Chapter 34
Archer
The tent, tables, and chairs are all set up.
I helped Mr. Taylor— Jim, I mean set up the wiffle ball field and now we’re moving this giant balloon arch turned balloon wall into the tent for pictures.
The crisp November air feels amazing on my sweaty neck.
I’m going to need a shower before the party starts.
I don’t want to stink when I meet the rest of Elle’s family.
I must admit I was a little judgey about this whole gender reveal thing, but the more I see it come together the more I think it’s just an excuse to have a party with all their friends and family.
My family has the Wolves-Grizzlies game as an excuse every year, they don’t quite have that so they find reasons to have one.
“Can I help you with that?” I ask Joyce as she spreads out a tablecloth on the long table that is going to hold all the food.
“Oh no, go ahead and shower, the girls will be back soon with the cookies; then we’ll set out the food and shortly after the guests will be arriving.” Joyce beams. “Thank you so much for all your help. Jim wouldn’t have been able to do all this without you.”
“Oh, no big deal, I’m happy to help. Jim was saying that friends of yours that you haven’t seen in some time are coming in for the party.”
“Oh yes, I know this big thing seems so silly, but Easton and Nikki have been trying for years, and they finally got their baby, everyone is so excited.”
“It’s not silly.” I say, immediately feeling like an asshole for initially judging them.
Joyce waves me off with a smile. “Go shower and grab a sandwich, everyone will be arriving soon.”
So, I do exactly as she says.
When I come out of the shower Ellie is waiting for me. She looks stunning in her dress. I don’t know what it is about women in sundresses but fuck…. It’s kryptonite. Someone should study it.
“You look handsome.” She smiles and gives me a kiss. “You ready to get your ass kicked in wiffle ball?”
“I am an excellent wiffle ball player. Thank you very much.”
“Well, I hope you’re prepared to lose, Team Pink is going down.”
●●●
Team Pink did in fact get our asses kicked.
Erica turns out, decided to play for Team Blue, and she’s a varsity pitcher for her softball team, a detail that Ellie failed to mention.
I don’t know if she did it intentionally knowing that Erica was going to play for Team Blue or if it was an oversight.
Regardless, it is an unfair advantage, if you ask me.
Ellie only gloats for a few minutes before her mom announces that Easton is up to bat.
Everyone gathers around to watch and wait to see what the newest Taylor grandbaby will be.
Nikki throws the ball.
Easton connects and the ball shatters.
Pink smoke and confetti are dispersed by the breeze. Easton cheers, jumps up and down and sprints to his wife, spinning her and dipping her in a passionate kiss.
I look over to see Ellie cheering and hugging her sisters. My throat feels tight, and I blink several times to keep some rogue tears from escaping. Who knew I would be tearing up over something like this.
Everyone swarms the happy couple congratulating them. I hang back letting family and friends go first.
Trying to stay out of the way, I look over and see Erica’s friends Cece and Bella are helping the caterers set out plates and utensils. “Need any help?”
“Yeah, use your big football muscles to lug those giant coolers over here closer to the food.” Bella says. “Please.” She adds.
I chuckle and do as I’m told. Once I’ve finished moving all the coolers over, the crowd has dispersed from the couple and I walk over. “Congratulations.” I smile and shake Easton’s hand, who surprises me and pulls me into a hug.
“Thanks man! And hey! Thank you so much for coming out. You just made me the coolest guy in my friend group.” He chuckles. “You and Ellie aren’t leaving until tomorrow, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Cool. We’re staying the night as well, Estella and her family are heading home, apparently the kids don’t sleep well unless they’re in their beds. We are definitely hanging out once everyone leaves.”
“Sounds great!” I reply as Ellie makes her way over to us.
“What are you two talking about?” She asks, resting against my shoulder.
“We’re all going to drink Dad’s beer and hang out on the back porch like the good ole days.” Easton says, reaching in and grabbing a water bottle from the cooler. “Nikki will join, she just will have her mocktails. Which are delicious by the way. Thanks for making those Jellie.”
Ellie rolls her eyes at the nickname with a smile. “Anything for my favorite sister-in-law.”
“I’m your only sister-in-law.” Nikki says as she waddles over. Easton places a kiss on her cheek as he helps her settle into a nearby chair.
The crowd thins out as the night goes on and eventually it’s just a few of us left on the back deck.
Estella and her family left for the night, Jim and Joyce went to bed.
Ellie is curled up next to me on the outdoor sofa.
Now that the sun has set its chilly. Nikki and Easton are on the loveseat across from us, closer to the outdoor heater.
Erica and her friends are once again around the fire pit, helping Nikki finish off the mocktails.
“So, I’m dying to know, how did you two meet?” Nikki asks, sipping her drink.
“Like originally or are you asking how we reconnected?” I ask.
“Originally.”
“Oh! I want to tell this!” Ellie giggles, she’s definitely a little tipsy. “Okay so we met at the NCAA meeting for incoming student athletes. I remember freaking out that everyone could see my nipples through my shirt because it was so damn cold in the meeting.”
Easton chokes on his drink. Ellie continues, unphased.
“I was in a hurry to get out into a warmer part of the building, so I practically sprinted to the guy collecting the forms and I ran into this hulking man giant.” She says hooking her thumb at me.
“The hulking man giant was then kind enough to help me pick everything up, and he even turned in the paperwork for us. Then I hauled ass out of there and to my next class. Hoping to never see him again since I was embarrassed. Lo and behold, he ended up being in the same freshman history class. We ended up partnering up for everything in that class.”
“That’s adorable.” Nikki smiles and rubs her belly. “And then she drunkenly slid into your DMs ten years later?” She must have heard that from Elle’s family group chat.
“Yes, and you know what, I’m not ashamed.” Ellie smiles, taking a sip from her drink as I loop my arm around her shoulders.
The night continues like that. Constant conversation, and delicious Jim crafted beer.
Easton and Nikki retire for the night after a while leaving Ellie and I alone on the deck.
The younger girls in the distance with the fire pit.
“Thanks for being such a good sport about all this.” Ellie murmurs against me.
“It was a lot of fun.” I gaze down at her. “You ready for bed?”
“Nah, not yet, I want to stargaze for a little bit.” She smiles and then tilts her head back to look at the sky. “What are your thoughts on aliens?”
“They’re real.” I reply. “I think they think we’re such a primitive planet that they feel the need to observe us from a distance. Not willing to interfere. Or it could be like the popular theory that humans are space orcs. Regardless, they are out there.”
She nods, pleased with my answer and we continue to look at the stars above.
“Hey Archer?” She looks at me warmly.
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
Warmth floods through me, a big smile slides across my face, and I look at her as I say the most amazing words I’ve ever had the privilege to say: “I love you, too.”