Page 33 of Stealing Home

“When?”

Dom hesitated. “Eventually.”

“Yeah, okay.” Evan rolled his eyes.

They settled into the easy routine they’d somehow developed over the past few weeks. CJ commandeered the armchair with Lucia curled happily against his chest while Evan claimed the small table by the window, scrolling through practice and game schedules on his phone. Dom leaned against the kitchen counter, demolishing half his breakfast before he’d taken a second breath.

“You look more relaxed,” Evan observed.

Dom glanced up. “Do I?”

Evan wagged his head from side to side. “Relaxed is a strong word. You don’t look like you’re about to pass out anymore.”

“I actually sleep now.” Dom took another bite out of his sandwich.

CJ snorted. “Two-hour naps aren’t sleep.”

“I take what I can get,” he replied around a mouthful of eggs. “She’s starting to sleep longer now. I’ll be fine.”

“You’ve gotten really good at this whole dad thing,” Evan said quietly, coming to stand next to Dom.

Dom looked over at Lucia. CJ was gently bouncing her against his shoulder while explaining the merits of switch-hitting to someone who still couldn’t hold her head up on her own.

“I’m figuring it out.”

“You are.”

The certainty in Evan’s voice caught him off guard. For weeks, it had felt like every day exposed another thing he didn’t know. Every milestone brought another mistake, a frantic Google search, or a text to CJ or his mother, asking questions that probably had obvious answers. But somewhere along the way, he’d started trusting himself.

His phone buzzed against the counter. Dom glanced at it, smiled to himself, and unlocked it.

“House update?” Evan guessed.

Dom nodded as he read. “He’s starting the floors today and maybe the deck tomorrow. He found some rotted joists that he needs to replace first.”

Dom scrolled through the pictures Gavin had attached, then went back farther to look at photos from previous days. The place looked a little different every day. It was strange watching a home come together from hundreds of miles away.

“What?” Evan asked.

Dom looked up. “What what?”

“You’ve been looking at your phone for a full minute,” Evan said.

“I was looking at the pictures.” Dom shrugged.

“I’ve noticed he sends a lot of pictures,” CJ said. His smirk ruined the casual tone of his voice.

“It’s easier than trying to describe everything.” Dom really didn’t understand why his friends were fixated on this. “Don’t judge me.”

“Oh, I’m not judging,” CJ said. “Honestly, I’m impressed.”

“About what?”

“I mean, don’t most contractors disappear the second they have your deposit?” CJ asked.

“Gavin’s not like that.” Dom said the words more fiercely than necessary, and his cheeks flushed when CJ raised an eyebrow and Evan turned to look at him. “What? Stop looking at me weird. He’s not like that, and you both know it.”

“Okay,” CJ said slowly, exchanging an amused glance with Evan.