“I can’t believe you’d—”
His angry words are cut off by a deep voice. A voice so poignant it makes my heart rate speed up and my thighs clench.
“Everything alright?”
As if he had been summoned, Mitch was standing in the doorway. His arms folded over his large chest. His blue gazeis on me as if he’s searching for a physical injury. I swear everywhere his gaze reaches feels like an intimate touch.
“Yes, everything is fine.” I rub a hand down the front of my shirt.
Mitch walks further into the room. He comes right up to me and, without a word, takes the bag from Kiely, placing it down on the nearest surface. Without even trying, he deescalated a tense situation.
Andrew steps back and chuckles, drawing our attention. “Why am I not surprised to see you here?”
Mitch turns to face his best friend, his jaw tensing slightly. “What’s that supposed to mean? Have I not been to every birthday party the boys have had?”
He’s not lying. Mitch has never missed a party.
Andrew scoffs. “Whatever, Mitch.”
Immediately, the tension in the room feels stifling. Both men glare at each other as if one wrong word could cause them to tear these people's furniture up in here. I did not want this to be the time everything came out in the open. Although it was only us in the private room, there were a few of Cameron’s friend’s parents hanging around, and I didn’t want to give anyone an inside peek of our dysfunction. So, I do what I do best and deescalate the situation.
“Well, like I said, Andrew, Kiely, I’m glad you two could make it.” I had to say something to break the tension in the room.
Andrew seems to relax a little. His angry glare turns from Mitch and softens only a little when it lands on me.
“I’ll always show up formysons,” he emphasizes the word my and glances at Mitch when he says it.
I don’t comment. I watch as Andrew leads Kiely over to one of the empty tables. He pulls out her chair for her, and when she sits, he pushes it up to the table before he takes a seat. Iwatched the entire exchange, trying to remember when he had ever pulled out my chair for me.
“Hey,” Mitch placed his hands on my shoulders and turned me to face him. “Are you alright?”
The girls and my mother watch us wearily before they all walk away. It’s like they are purposely giving Mitch and me space.
“Yes,” I finally say.
He stares into my eyes for a long moment before he seems to believe me.
“I came as soon as I saw them. If you want, I can make them leave.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “Mitchell, I’m fine. I promise. She is going to be his wife soon. I have to get used to seeing them together.” I glance in their direction.
They are sitting right beside each other. She’s leaning on him, and his arm is wrapped around her as they look out at the play area. Andrew places a kiss on Kiely’s neck, and she smiles up at him.
The twinge of pain is back, but lasts even shorter than the last time. It’s so fleeting, I almost didn’t recognize it.
I turn back to Mitch with a smile. “Besides, how do I compete with that?”
“Ella,” my mom calls out, getting my attention. “The pizza is here.”
One of the best things about this place is that not only do they supply you with a place to play, but they also cook their own pizzas.
I step away from Mitch, heading over to the employee designated as our party specialist.
After gathering all the kids and the parents who stayed behind, we all sang "Happy Birthday" to Cameron before allowing him and his friends to dig into their pizza.
I was busy refilling drinks and grabbing extra chips like a madwoman. The girls were all helping me out, even Jada was distributing extra slices of pizza. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out, glancing down at the screen.
Mitchie: Come to the family bathroom.
