Page 104

He makes a noise like he was standing at the boards watching it. “Top?”

“Top corner.”

“Fuck yes.”

I smile down at the floor. For a second, we’re back where we always are. Hockey, nothing else. My dad knows exactly what I mean without me explaining it, and I know what he’s going to ask before he asks it. There are things about my game he notices before I do.

“See?” he says. “All those fucking nights.”

The smile goes. “Yeah.”

“I told you there’d be a day you’d be glad I made you do that shit.”

“You did.”

“And?”

“And you were right.”

“Say it again. Come on. I’ve waited years for this.”

“You were right.”

“I knew it.”

Mom’s voice comes from somewhere away from the phone. “Are you letting me talk to him?”

“In a minute.”

“You’ve been saying that for five minutes.”

“He just told me about practice.”

“I also enjoy hearing about our son’s life.”

“You don’t care about low entries.”

“I don’t even know what that is.”

“Exactly.”

I smile again, and the phone changes hands.

“Hi, honey. Congratulations. I’m proud of you. Are you eating?”

“Yes.”

“Enough? Sleeping?”

“Sometimes.”

“Nash.”

“I’m sleeping, Mom.”

“That’s not what you just said.” She sighs. “Your father is already looking at flights for your exhibition.”

“It’s an exhibition.”