Page 91 of Twice Shy

Ollie checked his phone—six o’clock. The party ended at eight. He only had to survive two hours before he could scuttle back home and nurse his aching heart in peace. Bracing himself, shoulders back, he headed toward Jackie and Alyssa and prepared to be dispatched to the cupcake stall.

∞∞∞

Joel was made entirely of anxiety. It flowed in his veins in lieu of blood, coiled uneasily in the pit of his stomach, and flashed in quicksilver bursts behind his breastbone. He’d felt like this for weeks, and if tonight didn’t end it he didn’t know how he’d survive. It was eating him alive.

“Try to relax,” Theo said, where they stood surveying the party from the side of the room. “It’ll work.”

Easy for him to say; he slept beside the man he loved every night. What did Theo have riding on this? Nothing compared with Joel, whose future balanced on the edge of a blade. However, they’d worked on the plan together these past few weeks and he couldn’t deny that Theo was committed to getting Moretti to change his mind about his relationship with Ollie. That Theo would go to these lengths for the man he loved was proof of a devotion Joel admired intensely and sought to emulate. But Theo’s interest was entirely selfless, he was acting only to make Moretti’s life richer and fuller, and Joel couldn’t say the same for himself. Not entirely. Yes, he wanted Ollie and Moretti to work things out. He wanted Ollie to be happy. But mostly, he wanted Ollie to stay.

He wanted it so bad he couldn’t breathe around the possibility that tonight might fail. Because if Ollie left New Milton, Joel would never have time to earn the second chance he so desperately needed.

So it had to work. It just had to.

The party was in full flow, the music loud and the kids screaming with enjoyment as the DJ ran them through their favorite songs and party games. On the far side of the room he could just make out Ollie working on the cupcake stand, mostly invisible behind the DJ’s flaring disco lights. But Joel had seen him earlier, looking gorgeous and tense and vulnerable in a way that tied Joel into aching knots.

God, let this work. Even if only part of it worked, it would give Ollie some comfort.

Among the children, he picked out Rory and Luis. The younger kids were at the edge of the crush and Rory was playing with his friend, Mateo Flores, capering about with large glowsticks they were—inevitably—using as lightsabers.

Theo nudged Joel’s arm and said, loudly, “Ah, Luca, here you are.”

Joel turned to see Theo’s fiancé standing next to him, looking uncomfortable. Moretti’s hands delved deep in his pockets, shoulders hunched defensively. “What did you need?” he asked Theo, having to raise his voice over the music. Clearly, he was unhappy about being there, his gaze roving restlessly around the room.

“I want to show you something,” Theo said, with the air of a man bracing for a fight. “Or, that is, Joel does.”

Moretti’s frowning gaze met his. “Show me what?”

Showtime. Joel cleared his throat and moved around to stand on Moretti’s other side, so he didn’t have to shout so loud. Plus, between them, he and Theo had the guy corralled. “You see that kid there, the dark-haired boy playingStar Warswith his friend?” Moretti looked but didn’t say anything. “His name’s Rory Palmer. When he was four, both his parents were killed by a truck driver who was texting while he drove. He’s got a little brother, Luis, who was only a couple months old when their parents died.” Moretti still didn’t speak, didn’t move his gaze from Rory either. “They’re being raised by their uncle, their mother’s younger brother. And they’re your nephews.”

Moretti shook his head. “Theo—”

“You’re holding onto old pain, Luca. What good has that ever done either of us?” Theo moved to stand in front of him, taking his hands. “They’ve lost their parents. Don’t you think they could use an uncle? Or maybe even two?”

Moretti didn’t answer, at least not in a way Joel could hear. He seemed locked in silent communication with Theo, the deep communion between two people very much in love. Joel looked away, feeling a fool for ever suspecting Moretti of betraying his fiancé.

Across the room, Jackie stood next to the DJ and when Joel gave her the nod she spoke to the man and the music faded, provoking a chorus of dismay from the children. Unperturbed, Jackie grabbed the microphone.

