Page 34 of Hot Damn
“Okay, yeah, that will work. We’ve got tomorrow off because of the thing tomorrow night.”
“Ah, yes, the fan barbecue. You don’t sound too keen on going.”
“I’m not. It’ll be our first public appearance as father and daughter and I’m not sure how that’s going to go. Are you going to be there?”
“I am. Although I’ll be working. I’m going to do some interviews with the fans, weave them into the ones I’m doing with the players and management and staff of the Rogues.”
“Other reporters will be there.”
“They will, but only a couple. Nat doesn’t want it turning into a press conference; it’s about the fans.”
“Any advice for answering questions about me and Whit?”
“Tell the truth. You don’t have to tell them everything but don’t lie either. If you don’t want to answer a question, give them something else.”
“Like what?”
“Well, if they ask about being a teenage single dad, talk aboutchanging dirty diapers and how you never thought you’d be wiping someone else’s butt, something like that.”
“Okay, I can do that.”
“And tell Whitney she can come find me if she feels uncomfortable being near you. Most people don’t know who she is and won’t recognize her so she should be free to move around the event without getting hassled.”
“No one better hassle her.”
The vehemence in his voice makes me smile. He really is a great dad, a great protector. “She’ll be fine. There’s going to be a lot of security and staff wandering around; they’ll be keeping an eye on everything and everyone.”
“I hope so. I’d hate to get into trouble for punching someone.”
“You don’t strike me as the violent type.”
“I’m not. Except when it comes to Whit.”
I can see that. His love for his daughter is fierce, a palpable energy that surrounds them when they’re together. I saw it the night I interviewed them. Feel it whenever he talks about Whitney and from her when she talks about him. “I’ll be sure to give everyone a heads up. Do I have your permission to tell them about her car?”
“You think you should?”
“I don’t know, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
“Okay, but I can pull Oakley and Natalie aside to tell them in the morning.”
“All right, I’ll leave that with you but tell them to call me if they have any questions. And they both use the same mechanic so they can call him if they want more details.”
“Thanks. I better let you go. We both need to get up early.”
“Yeah, Whitney said she leaves for school at seven so she can work in the library before class.”
“She loves school. It made homeschooling her easy as hell. Never any fights over doing her lessons.”
“I can see that about her. She had a heap of questions about my job while we ate dinner.”
“She’s naturally curious, which makes me wonder how I ever kept her off social media.”
“I was surprised when she told me she’s only been on there a couple of years; these days everyone is on one platform or another. Especially teenagers. Then again, Whitney isn’t the average teenager. She’s wise beyond her years.”
“Which makes me think she didn’t miss the weirdness of her flat tires.”
“Huh. Now that you say that, I bet she’s just as curious about it as I am.”
