Chapter Sixty-One

Bec

T hree weeks. It’s been three weeks since I’ve seen Aiden.

We still text every day, and I go over to his place to pick up and drop off Hopper when he has to travel for away games. Aiden’s never there.

I miss him.

Last night when I picked up Hopper, before we left to go back to my place, I snuck into Aiden’s bed and ended up napping for an hour. I wanted to feel close to him, and the comfort of being in his space, along with the scent of his bodywash on the sheets, lulled me into a restful sleep. It was the best I’ve slept since I told him I loved him…and he told me I shouldn’t.

I can’t force him to see himself the way I do. I can’t rush him to be ready to talk about how he feels about our relationship. I want him to have the time he needs to work through his thoughts so we can figure out where to go from here. It’s hard to be patient, though.

“Team’s looking great. Playoff talk is circulating the closer we get to the end of the season. Aiden’s looking better tonight too. Haven’t seen a big play like that from him in a while,” Toby says.

I hum in agreement, keeping my response brief and my eyes on the TV. My family doesn’t know the details of everything that’s going on. They know Aiden and I are working through some things, but that it’s taking a backseat while he focuses on his Mom’s health.

I’m not trying to lie or hide things from my family, but at a certain point it feels like this is Aiden’s story. When he’s ready for my family to know about his past and the way it’s affecting his present, then they will. I don’t want to overshare and shed a spotlight on something so vulnerable. The type of hurt he’s experiencing right now, it’s extremely personal. If I want Aiden in my life forever, it’s important to me that his relationship with my family is built slowly over time, genuinely with trust on both sides. I explained all of this when they initially asked for more information, and they instantly backed off, understanding and empathy overtaking their curiosity. Probably a first for my family since we are all nosey as hell when it comes to each other’s personal lives.

“Any word on how Aiden’s mom is doing, hun? Is she feeling better?” Mom asks from her spot next to Dad on the couch. She’s tucked into his side, his arm around her shoulder, her head resting on his shoulder.

“Evie and I talked earlier today. She had a really good visit with her yesterday. Overall, Judy’s had a great week,” I say.

Evie cried when she told me about her first visit to see Judy after everything happened. The relief in her tone was clear. It really was just a horrible day, but that isn’t all that’s left.

I hope Aiden can see that and he finds the strength to face the uncertainty each day brings. I hope he finds comfort knowing how loved he is by his mom, even when her condition forces her to forget.

“That’s great news. I’m sure that’s why he’s looking a little more like himself on the field,” Danny adds.

“When does he come home?” Dad asks.

“He flies in tomorrow night. He’ll be back for a few days before he has to travel again,” I say.

I’m hoping with every piece of me that Aiden will be ready to see me before he has to leave again. Otherwise, I’ll be waiting another week. A whole fucking month.

Like I said, patience isn’t my specialty. I’m trying my best not to clue him into that when we’re texting, but it’s difficult.

Danny’s in the recliner behind me, playing with my hair while I sit on the floor, Hop snuggled into my side. I pet Hop and he snuggles closer against me, kicking his legs out to the side getting comfortable.

“What am I, chopped liver?” Ashton asks from Hopper’s other side when the dog shoves a paw into his leg, forcing him to scoot away. The second Ashton stops petting his stomach, though, Hopper shoots him a look like, What the fuck, man—who said you could quit with the massage ?

We sit together in my parent’s living room, watching the Aviators win four to two. Toby talks about work as usual. Danny tells us about her upcoming girls’ trip to Denver. Ash gives us a rundown on why he and his roommates think they have a chance of becoming professional skateboarders at their age when none of them have gotten closer to the sport than an old video game they used to play in middle school. Mom and Dad update us on neighborhood gossip. Hopper moves from person to person, trying to find out which one of us is the most suitable to snuggle with. Traitor.

When the game is over and I’m getting ready to head home for the night, I pop my head out of the back door to find my dad sitting on the deck.

“I’m headed out, Dad,” I say.

“Got a minute before you go?” he asks.

I huff out a breath as I plop onto one of the chairs. “Yeah, what’s up?”

“I want to talk about Aiden. ”

“What about him?” I ask.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said before, and I heard you. I’m not asking for details that are Aiden’s to share when he’s ready. Besides, I don’t need them to know that he’s dealing with something pretty heavy right now. What I do need to know is how it’s affecting you. Are you okay?”

This is what Aiden deserves. I wish more than anything that he could have a father who treats him the same way as mine. The errant thought makes tears pool in the corner of my eyes.

“Thanks for checking in. I promise, I’m good. I just wish there was a way for me to make things easier for him. I didn’t know what he was dealing with right away, and I wish I had. I’m afraid I unintentionally made things harder for him, but I’m hoping to talk to him about it soon.”

He sits with what I’ve said for a minute before responding, considering his next words carefully like my dad always does, forever the practical voice of reason.

“I have a feeling I already know the answer to this, but go ahead and spare me the suspense. Is Aiden my future son-in-law?”

The question does me in, and the tears that were threatening to fall earlier finally do.

“I hope so,” I whisper.

“Then you two will figure it out. Any man who’s willing to show his face here after how things went the first time we met, isn’t afraid of much.”

I laugh, because he’s not wrong. I can picture Aiden’s cheeks flush with embarrassment and the memory, however ridiculous, warms my heart. Aiden’s Pictionary debut will haunt Aiden at every single family gathering that he attends until further notice, and he’s taken it all in stride.

“He’s different from the men you’ve dated before. You two are good for each other,” he says.

“Thanks, Dad. I’m sorry I haven’t been more transparent about everything that’s going on.”

“Now, don’t you apologize for that. It’s clear that Aiden is a man who takes care of his family. I like knowing that’s important to him.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” he says.

“How did you know you wanted to live your life with Mom?”

He hums thoughtfully, sitting back and looking up at the sky for a minute. “If you asked me when I was young, I’d tell you it was because she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen with an even more beautiful heart. She made me feel like we could take on anything life threw at us, like we were invincible. But now I see that while those were important reasons, it wasn’t that complicated.”

“How could deciding to spend forever with someone not be complicated?” I question.

“Because your mother was the person who made me feel alive. She lights my world with color. I became a better man, living a better life with her at my side. She made every struggle easier, every success shine brighter, every dream more magical. Look at you, for instance. Our family…it’s the greatest gift I’ve ever been given and it’s all thanks to her. Sharing a life with your mother is the most beautiful thing I’ll experience.”

The look in my dad’s eyes gives me hope. Maybe it really is that simple.