Chapter Twenty-Four
It had been the most perfect weekend he could remember. For the first time, Armi walked through the city as part of a family. Saturday, they’d strolled through Central Park and the zoo, stopping for pretzels from the cart, and then they’d taken a car downtown to the 9/11 Memorial. Later, for fun, they’d ridden the Staten Island Ferry to get a close-up of the Statue of Liberty, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, and had pizza. At times, he and Hayden had walked hand in hand—another milestone for him—or he’d talk to Jim about the Kings and what he hoped to accomplish, and Nikki had wanted to know all about how he’d started raising roses.
After dropping Nikki and Jim at Hayden’s apartment to rest up before dinner, they headed back to the town house so they could shower and get ready. Like the previous evening, he wanted to call in a favor and get them a seat at a coveted restaurant. “We can go to one of the best in the city—Carbone. I want to make the weekend special.”
Hayden, who’d showered first, lay on the bed but sat up quickly. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Do what?” He stripped off his sweaty clothes.
“Take my parents to all these expensive restaurants. They’re just happy to be here with us. I bet they’d be happy if we just ordered in sushi. They have no good places upstate close by.”
Armi shrugged. “I want to make a good impression.” He walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower, letting the water rain down on him. A few seconds later, Hayden opened the door and joined him. He put his arms around Armi and held him tight.
“I don’t mean to make you feel bad, but you don’t need to spend all that money to make them like you. They love you because you’re a good person with a kind heart.” Hayden’s kiss was warm and soft, and Armi clung to him. “And I love you because you’re all that, plus you turn me on like no one else.”
“I’ve had such a great time with them, I just wanted to make sure they knew the weekend was special.”
“They do. They don’t need fancy dinners to know you care. And all I need is you.”
Armi kissed him. “Sushi it is.”
**
Sunday was a stay-at-home family day, and Armi loved every minute of it.
He and Jim did the crossword puzzle, while Hayden sat next to him, playing with the hair that curled at the base of his neck. Contentment spread through him whenever Hayden’s fingers brushed his skin, and every once in a while, they’d catch each other’s eye and smile. But—and no offense to Hayden, who knew this—the best part of the day was spending time with Nikki in the greenhouse and yard. Armi knew Hayden was interested in his roses, but Nikki shared his passion, and she’d been thrilled to help him with his latest grafting project. It had taken the better part of two hours, but in the end, he was satisfied with the result.
He stripped off his gardening gloves. “If it takes, I’m going to call it the Nikki rose.”
Big green eyes, so like Hayden’s, grew wide, and beamed bright. “That would be amazing. Will you send me pictures if and when it takes? I’d love to see how it grows.” They walked outside to the garden, and she bent to smell the different flowers. “My blooms never get this big or smell sweet like these.”
“I’m going to send you home with a list of things I use and some samples of special fertilizers and treatments for black spot, fungus, and other diseases that specifically affect roses.”
“Thank you so much.” Nikki wandered some more, stopping at each bush, then with determination in her step, strode over to him. “I’m very happy you and Hayden are together. I think you’re wonderful, Armi. And I see how you and Hayden look at each other, and know that you care about him.”
“Uh, y-yes. I d-do. A lot.”
“Hayden’s always felt he must do everything on his own and be the strong one. We just want him to be happy.”
Never having dated or met anyone’s parents, Armi wasn’t sure how to answer her, but decided to speak from his heart. “Nikki, I can honestly say that meeting Hayden changed my life. And I’m going to always try to make him as happy as he makes me, but I’m not sure that’s possible.”
Apparently, that was a good answer, because she hugged him. “I think it is. Let’s go inside, and you can show me the rest of the house. It’s beautiful.” She hooked her arm through his, but he held back.
“Can I get your opinion on something?”
“Of course.”
It had been weighing on his mind for several days, and Armi figured Nikki was the perfect person to tell him if he was doing the right thing.
“I, uh, was thinking of asking Hayden to move in with me. I’m here all alone in the house, and I know he’s got his apartment, but we’re together all the time now…” He chewed his bottom lip.
“It hasn’t been that long, has it?” Her brow furrowed. “Only a few weeks or so?”
Face flaming because there was no way in hell he’d ever tell her he and Hayden had hooked up that first night, he ducked his head. “Well, uh…not really. It’s been longer than that.” He wanted to be truthful. “I’ve liked Hayden from the first time I met him, and the feeling has only gotten stronger.”
She took his hand in hers and squeezed it. “I understand. It was the same when Jim and I met. But maybe…take it a little slower? Give it a bit more time?” She paused, and Armi sensed she was choosing her words with deliberation. She didn’t know Hayden had revealed his past to him. “I’m sure there are things you both need to learn about each other.”
Armi appreciated her wanting to protect Hayden, and though they’d only just met, Armi felt a special closeness with her. “I understand. We’re not kids, and both of us come with baggage.”
“Everyone does, but the trick is to find that one special person you want by your side for a lifetime of adventures. They can help you carry the load.” She hugged him again. “Let’s go inside. I bet those two are hungry. I know I am.”
The sun came out, and the roses nodded in the light breeze, as if in agreement with what Nikki said. In the family room, Hayden and his father were talking about the latest innovations in computers. His heart squeezed tight, envying their shared laughter and the easy friendship and love. Something he’d always wished for with his own father but never had. And never would.
