Page 19 of All Mine
‘Hopefully have a couple of weeks off with the boys. This game’s been going on for months.’
‘How do you explain to them that playing computer games is your job?’ Etienne said.
‘I do have to design them first before I can play them, you know. And playing them is only to check that everything works. No glitches.’
‘So how many times have you played this one?’
Fox blew out his breath.
‘I’ve lost count. But I didn’t sleep at all Tuesday night so that I could get to the final level.’
‘Such dedication.’ Walker laughed. ‘I didn’t sleep either on Tuesday night, but it was more to do with saving people trapped in a rolled bus than playing on my computer.’
‘Yeah, yeah. We know you’re amazing. . .’
‘Firefighters are everyday heroes, you know,’ Walker announced proudly, as if this was news.
‘It’s only because everyone wants to see your hose,’ Fox said.
‘Or climb your pole,’ Etienne added.
‘Fuck off. At leastmypole’s working,’ Walker said good-naturedly.
Etienne thought about retaliating but realised he hadn’t thought about his cock once all night, even when he was surrounded by gorgeous women. Maybe he really was broken.
‘Seriously, though,’ Fox said. ‘I’ve got a good feeling about this game. I think it could be popular.’ He lifted his beer and they all cheersed.
‘When will you hear?’
‘The investors’ meeting is next month. Gives them time to personally play it and get feedback from user groups.’
‘Then what?’
‘They’ll either produce it or they won’t, or they might ask for some changes or extensions. Have to wait and see. And spend some time with the hooligans until then.’
‘You could dedicate some time to getting laid too, you know,’ Walker suggested.
‘The only laying I’m going to be doing is down– for long naps when the kids are at school and lie-ins on Sundays to watch cartoons with them in bed.’
‘Seriously, one day someone will catch your eye again.’
‘And I’ll have to hope my body can keep up.’ Fox seemed completely happy with his lot. He’d come a long way from the first time Etienne met him, sitting at the corner table of The Bistro with a toddler in a high chair and a baby in a sling on his chest. He was trying to feed chopped-up Poulet Breton to the oldest as he banged a spoon repeatedly on the table, and balance a bottle under his chin to keep in direct contact with the baby’s crying mouth, all the while Fox’s own plate of boeuf bourguignon went cold and congealed.
‘Shall I feed you while you feed them?’ Etienne had joked, but the look of absolute despair on Fox’s face made him pull out a chair and take over the feeding of a very vocal two-year-old.
‘Thanks. You’re a lifesaver,’ Fox had said.
Fox’s wife had died the week before. Reggie was old enough to notice, George just clung to his daddy instead.
Now, four years later, Fox had hit his stride with the boys. His career was on the up, with his ‘FoxFun’ gaming designs gaining attention. He was a hot single daddy who had everything except time to focus on himself.
‘What about your sex drive then?’ Walker nudged Etienne. ‘Has it resurfaced?’
‘Not as yet,’ Etienne acknowledged. ‘Last brief appearance was when I licked Isabella’s arm.’
‘Whose?’ Walker said.
‘Isabella. The new restaurant owner.’
