ALEXI
I placedmy hand over Troy’s shaky ones.
We’d been sitting on the couch at his parents’ house for twenty minutes. His mom was in the kitchen with his dad. Wren and Tom were on the way. My parents had messaged to say they’d landed at the small private airport thirty minutes from Chester Falls.
“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered.
“You don’t know that. What if my parents are disappointed?”
“They won’t be.”
His mom came into the living room a mere second after I took my hand away from his. I didn’t like it when he was nervous. He was my Mister Confident.
“Would any of you like a drink? I hear Charlie and Kris are almost here.” I heard a car pull into the driveway. “Oh look, my boys are here.”
Mrs. Mason went to open the door, and a second later, Miles came running toward us. “Toy! Wexi!”
Wren and Tom followed behind. Wren fell into the armchair and Tom sat on his lap. They both looked exhausted.
Troy picked Miles up and sat him across both our laps.
“Hey, little dude. Look at you running like a big boy,” Troy said.
“Moo.” Miles held out a little toy cow. He was so adorable, especially when he looked at Troy like he was the most important person in the world.
I knew the feeling all too well.
Troy’s gaze met mine and his eyebrows raised.
I chuckled and shook my head.
“Can I interest you guys in a wonderful activity-filled afternoon at the petting zoo?” Wren asked, turning to us.
Miles shouted straight away. “Zoo! Dada. Zoo.”
“Is that your way of asking if we can babysit your kid while you nap?” Troy asked.
“Of course not,” Tom said indignantly. “We don’t need naps, do we, baby?”
“Of course not, angel,” Wren said, a yawn escaping his mouth.
“Not even little ones. We’re fine and not at all sleep”—Tom yawned—“deprived.”
I laughed at the pleading look on Wren’s face.
“We’d love to take Miles out.”
Wren rubbed Tom’s back. “Keep doing that, baby, and I’ll fall asleep.”
“I’ve got you, Angel.”
“Why are you so tired?” Troy asked. “I thought Miles was done with the sleepless nights.”
“Someone decided to gift Miles a playpen set with loud musical instruments,” Wren said.
“But to be fair, baby. It was your idea to set it up in his room,” Tom added.
“I didn’t know he was going to break out of his baby bed to do Rolling Stones impressions at three in the morning and then refuse to go back to sleep.”
