25. Chapter 25
The Family Dinner… It’s fine, I’m totally fine, love Ruby
Olly-
“Jasper!” I yell down the hall. “Baby, we’re going to be late.”
“I can’t find her.” He comes out of the bedroom, eyes wide, panic written all over his face. “Oh my God, I lost her. Someone stole her. Someone came into the house in the middle of the night and stole my baby.”
I stifle a laugh, only to be called out. “ Gasp … Are you laughing at me? This is a very serious matter.”
“No. Well, yes, I am laughing, but not at you. I think you’re adorable.”
Jasper preens. “I know…but seriously, babe. I can’t find her!”
“You mean your pride and joy that’s hanging by the front door?”
Jasper’s head whips around so fast I can’t help but chuckle. “My baby!” he calls out, making a beeline for the coat hook I added next to the front door. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I promise I will never lose you again. I got distracted for just a second, and when I turned around, you were gone.” Jasper cocks his head. “And placed on this beautiful pink diamond coat hook.”
He turns to look at me, and I shrug. “She needed a fancy place to hang.”
It takes less than three strides before Jasper pushes me against the wall and kisses me with gusto.
“Is this the equivalent of you giving me a drawer?” he says against my lips.
I laugh. “Yes, except I already cleaned out the top two drawers in the dresser.”
Jasper freezes, and I wonder if I fucked up. “Umm, is that ok? Is it too soon? There’s no pressure.”
“No, not too soon. And I’m not freaking out, so get a hold of your wayward thoughts.” He kisses me. “I’ve never had anyone give me a drawer before. Are you sure?”
“Jasper, you’re here every night, and it’s exactly where I want you to be.” Now I just need to find a place for his art studio because what I really want is for him to move in. I know he says he’s not skittish, but I don’t want to push him.
“Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
“You’re welcome. We should get going. Do you have the gift?”
“Yep, right here,” he says, picking up the pink mermaid gift bag.
“Spencer asked me to remind you to be nice tonight. It’s her day,” I tell Jasper as we make our way to the car .
“I don’t understand why she gets a special day, anyway. It’s technically family dinner night, so really…”
“Jasper!”
“Ugh, fine.”
By the time we arrive at Dragonfly, I’m only somewhat convinced Jasper will behave himself.
“Sorry, we’re late. Someone had a small panic attack about not finding his jacket.”
“Hey, she’s a piece of art. She’s special.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, baby, she’s pretty special.”
“You two are just so stinking cute.”
“Spencer is just saying that because he won the bet,” says Finn, walking up to greet us.
“Really? You bet on us?” I ask.
Finn nods. “Yep. And you’re right on time. Food’s almost ready.”
We started having our family dinners at Dragonfly and then we rotate who’s in charge of cooking. “Who’s our chef tonight?”
“Beckett and Lucas.”
“Oh, that’s right. Beckett said his friend was coming tonight.”
Spencer lowers his voice to an almost whisper. “Yeah, so everything’s been going just fine. There hasn’t been a brooding, massive meatball standing in the corner all night shooting daggers at Beckett’s friend.”
Jasper and I both snort. “When are they going to realize?”
“Oh, you mean the way you two danced around it forever?” Finn says.
“It just wasn’t our time yet,” I say, grabbing Jasper’s hand and kissing the back of it.
Mazie cries in the distance. “Duty calls,” Spencer says, making his way to her, Finn following close behind. Seeing them as parents is the absolute best.
Beckett comes out of the kitchen carrying a tray of food, and my stomach rumbles.
“Look, tiny little sandwiches,” Jasper says. “I could eat a whole tray.”
“Please, don’t eat a whole tray.”
“Ugh, fine.”
“I’m going to go talk to Jaxon about my schedule for next week.”
Jasper has turned a corner, it seems, with opening up more. He has a doctor’s appointment coming up, and instead of hiding it, he told me right away. He even told me he was nervous about it.
“Okay, I’m going to talk to the brooding man in the corner.”
“Can I just say I’m proud of you?”
“For what?” I ask.
“You used to be intimidated just by talking to Dom. Now you’re just walking up to him without a care in the world.”
“Yes, well, my curiosity is outweighing his scariness. And please, he’s just a giant teddy bear.”
“That’s not what I hear about him in the bedroom,” Jasper whispers, giving me a kiss before making his way over to Jaxon.
“Hey, Dom,” I say.
“Olly. So, how’s it going, man?”
“Good. Everything’s going good.”
“Ahh, so how about you? Everything going all right?”
“Yep, never better.”
