Room One Hundred and Twenty Nine (Club Sin: Seattle Session 2)

Chapter 17

Elijah

Simon steals the ball, runs up the court and shoots, making the score three to zero.

“You know, I’m starting to wonder if you’re letting me win,” he says, then tosses the ball to me.

“Yeah, you wish,” I reply, panting.

I’m not letting him win. I’m hoping to get a read on him about Haruko and I figure that him in a good mood might make the conversation go well. And my mind is racing and I’m having a hard time getting into the game.

Typically, our scores would be tighter. My mind is cluttered with thoughts about how to figure us out. Haruko, Parker, Nicholas and me. Since we’re the CEOs of our company, we can’t quit, but we can’t expect to just fire Haruko and not help her find another job. So, I’ve been looking around, seeing if anyone is looking for an assistant. As for Nicholas being her coach, I’m figuring since it’s an amateur team, they might make an exception. After that, it’s about Simon and Haruko’s relationship. As much as I don’t want to lose Simon as a friend, I want Haruko more.

I dribble the ball up the middle of the court, which Simon doesn’t expect. I pass him, then shoot a layup that thankfully goes in and now it’s three to one.

“Finally, got one on the board.” Simon laughs, clapping his hands once before he takes the ball.

I can’t help but chuckle at his comment. Ribbing each other is part of the way we talk. It means he’s in a good mood.

We go at it for a few more rounds until it’s clear with eight to three that I have no chance of winning before we have to go to work.

We take a seat on the bench and sit in silence as we catch our breath and drink water. There’s a pleasant breeze rolling through the city and a couple of pigeons strut around the court.

I put the cap on my water bottle and try to casually move the conversation in the direction I want.

“You talked to your daughter recently?” I ask.

Okay, not as subtle as I would’ve hoped, but I can’t take it back now.

“Yeah.” Simon smiles. “About a week ago. How’s it been having her as an assistant?” he asks.

“Perfect,” I say, keeping my tone neutral. “She’s a hard worker and always on time.”

There’s a lot more I can say. That she’s beautiful, smart, funny and just my type, but that’s something I’d say about a woman I’m dating. I’m not ready to admit that to him just yet.

“Good.” Simon takes a sip of his water, then asks, “Do you know if she’s seeing anybody?”

My heart races, but I keep a straight face as I say, “I’m not sure. Why do you ask?”

Did Haruko already talk to her dad about us?

“Oh, well, when I was talking to her on the phone, I asked if she’d been seeing anyone, and she was kind of coy. I know my daughter pretty well and she’s always talked to me about everything. I have a feeling she’s with someone but doesn’t want to tell me and it bothers me.”

“Why?”

Simon shrugs. “You know, when you’re close with someone and something comes up and they don’t want to tell you, it’s strange. She hasn’t mentioned it to her mother either. That’s why I asked you, because I thought she may have mentioned it.”

“Maybe she wants to make sure it’s a solid relationship first before telling you.”

“I suppose so. She’s a careful girl. She’s always budgeted her money. She gathered endless data about which college was the best, what city she can afford to live in, things like that. I think that’s what makes her a good assistant. She likes to organize things so they can’t fail. She doesn’t take a lot of risks. I think she should, but I’m hoping that someday she’ll find a risk worth it and take the leap.”

God, if you only knew what your daughter was risking right now.

Knowing that he isn't opposed to risk gives me some comfort, although he probably didn't mean to getting into a foursome with her three bosses.

“What kind of man do you see her being with?” I ask, curious and nervous to hear the answer.

Simon smiles again, something he does when he thinks of his daughter. It’s so good to see someone love their child so much that just thinking about them makes them happy.

My parents were indifferent to children. I think they had me because they thought they had to. I appreciate it though, because I really like my life. But there’s still a part of me that envy’s people who are happy about their children like how Simon’s happy about Haruko.

“I see a man who’s kind. Who loves Haruko with all his heart. Who is loyal and invested in her happiness and future. I want her to find someone who can be a good man for her.”

I run my hand over my mouth, covering up a smile because whoever he has in mind is an amazing man and totally deserving of Haruko’s love. I hope Haruko sees me like that. Sees all of us like that. We want nothing more than to make her happy, help her pursue her dreams and to be good partners for her. We’d do anything for her.

“That sounds amazing. I hope she finds that,” I say and put my water bottle in my backpack, ready to go home, take a shower, then get to work.

“Maybe she has,” Simon says, and I freeze for a moment before shaking my head and pulling my backpack over my shoulders.

“Dinner tonight?” he asks.

I nod. “Yeah, eight o’clock?”

He nods, then picks up his backpack, and we leave the court.

The whole time I’m driving home, I think about what he said. Was there something in Haruko’s tone on the phone that suggested she’d met someone? When I see Haruko in the office, she smiles brightly, and it makes me think maybe she does think that Parker, Nicholas and I are the type of men Simon described.