Page 24

“Weekend away games suck,” I say as soon as I open the door. Gabe is smiling and steps into the house with his arms outstretched.

The first away game was rough. I missed him so much and I was happy when he video called me and stayed with me until I fell asleep.

He’s had a few away games since. Most nights, we’ve fallen asleep virtually, but once he went out to be the designated driver of sorts.

None of them were actually driving, but he made sure everyone made it into their own hotel rooms at the end of the night.

He still texted me a goodnight around one in the morning.

This time, they lost the game by two points and none of them went out.

Before I can sink into his warmth, a flash of orange smooshes itself between us and wraps arms around Gabe’s leg.

“Gabe! It’s sleepover party time!”

“Sleepover party?” Gabe’s eyes go from Owen to me and then back to Owen.

“Daddy said we’re gonna have a sleepover with the three of us. Can we play Go Fish and watch the penguin movie and–”

“Buddy, take a breath.” I lay a hand on Owen’s shoulder and smile down at him. “Also, you’re dripping water. How about you go back outside, and I’ll be there soon. ”

We watch Owen scurry back through the house and out the door.

The pool is only a few inches deep, but it’s within clear view so I can keep an eye on him.

I feel an arm wrap around my waist and I’m suddenly burying my face against Gabe’s neck, fighting off tears that have been threatening to spill for hours now.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Gabe’s arm tightens around me. I take a deep breath. It doesn’t help much, but I push through the lump in my throat to speak.

“Owen was excluded from a birthday party today. While he was in the same house.”

“What?” Gabe’s arm falls from around my waist, and he stares at me. “How does that even happen?”

“Apparently Karen hosted a birthday party for one of the other cousins. Cake, presents, games, the whole works. They all had a sleepover last night and, when I dropped Owen off this morning, she didn’t say anything about it.

The kids must have still been asleep, and she had Owen downstairs with Harold while she hosted his cousin and ten other kids once they woke up. ”

His face contorts with confusion, “Wait…what? Why not send him upstairs when they woke up?”

It’s a valid question, but I’m not finished yet.

“It gets worse.” Shaking my head, I continue, “The only reason I found out at all was because the football team wrapped up early and I came to get him an hour before I said I would. He was eating a sandwich while the other kids had nachos and cake, ice cream, toys…all that kind of stuff. I could hear them from downstairs, so I know Owen did too.”

“Are you fuc-” Gabe stops himself and closes his eyes. He looks like I felt. Like I still feel. “Why would they do that? Why deliberately exclude him? Did you ask her? ”

“I didn’t ask. I just…I didn’t know what to do, you know? I just took Owen and we left. He was quiet —too quiet— and I kind of decided to just give him one of those yes days to hopefully make him feel better.”

“Did he say anything?” Gabe pulls out his phone and starts typing quickly.

“What are you doing? And no, he said he didn’t want to talk about it. When I asked, he said that he stayed downstairs and watched a movie.” Gabe is still typing furiously. “Seriously, what are you doing?”

Gabe looks up and smiles at me. “Don’t worry about it, baby. How about you go outside with Owen, and I’ll be there in just a minute? I’m going to put my bag in your room.”

“Daddy?”

“Sweetheart, just do as I say, please. Trust me.”

I do trust him.

Nodding, I join Owen in playing superheroes, losing myself in the imaginary play just like Owen is. I’ll always do what I need to for my son, but I also know that my Daddy will do the same for me. I can feel a lump in my throat again at that thought.

Our relationship was always on a fast track, with diving headfirst into the kink and spending every moment we can together. Gabe has become my rock to lean on for anything, big or small.

“Daddy?” Owen’s voice pulls me out of my serious thoughts about Gabe.

“Yeah, buddy?” I splash one of the superheroes into the water and it makes us both giggle. He wipes his face clean of the water droplets before talking again.

“I don’t want you to be mad at me. ”

I pause and look directly at my son. “I would never be mad at you, Owen. Why would you think that?”

“You looked mad when we were leaving Grandma and Grandpa’s.” His shoulders slump. No five-year-old should ever feel this way. Not about their family. I hate that he’s experienced this.

“I wasn’t mad, buddy. Not at you. I was upset that they didn’t let you join the party with the other kids.”

“They said I was too little. They was playing big kid games that I didn’t understand.”

“Did they try to let you play?”

