Dylan

It’s been 4 years since I'd seen Aiden. In that time we've kept in contact pretty much daily with messages and phone calls though. He's my best friend but we've never taken that step to see each other. I've worked my way up through the ranks of my team and I'm making good money now. Those first few years were wild. I've travelled all round the world and met so many people. Right now, I'm on a beach in Bali watching as the sun sets and tourists are everywhere drinking and living their best lives. I hear my name being called over the noise of the water and people and turn my head. I watch as my teammate Boulder sits on the sand next to me.
"Fuck these people, man, they're harshing my buzz." He complains before flopping his head on my shoulder.
"Dude, you know no-one speaks like that anymore, right?" I shove him to get his big head off me but all it does is make him snuggle in closer. Fucker has no boundaries.
"Skippy, don't be mad. I just want a cuddle."
Fuck me, you jump up and down once after a win and you get stuck with the fucking nickname Skippy. Truth is though, once I got it, it made me feel like part of the team finally. Boulders real name is Jonathon but like I said he's got a big head and that earned him his nickname.
In my first year he was the one management paired me with as a kind of mentor. I was so out of my depth and missing everything from home, but Boulder became the big brother I'd never had. He helped me with my nerves before every comp and made sure I didn't get too fucked up when I was drinking and trying to keep up with all the other guys. It's a whole party scene at times in the houses we live in, and it went to my head a lot in the beginning. I took too many risks and was close to becoming a liability, but Boulder pulled me back from that edge and set me straight. Ha. Straight. That's funny. I laughed out loud at my thoughts.
"What's funny? Tell me! I like laughing." Boulder lifted his head and poked me in the ribs. "Is there a tourist doing something stupid?".
"Nah, just laughing at myself. Why aren't you back up at the bar? You looked pretty happy with that blonde chick when I left."
"She just wanted to bang a pro surfer. Any one of us would have made her happy, even you. That's how picky she wasn't." He smirked at me and gave me a shove which made me shove him back which the turned into an impromptu wrestling match and ended up with him throwing me in the water much to the amusement of everyone watching. As I dragged my wet arse out of the surf I glared at him.
"Start running now you big headed fuckwit." I charged towards him as he turned with a whoop and started to sprint back towards the bar.
"Oh, come on Skippy! It was all in fun." He was laughing hard and starting to slow down so I picked up speed and jumped on his back. We fell to the sand in a tumble of arms and legs. I copped an elbow to the stomach and curled up with a groan.
Boulder tried to apologise but he was laughing too much to be sincere.
"Jesus Christ. You two are fucking idiots."
We looked up and saw Brody standing next to us.
"Well, hey there, Brodes. What brings you to this fine beach this evening?" Boulder grins up at our manager.
"Skippy here left his phone on the table and it's been ringing constantly since he left. I finally got sick of it so, I answered it." He held the phone out to me as he spoke. "It's Aiden."
I jumped to my feet and grabbed the phone.
"Aiden? What's wrong?"
"Dylan." He sounded like he was crying. "Dylan, I need you."
"What's wrong? Talk to me." I walked away from Boulder and Brody to get some privacy.
"Mark" Aidens voice broke as he said his boyfriends name. "He hurt me."
What the fuck?
"What do you mean, he hurt you? What did he do? Where are you?" I could feel my rage building. Aiden had been with Mark for a few months now and at first he'd seemed really happy. We had moved past our hookup years ago, well, Aiden had. I still had feelings for him, but I knew that with my lifestyle now I couldn't give him the relationship he deserved. It killed me every time he was with someone but, considering I had my own share of hookups over the years, I couldn't really say anything. No-one had lasted with me though as I was still to hung up on him.
"I told him it was over and he just went crazy. He was throwing stuff and then he started punching me. I tried to stop him but he was, just, I don't know. Like something flipped inside him and he just lost it. He stopped when he realised he'd broken my arm." Aiden stopped speaking and I heard him draw in a shaky breath. "I know we haven't seen each other for years but can you come home? You're the only one I want right now."
"He broke your arm? Motherfucking dickhead. Are you somewhere safe? Has he been arrested?"
"Yes and yes. I'm at mum and dads for now and it’s all in the hands of the cops now. Dylan, it wasn't the first time he'd hurt me. I just didn't know how to get out and away from him." He sounded so defeated.
"I'm in between comps right now. Let me talk to Brody and I'll ring you straight back okay?" I was shaking with anger as I said goodbye and walked back to Brody.
"What's happening with your boy?" Boulder asked. "You look homicidal."
"His ex beat him up, broke his arm. I need to go to him. Can you help me organise it?" I looked at Brody. "I have to be there with him."
Brody pulled out his phone and started typing on it straight away. Once he'd sent that message, he called someone and started making plans to get me on the next plane out. I have always been able to count on Brody for anything I needed and he wasn't letting me down this time either.
Boulder put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me in for a hug.
"You want me to come with you? I wouldn't mind meeting up with this ex of Aidens and I really want to get a look at the man who gets you all twisted up."
Part of me wants to say yes but I need to do this on my own. Seeing Aiden for the first time in years is going to be hard enough, especially with him being hurt, I don't need an audience as well. Boulder knows how I feel and I wouldn't put it past him to try and get us together in his own version of a fairytale. The dude watches way too many romcoms.
Brody finishes his phone call and tells me I have an hour to get myself to the airport. I start running towards our hotel as I call Aiden back. He answers on the first ring.
"Dyl?"
"I'm coming home, Aiden."