27. Landry
CHAPTER 27
landry
We get through most of the game when the twins start getting too fussy, so I volunteer to take them on a walk to the concession stand. Daisy comes along and gets a barbecue burger this time. I laugh when she says it’s amazing but not as life changing as the cheesy Hot Fries with a pickle on the side.
The crowd gets loud after a few exciting plays in a row, making Penny crankier than before. Loren decides to throw in the towel after that, and I insist on walking her out to her minivan. Daisy follows and seems happy to help buckle Pen into her seat, even with her doing that back-arching thing babies do when they get overly sleepy and refuse to cooperate with anything. I see it a lot in my line of work, especially when I have to dole out shots.
After we send Loren off, Daisy agrees that we might as well head home, to my relief. I’m not interested in waiting around for Ethan to get off the field again.
“Thanks for bringing me to the game tonight,” Daisy says as we climb the front porch steps. “I had a lot of fun.”
“Yeah. Me, too,” I tell her with a smile.
“And thank you for teaching me about football. I’m really starting to enjoy it.”
“Good.”
We stand there awkwardly for a second until it starts to feel like the end of a date, and I quickly jam my key into the lock and let us both inside. I clear my throat before announcing that I need to shower, and she reassures me that it’s okay for me to go first.
“Good night, Landry,” she calls over her shoulder as she heads toward her bedroom.
“Good night, Daisy,” I reply, watching her walk away.
I barely make it back to my room after showering when my phone dings a few times in a row, and I flip it over to find a group text thread.
Unknown
ay whats up fam
JD
Wtf are you texting me? You’re literally sitting on the other side of the couch rn.
Blake
Hang on. If this is a group text, then I’m gonna need to put my phone on silent. I can’t risk waking these babies, or all my efforts to get laid tonight will have been in vain.
Unknown
tmi man
so im gathering all you dudes together bc i need some help
JD
Whatever it is, I’m in.
*gif of the Diamond Dogs from Ted Lasso*
What the actual hell? Is that … Ethan? Panic rises in my chest as the messages continue to bounce up, and I take a second to punch in a response.
Landry
Um. Why am I here?
Ethan
i need to apologize to a friend but idk how bros say sry
JD
And you invited Dr. Douchebag?
I scoff. Ethan’s sadly mistaken if he thinks this is going to go over well.
Landry
Fancy language for you, Golden Boy.
Especially since I circumcised your kid a few weeks ago.
JD
Wait until I finish changing this shitty diaper …
Blake
Calm your tits, ladies. Let’s hear what the kid has to say.
Ethan
i added him to the chat bc i’d like to hear from someone who doesn’t have to ask his wife for permission to stay up past his bedtime
JD
Since we live in the same house, you tell me: Does it sound like my wife minds any of the things I do late at night?
Blake
You walked right into that one, kid.
Ethan
ftr this dude is literally texting with one hand while wiping baby crap with the other
JD
Yeah, changing the baby I made … with your aunt.
Bc it’s like that.
Ethan
I roll my eyes along with Ethan.
JD
Keep on. I’ll make another one.
Blake
Big talk coming from a guy no more than four weeks into a six-week dry spell …
JD
*gif of little boy smiling and crying*
Blake
Come back to me once you survive nine months of pelvic rest, you big titty baby.
This time I gag a little, but the messages just keep popping up.
JD
I’m not a baby, but …
Ethan
you walked right into that one kid
Blake
*gif of man tipping a cowboy hat*
Landry
WHY AM I HERE?
Ethan
to show us how a real man apologizes to his bros
Landry
You’ve got to be freaking kidding me.
Ethan
the bro chat is sacred
i would never joke around in here
Blake
Liar
Liar
I groan, figuring I might as well get this over with. Ethan won’t let it go until I apologize, and doing it over text messages has to be easier than doing it in person. I try to think of it like jumping into a cold lake or ripping off a Band-Aid at once.
Landry
Fine.
Hypothetically speaking, if I were in Ethan’s position, I guess I’d say …
I’m sorry for being an asshole. You didn’t deserve the things I said about you in that wedding toast … or at the hospital.
So thank you for being loyal to my sister, even though I’ve been a dick to you since we were kids. I’m actually really happy for both of you. I just don’t know how to show it.
