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“You gonna share or what?” his dad prodded.
“It’s nothing,” Nate replied.
“Uh-huh.” Samuel took a sip from his coffee cup. “Don’t look like nothing.” He set his cup down. “This have anything to do with the fact you’re keeping company with Chess Somers?”
Nate sat forward and shook his head. “Who in hell told you that?”
His dad grinned. “Who else? Your mother.”
“It’s nine thirty on a Sunday morning and less than twenty-four hours since I got here. That’s got to be some kind of record.”
“She’s impressive, isn’t she?” When Nate didn’t respond, his dad’s grin widened. “You know your mom heads to church for eight to help prepare for Sunday school, same as she’s always done. She ran into Jessica Baker’s mother, who told her that you brought Chess over to Stu’s last night.”
Unbelievable. The small-town grapevine had to be the best form of information gathering in the world. Seriously, the CIA or FBI guys could learn a thing or two by spending less than a day in Crystal Lake.
“Great,” Nate muttered. He knew the way things worked. The town would have him engaged to be married before Zach’s wedding was over and done with.
“So, you two dating?” his dad asked, reaching for his cup.
“No,” Nate said emphatically. “We just…she’s someone I see from time to time is all.”
“Someone to scratch that itch.”
Nate nodded, relieved he didn’t have to explain. “Yeah. You get it.”
“I do,” his father replied. “Just be careful, Nate. Sometimes an itch can turn into a rash. And some rashes, well, there ain’t no antibiotics for the cure.”
“Jesus, Dad.” It was too early for this crap. “Seriously? What the hell kind of analogy is that?”
“I’m just saying that I’ve known Chess Somers since she was a little girl. Coached her in Little League, remember? Trust me, that apple don’t fall too far from the tree. She’s a lot like her mother. She’s spoiled as hell, cruel to a fault, and your mother’s panties are in a knot just considering the idea you two are seeing each other.”
“Well, you can tell Mom not to worry. Aside from the fact that I live in another state altogether, I’m not interested in Chess for life.”
“Just itch scratching.”
“Not even that.” Which was true. He could have spent the night at her place but hadn’t been feeling it. He gave her some bullshit story about being tired after an intense work week and then driving to Crystal Lake. Nate had no idea if she bought it or not, but the simple truth was that his mind was on other things.
“Good to know,” his dad said.
“Can we change the subject now?”
His dad
stood up. “You feel like getting your hands dirty?”
“Sure.” Maybe a little physical work could fix what he was feeling inside. “What do you have in mind?”
“I’m heading over to your grandmother’s. Started a project in the backyard for her, and I could use an extra set of hands. Beck was tied up this morning with a client, but it would be a nice surprise if you came along.”
“Sounds good.” Nate hopped up and joined his father. “How’s he been?”
“Your brother tells us he’s just fine whenever we ask, which is often, you know your mother, but he’s been telling us that for years.” Samuel shrugged and didn’t bother to hide his worry. “He spends too much time on his own, if you ask me, but then my father was the same.”
“I’m meeting him later for a beer.”
Nate’s father slowly nodded. “That’s good. I know he misses having you close by.” He winked. “Now let’s get a move on before your grandmother has a cow.”
Next to his mom, his grandmother, Hazel Jacobs, was the most special woman in the world. She’d never missed any of his hockey games, and in fact got him to more early morning practices than his parents. The day he got drafted to the NHL, she’d been right there with him. Just as she’d been by his side when he’d suffered a career-ending knee injury before his career had barely started. It had been a dark time for Nate, but through his grandmother, he’d been introduced to Tucker Simon, head of The Simon Agency, and he’d been given a chance at something new. Now Nate was one of the top sports agents in the country, and if he landed Link Major, the British footballer he was currently wooing, he’d be international.
