jab that indicated Myles still spoke to Viviane, Felix’s soon to be ex-wife. If they met today, he knew that they wouldn’t be friends. Myles was a ruthless bastard and with age this had expanded from his career into his personal life, it had cost him three of his own ex-wives, numerous friendships, including one that had survived primary, secondary and university, a sister, and his father. Fortunately for Myles he was either too self-absorbed or in major denial to recognise that it was his own fault, so he merrily went about his life. Occasionally he would make a comment such as I’m a shark in the tuna tank and I’m hungry that he indicated he wasn’t quite so oblivious.

         But he had to hand it to him, Myles was a great squash partner and that’s all Felix needed really – someone who played as well as him so he could run around and get a sweat on twice a week to keep his heart healthy and his body in good condition (along with his other exercise and a healthy diet). 

         He finished lacing the second shoe and took a deep breath. This was the moment he got into the zone, ready to be just as competitive as Myles like they were still teenagers smashing a ball at each other in the basement of their university gym.