“Uh-huh, you look a little tense. Are you sure? ”
“You know what? No, everything is not fine.” My eyes go wide. “Who does this little twerp think he is?”
“I’m assuming you’re talking about Beckett’s friend from LA?”
“Friend from LA,” Dom huffs with a humorless chuckle.
“He seems nice,” I offer.
“What do we even know about him? He shows up here from LA, moves in with Beckett, and now he’s here, cooking at the family dinner. He could poison us for all we know.”
“ Okay, well, I don’t think he’s actually moving in with Beckett. He told me that Lucas is looking for his own place and is just staying with him while he’s in town deciding.”
Dom arches an eyebrow. “Oh, did he really, now?”
“Umm, yes…” Fuck me.
“Interesting. Thanks for the heads up.”
Why do I get the feeling I just walked in the middle of something I don’t want to be in the middle of? Ok, maybe I kinda want to get in the middle. When did I get so gossipy? Probably around the time I fell in love.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Dom says.
I nod and watch as he makes his way over to Beckett. The smirk on Beckett’s face drops as Dom whispers something in his ear. That’s not good.
I don’t even jump when Jasper wraps his arms around me from behind. “Hey, Jasper, are you seeing this?”
“Why does Dom look so mad?”
“Oh, I may have told him that Beckett’s friend isn’t really staying with him and is actually planning to get his own place if he moves here.”
“Shouldn’t that make Dom happy? ”
“Yes, but I think Beckett was hoping more for jealousy.”
“Interesting… very interesting.”
Jasper -
“Hey, you two.”
“Hey, Marcus. Hey, Jacob. I’m so glad you guys could join us this time.”
“We’re happy that you invited us. Ahh, what are we gossiping about?” says Jacob.
Marcus looks at Jacob, shaking his head with an affectionate smile. “I swear you and Matthew always had to play matchmaker.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just want to know what’s happening.”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure Beckett’s trying to make Dom jealous,” Olly says.
“Well, that never ends well,” Jacob says.
“Yep,” I agree, nodding my head. “I’m really glad you guys could make it.” I feel like shit for keeping these two very important men in my life separate from my friends at Ink Me for as long as I did. Marcus and Jacob say they understand, but I don’t, and it leaves a sourness in my gut.
“I’m glad we’re here too,” Jacob says, giving my arm a squeeze. “You have an amazing group of friends here, and it’s nice to see you with all of them.”
“I never meant to hide you.”
“Oh, sweetheart, we know. It’s not like you dropped out of our lives. You were still over all the time, eating our food.” Jacob laughs and I hear Olly chuckle beside me.
“Look,” Marcus says. “I think you needed to realize that you had real friends first. You’re an adult; it’s common not to introduce your… parents to every person you meet. So really, don’t be so hard on yourself.”
Olly wraps an arm around my waist, giving my hip a squeeze. I rest my head on his shoulder while giving Marcus a nod. “Okay.”
In the comfort of Olly’s arms, I feel more love around me than I’ve ever felt in my entire life. He stayed by my side and let me work through my shit. Yeah, he yelled at me when I was doing something foolish, but that’s our thing.
“Matthew would be extremely proud of the person you’ve become, just like we are,” Jacob says.
Olly kisses the top of my head. “Just like we all are.”
“Oh,” Jacob says, peeking around me. “Is that Lucas?”
“Yep, that’s him.”
“Can I ask you guys something?” Olly asks.
“Do you think you guys will look for another partner?”
Marcus and Jacob look at each other. You can see the love and the pain in their eyes. “We are not opposed to the idea, but finding someone as good as Matthew… I just don’t know if it’s possible,” Jacob says.
“Don’t give up. You never know when you’ll find someone,” I say, knowing their hearts will always be big enough for three.
“Yes, well enough about us and our sad story. What’s going on with you guys? How’s the bakery coming along?”
I turn and look at Olly. “Can we tell them?”
He nods. “Olly decided on a name.”
“Really, what is it?” Marcus says with genuine curiosity.
“It’s going to be called The Vanilla House.” My eyes sting, getting choked up as I speak the words.
Jacob brings his hand over his heart, looking up at Marcus, their eyes meeting. “I think it’s beautiful. Thank you for honoring him. ”
Olly squeezes my hand. “The name will always mean something. He’s a man who should be celebrated… in the form of vanilla cupcakes.”
We all laugh, and I lean in and give Olly a kiss. “Thank you,” I say softly.
“Always.”
“Hey, guys.”
“Oh hey, Lucas, you remember Marcus and Jacob?”
