Aaron shrugged. “I didn’t say I was trying to be Eric. All I’m saying is, let’s go out for dinner. It’ll be real good. Best dinner ever.”
He wriggled his eyebrows. Ollie covered his eyes.
“I promise it’s not suspicious or anything,” Aaron said.
“Why would you even say that?” Ollie asked, exasperated. “People only say that when they’re trying to hide something.”
Aaron shrugged, whistling.
Levi came over to squeeze Ollie’s shoulder. “Go ahead. You do need some cheering up.”
“I don’t!”
“I say you do.” Aaron dragged Olivier toward the front door, and Olivier sighed. He did need company. Someone to distract him from the loneliness that lingered in Eric’s absence.
“Have a great night!” Levi waved.
Then the front door shut with a jingle behind them, and Ollie was in Aaron’s sports car, Aaron’s pine scent familiar around him. It wasn’t cedar, though.
Aaron started the car, the engine purring lowly. It was dark inside, the console lit with blue lights. Ollie realized he’d never stepped into a sports car before.
“Seems like I’ve been seeing you a lot these days,” Aaron said conversationally, pulling them onto the street.
Ollie looked at his hands. “I guess.”
“How’ve you been doing?”
Olivier shrugged.
“At least, tell me about the baby. Cole was asking if you’re keeping it.”
“I am.” Ollie rubbed his belly, the baby kicking in response. Then he remembered Eric’s delight when he’d first felt the baby kick, Eric kneeling at his feet, his lips pressed against Ollie’s skin. Olivier’s throat grew tight.
He’d had Eric’s love for a little while, and he hadn’t thought it would be so fleeting.
His heart squeezing tight, Olivier blinked hard. Tried not to think about Eric so he wouldn’t cry. “He—Has he found a job yet?”
He forgot to specify who, but Aaron knew, anyway. “Yeah. I think he’s a manager somewhere else now.”
“Okay,” Ollie croaked. “That’s good to hear.” It meant Eric and Jenn would continue to have a roof over their heads. Part of him relaxed. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“I want to.” Aaron shrugged. “It’s been a long time since any of us spoke to you, Ollie. I hadn’t known... why you’d stayed away all these years. I’m sorry for not helping you when Mom pulled all that shit.”
Ollie fidgeted. “How is she now?”
“She’s out of the ICU. Some broken bones. Broken everything else. The bill’s sky high, but I guess that’s where we all thank the gods for insurance.” Aaron rolled his eyes.
“Okay.” Olivier bit his lip. Had Eric told Cole and Aaron what Ollie had said about their mother? If he did, Cole and Aaron hadn’t acknowledged it.
They pulled into the parking lot of Wy’s Drive-In. Olivier winced at the place; he’d caused such a scene when they were here the last time.
“It’s just me and you,” Aaron said. “Does it feel weird when I say that? You don’t think I’m actually trying to hit on you, right? ‘Cuz that would just be wrong.”
Ollie cracked a smile. “No, I don’t think it’s weird. You and Cole are just my brothers. E-Eric—He was different.”
“Good.”
They parked in a lot across from the restaurant. Through the side view mirror, Ollie watched as a waitress skated out of the restaurant, stopping by the driver’s side window.
“Hi!” she said cheerfully. Ollie read Hazel on her yellow apron. “Are you ready with your orders, or would you like a moment?”
Aaron ordered for them both. Then Hazel skated back into the restaurant, and Ollie sank into his seat. Didn’t know what to say to Aaron, when they’d been almost strangers for so many years.
Aaron checked his phone, tilting the glaring screen away from Olivier. He tapped out a message, then set the phone face-down.
“Have you decided what you’re naming the baby?” Aaron asked.
Ollie shrugged. “I don’t know yet.”
Aaron chewed on his lip. “Okay. What things do you still need for the baby? That I can buy.”
“Close to everything? I don’t know. I, um, I have Jenn’s old things, so...”
“Are you planning on giving birth at the hospital?”
“What is this, twenty questions?” Olivier laughed quietly, squirming further down in his seat. “I guess I’ll head to the hospital when my labor begins.”
“Are you scared?” Aaron winced. “It seems so scary, pushing a baby out. Gods know I couldn’t.”
Aaron’s questions seemed sincere, like he genuinely cared. Olivier relaxed. “Maybe. Kind of. I just... Things will work out. I hope.”
He wished like crazy that he could have Eric at his side, though. Wouldn’t it be miserable, going into labor by himself? Olivier fidgeted. Maybe Aaron would come to accompany him, or maybe Levi would.
He hugged his belly, stroking it. Hadn’t realized he was wearing one of Eric’s newer T-shirts until now—it was blue with pinstripes, and it clung to his belly ever so lightly.
Almost felt like Eric was there with him, pulling him into a gentle embrace.
Aaron stared intently at the rearview mirror; Ollie turned to see what he was looking at. Glimpsed a car parking across the lot from them, next to the restaurant.
“Ollie.” Aaron caught his arm, distracting him. “Epidural or not?”
Olivier frowned. “I’m six months pregnant, Aaron! I haven’t thought that far ahead!”
“Well, you should,” Aaron said, sniffing righteously. “So you’ll have peace of mind through the pregnancy. I mean, what if you give birth to a preemie?”
“I’ll panic,” Ollie said.
Aaron snorted. “Well, that’s where my questions come in handy.” He looked at the rearview mirror again.
Olivier frowned. “Are you spying on someone?”
Aaron glanced at him. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve been sneaking looks at the other car!”
Aaron paused, and suspicion whispered through Ollie’s mind.
“I’m spying on my ex,” Aaron said.
Olivier stared. “That’s why you brought me here? So you can spy on your ex?”
“Pretty much.”
“I can’t believe you!”
Aaron looked pointedly at him. “At least I still care about my ex. Unlike some people.”
Olivier squirmed, his cheeks burning. Maybe the breakup had still affected everyone, anyway. He wasn’t seeing Eric anymore. Who knew when Dad and Eric’s mom would forgive Eric? Ollie sighed, burying
