My phone buzzed in my pocket and I read the text from my mother. I got up from my seat and rushed over to their seats. Her text was vague and I panicked.
Mom:Get here now.
All sorts of thoughts ran through my mind, that perhaps he ate something he was allergic to or some fan must have kicked his chair out of excitement. If that was the case, I would kick their face in.
“What’s the problem?” I asked as I caught my breath and my mom looked at me surprised.
“Nothing.” She frowned as she pointed to Niel. “He said he wants you to take him to the restroom.”
“Ma, why would you text me like that then?” I complained as I picked up my son. Why would she stress me out like that?
“Like what?” she asked softly and I saw the smirk she gave my father as she looked away.
They wanted to experience the last few minutes of the game while their grandbaby wanted to go to the restroom.This is the only thing they aren’t willing to sacrifice, huh?
I took Niel to the restroom, shaking my head at their antics. Once he was done, I helped him wash his hands and he told me about how much fun he was having at the game.
“It’s so loud,” he giggled as he covered his ears when we exited the somewhat noise-free restroom.
“It is loud, isn’t it? Who do you think won?” I asked as I softly bit his cheek. We decided to finish the game in the lounge, where my parents would appear as soon as the game ended.
“Uncle Brian and Uncle Nate,” he said as he grabbed my cheeks and pinched them, not as lightly as I would have loved him to though.
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Hmm!” he exclaimed as he nodded. “Uncle Brian goes pew!” He used his hand to show how the puck flew whenever Brian hit it, and he raised his hands up as if he was surrendering when he said. “And Uncle Nate does boom!”
“Right, and that’s why they’ll always win right?”
“Yup, they’re really fast too.” He nodded as he played with the ends of my hair. “I want to play too,” he whispered and I stared into his blue eyes and softly smiled as I bumped my nose with his.
I watched people exit the arena and I knew my parents would show up soon as well.
“You should tell your Uncle Brian to teach you,” I said and he wrapped his arms around my neck and I could tell he was growing tired. It was a long game after all and he must have been cheering along with the others.
“Mommy must teach me,” he whispered and I gently rocked him back and forth as we sat in the lounge waiting for my parents. “Maybe Uncle Nate will play with me again.”
“Do you like Uncle Nate?” I asked and he gave me a weak nod against my neck and my heart felt so warm and full.
“Yes, he’s so much fun,” he mumbled and I smiled for the group of women who passed by us and cooed.
I think that was one of the things I had to get used to as a new mother, everybody either wanted to rub your swollen belly, or carry and cuddle your baby and stroke his hair as if he was some pet and I absolutely hated it.
Nathaniel’s body felt lighter in my arms, and his hold around my neck loosened as he slept. I leaned against the wall as I waited for my parents who seemed to be taking a long time to get out.
“Let me take him,” a voice said. I saw hands reaching toward Niel and I held my baby tighter as I looked at the person who had theaudacityto want to hold someone else’s child.
“It’s me,” Nate whispered and he was wearing an oversized hoodie. “I’m wearing the hoodie because I don’t want the fans to notice me.”
Oh.
I looked at him shocked. How did he leave the waiting room so soon? It seemed he saw my confusion as I handed him Niel and stood up from the bench stretching my arms over my head.
Why wasn’t he with his team?
“I ran away because I wanted to see you as soon as we were done,” he said excitedly as he cradled my son’s head on his elbow crease. “I won.”
“I know.” I smiled as I pushed Nathaniel’s dark hair inside his beanie. “Congratulations.”
