29. Dylan
Chapter twenty-nine
Dylan
The guys and I have a fitting today for our suits for Bec and Aiden’s wedding. I was honored he asked me to be a part of the wedding party and included in their day, but Jesus Christ, there’s a lot of moving parts.
Dee has reminded me of this appointment no less than three times this week. I simply nod and thank her for the reminder, even though I’ve had it on the calendar in our kitchen for three weeks.
Thankfully, they were able to find somewhere to accommodate the quick turnaround time.
Aiden recently wrapped up his season with the Columbus Aviators.
They may have lost their first series in the playoffs, but they had a great season.
Everything looks great for their next year.
The silver lining with the loss is that Aiden has been able to be more present for the wedding planning.
“Remember to keep it sexy today, roomie,” Dee calls from her bedroom as I pour coffee into my travel mug.
“It’s not something I have to remember to do,” I yell.
“It comes naturally.” I turn away from the coffee pot and let out a screech so high pitched, my ears ring.
Dee is standing two feet in front of me.
“Fucking hell, Dee,” I say, jumping out of the splash zone as my coffee spills onto the floor. “You scared the fuck out of me.”
“Gotta be more alert than that,” she sings, patting my chest then passing me to grab a mug for herself. She gets to work making her tea, and I grab some paper towels to clean up the mess on the floor.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my awareness,” I mutter, wiping at the mess.
“Ah, but if there wasn’t, you would have felt the power of my presence and you wouldn’t be on your knees for me now,” she says dramatically, ending with a giggle.
I freeze, her words sending heat straight to my dick. Yeah, I like the idea of being on my knees for Dee way too fucking much.
I need to get out of here before we have a repeat of the other night. I won’t survive that again. I’ve had to rub one out in the shower twice a day just to keep my dick down around her. I can barely look at her without hearing her scream my name as she fell apart.
Okay, we are well on our way to having a boner in the kitchen with Dee…again. Time to get the fuck out of here.
I mumble something about agreeing to work on it as I finish cleaning up the floor. I don’t look at Dee as I hurry toward the door, putting on my shoes as quickly as possible.
It’s not quick enough.
“Oh, and I need your email address,” she says casually, leaning her hip against the counter and crossing her arms, pushing her perfect tits together in her sports bra.
Okay, now I really need to leave. What’d she say again? Oh, my email. Wait, what?
“My email,” I repeat.
“Yeah, I was thinking the other night about the Bridge and what you said about your plans for the place being in jeopardy because of the suit sniffing around wanting to make a deal. I thought I could help. You know, come up with some numbers, see if I can help you work out any room in your budget for the first few years of operation to give you some flexibility to make a bigger offer.” She shrugs like it’s nothing.
“Not a big deal if you’re not interested, but I was messing around with some numbers last night and thought I could help if I had a better idea of what your budget is and what your nonnegotiable expenses are for the first twenty-four months.
I only know the little bit you’ve told me about running this kind of business, so I’d need your help there. ”
My brain must power down, because all I can do is stare at her.
“Earth to Dylan? Did you hear anything I said?” she asks. She steps closer, waving her hand in front of my face. I still can’t figure out what to say. “Okay, well, if you’d rather not have my help, I can back off,” she says, voice unsure.
“Dee, that’s, um…” I clear my throat, coughing into my fist before resting my fists on my hips. “That’s really fucking generous. Of your time. I’d have to pay someone for that kind of expertise and consulting.”
“Oh, you’ll pay me all right.” She winks. Like she didn’t just offer to help me chase my fucking dream. Like it was easy.
Everything with her is easy. Everything with her is effortless. Except my dick…that shit is really, really fucking hard.
“Then it’s settled.” She claps her hands together, returns to her tea, and leaves me, head spinning like some cartoon character in a video game about to be fucking ended.
