31. Alex
31
ALEX
I trail behind Rowan, Seth, and Olivia, climbing the porch steps to wash up and join the party. I catch a glimpse of Nora laughing at something Annie says, her eyes twinkling and her blonde and lilac hair shining in the sun.
“Your friend Nora is really pretty,” Seth comments as we walk into the kitchen. He slows and leans back a little as if to get a second look. “Like, really pretty.”
I propel him gently forward with a firm hand on his shoulder, trying to hide a smile. “She’s a little old for you, dude.” Though for the record, I agree.
“Yeah, plus Mom and Dad said fourteen is too young to date,” Olivia chimes in as she claims the first turn at the sink. “They said you have to wait until you’re at least sixteen.”
Seth’s face reddens. “Can it, Olivia. It’s not like I’m going to ask her out.”
“But you could ask her out, Uncle Alex,” Olivia says. “She’s not too old for you, is she?”
“No, not too old for me,” I say with a small smile, wondering how much I should tell them.
Rowan, as usual, is quiet during this exchange, but I catch him smirking as he listens. He’s a perceptive kid and likely already suspects something is up, so I decide to come clean.
“Actually, Nora and I have been seeing each other,” I confess.
“We already knew that,” Olivia says with a hint of exasperation as she moves aside to let Seth have a turn at the sink. “We watch your cooking videos all the time.”
“He means dating,” Seth explains with an eye roll.
“Oh, you took her on a date! What did you guys do?” Olivia asks, her eyes wide. “Was it romantic?”
“Well, we haven’t gone on any real dates yet.”
“So…what do you guys do then?” Olivia asks with a frown, clearly puzzled.
“Oh, well, we just, um…” Hang out at my house and make out? I absolutely cannot tell my niece and nephews that. I clear my throat, trying to buy myself time to think of an appropriate response.
“They probably have dates at home, like Mom and Dad do when they eat dinner and watch a movie without us.” Rowan shrugs like it’s obvious and steps up to wash his hands. Olivia and Seth both nod like this makes sense. I owe my nephew for that save.
“That’s right, that’s what we do.” Although now I’m realizing, much to my chagrin, that I definitely need to plan a real date for Nora soon. She deserves to be treated to meals she didn’t help cook, movies, bowling, mini golf, and other fun couple experiences. I could kick myself for not thinking of it sooner. I was just so happy to be spending any time with her that it didn’t occur to me that I should be putting forth a little more effort.
“So she’s your girlfriend now?” Olivia asks, just to clarify.
“Yes, Nora is my girlfriend. What do you think about that?”
Olivia’s eyes narrow in thought. “I think she’s nice and you’re nice, so that seems like a good team.”
I chuckle as I follow the kids back outside and crowd in around the table with everyone, making a point to squeeze in next to Nora. What’s the point of having a girlfriend if you don’t get to sit together?
Nora passes me a plate and our fingers brush as I take it from her. I feel her knee press lightly against mine under the table as she leans over to reach for a jar of salsa, and I relish the subtle connection point.
“I meant to tell you, I like the new color,” Annie says to Nora, motioning to her hair.
“Thanks. It was all Alex’s doing. I never would have thought of it on my own.”
“Why do you always go for the hair, bro?” Grant asks. “Remember the time you made me get a mohawk in college?”
“I didn’t make you,” I correct him. “You made yourself by accepting the bet. All you had to do was ignore me.”
Grant glares at me while the rest of the family chuckles.
“I think your purple hair is pretty,” Olivia says. “I asked Mom if I could dye my hair like yours but with pink stripes, but she said no.”
“I think your hair is beautiful just how it is,” Nora tells her. “But there will be plenty of time to try out new colors when you’re older if you still want to. Did you know this is the first time I’ve ever dyed my hair?”
Olivia sighs. “I guess I can wait until I’m older.”
“I wish we could’ve seen Uncle Alex get a bucket of ice water,” Seth says.
“Me too!” Olivia agrees.
“I actually did dump some ice water on him, but I didn’t get it on video.” Nora turns to look at me, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Alex, your niece and nephews are disappointed. I’m sure there must be something we can do about that.”
“Nothing I can think of.” I keep my face neutral and my eyes averted as I crunch a nacho chip smothered in queso.
“Come on, now. I bet it would really be the highlight of Olivia’s party if you let the birthday girl give you an ice bath.”
“Yes!” Olivia claps her hands while Seth and Rowan grin and elbow each other in anticipation.
“Yeah, Uncle Alex,” Grant drawls. “It’s her birthday. Be a good sport.”
“I can’t believe you’re all ganging up on me.” I shake my head, but I can’t smother my smile when Olivia bounces up and down in her seat. I hold up my hand to stop the heckling from all sides as the whole family chimes in. “Fine, fine. Olivia, I’ll let you pour one glass of ice water on my head before I leave today, okay?”
“Deal!”
“And this time I’m going to film it,” Nora says.
“But first, everyone needs to eat all this food I made,” Maddy says. “And then we have cake and presents.”
Everyone chatters happily as we pass bowls of shredded cheese and guacamole, each person building tacos and nachos to their own specifications. My taco is good, but when I compare it to the tacos I prepared with Nora the first time we filmed, it doesn’t even come close. I’m not sure if it’s because hers were really that much tastier or if my recollection is sweetened by our burgeoning relationship and the attraction I felt toward her even then.
