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“That could be . . .” He shrugged. “Awkward?”
“You’re telling me. Aside from the fact I’m so not ready to deal with my daughter dating, she’s eight, he’s in college, and he’s your boyfriend. Pierce, my ten-year-old, knew you two are boyfriends and tried to explain it to her. She, however, refused to accept Nico wasn’t meant to be her prom date.”
They laughed, and Luke finally relaxed. “Seriously, it was fun playing with them. Nico started playing soccer with Pierce, and Nicholas was upset because he couldn’t play with the big kids, so I asked him if he wanted to fly like Superman. Evidently he thinks Nico is just a really big kid.”
“All three of my children think he’s one of the kids.”
“When Bonnie felt left out, Nico offered to dance with her.” Luke smiled at how easily Nico had gotten down on a knee to be at eye level with Bonnie and asked her to dance with him.
“From what I could tell, she stood on his feet and he did all the dancing. I hope his feet are okay.”
Luke chuckled. “They’re fine. He’s the one who told her to stand there.”
“Either way, it was nice of both of you to entertain them. They were not happy they had to come to some ‘old people party,’ as Pierce called it. You two made it a fun time. So thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Even though it wasn’t a big deal, Luke remembered what his father said about compliments: always acknowledge them.
“Well, that was all I came by to say. Maybe before the summer is over, you two can come to the house for dinner.”
“Sure. I’ll talk to Nico about it.” Now that they weren’t faking it anymore. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” He opened the door and then turned around, grinning. “Just be warned, the kids are going to think you’re there to see them.”
Luke snorted. “Right. I’ll keep it in mind.”
His screensaver—a picture from the Phillies game—had kicked in while he’d talked to Chris. The selfie of him and Nico with the game in the background had been a lark. Something to prove to Isaiah that Nico actually went to the game. They had their arms around each other, and despite their date being an act, they looked happy. Because we were happy.
His phone buzzed, and Luke froze. How would Nico react to his “just you” comment? He turned the phone over and frowned.
Kent: I need to talk to you. It’s important.
Right. It was never important.
Luke typed and then stopped. Why engage him? After the overtime/coin flip comment at the picnic, he didn’t see any point in further communication. The more he thought about it, the madder it made him.
Tapping his phone, Luke blocked him.
He should have done that when he heard Sebastian say they’d been dating for three months. It felt liberating. Like the weight around his waist had been removed. He set the phone down and returned to the project he’d been working on.
The phone rattled on his desk, and he turned it over, half expecting another Kent text.
Nico: You had me at hello.
Luke’s heart flipped as he smiled at the screen.
Luke: Do you even know where that came from?
Leave it to Nico to pull all the right strings. He stared at his phone as Nico typed.
Nico: That sports movie, with Tom McGuire.
He laughed so loud, he watched the door for people to come check him out.
Luke: Actually, it was Jerry Cruise.
Worried that Chris might swing by and see him still texting, he put the phone in his lap and tried to focus on his work. That proved nearly impossible as he tried to anticipate Nico’s comeback.
After he’d read the same paragraph for the fourth time, Nico’s response appeared.
Nico: Whatever. Can we agree it was that romance movie jocks could pretend they were going to see for the sports?
Luke exercised more restraint this time and merely snickered.
Luke: OMG! I remember thinking that exact thought when I saw it.
Luke: As for dinner, whatever you’re making is fine.
Nico: Okay great. I’ll make bologna sandwiches.
He loved the easy banter between them. Nico wouldn’t eat bologna if it was the only thing in the fridge.
Luke: Use spicy mustard please.
Someone walked by his office, and Luke realized he’d gotten nothing done. “Okay. No more texting,” he whispered to his phone.
An email notice popped up on his screen. From Kent. Because the world wanted to torture him.
Subject: Really Important!
Seb broke up with me and told me to leave the apartment. I need to crash with you for a day or two. Please?
Was he fucking kidding? In what universe did that happen?
No, you can’t crash at our place. Nico doesn’t want you around. Find a hotel.
Luke’s phone buzzed. “Jesus fucking Christ.” His head shot up to check his door. When no one walked by, he checked his screen.
Coury: Hey, bro. How’s it going?
