Page 42 of Dad Next Door

“I’ve got it. I’m closer.” Tristan reached toward the console where the bar stuff was kept.

“Nope. That’s not your job tonight.” Nick elbowed me again. “Quinn is going to shower you with attention. You’re not to get your own drinks, pull out your own chairs, open your own doors, or get your own food for the rest of the night. No point bringing a boy toy if you don’t put him to work.”

I patted Tristan’s knee. “How pissed will Simon be if he sees me waiting on you hand and foot?”

“So pissed.” Tristan’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “This is the same man who couldn’t even remember my coffee order after ten years together. Who refused to get up for nighttime feedings when Leo was a baby. He’ll lose his mind if he sees you doing all the things for me that I used to have to do for him.”

Nick and I exchanged a quick look.

Tristan had let a lot of little anecdotes like this out in the past three months. It was plain as day that Simon had been emotionally abusive toward him, and it made me sad to know Tristan had wasted so much time on someone who didn’t deserve him.

Tristan was a kind-hearted man who was empathetic and caring to a fault. He was a natural caretaker and loved to make people happy, but those traits also made him a prime target for assholes who wanted to exploit his kindness. He needed someone who put as much into him as he did into them. Someone to share his burdens, not add to them, if he ever decided to date again.

“What about dancing?” Nick asked. “Did you guys ever dance? Is that something that would piss him off?”

“He doesn’t dance. Not even at our wedding.”

“What? You didn’t do a newlywed dance or anything?” Nick gaped at him.

“Nope. We didn’t have a full reception because Simon said it would be a waste of time. Instead we did a cocktail hour thing and spent a fortune on tapas and imported wine while he used the time to network and talk business.”

Nick scrunched up his nose in distaste. “Your ex is the literal worst. And I know a lot of terrible people. Right, Vlado?” he called to the front seat.

“Yup,” Vlado piped up. “Just say the word, and I’ll come in with you and give him the old stare down. My record is pretty good for making assholes reconsider their ways.”

“It really is,” Nick said. “I once saw him make a dude piss himself just with a few words. Not gonna tell you what those words were because that’s need-to-know, but he’s the best for a reason. He’s the only one I trust to have my back in Ev’s world, other than Ev. And myself, of course. I’m amazing, but Vlado’s good backup.”

“Thanks, kiddo.” Vlado grinned at him through the rearview mirror.

Nick blew him a kiss. “Love you. You big goober.”

“Love you too, kid.” Vlado’s voice was heavy with affection.

Tristan folded his lips inward and glanced at me.

“Your offer is tempting, but maybe we won’t cause a scene before the wedding even starts,” I said to Vlado.

“Fair enough. But the offer is there for when we come get you after if you need it.”

“You’re going to pick us up too? The reception won’t be over until late,” Tristan asked. “Or early, depending on how you look at it.”

“I’ve got to stick around to drive this one home after work.” Vlado hooked his thumb behind himself. “And he makes the rules, so I go where he says.”

“You really thought we were gonna get you there and abandon you?” Nick waved dismissively. “Oh, honey. That’s not how we treat family. And I need all the tea from tonight while the deets are fresh.”

Tristan sat back in his seat, a smile on his face and his cheeks flushed pink as Nick rambled on about all the ways we could mess with Simon.

I busied myself with getting us some drinks. I figured having Nick here would help calm Tristan’s nerves. Now he was in the right headspace to have the kind of night he deserved.

9

TRISTAN

“Everyone is staring at us,” I whispered to Quinn as we stood in the receiving line to congratulate the bride and groom.

“Good. That’s what we want.” Quinn slid his arm around my waist and tugged me closer so he could lean in and whisper in my ear. “Don’t look now, but Asshole McDouchenozzle is trying to burn a hole in the back of your head with all the glaring he’s doing.”

“Really? Where is he?” I tried to ignore the way his breath tickled my skin while simultaneously resisting the urge to crane my head around and seek Simon out.