Page 35 of Want You

“I’m out here doing things he can’t do right now.”

“Doesn’t like that you’ve got a girlfriend, eh?”

“He doesn’t know,” Nathan said as he lined up his shot. “I won’t be introducing them for a while.”

Sami laughed. “Assuming she’s still around when you’d want to.”

“She will be,” Nathan stated matter-of-factly before sinking the shot. “I’m not letting her go without a fight and I’ve got stamina.”

Pre-game interviews were one of Nathan’s least favourite things, but they were part of the job and certainly part of life when you were playing as well as he was. The worst part of them was generally the wait between getting ready and the interviewer being ready. Today, however, Nathan had someone to occupy the downtime with.

What are you up to?

Autumn

Watching my nephew refuse to eat the sandwich I made him.

You have a nephew? Any more littles in your life?

My sister’s kid. She just has one. He’s pretty cool but exhausting.

I’ve heard that about kids. Do you want them?

Kids?

Yes.

Most days. Today, no. You?

I could see myself as a dad. Certainly could see myself enjoying the process of becoming one.

Well who wouldn’t if all they had to do was come.

Lol true.

You going to watch my game tonight?

I was thinking about it. No work tomorrow so I can at least sleep in.

How’d things go this week with Ronald? You didn’t complain about him so I’m guessing things were better?

Nathan made a point to ask about the coworker he heard about most. The man whose very existence seemed like some test for her patience. She told him that before starting at the firm she didn’t believe in enemies at work and then Ronald materialized from the pits of hell and suddenly she was spending meetings with him fantasizing about all the ways he could return there.

He’s away at some conference in Calgary. So they went great for me. Has Dmitri smiled yet?

Almost, he looked like he was going to this morning when he saw they had some Icelandic yogurt he loves at breakfast.

Think you’ll win tonight?

“Berty, you coming?”

Nathan looked up from his phone to see two of his teammates standing at the door, waiting for him.

“Yeah, I’ll meet you guys there.”

I think we’ll win every night!

He stuck his phone in his pocket and followed the guys down the hall to a room where one of the big sports broadcasters had set up an interview for the three oldest guys on the team.