Hayden met his eyes, and as if sensing Armi’s thoughts, spoke a few words to his father and crossed the room to join him. “Everything all right?”
No way would Armi ruin their good time with depressing thoughts about his relationship with his parents. “Absolutely. Your mom and I were in the garden. I’m going to send her some rosebushes, but she doesn’t know it yet.”
“She’ll love them.” Hayden slipped an arm around his waist. “And after they leave, you can tell me what’s bothering you.”
**
It was harder saying good-bye to Hayden’s parents later that afternoon than waving off his mother for her yearly six-month trip to Europe for the fashion shows. He gave Jim some of his father’s collectible memorabilia—signed jerseys from Hall of Famers and a Joe Montana personalized football.
“These are very valuable.” Jim regarded everything as if they were fragile works of art. “Are you sure you want to give them away?”
“I think you’ll appreciate them more than I ever could. And don’t forget you’re going to come to the season opener with us.”
“Thanks, Armi. This is incredible. I’ll treasure them.”
Nikki held the bag of garden goodies he’d given her, and he whispered in her ear, “I hope you have room in your garden for some more rosebushes. I’m having half a dozen sent to your home tomorrow.”
“Armi.” She squealed with delight and flung her arms around his neck. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
“Hey,” Jim protested good-naturedly, and they all laughed when Nikki blew him a kiss.
“I heard you like to enter your roses in some local contests, so you’ll have to let me know if they win.”
“If?” Nikki scoffed. “You mean when.” She kissed him again. “Thank you.”
He’d arranged for them to travel home by car, and he watched them both hug Hayden tight before climbing into the back seat. The limo drove away, and Hayden put an arm over his shoulder.
“I think you’re now the favorite son.”
Armi laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He leaned into Hayden’s chest. “You’re so lucky to have parents who love you.”
Hayden kissed his neck. “Let’s go inside. It’s a workday tomorrow, and I have things to go over tonight.”
They stopped by the kitchen to pick up some beers, then settled on the couch in the family room. “You’re going to go to your apartment now?”
“Yeah, why?”
Armi sighed and drank some more of his beer. “Just that we had a great weekend, didn’t we?”
Hayden smiled. “The best. I can’t thank you enough for everything you did for my parents.” His foot traveled up Armi’s shin. “They love you.”
“I think they’re wonderful.”
“Did being together all weekend upset you? You were a little quiet earlier. Is it because of your father?”
“It shouldn’t bother me, right?” Armi picked at the label of the beer bottle. “I mean, I’m almost forty, and he’s gone. He and I never had that closeness you have with your parents. And my mother…yes, she loves me, and we’re fine together.”
Hayden frowned. “I thought you were close. The two of you had a nice lunch together.”
“She and I have a good relationship. Now. Growing up…she wasn’t around much. Besides, I have no desire to dump all my problems on her. She’s helped me with some of the issues with the team, but I can’t run everything past my mommy, and I don’t want to.”
“You’re hot when you get riled up,” Hayden teased, then grew serious. “I’m sorry you never had support when you were young. But these past few weeks I’ve come to realize something about you.”
Armi hung his head. “Yeah? What’s that?”
“Look at me,” Hayden commanded, and Armi was surprised to see Hayden’s fierce expression. “Our first night you said you’d never done anything like that—picked up a guy and had sex.”
“I-I hadn’t.”
“But you were amazing.”
Armi’s face burned. “It was special.”
“But it’s more than that. All your life you’ve listened to people tell you who you are, and you believed them.”
He winced. “Yeah. That’s pretty obvious.”
Hayden’s piercing green gaze met his. “But now that we’ve spent all this time together, I’ve seen the rapid change in you, and it made me think maybe you’ve always had the desire to work on the team. You’ve just never had the opportunity. Because your father was such an overwhelming presence, you let his negativity get under your skin and mess with your head.”
“I never thought I’d enjoy it, but…I kind of do. It’s just going to take time for everyone else to see that I’m not going to give up. Russell, especially.”
“That fucker,” Hayden growled, and Armi grinned, loving his possessiveness. “How do you plan on dealing with him after your talk?”
“I’m not sure. He won’t be back for several more weeks, so I have some time to think about it.”
“I think you need a plan as soon as possible. I would’ve fired him.”
Armi wanted to heed Hayden’s opinion, but he also knew that Russell possessed a deep wealth of helpful knowledge that would be almost impossible to find elsewhere.
“I know, but…”
“But you need him. I get it. I don’t have to like it, but I understand. Just…be careful. I didn’t trust him before, and I sure as hell don’t now.” Hayden finished his beer. “I’d better get my stuff together and go.” He got to his feet, stretched, and headed for the stairs.
“Wait,” Armi called out.
Hayden turned around. “What’s the matter?”
“I want to ask you something. Sit for a sec?”
Hayden returned to his recently vacated spot. “Something wrong?”
“No. I hope you think it’s right.”
Puzzled, Hayden pushed his hair out of his face. “Okay. What’s up?”
Armi licked his suddenly dry lips. “I was thinking…we had a great time this past week. Spending every night together, and this whole weekend.”
Eyes soft, Hayden smiled. “Yeah, it was amazing. Every minute.”
“What would you say about making it full-time?” Armi shifted closer. “Move in with me?”