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Chapter 20
Nathaniel
Ihad a standing golf day with David and a few of our other buddies on the second Friday of every month. There was Mike, an investment banker; Steve, a litigator; and Randy, an older, retired man who had made his fortune buying and selling software companies in the 90s.
By the time we got to the ninth hole, the conversation had turned from business, then briefly to politics–but David quickly put the kibosh on that–to the guys talking about their kids and wives and families.
When their attention turned to me, I planned to play it cool. The last thing I wanted was to give away what I was doing last night.
Not just what I was doing.
Who I was doing itwith.
“Nathaniel,” Randy asked, “when are you going to find a wife and start a family? You’re not getting any younger. By your age, I had five little ones.”
“Oh, you know,” I said, brushing it off, teeing up my golf ball. “Maybe someday. Maybe not.”
“Come on, man,” Steve said in a teasing tone. “I bet you’ve got a few hot side pieces going, all at the same time. A guy like you, with your good looks and charm? Who needs to settle down when you can play the field?”
“Yeah,” Mike said, “let us live vicariously through your bachelor life. Those days are long gone for us, and boy, do we miss them.”
“Speak for yourself,” Randy corrected. “I can attest to the fact that a happy marriage is possible. You boys ought to invest some time into yours, or you’ll regret it in your old age.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Steve said dismissively. “I’ll invest in my marriage when my wife stops investing in her shoe closet.”
Mike chuckled. “Is it that bad?” Steve sighed, then Mike winked at David. “At least you didn’t have to buy her a whole new house, Steve.”
David squinted, “You’re one to talk, Mike. Those girls’ trips to Tahiti your wife goes on? Airfare halfway across the world doesn’t exactly come cheap.”
“Hey, at least it gets her out of my hair,” Mike retorted. “So come on, Nathaniel. Let’s hear about your latest arm candy. Make us remember what it’s like to feel young and free again.”
I hit a strong, clean shot down the middle of the fairway and sent my ball soaring. “I can’t imagine any way to make all you old fogies feel young. That’s a surgeon’s job,” I joked.
The guys chuckled but the pestering didn’t stop.
“Let’s hear it, Nathaniel,” Steve said. “You’re a handsome guy, there’s got to be someone.”
This was starting to irritate me. I just needed to come up with something to get them off my back.
“Listen, I’m seeing someone, okay? Are you satisfied?”
“Who is it?” Randy asked.
“What does she look like?” Mike inquired.
“Nathaniel, I had no idea! Good for you!” David said.
“Is it serious?” Steve finally asked the question I least wanted to answer.
Yet something inside me was compelled to tell the truth.
“I want it to be,” I admitted. “But things are… complicated. It’s too hard to explain. In fact, I shouldn’t technically be seeing her at all.”
Randy pulled a face. “What on earth is that supposed to mean, is she a nun or something?”
David’s expression was warm and curious. “Who’s the lucky girl? Do any of us know her?”
Oh my God. Do you ever, David.
