“Yeah, he’s the worst.” She pursed her lips. “Don’t say no until you hear me out.”
Dylan glanced up from her stitch. “This doesn’t sound good.”
“Cary just called. He wants Nadie to sing the anthem at the Jets’ last game.”
“The last game of theregularseason,” Dylan corrected her.
“That’s what I meant.” She laughed. “The last game of the regular season.”
“That’s in what—three weeks?”
“I know. I’m coming out there, remember? It’s Marnie and Heather’s baby shower. I told you.”
“Sorry. Pregnancy brain. It’s in my calendar.” Dylan’s eyes narrowed. “Did you already ask Joe about this?”
“No, but I probably should’ve, come to think of it. He’s the easiest-going guy on the planet.”
“Okay, Nadie can do it if she wants.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, she’ll be done school soon. I think she feels a little left out with all the baby stuff. She’s been an only child for seventeen years. I’m sure it’s a shock to the system.”
“You’ll let me manage her, right?”
“I wouldn’t trust her with anyone else. But hey, I don’t want you shopping her to labels until after school’s out.”
“That’s fair. Thank you.”
“No, thank you. And thank Cary for me. He’s a good guy.”
On the day of the hockey game, Tyler caught a late-morning flight and arrived in Winnipeg mid-afternoon, Rory in tow. She headed straight to the arena to visit her niece during rehearsal. Nadie had been practicing with Cary over FaceTime for the past three weeks—no surprise there. Nadie Grant, much like her aunt, was always over-prepared. For everything.
Luckily Sebastien had been in Toronto for most of that time, so Tyler didn’t have to hide them singing behind his back. Her boss knew the Jets’ owners, and she was certain he’d put the kibosh on their anthem plans. Plus, he’d been icing her out of Yestown’s label negotiations, and she really felt like sticking it to him.
“Auntie Ty!” Nadie yelled, running toward her in a full sprint.
“Hi, honey.” Tyler hugged her tightly.
“Thank you so much!”
“Don’t thank me, thank Cary. I had nothing to do with it.”
Cary grinned, approaching them. “Did I hear my name?”
“Thank you, Uncle Cary!” Nadie said.
“Are you kidding me?” he said. “You’re doing me a favor.”
Tyler raised an eyebrow at her niece, unsure if her boyfriend was ready for that kind of commitment. “Uncle Cary?”
“Well, you’re my aunt, so Cary’s my uncle, right?” Nadie asked innocently.
“I don’t know about that,” she said. “But come to think of it, you don’t have to call me Auntie Ty anymore. You’re old enough to call me Tyler.”
Nadie’s jaw hung open. “I’ll never stop calling you Auntie Ty, but can I call him Uncle Cary? Please?”
“Absolutely,” he said. “And Rory can call me Dad.”