“No. They said I could watch, but then Grandma said I could go watch a movie downstairs because there wasn’t enough room at the table for everyone.”

I ball my hand into a fist and try not to cry at those words. I never want to think of my son as excluded from anything, especially at his grandparents.

“Okay, good news for both of you. We are most definitely having a party.” Gabe’s voice reaches us before he steps out of the house and shields his eyes from the sun.

“Mister Owen, Brian is coming over, along with Rachel from your class. Marshall and Izzy are coming too, and they’re bringing pizza for all of us.

We have exactly forty-five minutes before people show up, so why don’t we go clean up and we can build the most epic blanket fort in the living room for all of us to watch movies. ”

I’m left sitting in the water, speechless, as Owen jumps up and runs to Gabe. “Really?”

“Yes, really. So why don’t you and your Daddy go clean up? I’m going to run to my apartment and grab some supplies. I’ll be back in thirty minutes. We’re going to have the most awesome party ever. ”

Owen disappears into the house, and I hold out a hand for Gabe to help me up. “You didn’t have to do this, Gabe.”

“First off, hearing you call me by my name when we’re alone sounds weird. I much prefer Daddy. Secondly, no one is allowed to make either of my boys feel sad. I could see how much this hurt you.”

“I know that they aren’t Owen’s friends, but if I’d known she was hosting a party for them, I wouldn’t have dropped Owen off.

I would have figured something else out.

I just can’t help but think what if this isn’t the first time?

Owen’s always said he’s had fun, but I know the other kids have been at the house before.

What if she always keeps them separate or the others tell him they don’t want to play with him? ”

“Baby, please calm down.” Daddy rubs his hands down my arms until I can feel my muscles relaxing again. “It’s going to be okay. I don’t want you to worry about a thing, alright? Daddy is going to take care of everything. You just enjoy spending a fun Saturday night with your son.”

I lean up and kiss him. As the seconds pass and our tongues glide together, I do as he says once again. I let the worry and stress melt away and I promise to focus on having fun.

Owen and I take turns in the shower and I’m helping him put on a clean pair of socks when the doorbell rings. Gabe knows that the door is unlocked, so it has to be someone else. I let Owen race forward —quietly hoping he doesn’t slip in his socks— and open the door on his own.

“Owen!” A small voice yells and two kids rush in and surround my son in a group hug. Mandy walks in behind them with a big bag on her shoulder. She glances my way and smiles .

“Your house is amazing, Justin. That college must be paying well.”

“I can’t complain,” I reply, feeling my mood lighten even more. I give her a brief hug before taking the bag. It looks like snack foods and toys. “You didn’t have to do all this.”

“I wanted to,” Mandy says. “You have no idea how much Brian talks about Owen. They’re best friends in school. We really should have done this sooner.”

“It’s been a busy couple of months getting settled and—oh, Owen, not the pool again! I’m going to dump that water. How about you show your friends your room?” I turn to Mandy. “Since this is a rare time it’s actually clean.”

“I feel that,” she laughs. “But anyway, show me where I can put this stuff. My brother said something about a blanket fort, so I brought extra sheets as well.”

“Your entire family is the best. Seriously. Your mom is amazing too.”

“Hold on.” She sets the bag down on the counter and spins to face me, her hand on her hip and a grin on her face. “When did you meet our parents?”

“Owen and I took a trip with Gabe last Friday. We’ve been invited to Thanksgiving dinner and also Christmas. And New Years is going to be here at my house with everyone.”

“Yeah, totally sounds like my family.” We both pause at a round of laughter coming from Owen’s room.

It’s music to my ears. “Speaking of being awesome and stuff, this is my official offer to have Owen come home with Brian after school whenever you need it. They’re in the same class and I pick Bry up from school every day, so I’m there anyway. ”

I step forward and wrap my arms around her tightly. She lets out a startled sound but hugs me back. We’re still standing like that when the door opens again.

“I leave for half an hour and you’re already making moves on my man.” I smile at my Daddy’s voice and let his sister go.

“I can’t thank you both enough for being so amazing.” I look between them. Gabe is holding a new duffel bag. I’m not sure what’s in it, but he excuses himself to take it to my room, so I can only imagine the contents. I hear him greet all three kids and ask what they’re playing.

“He is so good with kids,” Mandy says. “Always has been.”

“Owen adores him,” I agree. “He’s been a blessing, and I don’t think he realizes it.”