Page 36 of How to Kill Your Rival

‘He’s going to sit there until you give in,’ Eliza whispers.

‘I can see that,’ Fraser says.

‘You’re just going to have to wrestle him.’ Eliza glances at Marco, who doesn’t react.

Fraser shrugs.

‘Are you going to?’ I ask.

Fraser shrugs again. Fucking youths.

Marco accepts the second beer Dougie puts in front of him and drinks it like a man in his twenties. Like a fucking fish.

‘How old are you?’ Marco asks Fraser.

‘Twenty-one,’ Fraser answers.

Marco eyes Fraser’s forearms, the whorled ink and the thick muscle.

‘You’re a strong lad. But I’ve taken bigger.’

Eliza chokes on her wine, her eyes widening as she looks at me. ‘That’s what she said.’

‘I was stronger at twenty,’ Marco rambles on.

‘I don’t doubt it,’ Fraser says.

‘I’m still strong now.’

The way his hand shakes would say otherwise.

‘I can tell, buddy,’ Fraser says.

‘So why are you delaying? Scared of me, kiddo?’

Fraser sighs and finishes his drink in one gulp. ‘C’mon then, Marco.’

They set up at the bar. Elbows down and hands locked.

They look at each other over their clasped hands, one wrinkled set of eyes against a glitteringly dark set.

Eliza leans against the bar, and my gaze snags on the way her top dips low, exposing a swathe of buttery flesh. Goddamn, I adore her.

They begin.

Marco puts up a pretty good fight, to be fair. For an old guy. His arm cords with muscle beneath the papery skin.

Fraser’s arm moves in the wrong direction.

Marco’s face turns red, but he gains an inch of advantage.

Fraser remains pretty neutral while Marco strains. Huffing and puffing until at long last, Fraser’s hand hits the bar.

The whole pub cheers, and Marco’s face fills with satisfaction. It’s the same way every time, though it’s not usually Fraser he challenges. He’ll have forgotten us all again by next week.

‘Ha!’ He looks at Dougie. ‘You see this?’ He points at his own arm. ‘I’ve still got it. Even this kid can’t keep up with this old dog.’

‘Still the champ,’ Dougie says, reaching over and patting Marco on the arm.