“Thank you,” I choke and run, unsure how I’ll ever begin to repay Dee for what she’s just offered me. More than the help, she just gave me some hope that I’m not out of this yet. I drive past the Bridge on my way to my appointment and grin so wide my cheeks hurt.
***
“I’m not sure navy is my color.” Jake is standing in front of a 180-degree mirror while the tailor measures him from shoulder to wrist.
Chris stands behind him, waiting for his turn, his gaze roaming, and a glimmer in his eyes that makes me smirk. “Honey…navy, black, white, orange, blue, purple. They’re all your color.”
Jake lifts an eyebrow in the mirror, humor in his smile before he shakes his head at his husband.
“I know, I know. You can’t take me anywhere,” Chris jokes before turning to his right and immediately covering his hands with his mouth and kneeling to the ground. “Who is this grown-up and what have you done with my nephew?”
Dominic and Luca walk out of the fitting rooms in their matching suits, and holy shit, Luca is fucking adorable.
“They make suits for kids?” I ask, dumbfounded.
“And clip-on ties. And pocket squares,” Dom adds excitedly, holding up the purple tie and satin fabric square, matching ours. “Ellie is going to lose her fucking mind.”
“Lose her fucking mind?” Luca asks, clearly not understanding the phrase or the fact that Dom just let another cuss word fly in front of his two-year-old.
“Oops,” Dom mutters with a grimace.
“Nice. Now, Ellie will have two reasons to lose her mind,” Aiden says with a laugh as he joins us, his suit nearly identical, with the exception of his navy-blue tie and white pocket square.
“Ashton and Toby should be here in five,” Aiden lets the tailor know, who nods.
Bec’s older brothers are also in the wedding party.
Despite not having a date to this wedding like I originally hoped for, I’m looking forward to the day. I picture me and Dee getting ready together before I remember she’ll be getting ready with the girls. I attempt to ignore the stab of disappointment.
“So how are things going with Dee? You two planning to host another game night soon?” Jake asks as he steps down, making room for Chris to take his place.
“Uh, yeah, sure. Things are…things are fine.” I adjust my tie and swallow hard.
“Why the hell is he blushing?” Chris asks. Damn. How can he tell when he’s literally looking at me from across the room through the mirror. Guess I’m more fucking obvious than I thought.
“I’m not.” Denial might get me through this.
Jake takes a step closer and studies me, holding me still with one arm on my shoulder. “Holy shit. He is blushing. What happened?”
“Holy shit,” Luca repeats.
We all try not to laugh as Dom glares at Jake.
“Come on. I’m already in deep…poop as it is.
” Luca laughs, then runs at breakneck speed toward the rack of ties on display.
It takes Dom a moment too long to realize he has maybe two seconds to chase after his kid before he owes this place money for damages.
Thank you for the save, Luca. Little man took the heat off me just in time.
“So, what’s happening between you and Dee?” Aiden asks.
Dammit, maybe not.
“For a guy who’s about to get married, you seem way too interested in my life. Let’s focus on the bigger picture here. You. Bec. The rest of your lives…”
“You know, you’re right,” Aiden agrees, shocking me.
“You know how we ended up together? Well, it all started with a giant case of denial…for years. Then we met again and more denial. More months pass by.” He gives me a pointed stare, but I refuse to give in.
These fuckers are persistent, but so am I.
“Hm, nice story, but you might want to edit that bit out of any speeches. It’s not giving the romantic vibe I think you’re going for.”
A giggling toddler pulls our attention, and across the room I find Dom, flustered and out of breath as he chases an overjoyed Luca through aisles stuffed with expensive suits. “A little help here,” Dom pleads.
I jump into action, grateful for the distraction.
“We’re not done talking about this,” Chris calls from the raised platform in front of the mirror while the rest of us join in the chase.
“Sorry,” I say, snagging Luca and hauling him into my arms. He laughs hysterically as I bounce him up and down before racing down an aisle away from Dom. “We can’t hear you.”
I knew Luca would pull through.