7. Dom
Chapter seven
Dom
“ A iden, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this uncomfortable before,” Ellie says with a smirk.
“Of course, I’m uncomfortable. The last time I was here, Luca and Hopper conspired against me. It’s only a matter of time before it happens again,” Aiden says. He’s leaning against the wall between the kitchen and living room, arms crossed, and a look on his face that says he’s ready to run at the first sign of trouble. Apparently, a baby spitting up on your chest and your dog proceeding to lick it off is scarring or whatever.
“Babe, they can smell fear. You’re making yourself an easy target. Where’s that confidence from last night?” Bec says with a wink.
“Ah-ah-ah, not in front of young ears.” Ellie laughs, holding her hands over Luca’s tiny ears.
A blush finds its way to Aiden’s face as he glares at Bec. Well, glaring as much as he can. The guy’s fallen hard for Ellie’s best friend; there’s not much he wouldn’t give her. Except a glare, I guess.
“Hey, don’t lump my son into this. He’s not even one. Isn’t your dog supposed to be trained?” I ask .
“Don’t blame the trainer,” Bec, a professional dog trainer and Hopper’s unofficial dog mom, singsongs from across the room where she and Ellie are seated on the floor. “Peek-aaaaaa-boo!” Luca giggles and babbles, eyes wide with wonder as he looks to Bec to do it again. Hopper lies on his side, his back flush against Bec’s outstretched leg. She absentmindedly rubs her hand along his belly as Ellie pets his head.
Spoiled dog. Good for him.
“Well, if I can’t blame the baby, the parents, the dog, or the trainer, who can I blame?”
“Yourself,” we all say in unison, before Aiden rolls his eyes and mutters something about getting another drink before heading into the kitchen.
I let loose a chuckle as I finish my own beer, following him to the fridge. “You know we’re right,” I say.
He hands me the bottle opener and sighs.
“Yeah, which is why I’m begging you to remove me from the babysitting list. When Luca hits T-ball age, then you and Ellie can tap me back in for babysitting.”
“Deal. But was it really that bad?”
“I swear to god, it was the grossest moment of my life,” he says, a grimace taking over his face. Is he turning green?
“Gonna have to get over that squeamish shit when you and Bec have kids.”
Aiden watches Bec as she plays with Luca, Ellie, and Hopper in the living room. Even from a distance, it’s clear how different this is for him. How different he is because of her.
Aiden’s been a great friend for as long as I’ve known him. He went through some heavy shit with his family growing up, but he never let it affect him. At least he made it appear that way. Everything came to a head a few weeks ago, but he started seeing my therapist and leaning on Bec and the rest of us for support instead of keeping it all inside his head. He seems to be doing a lot better.
He had to do the heavy lifting for himself—we couldn’t do that for him. But still, I can see the way Bec has changed his life for the better. The same way Ellie and Luca have changed mine .
I know what’s coming.
“Yeah, about that,” he says, eyes still on Bec, a small, knowing grin tugging on the corner of his mouth.
Never mind, I didn’t expect that. Guess we better save Luca’s hand-me-downs.
“Shut the fuck up, you didn’t…”
“Huh?” Aiden looks at me and must realize what he implied. “No, not that ,” he says, shoving me lightly on the shoulder before taking a sip of his beer. “No kids, yet. I’m going to do it, Dom. I’m going to ask her. I want Bec to be my wife,” he says quietly, eyes returning to her.
The girls are singing “I’m a Little Teapot” to Luca, arm movements and all. Luca is enraptured with their performance, clapping and wiggling along, while Hop wags his tail and his tongue hangs out of his mouth.
This is another one of those moments I want to keep forever. Watching my wife laugh and act ridiculous with her best friend and our son.
I’m relieved to know Aiden is finally working through his past and doing better for it; enough that he knows he’s ready to propose to the woman he loves.
I’m grateful that we’re all here to see this, despite every obstacle. Dammit, why are my thoughts going there? Maybe Ellie isn’t the only one rattled by the anniversary of all that happened when Luca was born.
“I’m excited for you. Both of you,” I say, with a clap on Aiden’s shoulder. “I like seeing you happy.”
“Happy doesn’t even cover it.”
“So, what’s the plan?” My mind immediately starts turning. Bec likes big romantic gestures, right? Who doesn’t? Maybe at a playoff game…on the field…Aiden could bring her out to throw the first pitch—Hop could come out with her—and I could give signs to a shit ton of fans in the stands, and when they hold them up, the signs would spell WILL YOU MARRY—
“Aaaand that’s enough of that,” Aiden says, coming up behind me, slapping both hands on my shoulders, and pushing me into the front hall. “Had to get you out of there, your face was about to give me away.”
“This face?”
Yeah, right. Me? Being obvious? Not a chance .
“Yes, that face. Your smile is about to crack your skull in half.”
“I was just thinking—”
“Dom, I love you like a brother. I can’t thank you or Ellie enough for being there for Bec and me when everything happened with my mom. And while I appreciate the creative thoughts I know are racing through your mind, I already know exactly how I’m going to propose. I got this.”
“Okay, but if not me, then you should at least run it by the boss.”
“Trust me. I plan to. Can you talk to Ellie for me? I’m too scared to text her and have Bec accidentally see the message, but I’m hoping she can come ring shopping with me to make sure I don’t fuck this up.”
“Oh, we’ll be there.”
“But I only need her—”
“ We’ll be there, it’s really no trouble.”
Aiden laughs and rolls his eyes. “Thanks, Dom…for everything.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet. I’ve got experience ring shopping. When do you need us?”
“I know schedules are tight with playoffs, and you guys are probably planning a birthday party for Luca, right?” Aiden asks.
Fuck, tonight is going so well. Ellie seems genuinely happy. I haven’t seen a single line of stress stretch across her forehead all night. Her smile feels like the real one. I haven’t caught her staring in that distant, lost sort of haze. I don’t want that to end.
“Hey, do me a favor and don’t mention Luca’s birthday to Ellie,” I say quietly.
“Uh…okay? Is his birthday a secret?”
“It’s not. Ellie can’t…she’s having a hard time…”
How do I explain this?
I’m not in the habit of lying to my friends, but that’s concerning my personal business. I’m not into broadcasting Ellie’s struggles widely when I know that’s the last thing she wants. Not that I really know what she wants anymore. Or if anything I do helps. Lately, it feels like I just make it worse.
“I was going to text you. We’re having something small here a week from this Saturday. Think you guys can make it? ”
“You know Bec will be here. Send me the time, and I’ll check my schedule.” The Columbus Aviators, the pro baseball team Aiden plays second baseman for, are still in the playoffs. When I met Aiden in college, he was a phenomenal player, but seeing what he’s capable of on the field now? He’s on an entirely different level.
“Great. Then we’ll figure out a good time for Operation Happily Baiden After.”
“Jesus, promise you’ll work on the name for me, okay?”
“Not a fan? Okay.” I shrug. “I’ll come up with some options.”
Maybe this is exactly what Ellie needs. A massive, happy, incredible surprise like this—helping my best friend propose to her best friend—might be enough to help her get through the next couple of weeks without sinking into that place. The one that moves like quicksand drowning us just when we think we’ve wriggled ourselves free.
I’ll take all the help I can get to hold onto her as we trudge through it together.