The Hardest Fall

“They did. I just talked to them before coming inside. They’re waiting for JP and his wife then they’ll head here together.” I reached forward and stole a piece of cheese before she could stop me. “JP will probably land at any moment.”

“Is he happy now?” Zoe asked before turning off the stove.

“Yeah, he’s happy with the assistant coaching job for his old high school, and we have more ideas. It’ll be okay.” My best friend had struggled with the outcome of his injury, but he’d never given up on anything in his life. A shift of career wasn’t going to change that. Just a different road now, he’d said. Just a different dream. “When is Chris coming?”

“He should be here any minute, and Kayla should be here not too long after him.”

“Good.” I nuzzled her neck. “Are you happy to live just an hour away from your friend? She’s doing better, right?”

She tilted her head to give me more access and dropped the wooden spoon on the counter.

“Yeah,” she murmured. “She’s not dating seriously, not after that Tyron guy, but she is at least dating. Dylan, my dad is gonna come inside any minute—Dylan! Don’t do that.”

“I can hear them, and Soph is asking him what pressies he got her.” I chuckled and gently bit Zoe’s neck as she melted into me. “Just in case you didn’t know, we’re raising a monster. I don’t want her to grow up. This size is perfect.”

“You’re just now noticing that? Mmmm, that feels good. Jared can’t make it by the way. He’s busy with work, but he said he’d call you later.”

I nodded and kept brushing small kisses on her skin.

The doorbell rang and we both froze. A second later we could hear Sophia’s shriek as she ran through the house to get the door.

“Uncle Chrissy is here!”

Zoe chuckled. “Chrissy—he’s gonna get you back for that, you know,” she mumbled as we reluctantly let go of each other.

I sighed and yelled at my daughter. “You’re not allowed to answer the door, Soph! Wait for me.”

“Hurry up, Daddy. Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up!”

I saw Ronald come into the kitchen with a smile on his face and left Zoe with him so I could go open the door for my best friend, Sophia’s Uncle Chrissy.

Zoe and Chris’s relationship had definitely evolved. They were much closer than they had been six years before during those first few months after he learned about everything, but it had taken them a long time to get where they were. There were still moments where you could see them holding back, but Zoe was happy she got to see him as often as she did since we were playing for the same team and were pretty much unbeatable.

And Sophia…well, Chris was her favorite human in the world, and we were pretty sure her feelings were reciprocated, which was probably why he came to our house for dinner three or four times a week.

As I walked through the corridor that held my talented wife’s beautiful photographs and made it to the front door, Sophia was talking to her favorite uncle through the door.

“I missed you, Uncle Chrissy. Where were you? Did you bring my presents with you? It’s my birthday today.”

Laughing, I opened the door and Sophia threw herself at Chris, shouting joyfully when he lifted her up in his arms.

“Who is this beautiful girl?” Chris asked, and my daughter beamed at my best friend.

“It’s me, silly.”

Chris drowned her in kisses and her laughter echoed throughout our house, as it continued to do for the rest of the day.

* * *

It was eleven PM and my parents had gone to sleep when I found Zoe sitting on our bed.

“Where did you disappear to?” I asked as I opened the door wider and stepped inside.

She looked at me over her shoulder and smiled. “I’ll be down in a minute. Where is Sophia?”

I grinned. “Sleeping in Chris’s lap.” I sat down beside her and grasped her hand in mine. “Is everything okay? Did Chris say something about…?”

“What? No, no. They haven’t talked in years, if that’s what you’re asking. As far as I know, he only talks to his mom, and they’ve divorced, although—I don’t want to talk about him. You don’t have to ask anymore.”

“Okay, Flash, whatever you want. Are you just tired then? You barely sat down today.”

She sighed and rested her shoulder against mine, eyes on our hands.

“It’s a good tired. It was the best day.” She glanced at me and our eyes met as she whispered, “Happy birthday, Dylan. Don’t think I forgot you. I’ll give you your present after everyone goes to sleep.”

“Thank you, Flash.” My smiling lips touched hers and we broke apart too soon for my liking. “What are you doing in here?”

“I came up to get my laptop. I was gonna show Kayla the shoot I did for that couple I mentioned at dinner. And the other two I decided to send out to the gallery in New York. I just sat down for a minute.”