Josh
“Boys.”
“It’s nice to see Easton put an end to their losing streak.” His upper lip twitched, a tell. “Silver. Not the worst.”
And not the best. In other words, a failure.
Today? He was all about the grain of salt.
Ryder stepped into the role Josh had relinquished: Chief Ass Kisser. “I’ve already booked to train in Florida over the winter season. I’ll be ready for next year.”
He got a nod of acknowledgment from their grandfather. “And you, Josh?”
“Nothing on the calendar. This was my last race.” He braced for the fallout.
“I beg your pardon?” Viktor spluttered. Regises didn’t just… quit. They conquered.
His dad was speechless, too.
Here goes nothing. “I have a heart condition. It’s called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It’s serious.”
His dad wasn’t giving anything away. His grandfather was a wall of stone.
“I wanted to carry on our family tradition,” Josh told them. He really did. He loved rowing. Giving it up was painful. “But I can’t…” He would die if he did. “I won’t be rowing anymore.”
The wall of stone shifted his stance, readjusting to the new Regis family landscape. “I’m sorry to hear that,” said Viktor. “I wish you better health.”
Nice to hear, but it was a cheap greeting-card sentiment at best.
“Unfortunately,” his grandad continued, “having such a serious condition is a risk and will affect our company’s plans…”
Meaning: You’re out.
“I understand,” Josh said. He looked at his dad. Would their barely existent relationship get the chop, too? His dad’s jaw twitched. Anger? Disgust? Which was it? Richard Regis didn’t like weaklings.
His father turned to Viktor. “I don’t think we heard you right, Dad.”
Josh stared. Huh? What was going on?
“I think what you meant to say is: ‘We love you, Josh, and we’re going to do whatever it takes to get you the best medical care in the world.’”
“Excuse me?” Viktor looked as shocked as Josh felt, but for entirely different reasons.
Josh couldn’t believe his dad had his back. Was supporting him. Knowing his father favored results over mollycoddling.
“Josh isn’t your heir,” his dad said, standing up to his father with a strength Josh had never seen before. “He’s my son.”
Josh’s fear drained away. His dad, for the first time ever, was putting him first.
Viktor’s posture shifted. “All right, then. I’ll leave you to your family time.” Josh’s grandfather turned to Ryder and his mom. They weren’t even trying to hide their gleeful smiles at the turn of events. “Ryder! I’d love to hear about your winter plans.”
Karina started gabbling away excitedly, leading her father away.
Good luck, Ryder. You’ll need it.
His cousin turned back. “Sorry, man.”
Maybe, Josh thought. Maybe not so much.
His dad was almost shaking with adrenaline as he watched his father walk away. “He didn’t like that.”
“Is it that bad?” Josh asked, meaning is that it? Are we out?
“Yes,” his dad said plainly. “But I don’t care.” He turned away from the others and gave his full attention to Josh. “I care about you. Are you okay? Can they treat it?”
“Yeah, with surgery. But the recovery’s rough.”
His dad nodded, looking him in the eye. “We can deal with rough, son.” He shook his head like he was debating something, then pulled Josh into a hug.
Josh swelled with happiness. His dad loved him. Was putting him first. Even if it meant stepping away from the Regis family to do it.
He hugged his dad back, tight. They’d survive this. He knew it in his heart.