Chapter 33

CHAPTER

THIRTY-THREE

DANI

It’s Friday afternoon and Xander said to call him as soon as I get home and am out of Tyler’s super powerful hearing range. He got home two days ago after the Reapers lost the World Series. I’m sure he’s upset, probably figuring out all the things he could have done better to come to a different outcome. That’s what he does. He plans for every scenario, analyzes the details, looks for changes or improvements. It’s such a contrast to my enjoy the moment outlook. Somehow, I think we’re good for one another in an opposites attract kind of way. But I try not to get carried away. We’re still complicated and complex.

Tyler is playing video games, so I sneak into my bedroom to call Xander.

“Hey, sunshine. How was your day?” I’m still amazed he cares about my mundane world.

“Good. It was a small class because a couple of kids were out sick with a stomach bug. The rest of the kids were wired because it’s Friday, but, you know, a typical Friday. They were still buzzing abou t you and Tripp coming to class yesterday and sharing the division trophy. They were all decked out in the Reapers gear you guys gave them yesterday. You’re spoiling them.”

“I’m glad they had fun. Just trying to match their teacher’s brightness.” I roll my eyes at his ridiculousness. Even over the phone, he makes me blush. I’m not nearly as saintly as he treats me, and once he realizes that, I’m afraid this entire fantasy will crash down around us.

“How are you doing? How was the team dinner last night? Everyone bummed?”

“Yeah, a little, but we had a good time. They played with heart. That’s all I can ask for. Just wasn’t our year.” He doesn’t sound as sad as I would have thought. As a matter of fact, he’s pretty upbeat, and I’m pleasantly surprised by his response. He doesn’t seem as intense and focused as he’s been these last few weeks. He sounds relaxed, which is a word I’d never use to describe Alexander.

“Listen, I’ve made plans for tonight with multiple options. You pick. It’s like a choose your own adventure.”

“Oh, like a why choose romance?” I love teasing him. He’s picked up a few of my romance novels to see what all the fuss is about. When he started a why choose book, we had a long discussion about why I would like something like that and his expectation of faithfulness when in a committed relationship. One thing I’ll say about Alexander, he’s loyal. When I googled him, a few women appeared in multiple pictures, and while he looked incredibly hot in those shots, his expressions were hard, not the grinning man I know. No rumors of cheating appeared tied to him at all. He’s a one-woman man, or at least one at a time.

“Absolutely NOT like a why choose romance. The only guy I’m willing to share you with is Tyler, and not in that way. Fuck, sunshine, why do you do that to me? ”

I laugh out loud. “That’s one hundred for the swear jar, Mr. Decker.”

“Nope, that’s only around little ears, and if Tyler heard me, that’s on you.” He’s trying to watch his swearing around Tyler, and it’s adorable. I’ve never heard more variations of fudge, funk, frick, fug, and shitake mushrooms in my life. Lucky for me, I gave up the F word six years ago, so I’m not contributing to the jar, especially since he declared it’s one hundred dollars an infraction.

“That’s fair. So what do I get to pick?”

“I’d like to spend the next twenty-four hours with you, if you want, of course.”

Of course I want to, but I don’t want Tyler to be exposed to a man in my bed. Call me old-fashioned that way, but it’s just not something I’m comfortable with. And calling my parents to keep him last minute will raise questions I’m not prepared to answer. My father makes too many comments under his breath and I don’t need Tyler repeating any more conversations.

“Of course I’d love to Xander, but…”

“Tyler. Yep. Here’s where the choices come in.” He sounds almost giddy. Well for Xander, giddy. There’s an actual lilt to his voice, an excitement I’ve never heard before.

“Option one: we go to dinner with Joey, Casey, and Archie. Then Tyler spends the night at their house after dinner. I’ve fully vetted them. Archie is seven and has no emergency room visits, so that’s something. Hell, I had stitches twice by the time I was his age.” There’s a brief pause to let that to soak in. He continues without allowing me to respond or ask why he got stitches as a kid.

