“Let me do this, Dee. I want to make sure you’re set up, you know, just in case.”
I ache when I think of the “just in case” scenarios, but I’m determined to take my own advice about remaining optimistic until there’s cause not to be. “It’s important to me that we do it together. I want to contribute.”
“And I want to take care of you for as long as I can and set things up, so you’re always protected and safe. You have to let me do that.”
“Since you broke all your rules for me, I suppose I can break one of mine for you.”
“Look at us compromising and everything. We’re going to be couple goals for other people.”
Laughing at that, I direct him to the parking lot for Crust. We’re the last ones to arrive, and the others already have a table. Wyatt sits between Nico and me at a circular table.
“We ordered our usual pizzas,” Milo tells us, “but we weren’t sure what Wyatt wanted.”
“I’ll just do a salad,” he says, perusing the menu.
He misses the lip curl Nico directs his way. “You’re just gonna eat salad?”
“Yeah,” Wyatt says. “Is that a problem?”
“Leave him alone, Nico. He has to watch what he eats because of his condition.”
“Oh, right. The condition that could kill him at any point.”
“Why are you being a bigger dick than usual?” Maria takes the words right out of my mouth.
“I swear to God I’m not being a dick,” Nico says. “But am I the only one who’s worried about Dee getting involved so quickly with someone who has… You know…” He rolled his hand for us to fill in the blank.
“An early expiration date?” Wyatt says.
“Wyatt, don’t.” He doesn’t have to do this again. The only opinion that matters is mine, and he already knows how I feel.
“It’s fine, hon. Your brother has concerns. I get it.”
“That’s all it is,” Nico says, softening his tone. “After what happened with Marcus, I can’t bear to see you hurt again.”
I’m appalled when my eyes fill with tears. He’s never sweet like that.
“Aw, Jesus, do not cry,” Nico says, sounding more like himself again.
“I’m not crying.”
“Liar.”
“It’s just so shocking when you’re nice to me.”
Maria and Milo crack up laughing.
“Shut up,” Nico says. “All of you.”
I dab at my eyes with a paper napkin and glance at Wyatt, who’s taking in the Giordino family shenanigans with an amused expression.
Austin arrives with Everly, and we shift the seating to make room for them.
“What’d I miss?” Austin asks after he kisses Maria and expertly buckles Everly into a wooden high chair. He pulls crayons out of Everly’s backpack and has her working on a drawing on the restaurant’s paper placemat in a matter of seconds.
I’m always impressed by what a wonderful father he is. He tends to Everly with a natural, practiced ease that’s so sweet.
“Nico was being a D-I-C-K, but then he was nice to Dee and made her cry,” Maria tells him. They have to watch everything they say around Everly. “Pretty much business as usual.”
“Sounds like it,” Austin says, smiling. “You’ll get used to them, Wyatt. After a while.”
“Good to know.”
“Why was Nico being a D this time?” Austin asks, earning a scowl from his future brother-in-law.
“I’m worried about Dee. So shoot me.”
The waitress returns with a pitcher of beer and glasses.
“Could I please get a water with lemon?” Wyatt asks.
“Make it a double,” Austin adds. “I’m driving my baby.”
“Anything in addition to the pizza?” the waitress asks.
“I’ll do the kale salad with salmon, please,” Wyatt says.
“And a kid’s cheese pizza,” Austin says.
“Coming right up.”
“Back to talking about Nico behind his back in front of his face,” Austin says, grinning at Nico.
“Here’s a big idea,” Nico says. “Let’s move on.”
“As much as I’m all for that,” Wyatt says, “we should talk about this so you can get it off your chest.”
“I’m more worried about your chest than mine,” Nico says, making us all laugh.
The laughter helps to relieve the tension.
“My chest is totally fine,” Wyatt assures him. “I get checked monthly, and I’m super vigilant between checkups. I eat healthily, work out religiously—except for this weekend when I’ve been distracted in the best possible way—and I take excellent care of myself. I think that’s why I’ve never had any issues with my new heart.”
Nico, Milo and Maria hang on his every word, and I appreciate their concern and interest in his situation.
“That doesn’t mean you’re in the clear, though, right?” Milo asks tentatively.
He’d never want anyone to think he’s a dick like Nico can be. Nico isn’t a bad guy. He just shoots from the hip sometimes, and that can be irritating to whomever he’s shooting at.
“No, it doesn’t mean that. I have no idea what to expect going forward. The life expectancy for transplant recipients is about eleven years. I’m well past that but have no reason to be concerned at the moment.”
“At the moment,” Nico says. “That’s the part that worries me.”
I glance at Wyatt. “Allow me.”
He gestures for me to have at it.
“This moment, right here, right now, is all we have, Nico. There is nothing else. Being with Wyatt makes me happier than I’ve ever been, and I already know that after just a few days, even if that might seem crazy or impulsive to you. We got to know each other really well the weekend of the wedding, and we’ve kept in touch ever since, so it’s not as fast as you think. I want more of the feeling I get when I’m with him. I want as much of that feeling as I can possibly have, and since we might be short on time, there’s none to waste. We’re grabbing this moment, the only one we have, and soaking it for as much as we can get out of it. If the worst possible thing happens, we’ll deal with that when we have to, but I refuse to waste any of the precious time we have together dreading the future. My eyes are wide open to what might happen. I’m not reckless or foolish or stupid. I’m making an informed decision with full appreciation for the possible risks. And I’ve decided Wyatt is worth any potential risk or future heartbreak.”
For a long time after my word vomit ends, no one says anything until Milo clears his throat and breaks the silence.
“That’s beautiful, Dee,” he says.
“I agree,” Austin says. “And for what it’s worth, as someone who’s dealt with a potentially fatal illness in the person I love the most, I’ll just say bravo to living to the fullest right here and now. You just never know what’s lurking around the next bend, waiting to disrupt your entire life. You guys certainly know that since your mom got sick.”
“That’s true,” Milo says, glancing at Nico.