Twenty-Eight
twenty-eight
THE LUCKIEST - BEN FOLDS
OWEN - APRIL 19, 2014
T he late morning sunlight streams through the window, casting long shadows across the hardwood floor. Ruby is dozing in her bouncer, one tiny hand clutching the edge of her blanket, while Sara sits on the couch, completely engrossed in her cartoons. Callie is still upstairs, probably texting Taylor and Brooke, judging by the occasional burst of laughter I hear from the bedroom.
I glance at my phone sitting on the counter, knowing it’s about time I let the guys know what’s happened. A grin tugs at my lips as I grab it and open our group chat, scrolling up to see what I’ve missed since I wasn’t paying attention to my phone last night.
Predictably, chaos is already in full swing.
Luke has added Hunter Holloway to the Chat.
Hunter owns the bar where the guys threw my turnout party after I finished my apprenticeship last year. Since we went back to the bar a while back, he’s become one of the guys. I’m glad to see Luke has added him to our group chat. I don’t know why I didn’t think to do that before.
Luke:
Fuck my life. Heather just bought a $400 purse, and I’m trying to figure out how to survive on bread and water for the rest of the month.
Vince:
Rookie mistake.
Will:
This is why you don’t let them near your credit card.
Hunter:
RIP Luke’s wallet. She better not tell Mandee where she got it from.
I shake my head, laughing under my breath, and start typing.
Me:
Morning, boys. Got some news.
Will:
What’s up?
Vince:
How’s NOLA?
Luke:
Did Callie make you buy her a $400 purse too?
Me:
Great and no.
Me:
I’m getting married.
The chat explodes almost instantly.
Vince:
WHAT?!
Luke:
Shut up.
Will:
About damn time.
Hunter:
Congrats, man! That’s awesome.
Luke:
Wait, you actually did it? You proposed?
Me:
Last night. Backyard, string lights, Polaroid camera—the works.
Vince:
And she said yes?
Me:
Obviously, jackass.
Luke:
Damn. Who would’ve thought Owen Klein would get down on one knee?
Luke:
Again, I mean.
Me:
Keep talking, Luke. I’ll remember this the next time you need help fixing your furnace.
Hunter:
Seriously, though, congrats. Callie’s great, and you guys deserve all the happiness.
Will:
I’m happy for you, man.
Hunter:
Agreed. But the real question is, who’s going to be your best man?
Luke:
Obviously, it’s me. I’ve known him the longest.
Vince:
Umm… actually, no you haven’t. I’m the one that grew up with him.
Will:
I’m the most responsible. Clearly, I’m the best choice.
Hunter:
Since I’m new here and not in the running, I just want to take a moment to offer up the bar for the Bachelor Party.
Me:
Way to drop a bomb on the conversation there, Hunter. Glad to have you here. Asshat.
Hunter:
I may be an asshat but I’m also willing to cover the tab for the party sooo…
Luke:
Hunter wins. Make him your Best Man.
Vince:
This is why I hate group chats.
Luke:
Don’t hate the chat. Hate yourself for not standing a chance.
Will:
Owen, just blink twice if you need me to save you from these clowns.
I type a response, my grin widening as I hit send.
Me:
You’re all terrible candidates. I hate to break it to you but Barrett is going to be my Best Man.
Vince:
Respect.
Luke:
Fair.
Hunter:
Honestly, Barrett will probably give a better speech than Vince.
Vince:
I hate you all.
Will:
Congrats again, man. Callie’s a catch.
I set my phone down on the counter, still grinning at the chaos unfolding in the chat. Leave it to the guys to turn my engagement announcement into a ridiculous debate over who’s the best man. The thought of Barrett standing next to me at the altar makes my chest tighten. I can already picture his face when I ask him, his big, lopsided grin, the way he’ll probably tell every single person he meets for the next year that he’s the best man. He’s going to love it, and knowing him, he’ll take it more seriously than these clowns.
