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“Hell no. Absolutely not.”
“Dad, you need to put yourself out there. You know, get back in the saddle again. Go out on a date.” Every damn time lately, it seemed my son, Axel, thought it was his duty to tell me how to live my life. Especially now that he was happily married with a child of his own. My son had fallen in love his senior year in college with his wife Natalie and now made it his mission to hook me up.
I bounced Alexa, my granddaughter, on my knee and watched as her tiny hand curled around my Super Bowl ring. I remembered that game from fifteen years ago like it was yesterday. I’d been named the MVP of the game and had celebrated with my wife, Jackie, and Axel at my side. We were happy. Besides my marriage and witnessing Axel’s birth, winning the Super Bowl was one of the greatest moments of my life.
Back then, everything seemed to fall into place. I just didn’t know that five years later, tragedy would strike and change everything in my life.
“Here. I set up a profile for you.” Axel pointed to the screen on my cell.
“Super Singles?” I shook my head. “No, thanks.” I didn’t want to spend my time on my damn phone trying to find a hookup. I rarely got on social media as it was. “And why are you pushing this on me? I’m not looking for a relationship. I’m perfectly content with my life.”
“All you do is work and hole yourself up in this house.”
“Not true. My work is very fulfilling, with my after-school football program and charity events. I’m always out and about.”
“I’m not talking about your work life. I worry about you, Pops. You don’t even take a date to charity events. Don’t you get lonely?” Axel and I were very close, always had been. He’d always been concerned with my personal business.
Unfortunately, we were so close that he knew all the ins and outs of my life—specifically my personal life. Maybe in his eyes, I was lonely, but I dealt with it.
I clicked off my phone. “We are not discussing this.”
“Come on, man, when was the last time you had sex?” This was too personal. I wasn’t the type who was a serial dater or hooked up with women. He knew that, too.
I narrowed my eyes at him, saying nothing.
“Forget how to wield your sword, old man?”
“Shut up.”
“Do I need to hook you up with the blue pill?”
“Son, I’m not too old to kick your ass.” I loved my son, but sometimes he could be a real pain in the ass. I’d just turned forty-six, and I had no problem getting it up. That wasn’t the fucking problem.
“Oh, no.” Natalie passed through the open patio doors with her eyes raised in concern. “What did Axel do?”
“Why do I get the blame?” My son held his hands up innocently.
“Because you are an instigator,” Natalie said without hesitation.
“All right, then,” he said casually. “If that’s what you believe. I’m just trying to help my dad make a love connection.”
“Axel,” I warned. “I don’t need a love connection.”
He knew when his bullshit had gone too far, and I think he’d realized it had. He tapped me on the shoulder and said with a serious expression. “I just don’t want you to be alone, Dad.”
I paused, taking in his words. Axel and I had been through hell after Jackie died. We’d leaned on each other. I hated that he worried about me like I was someone who couldn’t take care of myself. I could take care of myself. I always had.
“Bill, it’s so good to see you.” Bill Johnson was my old teammate, and we’d been close friends for years. I met him for drinks at an upscale bar in Victory Park since he was doing me a solid for my annual Christmas charity event.
He owned several luxury car dealerships in the Dallas area and offered to donate five of his SUVs for auction. Every year, my organization held this event, and all the proceeds went to scholarship funds for teens whose families didn’t have the money to pay for college.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” We shook hands and sat down in a booth.
“It’s been a few months,” I agreed. Bill and I used to see each other all the time when our kids were younger. However, as they grew older, we didn’t see each other as often.
Bill ordered us two beers and then leaned in, clasping his hands on the table. “So, how’s life treating you?”
I smiled and gave my standard answer. “Never better. Just busy with my family and work.”