“Option two: we have dinner at my place. Tyler and Trevor go downstairs to Matt and Darcy’s for game night afterward, and they both spend the night there. This option means Tyler is technically under the same roof since he’d be in the same building. While none of them are parents, Matt is CPR certified, and Darcy is very mature for her age. I wish I could say the same about Trevor , but it is what it is. Tyler hero worships Matt, and the likelihood of him missing you will probably be zero.”

“That hurts a little.”

“Didn’t mean to hurt, just stating the facts, sunshine. Option three: the three of us have dinner, do our own game night, and we all go our separate ways at an appropriate time. And option four is you don’t want to see me tonight, and Trevor gets absolutely hammered because he has to listen to me cry into my bourbon. But just know that Trevor’s liver is still sensitive, so it could be harmful to his health. So which option is it, sunshine?” He whispers, “Please don’t say four.”

He’s gone to a lot of trouble to arrange this evening. And every single option includes Tyler. He focused all the scenarios on Tyler having fun, not just getting rid of him. My heart flutters thinking about this guy calling in favors to ensure Tyler is taken care of.

“They all sound great,” I start.

“Even option four?” He says it with a pout, and I can practically see his lip poked out.

“No, that’s not even an option. But are you sure? The guys just came off a devastating loss, and I’m sure the last thing they want is…”

Alexander interrupts. “Is to get rooted back into normal life. I’ve talked to them all. They really don’t mind. But your choice. Or Tyler’s. That’s your choice too. I need you to both be okay with any situation. Always. I’ll never make you do something where you don’t feel comfortable, Dani. Never. You’re always in charge.” He’s said this before, and I know he means it. He says it with conviction. It’s fact. An oath. He doesn’t know what his consideration of Tyler means to me. His inclusion is everything.

“Let me see which Tyler wants to do, and I’ll get back to you in a few minutes. Is that okay?”

“Absolutely, sunshine. As long as it’s not option four.”

“Nope. He only gets two choices.” I can’t wait to spend an entire night with Xander. Granted, we spent the night together once before, but that involved a lot of sleeping and not even in a bed. I’m hoping tonight will be different. I’d better up my lingerie game.

Well, tonight is different. We had dinner with Matt, Darcy, and Trevor before they took Tyler for a sleepover. I’m not sure who was more excited. They were delighted to hang out with my kid tonight. They prepared a lineup of games, a Mario Cart challenge bracket, and a ton of junk food. Xander was right. Tyler won’t miss me one bit. It may be hard to get him back to our reality after this weekend.

I started feeling queasy during dinner. Xander tucked me in on the couch and called a doctor friend of his, which was totally unnecessary. I’m afraid I may be the latest victim of the stomach bug.

“Xander, I don’t want to get you sick. I’ll just go home and see you in twenty-four hours once it passes.” I try to throw the blanket off, but he isn’t having it.

The look he gives me is the opposite of caring and compassionate. It’s fierce, determined and absolutely terrifying. If I didn’t know him, I’d be cowering in a corner. “Fuck no. You’ll stay here, and I’ll take care of you. I know I told you that you’d always have a choice, but I’m changing the rules to say as long as you’re healthy. When you’re sick, I make the decisions.”

I can’t keep the little smile away. I bet he caused absolute havoc at the hospital when Trevor was hurt. “Yes, sir.”

He gives me his sexy smirk. “I like it when you say that, sunshine.” He kneels next to the couch and gently brushes the hair away from my face. His touch is tender, comforting. “You feel a little warm. Let me get you some Tylenol, and I’m going to run downstairs to talk to Matt, so they keep an eye on Tyler in case he gets sick. They can send him back up here if he does.”

“You don’t,” I say. And then I quickly and forcibly push him out of the w ay, run to the bathroom, and throw up my dinner. I didn’t bother to close the door, and Xander’s beside me, holding my hair and rubbing my back. So much for sexy time. I can think of nothing, and I mean nothing, less sexy than putting your head in a toilet and throwing up the contents of your stomach.

“It’s okay, baby, I’ve got you. I’ve got you.” He’s rubbing circles on my back, just like I do for Tyler. Tears threaten to fall as it hits me. I love this man.