Page 94 of The New Guy
In bed, I watch two movies back to back. I take a nap.
Two whole days at home. I don’t even know myself right now.
Just when I start to despair that I will never leave home again, my phone rings. And it’s Gavin.
“Hi,” I say. “I’m fine. My worst symptom is boredom.”
“I’m very happy to hear that,” he says, and his voice is tired. “Because I have a favor to ask. It’s a biggie.”
“Anything,” I say without hesitation.
“Henry got a positive flu test a few hours ago. He got sent home from the arena.”
I look at the time—five o’clock. “Holy shit. So you’re working the game?”
“Yeah. And Reggie has to go…somewhere. Her band is counting on her. I thought I had found another babysitter, but she just bailed.”
Oh shit. “You wantmeto do it?”
“I wouldn’t ask…”
“It’s fine,” I say quickly. “I’ll be there in five.”
“Bless you. Because I’m already late.”
THIRTY-TWO
Hudson
I takethe world’s fastest shower, put on clean clothes, and head over to Gavin’s apartment, wondering how I’m going to entertain a sick seven-year-old. But when I get there, it’s quiet, and there’s no sign of Jordyn.
“She’s sleeping,” Gavin explains as he throws on his jacket.
“Oh.” Suddenly this job got easier.
“Make yourself comfortable,” he says as he grabs his gear. “The couch is not great, so you can spread out in my bed. She’ll find you when she wakes up. Hell—she’ll be ecstatic. There’s a pot of ramen in the fridge, but if you’re sick of it, order whatever sounds good to you guys. I’ve got to run…”
“Go.” I shoo him toward the door. “Don’t worry about us.”
From the taxi he sends me a string of texts.She should drink more fluids. If she gets hot or cranky, give her children’s Tylenol, but only after 6 p.m.
After reading them, I promptly fall asleep on his couch, waking up in the pitch dark a little later. The clock on the cable box says it’s 7:30. So I stumble around to turn on some lights, and I pour myself a glass of water.
And I must be loud, because Jordyn comes shuffling out of her bedroom in a set of purple flannel pajamas. She squints up at me. “You’re not Daddy.”
“See, I knew you were a smart one.”
She laughs suddenly. “Did Daddy go to work? Why aren’t you at the game? Omigod, do you have the flu, too?”
“True story. Want some water? Daddy said you needed fluids.”
“Okay. Can we eat dinner?”
I’m not very hungry, so I’d forgotten about dinner. “Sure, kid. Any suggestions? There’s ramen, or takeout.”
Her eyes brighten. “Could we order Italian? Reggie lets me get the stuffed shells.”
“Do you know the name of the restaurant?”
