Dad chuckles, now relaxed. “I keep telling her my body’s a temple. Can’t vandalize it.”
“Oh, even temples need decorations,” Dominic argues, leaning closer to my father. “I mean, look at Levi’s place. Bursting with personality.” His gaze flits briefly to me, eyebrows raised playfully. “He gets it.”
“I most certainly do not,” I deadpan, reaching gratefully for the fresh coffee Elijah hands me before leaning against the counter next to him. “Thanks for coming,” I mutter under my breath.
Elijah shrugs, casual, steady as always. “Dominic insisted. Said your texts were giving off a distinct ‘help me’ vibe.”
Dominic clearly overhears us. “It’s true. He used four exclamation points this morning.”
“Four exclamation points?” Mom gasps. “Levi, really. Such dramatics.”
“That’s how you know it’s serious,” Dominic assures her. “Three exclamations, it’s a minor crisis. Four, you assemble the gays.”
“Ah,” my father chimes in, nodding in agreement. “The Dominic Scale of Emergency. Good to know.”
The banter flows easy, Dominic regaling my parents with inflated and damaging stories about our youth. The embarrassing highlight reel he saves specifically for them.
In the brief lull that follows Dominic’s retelling of the infamous fifth-grade talent show incident involving a particularly disastrous “Oops!…I Did It Again” lip-sync performance we were convinced would earn us the trophy, he meets my eyes across the table. His expression softens slightly, humor giving way briefly to genuine warmth.
You good?he mouths silently.
Not good, held together. It’s enough, so I nod, feeling the tightness in my chest ease.
Dominic gives me a wink before seamlessly returning his attention to my mom, who’s now trying to convince him to join them on their next birding adventure. Elijah bumps my shoulder gently.
“You know,” he says quietly, his voice low and amused, “Dominic has a full rescue operation ready.”
I smile into my coffee, watching Dominic charm my parents the same way he’s been doing since we were in grade school. “Wouldn’t put it past him.”
“He loves them,” Elijah says, a touch of seriousness in his eyes. “But he loves you more. He may not always admit it, but he worries about you.”
My throat tightens slightly. “I know…he’s good at that.”
Elijah gives my shoulder another gentle squeeze, understanding without needing to hear more.
Eventually, Dominic claps his hands together, signaling the end of their impromptu visit. “Alright, Wilders. As much as I’d love to stay and discuss RV sewage solutions…”
“Compostable!” Dad chimes in proudly.
Dominic points at him. “Of course it is. But Elijah and I have some errands to run today, which sounds infinitely less exciting than all…that.”
My mother practically deflates. “Oh, you two should join us for dinner later! Hayden is coming. Levi’s very mysterious, very handsome new friend.”
Dominic presses a dramatic hand to his chest. “Excuse me? Funeral Guy meets the parents beforeweget an official double date?”
“Careful,” I warn. “He handles dead bodies professionally. You might be next.”
Dominic grins. “And he’d handle mine with the utmost care.”
Elijah sighs, tugging Dominic toward the door. “Alright, honey. Let’s leave with some dignity intact.”
“Too late,” Dominic says, pulling me in for another hug before Elijah guides him out. “Text if you need another extraction.”
Dominic and Elijah slip out the door and warmth blooms deep in my chest. My friends have always known exactly when to show up and exactly how to hold space for me without me ever needing to ask. They’re the family I found for myself.
Dominic was always better at this part. Effortlessly charming and finding all the right words. But I realize as I watch my parents that maybe I don’t have to carry it all myself.
My parents mean well. They always have…but they’ve never quite mastered the art of looking closer. Dominic and Elijah fill that space smoothly, the space reserved for being understood, being loved not just for who you appear to be, but for who youactuallyare.
