Brad

I had the doorman call up to Jacob and Beth’s to grant us entrance. As we step inside the elevator, Mika grabs my hand and squeezes.

“You got this,” she says evenly.

“So do you.” I smile, leaning down and kissing the top of her head as she snuggles into my side.

I’m a wind-tunnel of nerves as we ascend in the elevator. When the doors open, I take my first step into the foyer and know there’s no turning back.

“In the kitchen!” Beth yells.

We walk into the large chef’s kitchen and we’re greeted by both Jacob and Beth surrounded by pots and pans. Beth looks up and wipes her hands on her waist apron and then nudges Jacob who was staring intently into the pot he was stirring.

“Hi. I’m Beth.” Beth immediately steps around the massive island and reaches for Mika’s hand.

“Beth and Jacob? This is Mika, my girlfriend. Mika, Jacob and Beth.” I make introductions.

“This is a lovely home you guys have,” Mika says, shyly looking around the space.

“Thanks. I would prefer a little house, but this one can’t let go of all this space.” Beth hitches her thumb over her shoulder in Jacob’s direction.

Jacob steps around the island and comes to shake Mika’s hand.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Jacob says. He then turns to me and offers me his hand. His demeanor is tight, not exactly forced, but he’s not completely comfortable either.

“So, you’ll probably have to tell the story again when Allie and Ty get here, but I’m not going to wait for them because I’m selfish like that. How did you two meet?” Beth asks, looking between us.

Nervously, Mika looks to me.

“Her brother is my parole officer. I spotted her at his office, then we ran into each other at the gym and the corner store and then, yeah, here we are,” I offer.

“Was. My brother was his parole officer. This is his last week and then he’s cleared.” She smiles up at me proudly as I run my hand up and down her back.

I had forgotten about that. With everything going on, I wasn’t sure how fast the time had passed.

“Are you a parole officer too?” Jacob asks, his eyes locked on her face.

“I’m a nurse,” Mika says. “Not like there’s anything wrong with being a PO, I just don’t do well with people.”

“She’s a cardiac nurse,” I contribute.

“Cool. So—” Beth starts, but is interrupted by Allie yelling through the house.

“Don’t worry. The party has arrived!” Allie and Tyson enter the kitchen. Allie is wearing black leggings and a patterned shirt with the shoulders missing. Tyson is dressed in his usual suit but minus the tie. Looking at Jacob and Tyson, they’re night and day. Jacob is dressed casually like myself in jeans and a t-shirt, while Beth is dressed as comfortable as Allie in a layered shirt and tank top over skinny jeans.

“Bradford,” Tyson acknowledges while shaking my hand.

Allie moves around him and hugs me. “Glad to see you here,” she whispers in my ear. She smiles as she pulls away.

“So, you must be the date?” Allie smiles, her voice genuine.

“I’m Mika.” She extends her hand to shake, but Allie pushes it away and goes in for the hug instead. Mika’s eyes are wide as she’s engulfed in Allie’s arms.

“That’s Brad’s girlfriend,” Beth says from in front of the stove.

“Wait, really? Girlfriend?” Allie looks between us.

“Girlfriend,” Mika confirms. “Wait a minute, do I know you?”

Allie blushes and looks to Tyson who is smiling proudly. He steps beside her, wraps his arm around her waist and kisses her beneath her ear.

“Allie models part-time. She’s been on billboards around the city, in print and such for Mad Designs, our company,” he tells Mika.

“Oh! Shit. I’m sorry. I totally forgot that you guys are them.”

“Them?” questions Tyson.

“Them Maddox people, not just Brad’s family, but the celebrities.”

“Oh, no one here is a celebrity. We’re just like you. I mean we’re not heart surgeons or anything, but yeah, we’re just like you,” Beth says warmly.

“You’re a heart surgeon?” Allie gapes.

“I’m a cardiac nurse.”

“It’s basically the same thing. Nurses are more important than doctors. Everyone knows that,” Beth says from her station.

“At least just as important. Mika says with a small smile, without correcting either of them.

