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And he wasn’t blind to the fact that he’d spent most of his career building community within organizations without participating in them himself. So, like Freddie, he’d tried things Annie’s way.
Eli’s too. His and Annie’s approaches to life were eerily similar. Make a decision and then move forward, no second-guessing.
“I don’t know,” Nolan said in response to his dad’s question about what came next. “I’ve loved the work I’ve been doing with the Trailblazers. I’ve been toying with the idea of launching my own consultancy that specializes in employee engagement and culture building, but . . . I don’t know. Is there demand for that kind of thing?”
“Beats me,” Dad said. “But if we needed it, guaranteed someone else does too.”
That was a good point.
“Jen’s calling me over.” Dad finished his wine and set the glass on a nearby table. “Catch you later?”
Nolan nodded, then picked up the messenger bag he’d ducked out to his car earlier to grab, and went to get Eli.
They’d started the search for Freddie together. It was only fitting that they ended it together too.
“I mean, it took me a minute,” Eli was saying to Zanetti as Nolan approached. “But I figured out I was trying to be everything to everyone, trying to earn my place by over-giving, but all I had to do was play good hockey, which I wasn’t doing. I think I’ve improved in the past couple of weeks. Don’t you?”
“You have,” Zanetti confirmed. “Doesn’t hurt that you look like you’re having fun now. Before you just looked constipated.”
Eli let out a laugh-groan. “Why do I come to you for support again?”
“Because I’m wise beyond my years.” Zanetti drew Eli into a hug, to which Eli squawked a “Stahp! You’re ruining my hair,” like the younger brother Zanetti treated him as before he danced away.
Nolan laughed, drawing the gazes of both men.
Eli jerked a thumb at Zanetti. “Tell him to stop teasing me.”
“Yeah, I don’t get between siblings,” Nolan told him.
Laughter exploded out of Zanetti, and he clapped Nolan on the shoulder. “Smart man. Yo, CC!”
CC paused on his way past them and narrowed his gaze. “I don’t like that look on your face. What are you up to?”
“I just wanted to give you your Christmas present.” Zanetti grabbed a gift bag off the floor with green and red tissue paper poking over the top and handed it over.
CC took it with much suspicion. “Secret Santa exchange is next week.”
“Yeah, but this thing kept looking at me all accusingly, and I couldn’t stand the guilt anymore.”
Even more suspicious, CC shoved the tissue paper aside and removed—
“Mr. Wiggles?” Eli said.
Because this was Zanetti’s gift, CC rightfully eyed him with yet more suspicion. “What’s the catch?”
Zanetti raised both hands. “No catch. I felt guilty taking him, so . . . I’m giving him back.”
CC put Mr. Wiggles back in the bag. Stepped away. Then turned and bolted out of the room like he thought this might be a trick after all.
“That was nice of you,” Eli told Zanetti.
Who smirked lazily. “Remember when we stole him from CC during the summer?”
“Yes,” Eli said slowly.
“Turns out, plotting how to steal him is way more fun than winning him fair and square.”
“You’re the worst.”