Maddy carries out the cake, and we sing as Olivia blows out the candles and exclaims over the pink whipped cream. My niece is perhaps the girliest little girl that I know, so I had to add a few drops of red coloring to match her personality.
“Uncle Alex, I think this cake is even better than the one we had on the Fourth of July.”
“You’re just saying that because it’s pink.” Her compliment pleases me more than I care to admit. I never thought I’d have anyone requesting something that I made. I catch Nora’s eye. Leaning down, I whisper in her ear. “Thank you.”
“What for?” she murmurs back.
“Lots of stuff.” I leave it at that for now. There’ll be plenty of time later to tell her all the reasons I’m thankful for her.
Grant volunteers himself and me to carry the gifts out on the porch for Olivia to open once the cake is put away. I follow him inside, thankful to be in the air conditioning for a few minutes. We really should only have parties at my house during warm months, so we can use the pool to keep from roasting.
“So, I guess I’m a little behind,” Grant says as we gather up an armload of gifts.
“Behind on what?”
“I thought Nora had a boyfriend, but it sure seems like you two are together now, so what have I missed?”
“Ah, you’re referring to my minor breakdown after seeing her in the restaurant.”
“I am, yes.”
I scrunch my nose. “It would seem that things were not as they appeared. Once I gave her a chance to explain, I learned that he was an old friend, not anyone of romantic interest.”
Grant nods but doesn’t say anything. Silence is not unusual for my brother of few words, but his expression looks tense.
“If you have something to say, go ahead and get it out,” I tell him. “I want to hear what you think.”
At least, I think I do. I respect Grant and want him to have a good opinion of me, but something tells me I might not like what he has to say.
Grant puffs out a breath of air. “Okay, look. I was just wondering if you’ve known her long enough to really trust her. I know you like to believe the best about people, but it’s hard for me to forget what Marissa did to both of us. I just don’t want you to make the same mistake again, go through all that again.”
I bite back a sharp retort and force myself to take a breath before answering him. “I get why you’d say that, and I had a similar reaction at first. But she hasn’t given me any reason to think she’s lying, so yeah, I want to give her the benefit of the doubt. She’s not Marissa. I shouldn’t treat her like she is.”
Grant studies me, his jaw working as he considers this. “Okay,” he says finally. “You’re probably right. Like I said, I just don’t want to see you get hurt again. If you think Nora is who you want, then I’ll be one hundred percent supportive.”
I feel an unexpected lump in my throat at his declaration. I cough to clear it and nod. “Thanks, man. I appreciate that, really.”
“But watch out for those red flags this time, alright? We were both stupid before, but we know better now.”
“We sure do,” I agree. I slap Grant’s shoulder and pile one last bag on top of the pile he’s cradling before stooping to scoop up the box Nora and I brought.
Let the fun begin.
Olivia squeals with delight when we walk through the door with all her gifts, especially when she sees mine. Chris wears the same disturbed expression Maddy did when she saw the size of the box earlier.
I set the package down out of her reach and shoot her a wink. “Why don’t we save the best for last?”
She grins back and reaches for the gift bag Maddy nudges her way.
By the time she gets through all the other bags and boxes, I think she’s almost forgotten about mine. It’s so fun to watch her surrounded by the physical representation of all the love we have for her in the form of thoughtful, personalized gifts. You’d never know that she wasn’t born into this family. When Chris and Maddy got married, we were all happy to adopt her and Seth, Chris’s children with his previous wife who passed away a few years ago. I know I’m not the only one who considers them our own.
“Time for the last one. Are you ready for this?” I start to scoot the box toward her, then stop. “You’re not ready. I can tell you aren’t. It’s too epic. Maybe we should hold onto it for next year.”
Olivia’s eyes grow wide. “No, I’m ready. I promise I am.”
“Well…” I hesitate for just a moment to build the suspense. “If you say so.”
I push the box toward her and watch as she rips off the paper and pulls the flaps free to peer inside. At first, she looks confused, tilting her head to the side, but then a huge grin spreads across her face as she reaches in and pulls out a smaller box.
“A princess clubhouse tent!” she reads off the side of the package. “Thank you, Uncle Alex. I love it! It’s even pink, my favorite color!” She hugs the box awkwardly.
“What else is in there?” I prompt with a smile.
Chris reaches over and takes the tent so she can pull out the rest. She oohs and ahs over a pair of fluffy lilac blankets—they reminded me so much of Nora, and I knew Olivia would love them too—and a set of pink and purple squishy pillows. Last out is a string of fairy lights and a boxed set of Rainbow Magic books.
Olivia is so happy that I see tears glistening in her eyes, and I mentally pat myself on the back. Did I set out to get the Best Uncle award today? Yes, I did. And I say, mission accomplished.
“That should be everything you need to make the coziest, most comfortable princess reading fort ever,” I tell her, holding my hand out for a high five. She slaps my hand, then wraps her arms around my waist for a hug.
“Thank you, Uncle Alex. Will you read in it with me when I get it all set up?”
“I would be honored—if you think I’ll fit.”
She examines the photo on the box of the assembled tent and purses her lips. “I think your legs might stick out, but the rest of you will fit.”
I ruffle her hair. “Sounds perfect. It’s a date.”
I look up and catch Nora’s eye over Olivia’s head and share a secret smile with her. As much as I’m genuinely looking forward to reading with my niece in her fort, I really want my next date to be with Nora. I know we have a busy week ahead, but my birthday is only a few days away. Maybe I could take her out for a special night that we’ll both remember forever.