Damn. Now that day needs to have an alarm or three on my phone. It is positively insane, but it’s also kind of exciting. I can think of ways to surprise Lainey. It’s cliché for sure, the whole day, but I want a piece of the experience. I’ll just have to think of the best way to celebrate it.
For now, I focus on tonight.
I finish up a few things then open Lainey’s apartment door. Normally, I knock. However, I can hear that she’s in the midst of a debate with Enzo. I get the gist of it as I work my way through their home.
“Enzo. For the last time, please pick up the cars and zip up your school bag for tomorrow, otherwise I’m swapping your cheese pizza for broccoli and celery sticks with rice.” She doesn’t mean it, and even annoyed with her son, she has that warm affection for him.
“Tyler!” Enzo stands up from the mess on the floor and runs to me. Lainey’s sight follows her son, and she gives me a welcoming but exhausting smile.
I kneel down to be at Enzo’s height. “What’s going on?”
“That was an awesome assist last night… I mean, Uncle Seb played good, but you played better.”
Lainey sets her hands on his shoulders as she stands behind him. “Let’s keep that opinion between these four walls,” she muses.
“Thanks, buddy. But what’s this I hear about not listening to your mom?”
His eyes dip down, with his chin to his chest. “It’s too much to clean up.”
“That’s why we put things away as we play,” Lainey reminds him.
“Your mom is right.”
She scruffs his hair. “Go work on your room and I’ll help with the living room, okay?” Sometimes compromises are best.
“Okay.” He runs away.
I’m finally able to stand and pull Lainey into a hug before giving her a long kiss. We only do this when Enzo isn’t around. To him, I’m just a friend and neighbor. Going slow for him is understandable, and I follow Lainey’s cues.
But the other side of us, I can push.
“Pizza should be here in twenty.”
“Perfect.” She interlaces our fingers and walks me to the couch to plop us down onto the cushions, and she faces me on her side and rests her head against her propped elbow on the back of the couch. “You must be exhausted. You had a late game then flew out this morning.”
“Nah, I’m used to it. Besides, you’ve had to deal with HurricaneEnzo today.”
Her brows rise knowingly. “It’s been one of those days.” She puffs out a breath.
This is my in. “Then let’s just get it all out.”
She shifts and seems confused. “Is everything okay?”
I’m leaning leisurely back with my feet planted on the ground, my hands on my thighs, and I turn my head to meet her gaze. “It’s perfect. I just wanted to let you know that I spoke with your brother after the game.”
She juts her chin out and her eyes are wide. “Oh? And you’re here in one piece.”
The corner of my mouth stretches from the obvious assumption. “It was good. I just wanted to tell him something before I ask you.”
“Ask me what?”
I trap her hand on her thigh between my palms. “You and me. We’re doing well, and I will completely follow you when it comes to Enzo. I just want you to know that I’m in this, and I understand that you’re not alone but…” What am I saying exactly?
Lainey’s eyes narrow, and she tips her head to the side. “You want to go official?” she finishes my sentence because our brains have synced.
“Yeah, you wearing my jersey while in the box with the other players’ girlfriends and not hiding.” It’s completely selfish. “Honestly, I understand that we need to tread carefully for Enzo.”
She scoots closer to me. “I love that you are so adamant about it. You care, and I have no doubts about it. Actually…” Her mouths seals then opens with a smile. “I wanted to talk to you about everything tonight. We’ve been dancing around one another all of fall and winter, and I’m certain of what we are. I think it’s time that Enzo knows about us. He’s smart.”
