Chapter Twenty-Seven

Aiden

D om may be one of my best friends, but I know better than to ever take him up on his dating advice. I’m sitting in his living room focused on the football game and I brace myself, preparing to disregard everything he says.

“If you’re settled on Saturday, I just checked and the jumbotron isn’t even that expensive. It’ll be worth it. Take her to a hockey game and get a message displayed for her. Then they’ll pan to you for the kiss cam, right? She’ll love that. Oh, and you should get her a shirt…matching shirts for the game. And I just saw online you can get these candy hearts with personalized messages on them—”

“Ellie, how the hell did you end up on a second date with this guy?” Jake asks with a look of disgust on his face directed at his younger brother as he interrupts him.

“Considering how our first date went, I ask myself that same question all the time,” Ellie says from her spot on the floor where she’s folding a load of laundry. Jesus Christ, how many miniature socks does this baby need? I swear I’ve seen at least thirty so far.

“Don’t tease him, Jake, it’s kind of a cute idea,” Chris says, defending Dom’s horrifying idea. Not cute. Horrifying. If I ever put Bec on a jumbotron, I just know the date would end with her elbowing my gut, using the leverage from the hit to help her make a quick getaway. “At least he’s trying to be romantic.”

“Is this your not-so-subtle hint that we’re overdue for date night?” Jake asks, and Chris smiles and nods. “Okay, Saturday it is, but we are not going to a hockey game. I can’t trust you if Dom’s awful suggestion falls within your idea of romance. Please let me do the planning.”

“If you’re so much better at planning dates, then what do you think Aiden should do?” Dom asks. He rubs Luca’s back while he naps on his chest. His sour attitude is clear on his face as he sulks in his chair.

“No way. First, let’s hear what Aiden already has planned. I want to know how much thought he’s put into this,” Ellie says, eyeing me like she’s weighing my worth and if I’ll meet the standards she’s set for her best friend. “The girls and I will be waiting and watching closely , Aiden. Bec is my ride or die. Don’t even think about hurting her.”

I understand the protectiveness, really, I do. Her scrutiny is enough to put me on edge. I’m pretty sure Ellie could kick my ass if she wanted to…or get her husband to help her do it.

“I’m not going to hurt Bec. I know it’s weird I never mentioned wanting to date her before, but I’ve been thinking about getting a shot like this since I met her. I’ve never met anyone like her. I’m not going to waste the chance she’s giving me. I’m not gonna fuck it up this time.” She gives me a stern stare before nodding and looking back at Dom as he starts up again. You get this guy talking about romance and matchmaking and he just goes . “Also, Dom, I love ya, man, but I didn’t ask for suggestions. I promise I got this,” I say.

“But you only have a few days left to plan. Are you sure you don’t want to steal a few ideas from my first date with Ellie? It was fucking impressive. So first, I mailed her a poem and hand-drawn sketch of us together every day the week beforehand…”

Holy fuck, Ellie is a saint .

Dom goes on to animatedly describe the most cringeworthy first date I’ve ever heard of in my life. But when I look at Ellie, she’s smiling up at Dom and giggling with a look so genuinely happy, it makes me envious. I want Bec to look at me like that someday. Someday when we know each other better, when our lives are fully intertwined and our futures are aligned.

God, I really hope I don’t fuck this up.