This is the life I didn’t know I could have, the one I never let myself hope for after everything fell apart with Sabrina. Back then, I told myself I was fine on my own, that as long as Barrett was happy, I didn’t need anything else. Standing here now with Callie upstairs, Sara giggling on the couch, and Ruby sleeping peacefully in her bouncer, I can’t imagine going back to that.
“Owie, funny?” Sara asks, twisting around on the couch to look at me, her curls bouncing.
I smile at her, my chest warming at the sight. “Just Uncle Vince and Uncle Luke being silly,” I say, ruffling her hair as I walk past.
She grins, turning back to her cartoons without missing a beat. “Uncle Vince is always silly.”
She’s not wrong. Vince’s idea of humor mostly involves needling everyone else until they snap, but somehow, it’s always funny.
A few minutes later, Callie comes down the stairs, her hair damp from her shower and a soft, sleepy smile on her face. She’s got this glow about her. She’s lighter and more at peace than I’ve seen in a while. It makes my chest ache, like my heart’s too full for my ribs to contain.
“What’s got you smiling?” she asks, tilting her head as she steps into the kitchen.
“Just told the guys,” I reply, crossing the room to pull her into my arms. Her body against mine is grounding, like coming home after a long day.
Her brows lift, her green eyes sparking with curiosity. “And?”
“It immediately turned into a debate about who’s going to be the best man. Hunter offered to host the bachelor party at the bar.”
Callie’s laugh is warm and full, her head falling against my chest. “Of course, they did. Did anyone actually say congratulations, or was it just an argument?”
“Oh, there were a few congrats sprinkled in,” I tease, brushing a strand of damp hair away from her face. “Mostly buried under Luke and Vince throwing verbal punches about who knows me better.”
She rolls her eyes, her grin widening. “Sounds about right. You’re lucky they care about you as much as they do, even if they show it in... unique ways.”
“I know,” I admit, my tone softening as I look at her.
Her smile deepens and she leans up to kiss me, her lips warm and familiar. I sink into her touch like it’s the only thing keeping me steady.
Ruby stirs in her bouncer, letting out a little whimper that’s almost too sweet to be real, her tiny fists curling and uncurling. Sara, never one to sit still for long, clambers off the couch and dives headfirst into the toy basket, her determination evident as she digs for whatever treasure she’s after.
The disorder of all the scattered toys, tiny voices, and constant movement is a beautiful chaos that fills every corner of this house and my heart. This is my life now—messy, loud, and overflowing with love.
Callie pulls back, her green eyes searching mine. “What did you tell them about the best man?” she asks, her voice curious, like she’s already guessing the answer.
“I told them the truth,” I say, a smirk tugging at my lips. “Barrett’s got the job.”
Her expression softens instantly, the corners of her mouth curving into a smile. “He’s going to be so excited,” she whispers, her voice thick with affection.
I nod, my throat tightening as the image of Barrett’s face flashes through my mind again. I can already picture his wide grin, the way he’ll probably puff out his chest with pride, and the million questions he’ll have about what a best man does. “Yeah,” I say, my voice a little rough. “He will.”
Her lips part like she’s about to say something, but she leans up and kisses me instead. It’s soft and deliberate, her lips pouring every unspoken thought into the moment. The kiss makes my chest ache, the mixture of love and gratitude swelling so much I feel like I might burst.
When she finally pulls back, her green eyes are glistening, and a small, breathy laugh escapes her. “You’re really good at this, you know,” she murmurs, her voice tinged with awe.
“At what?” I ask, my thumb brushing gently along her cheek, catching a stray curl as it falls.
“Making me feel like I’m the most important person in the world,” she says softly.
“That’s because you are,” I reply without hesitation, my voice steady and sure. I pull her closer, wrapping my arms around her as I press a kiss to the top of her head.
The moment stretches, warm and unspoken, as we hold each other. The noise of the house fades away, leaving only the steady rhythm of her breathing and the quiet hum of my heart.