Jacob reaches out and shakes Lucas’ hand, whose eyes ping-pong between the couple.
“Yes, of course, I remember. The kids’ carnival. You’re both so hot. How could one forget?”
Ohhh, oh…
Both Marcus and Jacob snort, trying to hide their grins. “Thank you?” Marcus says.
Lucas finally drops Jacob’s hand like a hot potato. “Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean for that to come out sounding disrespectful. The carnival was so much fun. The kids were really great, and I think what you do is amazing. I’ve heard a lot about Matthew and I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Oh, no need. It’s been a few years now, and we’re doing okay. But thank you, that’s very sweet of you to say.”
Lucas’s cheeks blush, Jacob has some kind of weird smirk going, and Marcus is looking at both of them with a hint of mischief. You know what… Nope. Don’t want to know.
“Spencer wanted me to come over and let you guys know that we’re going to do presents soon. Oh, and to grab a plate of food. Beckett and I made some finger foods. You know, Mazie-sized.”
“I’m starved.” My stomach growls to prove the point .
“Remember Jasper, you can’t eat the entire tray,” my boyfriend reminds me. I’ll never get over how good that sounds.
“I know. I know.”
“How did you guys ever afford to feed him?”
“Oh, Olly, you have no idea. It was challenging at times.” Jacob laughs as we make our way over to the food.
I behave and only grab four sandwiches. I mean, Dom grabs six, so I think I did pretty well. Olly and I take a seat on the couch. I have to stop myself from sitting on his lap. I wanna cuddle. The sound of my friends and family laughing together envelops me like a warm hug, hence the need to cuddle.
I sit next to Olly, like a good boy, even if I’m plastered to his side. To his credit, he just laughs and wraps his arms around me. I sigh… I never thought life would give me this.
“So, we’re glad everyone came today,” Spencer says, standing up in front of everyone. “Now that Mazie is officially ours, we wanted to celebrate.”
Everyone claps their hands and whistles, including Mazie, who more or less kicks her legs and coos. Ugh… Why does she have to be so adorable? You heard nothing.
“Olly, we want to say thank you. Thank you for being that guy. The one who would offer to put his life on hold to help a little girl. If it wasn’t for you, and agreeing to take her for that weekend, you would’ve never shown up here at Dragonfly with her that day. We would’ve never met her, and she wouldn’t be a part of our lives today. We are forever grateful.” Cheers and glasses clinking echo around the room.
That’s why I love him. Olly’s good. He’s a good person deep down in his bones. And in today’s world, it’s something to be in awe of .
“I love her,” Olly says. “She will always be very important to me, which is why I have one other announcement to make.” My brows scrunch together. I don’t know what this announcement is. Why don’t I know what this is?
“I’ve decided on a name for The Diner.”
“Wait. You finally decided on a name? It’s been years. I thought it would be The Diner forever.” Spencer’s voice is etched in disbelief.
Olly laughs. “Yeah, I did too. But then something happened. I may have decided on this path of following my own dreams before Mazie came along, but I believe she signified the start of it. The Diner will never not be a part of me, much like Mazie’s impact will never not be a part of me. So, if it’s okay with you two, I would like to call the diner… Mazie’s.”
Finn and Spencer both gasp. “What? Mazie’s? Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure, as long as you’re all right with a diner being named after your child.”
“It would be an honor, Olly. I know what deciding on a name means to you, and it’s not something you took lightly,” Spencer says, wiping away a stray tear. “All right, enough of all this. Let’s get to gifts.”
“Thank you again for picking up the gift on your way home yesterday,” Olly says.
“Yeah, no problem. It’s the least I could do.” Oh, fuck. He’s going to be so mad at me. It’s not that I didn’t have time to pick it up, but I found a present that was much more suitable, so I bought it and decided to face the consequences later. Like right now.
Spencer finally gets to ours, and I put on my ‘ but you love me ’ face…
“Oh, look at this one, Mazie,” Spencer says, grabbing our present. Oh, God, here we go again .
“I would like to go on the record and say I think it’s the perfect gift.” Olly turns his head slowly, looking at me.
“Jasper! What did you do?” Olly whisper-shouts.
I bat my eyelashes at Olly.
With Mazie in his lap, Spencer reaches into the bag and pulls out the outfit I got her. “Really, Jasper? A trench coat?”
“Hey, it gets cold. Babies need trench coats.”
“No, no, they don’t,” Olly says, narrowing his eyes at me.
“There’s more,” I say, clueing him in to keep digging. He then pulls out a pair of sunglasses and a set of baby binoculars. Olly puts his head in his hands.