“I remember the nurses when Dad was in the hospital were around more than any of his doctors. They knew more about him than we did,” Jacob says quietly stirring his pot.

“Thank you for your service.” Allie smiles and salutes Mika.

“Al, she’s not military.” I roll my eyes.

“Whatever. So how did you two meet?” Allie links arms with Mika and they stand by the counter where Beth is finishing whatever she’s cooking, leaving Tyson and me standing together in uncomfortable silence.

“So, girlfriend?” Ty asks after a few moments.

“Yup,” I confirm.

“Interesting,” he says.

“I’m a little bit different than I used to be.”

“I can see that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in jeans.” A hint of a smile forms on Tyson’s face.

“Yeah, I don’t miss the suits. Too confining,” I say, pulling on the collar of my shirt.

“What else is new?”

“Well, you saw the job thing. I spend a lot of time with Mika and Jared, and most weekends, I play on a work basketball league.”

“Who is Jared?”

“Um… Mika’s son.”

“Wait a minute, you’re dating a woman who has a child?”

“Correct.”

“And you’re okay with it?”

“I am.” I nod.

“A real child?”

“Correct.”

“And you’re okay with that? I mean, that’s quite a commitment and shit?”

“When we first met, I didn’t know. But as things unfolded, I found out, and I’m cool with it. He’s a great kid, really smart and funny even. And she’s… well, she’s just incredible,” I say, looking toward where she is standing with the girls.

“Well, hey, I’m happy for you.” Tyson pats me on the shoulder.

“Thanks.”

“So, tonight. This is more than dinner, you know that right?” Tyson quietly divulges.

“I think I do.”

“While I think your actions were poorly thought out, some of it makes sense. I know you paid for it. Jacob has his reservations, but overall this dinner was his idea. It was also his idea to go to your work.”

“His idea or Beth’s?”

“I don’t know how much is her and how much is him. But maybe enough time has passed.”

“Maybe,” I reply.

“For what it’s worth, I’m glad we’re doing this tonight.” Tyson steps away as he pats my shoulder.

“Dinner is ready!” Beth calls.

Mika

I’m in the presence of a supermodel and probably bazillionaires, except I keep forgetting that and keep throwing up the usual crap that comes out of my mouth when I’m full of nerves.

While Beth and Allie seem cool, I have to remember that tonight is about Brad.

When we sit down for dinner, the silence is deafening, so I do what I do best: awkward conversation.

“This food is so good, like mini orgasms are blasting around in my mouth right now,” I say around the chicken.

“It is. I mean, I wouldn’t quite put it like that, but it’s good,” Tyson agrees smiling.

“It’s like tiny men are jazzing on my tongue right now.” I moan with my head rolled back. As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I snap my head up and then cover my face. Laughter erupts around the table. I blush. “I’m so sorry guys.”

“Mika has a broken filter sometimes,” Brad explains for me. I look at everyone through the spaces between my fingers. They’re all smiling as they eat.

The remainder of dinner goes better, as I keep food stuffed in my mouth. Brad’s hand stays firmly on my thigh and, by the end of the night, the six of us are no longer strangers. We’re not quite family, but we’re certainly friends. Brad and his brothers have genuinely laughed, Beth and Allie have invited me to girls’ lunch and, as we’re leaving, the nerves that both Brad and I were experiencing are mere memories.

We’re walking into my home, hand in hand. Both of us are high from the evening. My father is passed out on the couch, while my mom and Jared in a makeshift bed on the floor with the glow of the television lighting their faces. They’re both sleeping and snuggled under the covers together.

“I’ll carry Jared to bed and you wake your parents.”

We divide and conquer, then moments later I’m shoving my half-asleep parents through the front door and then sinking onto the couch.

Brad hands me a beer and collapses beside me. “Tonight went well,” he says..

“I’m glad this is happening for you. Thank you for letting me be a part of it.”

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you by my side,” he replies, grabbing my hand and kissing my knuckles then leaning his head back against the couch.

“It would seem that your second chance is happening.” I smile.

“It started the moment that I met you.” He rolls his head to face me and smiles.