Western Waves (Compass 3)

After they let go of one another, Stella looked up in my direction and caught my stare. The smile she shared with Aaliyah transferred over to me before she turned and went in the opposite direction. Aaliyah looked up and began walking toward me. She had that pregnancy glow to her. Even though she was only a few months along, I was already certain she’d been the best mother to that child. There wasn’t a lot in life that I’d ever got excited for, but I knew if anyone deserved to be a mother, it was Aaliyah. And if anyone was meant to be a father, it was Connor. They were the type of parents I used to pretend I’d had as a kid.

At least somebody was going to get the dream of mine that never came true.

“She’s so sweet,” Aaliyah said, smiling my way.

I huffed. “You don’t even know her.”

“Some people you can read from just a small conversation.”

“What did she say to you?”

“It’s a secret between two women.”

“Did you talk about the wedding?”

“Yes.”

“Did she tell you how she was feeling?”

“Also yes.”

I cocked an eyebrow. She shook her head, saying she wouldn’t tell me.

I ran my hand down my face in irritation. “I like to know what to expect.”

“You can’t always know how things will turn out ahead of time, Damian. Sometimes you just have to trust the process.”

“I’ve got trust issues.”

She smiled that nice grin that Aaliyah always had. “You’re nervous. Don’t worry, she is, too.”

“I’m not nervous,” I quipped. “Really, though. What did she say to you?”

“Oh, you know, this and that. Girl talk.”

“You’re really not going to tell me?”

Aaliyah placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled. I hated being touched, but for her, I’d allow it. She could probably get away with anything over these next few months while she was pregnant.

“I’m definitely not going to tell you.”

I grimaced.

She squeezed my shoulder. “Don’t frown, Damy. You’re getting married tomorrow.”

Damy.

I really wanted to tell her to never call me that again, but she said since we were pretty much family, we needed nicknames. She came up with Damy, and I hated every single thing about it.

She walked off as Connor stood beside me, cheesing harder than ever before.

“Are you sure I can’t call you Damy like she does?” he questioned.

“If you do, I’ll punch you in your ballsack.”

He cringed and placed his hands over his junk. “Noted.”

“Do me a favor?” I asked.

He cocked an eyebrow. “You never ask for favors.”

“Yeah, well, today I need one.”

“What’s up?”

“Try to get Aaliyah to tell you what Stella said.”

“Wow.” Connor blew out a low breath of hot air. “Aaliyah’s right. You are nervous.”

“I’m not fucking nervous!” I growled. Yeah, that’s right. I growled like a damn beast. Living up to Stella’s nickname for me.

Okay, fine. I was nervous. Could you blame me? I hardly even dated women for longer than twenty-four hours, and even that was a stretch. Now, after knowing about a woman’s existence for only a week and probably spending less than a full-blown hour with her, I was meeting her at the end of an aisle to say, “I do.”

I felt as if I were going to shit my pants with the amount of anxiety shooting through my veins. I wasn’t even a nervous guy. Most of the time, I didn’t care enough to feel anything.

I lowered my head and clasped my hands together. “How do I not fuck this up?”

“What do you mean?”

“We gotta live together for six months. I have a history of fucking up living arrangements, and if she leaves—”

“What if she stays?”

I grimaced at the thought. Nobody had stayed before, so I doubted this situation would be any different.

“I’m serious, Connor. Give me some tips.”

“You’re asking me for tips for how to make a woman stay? The man who’s only been married for like two-point-five seconds?”

“Yeah, but you’re a better man than me.”

“I think we both know that’s a lie, but I’ll take the compliment.” He sat down on the nearest chair and patted his knee. “Come on over, son, and take a seat on Daddy’s lap so I can give you a pep talk.” I gave him a death stare, and he put his hands up in surrender. “Or stay right where you are. No harm, no foul.”

He cleared his throat and clasped his hands together, growing a bit somber, which wasn’t something Connor often did. “Be patient. With her, with yourself. You’re both coming into this situation with baggage. I don’t know what her baggage is, but I know yours, and I know how sometimes it can feel a bit heavy, so don’t overwhelm yourself. Set it down when you need a break, and lean into your family when you need to. Aaliyah and I are just a phone call away.”

I gave him a weighted smile, and he smiled brighter. “Thanks, Con.”