Page 29

MIKA

I’m sitting on our back patio drinking a beer when I hear the sliding doors open. I glance over, and see my father step out. Beer in hand, he sits down in the aluminum wicker armchair beside mine and lets out a sigh.

“Something on your mind?” I ask, tossing my phone on the table in front of me. Nyree and Mum are inside with Aroha, who’s still wired to the moon after our talent show performance, and a busy day at school. She also can’t stop talking about Holly-Anna, and their upcoming play date, even though it’s a week away.

“Nothing serious,” he replies. I know that look, he has something to say but doesn’t know how.

“Spit it out, Dad.”

He lets out another breath. “Your mother realized something after we were at Aroha’s school today, and met that blonde woman. What was her name?”

“Dion.” Until now, my parents haven’t prodded about what happened in my truck on Saturday morning, or asked who the mystery woman is I’m seeing, but I know they’ve been dying to ask. They just know not to say anything in front of Aroha. But I’m sure Nyree showed them the videos of Dion, including the one she posted about my walk of shame. Nyree joined the online community of followers Dion has amassed and commented on it. I only know because Dion tagged me in a comment, as opposed to tagging my personal account, and while that’s preferable, seeing everyone doll out their somewhat solicited opinions about her situation-ship with yours truly infuriated me. And to make things worse, her daughter, Holly-Anna, made it known that I’m the animal doctor her mother had to spend the night with. What should have been a memorable experience with my daughter, and my father, turned into what felt like a wild animal exhibition — all the mothers, married or not, at Aroha’s school couldn’t stop staring at me, and whispered to their friends with such fervor, it made me uncomfortable. It wasn’t hard to add it all up, and I’m sure Dion and I will be the topic of discussion for weeks to come. Being a school dad doesn’t make me immune to the drama-infested waters, and both Dion and her daughter, though her daughter doesn’t know better, made sure everyone knows what we’re up to.

“Dion, right.” He takes a sip of his beer and looks at me. “She’s the woman you’re just friends with, isn’t she?” For a moment, I consider denying it, but I’m not a good liar, and I’ve never once lied to the man sitting beside me. Even at thirty-four, the thought alone makes me ill.

“Yeah,” I sigh, picking at the label on my bottle of Corona.

“And she’s the woman who sent you that voice message thingy, right?”

“Yep.” I’m still trying to wrap my head around that humiliating blunder. I’m a grown man, but that doesn’t mean my parents need to know about my sex life. It was always easier to just not tell them, but now they know, and while I’m sure they won’t judge me, they will be concerned about the impact a woman in my life will have on my daughter.

“She’s, uh, different,” Dad chuckles. “Not exactly the type of woman I thought you’d bring home.”

I shake my head. “I’m not bringing her home, Dad. We’re…” How do I tell my father Dion and I are not-friends with benefits? Because we’re not friends, but there are benefits.

“Bumping uglies,” he states, amused by my discomfort.

“Nyree showed you the videos, didn’t she.” That’s the only explanation for my old man using the term bumping uglies. Dion goes into detail about that in her latest video, which I might add, does not disappear, and now has over a hundred thousand views, and nearly as many comments. One of which is Nyree’s. I’m still going to talk to her about that.

“She did,” Dad nods. “They’re quite funny, too.”

“Yeah,” I snort. “So funny that both Dion and I got a call from Nina because all that shit showed up on my Instagram account, and Nina was worried it’s bad optics for the team.” I had my lawyer send Nina an email, and finally made my Instagram account private.

“Oh, she called me too,” he replies, his disposition changing from amused to annoyed. Dad doesn’t lose his shit easily, that would be Mum, but he’s fiercely protective and hates Nina almost as much as I do after she almost cost me my career. “I told her to fuck right off and leave you alone, or I’d be calling Jake, and letting him now his head of Public Relations is harassing you.” Jake Mitchell is the president of Rugby New Zealand, and one of Dad’s closest friends.

“That’s a bit excessive,” I tell him, which it is. “I don’t think she’ll be bothering me anytime soon, anyway.”

“It’s not excessive for me, Mikaere; you’re one of the most celebrated players in All Black history, but you’re also my son. Nina overstepped, and she shouldn’t have done that.”

“She’s bitter, Dad. And she was rather upset when I told her about Aroha, not many people know I have a daughter.”

“Speaking of Aroha, when last did you hear anything from Layla?” I hate these types of questions, but it’s part of my reality, and something my parents will never stop worrying about.

I rest my elbows on my knees and finish my beer. “From Layla herself? A few years, actually, not since I had her waive her parental rights to Aroha and refused to give her any kind of visitation rights. Her lawyer contacted me, though, asking me to provide some kind of financial support for Layla, but I refused. But I’ve been worried about her showing up out of the blue since Dion started tagging my account in her bloody videos. Even when I asked her to, she didn’t stop, and made life rather difficult for me at the clinic for almost an entire week.”

“Ny told me about that,” he chuckles. “She sounds like a bit of a spitfire. Do you like her?”

“Spitfire? Dad, she’s borderline insane, and a complete mess —”

“So the sex is good then?”

I groan, wiping both hands down my face. “Dad.”

“What?” He shrugs. “It’s just us, two grown men shooting the shit.”

His belly laugh earns him a side-eye, but I still admit, “Yes, it’s good.” It’s better than good. It’s phenomenal. But part of the allure, I think, is that there are no strings attached. Before our conversation can continue, my mother, Nyree and Aroha come outside. Aroha’s bathed and dressed in her pajamas.

“I came to say goodnight, Papa.”