Chapter 12 Nate
NATE
I headed out to the gym with Eric, my buddy from the Lactin Brotherhood group.
It was easier to work out with someone who also lactated.
We would understand the leaking without asking fifty million questions that we didn’t want to answer.
Physical activity was in order to help clear my mind, and thankfully, he was free.
“Eric!” I called out as he glanced around the gym.
“Hey, man. Ready to get this rolling?”
We started with bicep curls, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Gilly the entire time.
So much for freeing my thoughts. I’d been thrilled that he trusted me enough to come help him with his business, but I did not like what I saw there.
His profit margin was entirely too thin, and I feared they’d inevitably have to close the business.
There was no coming back from numbers like that without a lot of help.
“Hey? What’s wrong with you?” Eric asked after we switched machines. Clearly, my head wasn’t in it, and I was merely going through the motions.
“Sorry, man. I’m concerned about my boy.” How did I explain his situation without compromising Gilly’s trust? “His expenses are barely covered by his income because his business is failing, and he’s kind of stuck there since it’s a family thing, and it’s bugging me.”
“That’s why you wanted to work out, huh? Need an escape from circling thoughts?”
“Something like that, but it doesn’t seem to be helping.” Nothing was. I was a natural caretaker, a fixer if you will, and this fix was out of my circle of influence, which weighed heavily on me.
Eric sat the weights down and stood, fists planted on his hips.
“Well, if you ask me, it’s all about how you handle it.
If he wants advice, give it, but ask him first, don’t just push it on him.
You know? I learned the hard way; they don’t like that.
Also, be sure to praise him when you ask. All boys like praise.”
“You’re not wrong.” Simple Daddy 101 reminders, yet this Daddy had forgotten them.
“Of course not. Now, let’s get busy. You dragged me out here, let’s get this workout done.”
We spent the next forty-five minutes concentrating on lifting, and I was left wondering what had helped more, the advice or the workout.
In the end, it didn’t matter because I knew what I needed to do, and hopefully my boy was receptive to it.
Otherwise, I hadn’t a clue, and losing Gilly wasn’t an option.
It started with doing something fun with Gilly to help him forget about his troubles for a bit. I needed it, so I was pretty sure he would too. He had been so stressed, and if I couldn’t solve his problem, I’d at least ease the anxiety, taking the edge off while giving him some reassurances.