Page 84 of Hot Damn
The concern wrinkling her brow has me sitting straight. “You can do whatever you want to. But I thought you wanted to do a business degree.”
We talked a bit about what she wanted but her recent comments about sticking close to me, possibly doing college online, have me wondering if she’s had a complete change of mind.
“You talked about going to school in New York at one point,” I remind her.
Nodding, she smiles. “I did. But the closer the time comes, the less I want to do that, and I haven’t applied to any colleges, Dad.”
“What? I thought we’d filled out a bunch of applications before we moved here.”
“We did.” She tips her head toward her desk. “They’re in the top drawer.”
I glance over my shoulder. “You don’t want to send them in?”
“No.” The firmness of her voice has me turning back to look at her. “I want time off. I want to take a year to think about what I want.”
“But—”
“I won’t be doing nothing. I’m thinking of asking Natalie if she’ll let me be an unpaid, or low-paid, intern at the Rogues. I want to learn everything about the team from how the arena is run to coaching the players to managing the franchise.”
“Really?” She’s never shown much interest in hockey other than it’s what I do for a job. Her deeper interest now seems odd to me.
“Yes. It’s been fun watching these last few weeks and I’ve seen a bit of what happens behind the scenes since hanging out with the twins because Natalie is around them a lot. Plus I did some research on how KAW got the franchise. All the bad press they got for getting it. It’s fascinating.”
“Okay, well, if it’s what you want, go for it. You know I’ll support you any way I can.”
“So you’re okay with me not going away to college?”
I smile at the way she braces for my answer. “I’m fine with that if you have a plan. You know I didn’t go to college. I barely scraped through high school.”
“But you had a skill, one you could turn into a career. There’s nothing wrong with not having a degree, Dad.”
“I know. I just want you to have everything you want and every opportunity I didn’t.”
“You give me that. And I’ve learned something during these last few months, particularly in recent weeks.”
“Oh, what’s that?”
“We’rethe most important thing we can ever have. Our family, the Rogues family.”
“How did you get so wise?”
It seems we’ve discovered the same thing at the same time because her words are true. All the money in the world can’t compare to the support of family.
“I had a very wise man raise me.”
When she launches herself at me, I wrap my arms around her and pull her close.
The love that flows through my veins for this kid always surprises me. She’s everything to me and tonight has shown me that she’s no longer a kid.
She’s a young woman.
A young woman I’m proud of.
A young woman I’m proud to have had a hand in raising.
A young woman who deserves the truth.
Cami
