Desmond
Morning, Jacko. How you going?
Jack
Good morning. Fine, how are you?
Desmond
You didn’t sleep last night, did you?
Jack
Oh my god I’m so nervous, I can’t believe you’re going to tell Coach.
It’s a really terrible idea.
He’s going to be SO pissed.
Desmond
You trust me?
Jack
Yes, even though you’re obviously fearless to the point of insanity.
I laugh out loud in the empty kitchen. The idea of me being fearless is ridiculously inaccurate. I’m scared all of the time. And as scary as I thought the world was as a kid, it’s nothing to how I feel now.
Desmond
I’ve got to take Parker to school, and then I’m heading to work.
Everything will be fine, try not to worry.
Jack
Okay. Say hi to Parker for me.
Despite the calm façade projected over text message to Jack, I am feeling pretty nervous as I drop Parker off at schooland watch him walk in. A young teacher is standing by the door, greeting the students. She says something to Parker, before looking up and waving at me. I return it, waiting until he’s all the way inside the building before pulling away from the curb and letting the next parent do their drop-off. The drive to campus is quick from here, which is good, as it gives me less time to worry. Less time to think about how good it would feel to pull over and empty my stomach on the side of the road.
Nico’s already in the office when I arrive, the way he usually is, and the lights are low thanks to our fancy new dimmer switch. He looks up at me when I walk in, smiling.
“Good morning,” he greets me. Something thumps against the bottom of his desk. I drop my bag and crouch down as Drou comes into view, tail wagging hard enough to rock his hips from side to side as he trots over.
“Hey, buddy.”
He rubs against me as I pet the soft red fur on his back, plopping his butt down on my shoe and tipping his head up. Obligingly, I stroke his ears. Yeah, I’m definitely going to have to get Parker a puppy.
“Bring-your-kid-to-work day?” I ask Nico, who chuckles.
“For a little while. Anthony has a doctor’s appointment, and no amount of begging on his part has coerced them into letting him bring the dog. He’ll come pick him up later, so he’s not too much of a bother for us.”
“A bother?” I ask, cupping my hands around Drou’s face, and using the tone of voice reserved for baby animals and small children. “How could something this cute ever be a bother?”
“Something that cute peed on me the other day,” Nico replies mildly. I laugh, which prompts Drou to join in with abark. Already, his voice is less shrill than it was before, deepening into something you could imagine hearing from a full-sized dog. I already wish he wouldn’t grow up so fast.
“How’s it going at Troy and Sam’s house?” I ask, standing up and walking over to my desk with a little red shadow behind me. When I sit down, Drou abandons me in favor of his dad, leaning against Nico and licking his pant leg.
