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MILESTONES

RHODES

Now

We celebrated Levi’s birthday when we were on our honeymoon, but two weeks later when we’re back, we have everyone over to celebrate again. Levi’s having the time of his life, running around the house with all his friends, and the guys and I take a few minutes to catch up on the deck. I have the fireplace on and the outdoor heaters, so it’s perfect out here.

“Look at you, looking all vacationed and loved up,” Henley says, nodding at me.

“It’s a good look on you,” Weston adds.

“Now that I know what you look like after having sex all the time, I can’t believe I ever believed you were keeping up with me,” Penn says.

We all laugh.

“You’re a fool,” I say, still laughing as I hug him.

“Welcome back,” Bowie says.

I pat his cheek. “Did you miss me?”

He holds his fingers together a tiny bit and makes a face.

“A lot then, is what you’re saying,” I say, nodding. I point at him. “Have you taken Becca to visit Poppy yet?”

He frowns. “No, and I’m not going to.” He sits across from me and sighs. “But she’s driving me crazy about it.”

“What’s it about? Who’s Poppy?” Weston asks.

“A woman who really liked what she saw when she looked at Bowie,” I say.

He groans. “Not true. Let’s move on. How was your honeymoon?”

“It was incredible. I took Elle to meet my family in Cape Town. We stayed there for five days at The Silo Hotel, which was incredible. My parents watched Levi, and we saw him a little bit those first few days but still had time to ourselves. Then my parents kept Levi at my mom’s cousin’s, while Elle and I escaped by ourselves. It was perfect.”

“Sounds like it. And if that smile is anything to go on…” Henley grins.

“How’s Tru feeling?” I ask .

“She’s doing pretty well so far. She says she’s getting a little pouch, but it’s so barely there.” He laughs.

“You look so happy, man. It’s really great to see,” I say.

“So do you,” Weston says.

I point at him. “And your wedding…I’m back now. Put me to work. I will be at your beck and call.”

“There’s really not that much to do until a few days before the wedding,” he says.

“I’m in for all of it.”

Bowie sets The Single Dad Playbook on the table and I’m the first to grab it.

“I’ve got a thing or two to get off my chest.” I look at Bowie and Penn. “Did you write in it after the wedding?”

“We did,” Bowie says.

I go to their entries and laugh when I see Penn’s.

I thought I was jealous of Rhodes

because of his player status.

(Later confirmed that I shouldn’t have been.)

And because he has such a gorgeous best friend

when I’m stuck with you guys.

(Just kidding. You’re all hot as fuck.)

And because he has the cutest, funniest

four-year-old I’ve ever seen.

(This is still completely true.)

But then I saw the trick

he taught Bogey the freaking Bulldog

for the wedding and realized

I have things to be jealous of

that I didn’t even know about.

Where can I get a dog

and do you think I can teach it how to count cards ?

~Penn

I laugh my ass off. “Get a dog and I’ll teach it whatever you want it to know.”

“How did we not know you’re a dog whisperer?” Weston says, cracking up.

“I never saw that coming,” Bowie says.

“It’s all Bogey, man. He’s a genius.” I shrug. “I also have some tricks I can pull out when the time comes to get you started,” I assure Penn.

I look at the book and turn to what Bowie has written.

Sometimes I think I’m not capable

of raising Becca by myself.

Not because she’s a girl

or because she has a disability

or because I’m exhausted enough as it is…

or maybe it’s for all those reasons put together.

But I think it’s simply because

it’s such a monumental responsibility

we’ve been given

to raise a child

and we hope that we don’t do anything

to mess up their future.

And then Becca will hug me and say,

“I love you, Dad.”

Or I’ll read these entries…

And I know that I’m not alone at all.

~Bowi e

“Fuck,” my voice cracks. “You got me, Bow. I thought I got all my crying out at the wedding.”

The guys start laughing.

“Cried like a baby ,” Penn says.

“Every time I looked at you, you looked like this.” Henley curls his face up and we all laugh.

I toss a napkin at him.

“Best day of my goddamn life,” I say. “And it’s only looking up from here.”

There’s an entry from Weston too and I shake my head as I start reading.

Caleb and I have been practicing

our wedding day faces every day…

Because only one of the Mustangs can do

the ugly cry at their wedding,

and that was Rhodes.

~Weston

“Fuck you very much,” I say, laughing my ass off.

“It was a beautiful sight,” Weston says, wiping his eyes.

Once the laughter has died down, I grab a pen and write a few lines I’ve been thinking about.

Levi’s birthday has always been hard for me.

Sometimes I blink and can hardly remember

how I felt when he was a baby .

The fatigue was always taking over

a lot of what should be memories now.

Each phase has been so fun and so challenging,

and just when I think I’ve gotten used

to this parenting thing,

we enter a new phase.

But I’ve decided to enjoy all the growing pains,

mine included.

~Rhodes

Elle pokes her head outside. “Did Levi find you yet?”

“No, last I saw him, he and Caleb were playing that fishing game he’s loving. I told him I’d be out here, but I haven’t seen him.”

“He’s ready for the cake.”

I nod. “I’ll be right in.”

We stand up and go inside and Levi runs up to me, wrapping his arms around my legs.

“Cake, Daddy. Elle says theh’s cake!”

“There sure is,” I say, bending down to swipe him up in my arms and kiss his neck until he’s cackling.

I put him up on my shoulders and bounce him to the cake. Elle lights the candles and Levi claps his hands in excitement. I place him carefully on the stool in front of the cake and everyone gathers around to sing. He looks around, listening to us, and his little cheeks probably ache from how hard he’s smiled all day. My sweet boy.

“Thank you,” he says when we’re done singing, and that’s it, I’m done .

I wipe my eyes, and Elle comes over to lean into me after he blows out the candles.

“How’s my softie husband doing?” she asks.

“I’m a mess.”

“And I love you for it,” she says.

I cut the cake and Elle passes the pieces around to everyone. Calista jumps in and helps her. When I’ve got my piece, Levi wants to clank our forks together. I don’t have the heart to tell him it’s probably not the best sanitary practice to clank forks. I’ll wait to tell him another day.

There’s plenty of time for that later.

For now, I’ve got a wife and a son to enjoy.

They’re everything I could ever want.