“Hello!” she trilled. “Hello, and happy Valentine’s to all our wonderful children and parents. Thank you so much for coming. Now, I won’t keep you for long, but we have a special announcement to make. Mr. Morgan, do you want to come over?”

Joel’s stomach turned liquid, his knees wobbly as he crossed the room. He didn’t look in Ollie’s direction, too afraid of what he might see, as he came to stand in front of the DJ’s speakers. Jackie was still behind the set-up, holding the mic. Parents milled around the edge of the room, their faces difficult to see in the dark, but he saw Alyssa watching intently from the glowstick stand, and spotted Holly and a couple of other PTA moms among the crowd.

They all knew what was happening, they were all waiting. He felt lightheaded and tingly, and forced himself to take a deep breath.

Hold for four, release for four, inhale for four, hold for four…

“Now,” Jackie went on, “the sad news is that one of our parents is leaving us. He hasn’t been with us long, but since he joined New Milton Elementary School he’s become a pivotal member of the PTA committee. I’m talking, of course, about Mr. Ollie Snow over there at the cupcake stand.”

Everyone looked, everyone including Joel. Ollie stared back like a deer in headlights, eyes wide. God, Joel hoped this was a good idea.

“Not only has Ollie been a staunch member of the committee, coming to all our meetings and helping at all our events, he’s done so while raising his lovely boys, Rory and Luis, on his own, while holding down a full-time job. And so, although we usually do this in the summer, on behalf of the PTA Committee, I’d like to present Ollie with our School Parent of the Year Award.” She bent down to pick up a framed certificate, handing it over to Joel. “Mr. Morgan is going to do the honors. Ollie, come on over.”

Joel almost bolted as he watched Ollie make his slow way across the dancefloor toward him, the applause of the gathered parents and kids ringing in his ears. Ollie’s gaze met Joel’s and he started to be afraid he wouldn’t be able to speak. But he had to; it was now or never. He cleared his throat.

“I, um, first met Mr. Snow at the Welcome Cookout,” Joel said, once Ollie had come to stand next to him. “Over almost a year’s worth of PTA Committee meetings and events we’ve become friends”—a glance at Ollie, who was staring down at the floor—"good friends. Everything Jackie said is true, Ollie’s a dedicated parent to Rory and Luis. He’s given over his life to them.” He threw a quick glance at Moretti, who stood stiffly listening, and cleared his throat. “And he’s a good man—hardworking, reliable, and brave. Yes, brave. Like many of us, Ollie came to New Milton to build a new life for his boys, to build a new family and a new future. That takes courage at any age. But at twenty-four, and with sudden and sole responsibility for two young kids, I call it inspiring.” His mouth twisted into a wry expression. “I wish I’d been half so brave in my life. About a lot of things.” A scattering of applause broke out among the parents and from the corner of his eye, Joel saw Ollie shake his head and shuffle his feet. Moretti, standing watching, was unreadable. “And Ollie’s been committed to this community and to our school from the start. He’s helped at every PTA event and always—and I know Jackie appreciates this—stays to clear up afterwards.”

Jackie gave a little appreciative clap of her own, provoking Ollie to give a slight, amused bow in her direction.

Joel went on. “Ollie’s always ready to give his time to others, rarely willing to take help, and we…” His voice cracked, he cleared his throat. “It’s a loss to us all that he’s leaving New Milton. We’ll miss him.I’llmiss him. A lot.” He looked at Ollie again and this time found his dark eyes fixed on him in surprise—and something else, some other emotion brimming to the surface. “We all hope you might reconsider leaving us, Ollie, and in the meantime, on behalf of the PTA, I’m honored to give you this token of our…” Affection?Love? “…admiration.” He held out the certificate and Ollie took it automatically, his eyes not leaving Joel’s. “Congratulations, Mr. Snow—New Milton Elementary School’s Parent of the Year.”

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