Page 22 of Winning the Nightcap

Don’t look at him.

Aiden and I have been circling each other from opposite ends of the party all night. I’m trying to keep it that way to avoid embarrassing myself again, which seems to keep happening every time I’m around him. But I swear, in those weak moments when I can’t help glancing in his direction, I find his eyes already on me. I might be imagining it, but it still warms a piece of me each time it happens, and I have to turn away to hide my smile.

Dom glides past me and sits in the chair catty-corner to the couch. “Did I hear you giving up on my friends so easily? You haven’t even met Tanner yet. I could really see you two getting along.” He takes a drink from his beer and offers to get Ellie and me one, too, which she declines, gesturing to her hot chocolate on the coffee table, and I pass as well, since I’m driving home tonight. I have an early training session at the shelter in the morning. Normally, I’d just crash on Ellie and Dom’s couch, but I want to avoid an early commute downtown. I know myself; I’ll inevitably snooze my alarm a million times until I’m late, thinking I can make the drive in half the time it’ll take. Morning Bec is an unreasonable bitch, always convincing me that ten more minutes of terrible sleep is worth any consequence of being late.

“Tempting, but no thanks. My social battery is empty. At this point, I’d bore anyone you put in front of me straight into a coma. Don’t let me waste their time.”

“Aw, come on, Bec. Haven’t you heard that most people meet through mutual friends? You’re not even giving my guys a chance,” Dom whines.

“Excuse me, Grandpa, most people meet online nowadays. I know it must be hard to understand, since online dating didn’t exist when you were single. I’ll show you how to increase the font size on your phone whenever you’re ready,” I say with mirth, fully prepared for his rebuttal. Even Ellie can’t hold in her giggle.

Dom gives me an unimpressed look. “Yeah. Ha, ha. Laugh all you want. I’m ready to fully embrace old dad life. I even got myself some New Balances to wear when I mow the lawn next summer, right, sweetie?” He looks to Ellie for confirmation, as if this is something I would ever doubt. As if this is something to brag about.

“Uh-huh, hottest thing I’ve ever seen. Love me some grass-stained sneakers. Can’t wait to eat up all that daddy eye candy from the porch.” Ellie gives him a wink, which he returns. I can’t stifle the stroke ofjealousy that flares in my gut witnessing their effortless love.

“Ugh, Mom and Dad are so gross, aren’t they, Luca? Just flaunting their love in the open like this, throwing names likeDaddyaround in public. Tell them to get a room.” I tickle Luca’s toes, and he scrunches them up so cute, I melt a little.

“What about Aiden?” Dom asks. Heat creeps up my neck to my cheeks. I have no idea if Aiden told Dom…well, anything, but I’m going to assume he has no idea. He isn’t acting like he knows any better, and I’m not going to be the one to explain to him what’s going on…or what isn’t going on.

“Yeah, I’m going to have to pass on anyone that has seen me covered in baby poop. Kind of kills the romance, don’t you think?” I shrug, hoping Dom drops it. Because while it kills me to remind anyone of that embarrassing moment, it’s better than Dom insisting on setting me up with Aiden.

“Okay, that’s fair.” He holds both hands up in defeat, relaxing back into his seat. “Can’t blame a guy for trying. He’s a great friend. I’d like to see him end up with someone cool, is all. I want to see you both happy, you know?”

Any lingering annoyance I felt about their attempts to set me up evaporates instantly. Tonight is another reminder of how lucky I am that when Ellie married Dom, I gained another brother. While I don’t expect it to, his sentiment thaws a few of the frozen edges I surround myself with, knowing that I have friends in my corner who want the best for me. Good people who care about me and my happiness. I know that’s hard to come by, and I couldn’t imagine anything I value more.

Chapter Fifteen

Aiden

Bec looks fucking hot tonight in a dress that hugs her full hips and thick thighs. Her bold lipstick makes me want to run my thumb between her lips. I want to kiss it off her.

I’ve avoided her all night, doing my best to not gawk at her. I don’t know how well I’m doing, since I’m pretty sure she caught me staring a few times.

I peek in her direction again to spot her catching up with Ellie and Dom as the party begins to wind down. All I can assume is my awkward stolen glances, without even saying hi, have probably made Bec feel even more uncomfortable around me than she did before tonight.

It doesn’t help that Ellie and Dom keep introducing her to what looks like every single guy here. Jealousy shoots through me every time I see her laugh and smile at men who are undoubtedly interested in her.

I have no right to be jealous, I know that. Bec’s single and can do what she likes. I just…I don’t know what to think about it, to be honest.

“Could you be more hung up?” Turning, I see Jake, Dom’s older brother, approach, handing me a new beer. He raises his glass to mine, tapping lightly before taking a sip but it’s not enough time for me tothink of a subtle response.

“Don’t play dumb, Price. You couldn’t be more obvious if you were ringing a bell and wearing a sandwich board with Bec’s face on it covered in hearts,” Chris, Jake’s husband, says as he looks at me over Jake’s shoulder, wrapping both arms around his waist.

“Go easy on him, he’s got a crush, gentlemen. I think it’s best we give him a few minutes to write a note asking Bec to the homecoming dance. Which one of us should deliver it for you, Aiden? Don’t forget to include ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ and ‘maybe’ check boxes for her to choose from,” Dylan chimes in, slinging an arm around my shoulders and roughly pulling me toward him.

I shove Dylan off me. “Ha, ha. Very funny. Tell me, who did you harass before I moved back? Must have been awfully boring here without me.”

“Dom,” they all say in unison.

“But he’s a new dad, so he’s off limits right now,” Chris says.

“Exactly. So lucky for you, our schedule has completely cleared up. We are free to insert ourselves in your love life and offer you some crucial advice.” Before I can interrupt him, Dylan goes on, “Number one, if you’re interested in someone, you should speak to them. This requires you to be within a five-foot radius and to use your words like a grown-up,” he says like the unbearable smart-ass that he is.

“Number two, you cannot stare at your love interest from across the room all night like a serial killer. That’s grounds for an intervention. The longer you creep, the more lecturing you’ll have to suffer through,” Jake taunts. “You’ve already earned about three hours of lecturing, at least. It’s going to be brutal; I promise.”

“Number three, if you find yourself incapable of following rules one and two, you have to confess the truth to your friends, who care enough to ask for it so that they can help you.” Chris leans in close to whisper loudly, “That’s us, we’re the friends. Now, spill.”

Sighing, I drag my free hand over my face. Dylan knows what happened when I met Bec, but do I want to confess to harboring this likely unhealthy infatuation with Bec in the years since? No fucking way. Could I use some advice? Abso-fucking-lutely. I’m confused as shit about what to do. I don’t know how to be friends with someone I can’t stop thinking about in anot-so-friendly way. Every moment I spend with her embeds curiosity further into my skin, leaving me wanting to know more about her. Shouldn’t I keep my distance, since I can’t pretend I don’t want more with her? It doesn’t seem like I’m hiding it very well if these three can call it out after only one night.

---