We?
Called in the big guns, hoss. My sister taught me all the good stuff, remember?
Tell Desi thank you for me. We owe her and Patrick something huge for the last two weeks.
I have an idea, Ross typed, but it will have to happen when I come back.
There was a pause, and Ross realized what he’d just said—and what he’d just asked. Tenner was going to have to believe. He was going to have to commit.
I’m good for it. Tell me later.
Will do. Keep us posted. Ross paused, his heart beating in his throat, because this was in print, and this moment—the sick ex-wife, sick kid, plans for the future—was as real as anything he’d ever done. Love you, he typed next. Tell Piper I love her too.
Love you back. Another pause, with the little thought bubbles, and Ross wondered how many things Tenner typed and erased and typed again. And I will. Later.
Later.
Ross sighed and turned to Nina. “Piper’s getting fluids and fever meds. Tenner said they’ll probably release her in the morning, and you two can get better watching cartoons together. How’s that?”
“Sounds better,” Nina said. “I… all my friends live a thousand miles away. I never realized how alone we were, you know?”
“Oh, honey,” Desi said, taking her hand, “you’re not alone. You’ve got Tenner, Tenner’s got us. We’ve got you.”
Nina nodded weakly. “Thanks, Des. Can I talk to Ross for a minute?”
“Sure, honey. I’ll be camping out on the sofa. Ross can take the guest room, right?”
Nina looked Ross in the eyes and twisted her mouth. “Yeah. Here, he can have the guest room.”
Desi left, and Ross took her place by the side of the bed. He started rubbing her back, like Desi had, and Nina closed her eyes again.
“You have to understand,” she said softly. “He was all I ever wanted when I was in college.”
“I get that,” Ross said. “He’s all I ever wanted, period.” And it was true. He’d never had a lover that could be his everything, until Tenner had yielded to him on a warm spring night, and Ross had fallen in love.
She nodded. “Yeah. My parents… they didn’t even come to our wedding, you know? And they’ve seen Piper maybe once, right after she was born. And… and it was okay, because I had a husband and a daughter who loved me. I had friends at work, even if they lived in New York. But then he told me he was gay, and that felt like… like all that security had been a lie. And I was so mad. And then, he asked for the divorce, and… and it was… it was like a chance to hurt him back. I knew it was wrong, putting that thing in the settlement. But I… I didn’t know how else to show him how much he’d hurt me. And I missed him. This whole time, that friend I fell for in college, he’s been right there, picking Piper up, making sure I was okay, anticipating my every need—and I never saw him.” Her voice broke. “And now, I’m so grateful to have him in my life… in any way.” She started to sob. “And you’re being so nice.”
“Shh… shh… it’s okay,” Ross said, leaning over and sheltering her with his shoulders. “It’s okay, honey. I’m gonna have to leave sometimes. You can keep him safe until I’m back. He’s still yours that way. And you still have Piper together. You’re friends now, just like you’ve always been friends. And you can be my friend too.”
“Thank—” Hiccup. “—thank—” Hiccup. “—thank-thank-thank you!”
And that was the last thing she managed to say until the storm of weeping passed and she fell asleep.
Ross waited a couple of minutes, looking at her little oval of a face, seeing her in Piper, seeing her appeal to Ten. In a remarkably short time, she’d gone from being the evil ex to being a vulnerable woman—but then, she’d never been the evil ex to Tenner. She’d been someone he cared about and had let down, just by being human.
Ross and Nina, they were going to be fine.
Finally he turned off the light and went downstairs, to where Desi had helped herself to some microwave popcorn and was watching her favorite rom-com on Nina’s Netflix.
Ross had to laugh. “Made yourself at home?”
“Well, tea delivery is a thankless job. You gotta take your perks where you can.” Desi grinned at him. “Want some popcorn?”
Ross’s stomach grumbled, and he remembered the takeout boxes in the car. “How would you like pork medallions in cranberry glaze?” he asked seriously. “With a sweet potato cake cooked in brown sugar and balsamic vinegar?”
Desi’s eyes got big—she’d always had a soft spot for somebody else’s cooking. “Is there a dessert in this magic lamp? Because Nina is apparently scrupulous on the sugar thing, and I could use some cookies.”
“Individually portioned chocolate mousse pies,” he said, pulling out his phone. “Give me a sec and I’ll go get them from the car.”
“You,” she said soberly, “are my favorite little brother.”
Ross grinned. “I’m your only brother, but I’ll take it.” He pulled out his phone and texted, Bad news, Ten—my sister’s eating your dinner.
That’s fine. I owe you another one anyway. Maybe someplace less fancy, with steak.
Done. The future was looking pretty good, Ross decided on the way out to the car. He’d have to make sure it stayed bright.
Wearing Shades
TENNER BROUGHT Piper home the next morning and tucked her into her own bed for some much-needed rest.
“Is Mommy okay? She was feeling icky too,” Piper murmured.
“She’s fine. I told you, Ross took good care of her.”
“Are you going to stay, Daddy?”
“Me and Ross were going to go practice with the team,” he said with a yawn. “I think we’ll come back tonight, though, and bring you guys some soup.”
She laughed and snuggled down, obviously grateful to be in her own bed. She hadn’t slept well in the hospital, but her color sure was better, and her fever had fallen to below 101. It would be a long week of recovery for her, like it had been for him and Ross, but she was over the worst of it.
“I’ll have Mommy come snuggle,” he said and kissed her on the forehead. “I know she was worried.”
“Tell her I had juice,” Piper said practically, and then her eyes fluttered closed, and she hugged her favorite bunny close.
Tenner met Nina on his way out the door. “You’re up,” he said kindly, and she smiled.
“I’m mostly dead,” she said, and The Princess Bride worked its magic and they both laughed a little. “It’ll take me a while before I storm the castle.”
“Well, fine. I’m sure the castle will wait.”
Unexpectedly she hugged him, and he held her in surprise. “You and Ross were so great last night—so great.”
“Oh, honey. Did you think we’d leave you alone?”
“I probably deserved it,” she muttered, and he kissed her temple.
“No.”
She shook her head. “I’ve missed you. As a friend. Do you think… you, me, Piper—we could be that kind of family? The kind you see on TV and go, ‘Oh, hey, they have history, but they’re doing okay’?”