The Boyfriends and Football

My Kind of Football, Your Kind of Football

***

"Tell me again what is it that you want me to do?"

"I just want some moral support, okay Neeks? This would be the first time for me to meet the man that my mother is currently dating. I don't want to be alone there, sitting awkwardly in front of someone who has a possibility to be my step dad."

"Will. Do you really think I can make things less awkward?"

"Okay, maybe not. But I know for sure that you being there will make me feel better."

"Pffft..."

"Is that a yes?"

"Will..."

"Nico, please, darling."

"You know I hate it when you purposefully use that accent."

"I only use it because you love it."

"You only use it if you want something from me."

"Please?"

"You're lucky that you're my boyfriend."

"Ah, that is a yes, then."

***

Two days after that conversation, Will held Nico's hand, and let Nico lead him into the shadow. They walked out under the shadow of a tree in front of Will's house in Tennessee.

***

Naomi did not really understand the concept of shadow travel. But she was happy enough to know that it meant Will was home that Friday morning. She was even happier that Nico was tagging along with Will. Probably because Nico was good in cooking, and helped her a lot in the kitchen to prepare the dinner. And when this James guy finally came, Naomi proudly introduced Nico as Will's lovely boyfriend who was visiting for the weekend.

Will chuckled as Nico's face turning into scarlet. He quickly held Nico's wrist, squeezing it a little.

"Looks like I am the only one needing moral support here," Nico muttered as they followed Naomi and James to the dining room.

Will placed a quick kiss on Nico's temple. "It's not my fault that my mom loves you," he said. "You're just too adorable."

The dinner itself was nice. At least not as awkward as Will thought it would be. James was a nice person, friendly without being overly talkative. It's easy for Will to see why his mother was smitten with him. And from the way James was looking at Naomi so warmly, well...

Let's just say that Will was not against the idea that his mother was dating this middle-age man who worked as a system analyst. Especially since his mother looked happier than the last time Will saw her.

"So you're staying for the weekend?" James asked as he cut another piece from the remaining meat on his plate.

"Yeah," Will nodded. "We'll head back to the camp on Sunday, maybe late afternoon."

If James found it something unusual to go to a camp in the middle of a school year, he said nothing about it.

"Any plan for tomorrow?"

Will shrugged his shoulder. "Nothing in particular,"

"You know," James said, paused to take a sip of water. "I have two tickets for a football game tomorrow. It's a home game against Tulsa."

Will raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

James smiled. "Yeah. My son, Phil, he's in the team. I can't make it to his game tomorrow but as I said, I have two tickets."