Page 28 of Hotshot

“Not exactly, but we talked and I’m going to see him when I’m in Denver this weekend.” I hoped.

“Then you got him. I knew you were the one for the job. I knew it.”

“Nothing is done, Dad. I just met him. This may take a while,” I reminded him.

“Hmm, I don’t have a while,” he countered. “Sell him on the idea, Hank. Offer him something no one else can. Something titillating and unique.”

“Titillating and unique?” I repeated

“Make it sexy.”Uh…“I believe in you, son. Will I see you this weekend?”

Okay, my mind was still stuck on the titillating comment, but I rallied.

“Of course. How are you feeling?” Yeah, I knew the answer, but I had to ask.

“Right as rain and fit as a fiddle.”

“I heard you fell.”

“Oh, please. That was nothing. I got right back in the saddle. Don’t you worry about me,” he huffed.

I nodded impotently. Margaret was right. Dad would downplay personal danger all day long. Poking for more info would only piss him off.

We talked for a few minutes, trading our standard bullshit lines. I was fine, he was fine, everything was fine. “Fine” had become a high bar. How sad was that? It scared me to think this was as good as it got.

The father of my youth had been larger than life: tall, barrel-chested, twinkly-eyed, charismatic, energetic—and an all-around good guy. He wasn’t a saint by any means. Dad had a wily, cutting side, and by his own admission, he was occasionally ambitious to a fault.

Now he was fussy, cantankerous, and only sporadically engaging. But I was the only one of his kids who gave a damn about the family business. Trust me, I didn’t want to care. In fact, I tried very hard not to care, but I did. And here I was. Stuck in Elmwood.

“Glad you’re feeling better. I’ll see you in a few days, Dad.”

My cell beeped with a new notification just as I ended the call.

A missed text from Denny Mellon.

Who is this?

Hank, I responded.Your new best friend. You stole my bed the other night. Ring any bells?

Thumbs-up emoji.What’s up?

You tell me. Your grandma called me.

Face-palm emoji.Do not talk to her.

The hint of playfulness made me smile and damn, I really needed something to smile about.Are you kidding? I’ve been summoned. If you won’t help me, maybe she will.

Three dancing dots, pause. More dancing dots.Good luck with that.

See you Friday night.

Eye-roll emoji.I have a game.

And we had a deal. This is part two of the proposition.Nothing. No eye-roll emojis, no thumbs-up. I waited a minute and added,Meet me at the Oak Tavern on Olivera Street. It’s close to the arena. I’ll be there at ten.

No response.

I stared at the screen, waiting for those damn dots.