Or something like that.
Blake
*gif of old man crying and biting fist*
JD
*gif of The Rock raising an eyebrow*
Ethan
ok ok i see you doc
that’s not half bad
but I’m not just talking about an actual bro
like what if it was your bro’s bro’s feelings you hurt kwim
hypothetically speaking of course
I groan louder before I type out the next apology.
Landry
I would begrudgingly add that I’m also sorry for being a douche to him over the years and especially for disrespecting his wife, which I only did to piss him off. I’d reassure him that I hold her in very high regard, both personally and professionally, and that I would never intentionally cross a line.
Ethan
anything else?
Landry
The truth is that I don’t hate any of them, even though I want to. It’s really myself I can’t stand most of the time.
I hit send on that last message and cringe. Maybe I got a little too honest on that one. My phone rings a second later.
“Why the hell are you calling me right now?” I answer gruffly.
“Because I wanted to prepare you for when my sappy-ass brother calls to accept your weird apology,” Blake answers, though his voice sounds suspiciously thick.
“Gah, what is wrong with you people? He wouldn’t really?—”
The call waiting beep interrupts me. Sure enough, JD’s number flashes on the screen when I pull it back.
“Told you,” Blake says. “No point in trying to ignore him. He won’t leave you alone until you let him do his thing.”
“Ugh,” I groan. “Is it too late to take it all back?”
“Yep, you’re stuck. Hope you like cheesy dad jokes and bro hugs. He’s your problem now.” Blake chuckles when I curse under my breath. “But there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for you, either.”
“I guess that’s why he’s the twins’ godfather, huh?”
Blake laughs shortly. “You know, he asked me to be Jake’s Parrain before he knew Loren was pregnant. He told me he trusted me more than any person in the world, that he knew I’d be a great father one day. And he was right—I am a great dad. But sometimes I wonder whether I’d have had the confidence to be this good without my brother’s encouragement, because he was the first person to believe in me.”
I swallow hard and try to hide the way his words make my breath hitch in my throat. It’s hard to imagine myself as part of a family like theirs, one so supportive and openly affectionate.
“I’m sorry I didn’t recognize that same opportunity when I had it, Landry. I want you to know that I appreciate your apology, even though I owe you the same. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for Loren and the girls, and there’s no one else I trust more with their safety. You’re an amazing uncle, and you’d make a great father, too.”
I frown. “Did Daisy put you up to this?”
“Absolutely not. But I’m very interested in your reasons for asking that question,” he says quickly, his tone perking up. The call waiting tone sounds in my ear again, and I can feel my stress level rising.
“Um, well, I?—”
“Never mind. Lo just walked in, and she’s giving me the look . Talk to you later, Lando.” Then he hangs up. I pull the phone back to find JD’s number lighting up the screen again at the same time a text from Ethan comes through.
Ethan
dude you might as well answer him
do it now over the phone so you don’t have to hug him
Landry
How did you get my number anyway?
Ethan
don’t worry about that doc
just answer the phone
I growl under my breath and accept the call. “Can’t you leave well enough alone, JD?”
“I literally cannot. In fact, that’s kind of my thing,” he replies, sounding somewhat amused.
“Look, I apologized, okay, what more?—”
“I’m sorry, too, Landry. I haven’t always been very nice to you. But thanks for being the bigger man.”
I sigh and shake my head at the irony of that statement. “Yeah, no worries.”
“I’d really like it if we could be friends after this.”
I snort. “Are you really asking me to be your friend? What is this, first grade?”
“No,” he retorts defensively. “But grown men are allowed to be open with their feelings. It’s healthy.”
“Oh, is it?”
“Yeah. Unless one wants to convey certain feelings about his bro’s wife. Then he’s signing his own death warrant. But, you know, other than that, I’m here for you.”
I choke on a laugh, unable to help myself this time. “Yeah, man. I’m probably never taking you up on that offer, nor am I going to return the favor, but I appreciate it.”
“Anytime, brother,” he says, and I could swear I hear him sniffling. “I might hug you next time I see you, though.”
“The hell you will.”
He chuckles. “We’ll see.”
“Dude, I’m hanging up now.”
“Fine, good night?—”
I tap the red icon and end the call, then I laugh to myself as I toss my phone aside.