Colton wandered in. "It's been like over ten minutes," he said.
Kip stopped mid-nibble and lifted his head. "You are right. Did you look through the games?"
"Yeah. But hey, if you live alone why do you have so many?"
"I have friends." Kip ruffled his hair. "Sometimes the guys on my team come over and play. Or other people I know in town."
"My friend Mark, he likes the Oilers, but he said it was so cool I get to go to a game. Even a Calgary game. He does like someone that plays on your team. I can't remember his name right now. Mark wrote it down for me so I could get an autograph."
Kip looked at Mandy who was biting back a laugh. "We can do that. You can meet the team at practice if you want."
"Maybe next time I could bring Mark with me?" Colton ventured. He was a courageous kid, willing to say whatever was on his mind. Most kids were cautious, not wanting to upset the adults around them or something. Kip admired the kid.
"We'll have to talk to your mom about it. And Mark's parents. Did you look at my games or what?" The kid was going to give Kip a hard time, so Kip was going to return the treatment.
He turned to Mandy who was busy looking at his dining room set. She turned slight and he could see she had her hand pressed over her mouth to stifle her laughter.
"Yeah. There's this like racing game for the X-box. Can we play?"
"Your Mom has to approve first." He didn't want to piss of Mandy that was for certain.
Colton ran around the divider between the kitchen and dining room. "Mo-om, come see. Let's play."
"I'll just grab some chips," Kip said, waving them into the living room. The kid was a whirlwind. It was exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. He wasn't sure if he liked it or not yet. It was certainly scary as hell.
****
The three of them were seated on various pieces of furniture watching a movie. Well, Kip was watching the movie anyway. Colton had fallen asleep ten minutes before. Mandy was now preoccupied with sex.
Now that Colton was asleep, she moved so she was touching Kip from shoulder to knee. He smiled at her, kissed her forehead softly and wrapped his arm around her. She snuggled into him easily. The familiar warmth, the familiar smell. It was so easy to be with him again.