Page 29 of Dad Next Door
I handed Nick his phone back. “Of course. It’s one of my faves.”
Zane played the opening bars of the song, the familiar music soothing my artist’s soul.
I missed singing and performing, even if it was just a jam session in my backyard, and having my friends join in and sing with me was some of the most fun I’d had in forever.
“What’s next?” Jett asked when the song was over. “Do you know ‘Zombie?’”
Zane and I both nodded. Nick wiggled his phone in my direction. I shook my head. I’d memorized the lyrics years ago.
“Do you know ‘Summer of ’69?’” Caleb asked.
“Sixty-nine.” Nick snickered.
Caleb shot Gray, who was also fighting back his laughter, a stern look. Gray’s expression shifted to one of bashful obedience, a flicker of heat in his eyes.
“I know it.” I flicked my gaze back to Caleb.
“Same.” Zane plucked at the strings. “Anyone else want to add a request to the queue?”
Two hours later, I was slumped on my outdoor sectional with a platter of the leftover flatbreads Gray had brought over balanced on my stomach.
“Hi.”
I looked up from the food, a smile already on my lips at the familiar voice.
Tristan stood at the edge of my deck, clutching a bottle of wine and looking like he was contemplating running away.
“Hi.” I sat up, putting the tray down on the table in front of me.
“My sister made me come. And bring this.” He stood stock-still, but I assumed he meant the wine.
“Well, be sure to thank your sister for me.” I waved him over. “Are you still feeling awkward about last night?”
He nodded and took a few small steps closer. “I know I hide it so well.”
“Don’t be. It was an accident.” I patted the couch next to me with a chuckle. “I’m not gonna bite, Doc.”
He came to sit next to me on the sectional, keeping a cushion of distance between us.
“So, Lydia made you come hang out with me?” I teased, holding my hand out for the wine. “I’m assuming that’s for us to open?”
He shoved the wine into my hand with a wry grin. “Well, she didn’t make me come over. She offered to watch Leo so I could. And countered every argument I had about why hiding was the best idea.”
“I take it you told her what happened?”
He winced. “Yeah. She thought it was hilarious.”
“It really was.” I bit back a smile. “From my perspective, at least.”
“I’m glad one of us thought so. Have I mentioned that I’m awkward as fuck?”
“I’ve known you for over three months now, Doc. Awkward doesn’t bother me.” I pointed to the platter. “Hungry? My buddy Gray is an amazing cook. I need someone to help me so I don’t finish them all on my own.”
“Those look good. I wish I could cook.” Tristan leaned forward and studied the different slices of flatbread and toppings. “I’m decent enough at the basics and can follow directions, but there are some things I just can’t get a handle on. Like rice. I always overcook it, even when I follow the directions to the letter. Same with boxed mac and cheese. It always turns to soup when I try to make it.”
“I’m hopeless at the boxed stuff too.” I looked around for the corkscrew that was kicking around. “My dad makes the most amazing mac and cheese from scratch. I grew up on the stuff. Do you have a rice cooker? I love mine.”
“I used to. I think it’s in the pantry. I’ll have to dig it out and see if it still works.”