Chapter 45 Dawson #2
I blew out a deep breath when I couldn’t find the right words.
All that played in my brain were memories of the romantic gestures Theo would always do for me back then.
Surprise gifts, a playlist made of all the songs that reminded him of me, elaborate dates, random adventures to nearby cities.
He had always used his actions to show me how much he cared, how much I meant to him.
All I had was music.
As if a beam of light landed on him by divine guidance, I spotted Cal’s friend Mateo across the bar laughing with a group of friends.
I didn’t know him super well, but I remember that night last summer, he had gone up to sing right before me and he’d stunned the crowd with his natural talent.
An idea was forming in my mind, small pieces snapping together as I thought of what I’d need to pull it off.
“Uhh, D? Whatcha doing?” Nate questioned. “You’ve got ‘crazy eyes’ going on over there, man.”
“I need to go talk to Mateo real fast.”
Nate blinked at me like a stupefied bird. “Okay. So. I have several questions, the first being why the fuck would you need to go talk to Colombian Hugh Hefner over there?”
I narrowed my gaze at him. “You know, we’re eventually gonna have to talk about what happened between you two to make you hate him so much. The Cliffnotes version you gave me last year isn’t cutting it.”
“Yeah, I know,” he sighed deeply. “How about I pencil us in for that talk on the twelfth of fucking never?”
I rolled my eyes and turned towards Mateo’s table, but Nate snagged my arm before I could take a step. “No, seriously. What do you need to talk to him about? Also before you do, are you up to date on all your Hepatitis shots?”
“Jesus, I’m not going to proposition him, Nate.”
“Bro, he doesn’t even need the contact to pass on whatever he’s got brewing in those overactive loins of his,” Nate shuddered dramatically.
“Okay, first off, that’s fucking gross. Second, what’s with the slut shaming all of a sudden?”
Nate gasped loudly. “That’s not what I’m doing! Is it? Ah fuck, maybe it is, but it’s specifically against him! Let’s just say he’s not very…selective in who he screws around with. He can’t be trusted.”
I raised my brows at him, finally getting somewhere with his and Mateo’s rocky history-mystery, but I couldn’t dig into that right now.
“Look, that’s his business and it’s not really relevant to the favor I need from him. I’ll be back.”
“I’m coming with!” Nate followed me over to Mateo’s table, and I caught him throwing a disdainful eye at him and the girl he had perched on his knee.
“What’s up, Hayes? That was some fucking win, my friend. ?Qué bacano!” Mateo flashed me a pearly white smile before his eyes slid to Nate beside me. “Well, Nathaniel, isn’t this a surprise? I didn’t think you could—how did you put it?—stomach being within a mile of my cocky, Playboy ass?”
“I took a Kaopectate,” he said dryly, ice dripping from his gaze. It was the exact opposite of how Nate was with everyone that it had me a little worried.
“Uh, anyway, I actually wanted to talk to you and see if I could get your help with something?”
It took Mateo a few seconds to tear his eyes away from Nate and towards me. “Sounds mysterious. What did you have in mind?”
He patted the girl’s hip and kissed her cheek to signal her to give us a minute, and I noticed Nate roll his eyes. I gave him the quick rundown of my idea and what part he would play in it.
“That’s some romantic shit, Hayes. Count me in,” he grinned widely. “?A la orden, perrito!”
Mateo came back with us to the table so I could include everyone else in what I was planning.
“Hey Mateo, I didn’t know you were here, man.” Cal smiled at his friend, getting up to greet him with a complicated handshake they always did.
“Yeah, Hayes here looped me in on something he wants to do for his boyfriend that I can help with. Guess I’m an honorary member of the Scooby Gang now!”
“Ruh-roh, Shaggy…doesn’t look like Nate’s a fan of that idea,” Micah whispered to Rhys, but it seemed like I was the only one who caught it.
“Aww, you’re thinking of doing something for Theo? Can I help?” Aly asked.
“Actually, I kind of need all of y’all’s help with what I have in mind. It’s kind of a big thing…”
I spent the next twenty minutes going over the plan that I was now determined to put into motion. The crew’s enthusiasm grew the more we got into the details of what we could pull off in the few weeks before Theo was due to come home.
“Dude, if we do that right, it’s gonna be sick! He’s gonna love it,” Griffin exclaimed.
“I can hook you up with a pretty sweet sound system,” Kenji offered.
“Micah, Rhys and I are on the decorations!”Aly clapped excitedly.
“Fin will definitely want to help too,” Micah said. “Where the hell is he, anyway?”
“He was supposed to be here a while ago. Let me call him.”
The rest of us continued talking about what we’d need and some obstacles to making it happen in such a short time. I cut off what I was saying when I saw Aly frowning down at her phone. She swiped to answer whatever call was coming in, walking away from the table with a grimace.
Griffin had also noticed and was watching Aly talk on the phone, presumably with Fin and it was clear it wasn’t a happy conversation.
“Um, I’m sorry to drink and dash, but I need to go take care of something,” Aly blurted as she made her way back to the table, grabbing her keys and leaving cash behind for the drinks.
“Wait, was that Fin? Is everything okay?” Griffin asked with concern.
Aly plastered on a smile that I instantly read as forced. “Yeah, he’s good. I just need to go help him with something.”
“Is it Dan? Did he do something?” Griffin’s face darkened and venom had seeped into his tone. Aly paled slightly and her smile wavered the tiniest bit.
“No, not at all. It’s nothing to worry about, I’ve got it handled. Dawson, call me later and let me know what I need to do first. Catch you guys later.”
She darted off before any more questions could be lobbed at her, and my gut curdled slightly at how frazzled she’d seemed. I made eye contact with Griffin, worry and frustration etched into his features.
The rest of the table had been too deep in conversation to notice Aly’s abrupt departure, so Griffin and I turned our attention back to them.
“Alright team, we’ve got this one,” Nate said, slapping the table. “The Thawson Initiative is officially a go!”
“We’re not calling it that,” I griped.
“Oops! Too late, it’s already been dubbed,” Micah piped up. “This calls for more shots!”
“Way ahead of you.” Cal glided over smoothly with a small tray of varied shots.
Bash cleared his throat loudly and raised his shot glass. “To Thawson and us not fucking up this epic, romantic gesture!”
“To Thawson!” They all cheered as one before throwing back their shots.
I laughed and took my own shot, the whiskey burning as it traveled down my throat.
I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to accomplish what I had in mind, but Theo was worth it.
I wanted to sweep him off his feet like he had done with me a hundred times before.
All I could see in my mind’s eye was the surprise and joy on his face I knew I’d see, and I’d do whatever it took to make it a reality.
When my baby came home to me, I’d make it a day he’d never forget.