Apparently liking that notion, Linc’s smile widens. “We’re still working on snagging some tickets for the game on Saturday.”
“I spoke with Kevin yesterday about which teams seem interested so far. Looks like Green Bay, the Bangles, and the Jets have all put calls in to him.”
For a while, the two of them discuss possible teams and which ones look like they would be a good fit for Roan. As I sit back and watch their interaction, it becomes increasingly clear that Linc is extremely involved in Roan’s NFL prospects. More so than Daniel. Which is interesting. Although it’s nice that the man in Daniel’s life cares so much about Roan’s future, his involvement seems a little over the top.
After a while, the conversation circles back to the Barnett Bulldogs and their upcoming game schedule. After about fifteen more minutes of nothing but football talk, Daniel finally shuts down the discussion with an announcement that dinner is ready.
Thank god.
Because my eyes were just starting to glaze over.
Although I’ve never been interested in football, because Roan plays, I feel like I should try to learn a little bit more about the sport. But with Linc firing off in depth questions, talking stats, and using a whole lot of sports terminology, I’m pretty much clueless as to what they’ve been discussing.
Dinner consists of a garden salad full of fresh vegetables and then a delicious pesto salmon grilled on a cedar plank set on top of a bed of nutty tasting wild rice. The salmon is so flakey and fresh that it practically melts in my mouth. I may love to eat but I have zero time to cook, so I’m appreciative of a home cooked meal. And this one is excellent.
Linc shoots Roan a look before asking, “You eating a healthy mix of complex carbs and lean proteins?”
As soon as the question leaves Linc’s lips, Daniel holds up a hand effectively silencing him. “No more talk of football, proteins, carbohydrates, or training schedules, okay?” He flashes a quick smile in Linc’s direction before turning his attention towards me. “I’m sure all this football talk is boring the hell out of Ivy.”
With a mouthful of salmon, I shake my head. Quickly swallowing, I say, “No, of course not.” Okay… pretty much.
His eyes twinkle with undisguised humor as he asks, “Are you a football fan?”
I’m guessing he already knows the answer to that question from the vacant look in my eyes when they had been discussing the draft and what Roan was doing to prepare for it. “Um, no… not really.” Rather hastily I tack on, “I mean, I haven’t been in the past. I’m trying to learn more about it now that Roan and I have become friends.”
Very gently, Roan squeezes my hand under the table. “She’ll be coming to the next home game to help cheer us on.” He gives me a little wink.
I nod, because I’m looking forward to watching Roan out on the field. He’s obviously very good at his position or NFL teams wouldn’t be scouting him. I think watching a Barnett game will be more fun now that I actually know someone playing. Over the last few weeks, I’ve gotten to know quite a number of the football players. They’re all pretty nice guys. Not at all the Neanderthals I assumed they would be.
Alright, alright… maybe a few of them are. But most aren’t.
Cutting into my thoughts, Daniel says, “Roan tells us that you dance.”
Again, feeling much like a bobble head, I nod. It’s always a bit awkward when you’re meeting someone’s parents for the first time. “Yes, I’ve been dancing since I was three. I’m double majoring in dance and finance.”
He looks impressed. “Wow, that’s quite a combination.”
“Well,” I shrug, “I just want to have something to fall back on in case a career in dance doesn’t work out. Being a professional dancer is highly competitive. And I’ve always been interested in business, so it seemed like a good fit for me.”
“That’s a smart way to approach it. Shoot for your dreams but have a backup plan in case it doesn’t work out the way you hoped it would. And you were involved in a study abroad program last year?”
“Yes,” again with the bobble head action, “I studied at the Conservatoire de Paris for fifteen months.”
“We were in Paris two years ago on vacation- incredible architecture.”
“Yes,” I smile in earnest finally feeling a bit more at ease with the flow and direction of our conversation, “it’s absolutely beautiful. There’s so much to do and see. Cathedrals and gardens. Statues and arches. Everything is just so amazing. And you can walk almost everywhere.”