“The little fucker has a trap set for my queen and he thinks I’m too fuckin’ dumb to see it.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Arrogant little prick,” he said, holding up his phone to film his move. “He’s using both of his rooks in a coordinated attempt to take my remaining knight, but in doing so he’s left his bishop completely exposed,” Sundance said, moving his piece before turning his camera phone to face the board and yelling, “Knight to King’s Bishop three. Suck it Uri! Suck my fat American cock!” It was only after doing this that Sundance made eye contact. “Sorry about that. That little bastard’s got me all worked up.”
“No problem,” I said, quickly adding. “You needed to see me?”
Sundance’s office was the last place on earth I wanted to be. After all, what I was about to say to him wasn’t likely to improve his mood and would probably destroy my chance at club membership.
“Just wanted to check on you. You nervous about your upcoming beating Wednesday night?” Sundance asked with a smile.
“No, but I suppose we should talk about that. My patch-in party, that is,” I said, nervously.
“What is it, Aero? What’s eating you? You’re not here to turn down my offer to join the Howlers, are you?”
“What? No.” I said. “Just the opposite, in fact.”
“Opposite? How’s that? You here to sign up for extra punches?” Sundance laughed.
“I just might be,” I said.
“What the fuck is going on?” Sundance asked. “Seriously now. Are you looking to split?”
“I want that Howlers’ patch so bad it fuckin’ burns right now,” I said in a moment of vulnerability that shocked me.
“That’s good to hear,” he said.
“I didn’t even know how much it meant to me until...”
“Until what?” Sundance asked.
“The truth is...the truth is I want this patch, but after I tell you what I’m about to tell you, I’m pretty damned sure you’re not gonna want to give it to me anymore.”
“You’d have to have done something pretty fucking bad.”
“It’s not something bad. Not bad at all, and I would have come to you earlier but then you offered me a full patch...”
“Just say what’s on your mind, son.”
I forced out the words, “Violet and I are together,” and braced for impact.
Sundance said nothing. He didn’t blink. He didn’t appear to take a single breath. He just stood there motionless, staring directly at me. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke. “Aero, do you think I’m an idiot?”
My blood ran cold.
“Sundance, I—”
“Do you think I’m a fucking idiot?” he shouted at the top of his lungs before busting into laughter.
“What the fuck?” I asked, in total confusion.
“Jesus, you should see the look on your face,” Sundance said, wiping tears from eyes.
“You knew?”
“Seriously, Aero. Do you actually think I’m an idiot?” he asked again, this time with a broad smile. “What kind of a club president would I be if I didn’t know that one of my recruits was dating my daughter?”
My stunned silence spoke volumes.
