Chapter Eight
Derek
There’s excitement in the air when I arrive at Jayne and Phillip’s house.
Laughter and music fill my ears, and the backyard is a mass of festive decorations for Lily’s Valentine’s birthday party.
Bunches of red and pink helium balloons float overhead, while a heart-shaped pinata dangles from a tree branch, and there are kids everywhere I look.
“Uncle Derek!” Lily runs up to me with a wide smile. She wraps her arms around my waist, and I hug her back.
“Happy birthday, kiddo,” I say, handing her a wrapped gift—pink, of course.
“Thank you!” Her face lights up with anticipation, and she reaches for the ribbon.
“I think you’re supposed to wait to open the presents,” I whisper, gesturing to a table bearing a pile of gifts.
She gives a sheepish look and stops tugging at the wrapping. “Did you see there’s a pinata?”
“I did! You’re a lucky girl.”
“We’re going to make our own pizzas and there’s a photo booth too!” She points to where a group of girls are posing in heart-shaped sunglasses and feather boas with Lily’s dad taking photos.
I can tell she’s itching to join in. I chuckle before nudging her towards the group of kids. “Go on, have fun.”
As I walk further into the party, I’m greeted by familiar faces—family members, adult friends, and more kids, all gathered to celebrate Lily’s special day. Jayne catches my eye and waves me over.
“Hey, Derek,” she says, giving me a quick embrace. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“It’s nice to see you too,” I reply, dropping a kiss to her cheek. “You guys really went all out.”
“Mum and Dad came over early and gave us a hand with the decorating so I can’t take all the credit,” she says.
“Where’s Mum?”
She laughs. “In the kitchen. Where else?”
Just then, my gaze shifts across the garden, and I spot him.
Ryan. He’s standing near a table loaded with snacks, chatting with a few people.
The sunlight catches his blond hair, and he has a healthy glow as he throws his head back in laughter.
My heart skips a beat as our eyes meet, and a surge of emotion washes over me.
I can’t see him without him stirring up all kinds of feelings.
“Hey, uh, I hope you don’t mind that invited Ryan,” I say to Jayne, trying to sound casual. “I thought it’d be nice to have him here, and he’d appreciate being included now he’s back in town.”
“Of course,” she replies. “Nathan’s practically family, so that includes Ryan. I’m glad you invited him.”
“Derek!”
There’s a hearty clap on my back and I turn to find Uncle Gerald at my side. “Hey.”
“Glad you’re here, Derek. Your dad seems to think he’s the master of the pizza oven, but I’m sure we could show him a thing or two.”
“Oh, leave the poor boy alone,” my Aunt Trudy replies as she approaches. “He just got here and doesn’t even have a drink yet. Here you go, darling.”
I take the plastic cup she offers. It’s filled with something red, with little chunks of fruit floating amongst the ice cubes.
I look at it dubiously but take a sip, pleasantly surprised at the fizzy concoction.
The family chat around me. The scent of pizza fills the air and children’s laughter echoes around the backyard.
My eyes drift to Ryan again. He’s deep in conversation with Claudia, Jayne’s best friend.
I tear my gaze away and try to focus on the small talk.
“Did you see the pinata Lily picked out?” Aunt Grace asks me with a chuckle. “She insisted it had to be a heart for Valentine’s Day.”
“It’s perfect for her birthday,” I reply, catching up with the conversation.
“Can you believe our little girl is eight?” she says, then launches into a story about one of Lily’s earlier birthdays.
My eyes wander back to Ryan, who’s still chatting with Claudia. He meets my eyes and lifts a plastic cup in a silent toast and I raise my own in return. He grins, a smile that lights up his whole face.
Jayne sidles up beside me, her dark eyes following my line of sight. “You know, Derek, if you stare any harder at Ryan, your eyeballs might just pop out of your head.”
“Very funny,” I mutter, heat rising in my cheeks. “I’m not staring.”
“Uh-huh.” Jayne smirks, crossing her arms. “You’ve got it bad, don’t you?”
“I just invited him because he needs a friend,” I protest weakly, knowing full well she sees right through me. She’s always had a knack for seeing through my bullshit.
“Right, a ‘friend,’” Jayne teases, nudging me gently. Her gaze turns serious. “Derek, I’ve known you my entire life. It’s okay to admit you have feelings for him. You have had for a while, haven’t you? I’m not sure why I didn’t see it before now.”
“Okay, fine.” I sigh heavily. “I do have feelings for Ryan, but what am I supposed to do about it? He probably doesn’t even see me that way.” I ignore the fact we fooled around, that I had his cock in my mouth.
“Have you ever actually tried talking to him about it?” Jayne challenges, raising an eyebrow.
“Of course not,” I scoff. “I’m his older brother’s friend. What the hell would he see in me?”
Jayne shakes a finger at me. “If you’re going to tell me you’re old and boring…”
I flinch, hating how close to the mark she is. “I just don’t want to make things awkward.” Any more awkward than they already are.
“Life is full of risks, Derek,” Jayne says softly. I can hear the concern in her voice. “You’ll never know if you don’t take a chance. And from the way he’s been looking at you today, I’d say you’ve got a pretty good shot.”
Really?
I look back at Ryan, catching him stealing a glance in my direction. My heart races, and I wonder if Jayne might be right. Before I can reply, there’s a tug at my arm.
“Uncle Derek! We’re going to play games soon. Daddy said you’d help.”
I give her a wide grin. “Sounds like fun. I’ll be over soon.”
“Yay!” she says before darting back to her friends.
Jayne turns to me with a shrug. “I hope you don’t mind lending a hand.”
“Of course not. I love hanging out with Lily and her friends.”
“You know, Derek. You’d make a wonderful father.”
She squeezes my arm before leaving me to ponder her words, and the strange longing for a family of my own. Maybe she’s right and I need to take more chances with my life. What have I got to lose?
My attention turns back to Ryan and Claudia, and before I know it, I’ve crossed the yard. “Hey, I hope you’re not spilling too many secrets.” I say jokingly.
“Which one of us?” Ryan says. His eyes are laser-focused on mine.
My throat goes dry, because yes, we now have secrets.
“Hey, Derek.” Claudia, unaware of the tension, greets me warmly, planting a kiss on my cheek. “Yeah, we were just reminiscing about the good old days.”
“Ah, the memories,” I say, but the expression makes me feel old.
She laughs and tucks a long strand of wavy auburn hair behind her shoulder. She’s still as beautiful as she was in high school. “I was just telling Ryan how you, me, and Nathan used to sneak out at night and make a fire pit down at the creek. God, those were the days, not a care in the world.”
I chuckle. “Apart from the fear of being caught by our parents and grounded.”
“Things have certainly changed since then,” she says. “Now it’s me worrying about what my own kids might get up to.”
“Let’s just hope they’re better behaved than we were,” I say.
“Oh, I thought you liked the things we got up to.” Claudia lifts one perfectly groomed brow. The innuendo is clear.
“You won’t hear any complaints from me,” I reply.
“Hmm. Such high praise.” She snorts, then leans in with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “You know, I always wondered what it would be like if we hadn’t broken up.”
I roll my eyes. She’s always joked around about what could have been, especially since her divorce, but she knows we’ll never be more than friends.
“Claudia,” I say in warning.
I glance at Ryan. He’s been quiet during our exchange, his blue eyes flicking between Claudia and me. I wonder what he’s thinking. Is he jealous? Fuck, I hope so.