“What? It’s what every baby spy needs… an outfit.”
Spencer rolls his eyes. “That’s it. You two are working your shit out. You!” he says, pointing at me.
“Me?” I mouth.
“Yes, you. Can you come here for a minute?”
I turn to look at Olly. Surely my own boyfriend would save me in my moment of desperation. But oh, how mistaken I am.
“You’re on your own for this one,” he says, slapping me on the back. Rude.
“ I think I’m in trouble.”
Olly snorts. “I think you’re right.”
I grudgingly make my way over to Spencer.
“Please take a seat,” he says, pulling out a chair and pushing me into it. Spencer takes Mazie’s bouncy seat, setting it in front of me on the table before sitting her in it .
“Now, you two are going to sit here until you figure your shit out.” Spencer holds his hands over Mazie’s ears when he says the word shit.
I scoff.
He tsks back at me. “If you want some of the pie Olly dropped off earlier, you’re gonna have to learn how to be in the same room together.,” Spencer says, walking away… leaving me alone with her.
She thinks she’s so cute, with her cute little ringlets and her cute little chubby little cheeks. Did she just wink? I swear to God, she just winked at me. I look around the room. Someone has to have seen that. Olly’s just laughing his ass off, and Spencer just rolls his eyes before giving me the ‘ I’m watching you ’ fingers.
I turn back to Mazie, who I’m certain is narrowing her eyes at me. Fine. I can be the bigger person. “So, listen, I will stop thinking you are a spy baby if you promise me that if you are a spy baby, you will tell me first. And if you happen to know if Sasquatches are real, you will give me some kind of sign.”
Mazie’s face starts to turn a shade of bright red. What is happening? Oh, God, is she choking? I go to check her mouth for food when she lets out the loudest, stinkiest fart possible.
Huh, I’m taking that as I sign. I knew it!
“Thank you,” I say to her. “Just for that, I think you are very cute and sweet… and fucking adorable. How could anyone not love you?” Mazie giggles and smiles. I can’t help but to do the same. She reaches out with grabby hands. “You want me to hold you? I mean, you’re kind of pushing it, but fine.”
Pulling Mazie out of the bouncy chair, I set her on my lap. Then she goes and rests her head on my chest, and I’m a goner .
“So have you guys made up?” Olly says, taking a seat next to me. “Yeah, she shared some top-secret information, so we’re good. So good, I may even spoil her from time to time.”
“I think she’s going to get spoiled a lot,” Olly agrees.
“Oh, can we buy her really loud toys? You know, the kind that don’t have off switches?”
“Yes, yes, we can,” Olly says, causing me to laugh. “Can I ask you something? And I’m just wondering; this isn’t, like, you know, a thing. But seriously, do you want kids someday?”
I look down at the little girl in my arms. “I used to think I didn’t.” Then I look up and lock eyes with a completely different future. “But I think I might.”
Later that night…
Olly-
“What are we doing here, Jasper? I thought we left early so we could have a rimming contest?”
“We did and we will, but I forgot something at the bakery and needed to grab it.”
“And I need to be blindfolded, why?”
“Listen, can you just go with me here?”
I chuckle because he clearly has something up his sleeve. “Whatever you say, sweetheart.”
I have an inkling as to why we are here, but I’ll let him have his moment.
With his hands on my shoulders, Jasper leads me to the front of the bakery. Pretty sure he adds a couple unnecessary spins.
“Ok, are you ready?”
“I’m always ready for you, sweetheart. ”
“Remember that… for later,” he says, slapping my ass and I laugh.
“Ok, I’m ready.”
“I hope you like it, and I can paint over it if you don’t. No pressure.”
He slowly takes the blindfold off. “Jasper, I’m going to love… it.” As soon as my eyes adjust, they go cloudy with tears. I don’t know whether I should laugh or cry, so I do both.
“Jasper,” I whisper, words failing me.
He moves to my side as his hand slides into mine. It’s a feeling that has become one of my favorites.
“I love it.”
On the wall of the bakery is a giant painting of Juan, my old powder-blue mixer, surrounded by the words The Vanilla House.
“I thought maybe it was a way to bring a piece of your grandparents into the bakery,” Jasper says.
“It’s beautiful. I have no words for what this means to me. Thank you for helping me honor them.”
“Always,” he says, wrapping his arms around my waist as we quietly get lost in the art. Life is kinda crazy. I never thought I would be standing here in this bakery with Jasper Valintine wrapped around me. I think I’ve been waiting on something—or someone—to start this journey the whole time. It was waiting for him…
For Jasper.