Chapter 269: Worst Best Man Ever [Dominic’s POV]

I went back to Liam’s house that night with my hands in my jacket pockets, rehearsing what I was going to say next.

Thank you for last night.

I’m sorry I disappeared.

Can I stay one more night?

Nothing sounded right.

Mrs Everhart opened the door before I even knocked properly. She froze for a second, then smiled like she’d been waiting.

"Dom honey," she smiled, softly. "You’re back."

"Yeah," I said, scratching the back of my neck. "I just... wanted to thank you for last night. And uh.. ask if I could maybe stay one more night. If that’s okay."

She didn’t answer. She stepped aside instead.

"Come in first," she said gently.

The garlic smell hit me as soon as I stepped inside.

The dining table was already set. Extra chairs were pulled out. Plates were also stacked. Someone had lit the candles Liam used to knock over when we were kids.

"That’s... a lot of food," I said slowly, glancing toward the kitchen. "What’s the feast for?"

Mrs Everhart tied her apron tighter, smiling like she knew something I didn’t.

"Oh," she said lightly. "We’re expecting guests."

My chest tightened for no reason I could explain.

Mr Everhart walked down the stairs, folding a newspaper and setting it aside.

"Sit, Dom. We’ve been waiting."

"Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask."

Mrs Everhart exchanged a look with her husband. Then she stepped closer, and took my hands. Her hands were warm. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Dominic," she said softly, "we were thinking... you should move in with us."

My eyes widened. "What?!"

For a second, I couldn’t breathe.

Like she’d just offered me something I wasn’t allowed to accept.

If my dad finds out...

He’ll say I ran away.

That I chose someone else’s house over his.

That I humiliated him.

And my dad never forgives humiliation.

"Just for a while," she continued. "Until everything settles. You don’t look okay. You haven’t looked okay for weeks."

And then my mind went somewhere worse.

Ash.

What if my dad thought Ash had convinced me to leave?

"I’m fine really," I tried assuring them.

Mr Everhart gave me a sad look. "You’re not."

"We can’t bear to see you like this anymore," Mrs Everhart added. "You’re barely sleeping. You’ve lost weight. Your friends told us you also ghosted them."

Of course they did.

"I really appreciate the kindness," I said carefully. "But I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. Or be a burden. And my parents..."

"Worry less about your parents," Mr Everhart cut in calmly. "I’ll handle that."

"Sir...it’s just.."

"Dominic," he said firmly, stepping closer. "You’re a son to us. Since when did you start thinking you’re a burden?!"

I’d spent so long trying to be useful, that I forgot people sometimes keep you around simply because they love you.

Mrs Everhart squeezed my hands. "You basically grew up here. We watched you and Liam destroy our living room every summer. You think one guest room is too much for us?"

I let out a weak laugh. "I did break that lamp."

"You did," she smiled. "And you cried about it for two hours."

I looked down, blinking fast.

"We’ll have someone clean up one of the guest rooms," she continued. "You can pick whichever one you want."

I felt relieved.

"Thank you," I said quietly. "Really. This means... a lot."

But inside, I was already preparing for the fallout.

Because peace never lasts long in my life.

I had ghosted the Everharts because it reminded me of everything I lost, and everything I didn’t know how to keep. And they were still here.

Mrs Everhart hesitated. "There’s one more thing..."

A knock interrupted her.

She smiled faintly. "Right on time."

Right on time?

She walked to the door, and opened it. "The guests are here."

Jasper walked in first.

He stopped when he saw me, and frowned.

"Oh, hell no," he looked me up and down like I’d personally offended him.

"Oh, so now you exist?" he scoffed. "Interesting."

I rubbed my face. "Good to see you too, Jas."

He walked past me dramatically, dropping onto the couch. "Because last I checked, you ghosted everyone and then I hear you’re getting married."

"We made a deal, Dominic. A sacred pact that I’d be your best man."

"Did we?"

He scoffed. "And now you’re out here wedding planning without me?"

I sook ny head in denial. "First of all, I’m not getting married."

He rolled his eyes, and scoffed.

"And second of all," I continued, "you’re the last person on my best man list."

Casper followed in behind him, tossing his keys onto the table. "To be fair, you’d be a terrible best man."

Ren came in last, quiet as always, hovering near the doorway.

Jasper’s mouth fell open.

"Excuse me?" he clutched his chest. "EXCUSE ME?"

"Dead last," I nodded calmly.

His hand flew to his chest. "Now I’m annoyed."

"You’d lose the rings," Casper said.

"I would not!"

"You’d flirt with the bridesmaids."

"Only a little."

"You’d make the speech about yourself."

"That happened once."

"At someone else’s birthday." I added.

Ren let out a small laugh. Even I couldn’t stop mine. But all I could think was how Ash would’ve hated this joke, and how much I wished he were here to roll his eyes at it.

Jasper looked around, still looking offended. "Why am I being attacked? I’m the victim here."

The door opened again, and Ian stepped inside.

He didn’t say hello, or smiled at anyone.

Mrs Everhart closed the door gently behind him.

"This," she said gently, gesturing to all of us, "is exactly why I called this dinner."

We smiled softly.

"I’ve missed you boys," she admitted. "The noise. The arguing. The drama over absolutely nothing."

Her eyes softened when they landed on me.

"We don’t do silence in this house."

Then she looked across the room.

"Ian, sweetheart... why are you so quiet?"

Ian still hadn’t smiled once, or laughed. He was sitting stiff, staring straight ahead.

Mrs Everhart tilted her head. "Ren is usually my quiet one. Man of few words. Not you."

Ren shifted uncomfortably.

Before Ian could answer....

"Oh, he’s mad," Jasper announced brightly.

I closed my eyes.

"Jasper!" Casper muttered.

"What?" Jasper threw his hands up. "She asked."

He leaned forward, whisper-shouting like it was confidential. "He’s mad at Ren. And them being in the same room is basically a countdown."

Mrs Everhart blinked. "Ren?"

She looked genuinely confused. "What could Ren possibly do?"

Ren froze.

Casper and I both slapped our hands to our foreheads at the exact same time.

"Jasper," I warned.

But he was already committed.

"Technically," he said, stretching the word, "Ren kissed his girlfriend in front of the whole school."

The room dropped into complete silence.

You could hear the oven ticking.

Mrs Everhart’s eyes widened. "Wow."

Ren kept staring at the floor. He was too embarrassed to raise his head.

Ian shot up from his chair so fast it scraped loudly against the tiles.

"Shut the hell up, Jasper!"

Jasper shrugged. "What? It’s public information now!"

"It wasn’t your story to tell!" Ian snapped.

"Oh, so we’re pretending it didn’t happen?" Jasper shot back. "Because I distinctly remember the dramatic gasp from the crowd.."

"Jasper!" Casper hissed.

Ren finally spoke, calmly. "It wasn’t like that."

Ian let out a bitter laugh. "Really? Because it looked exactly like that."

"You’re overreacting," Jasper muttered.

Ian turned on him. "Stay the fuck out of it."

Mrs Everhart stepped forward slightly. "Okay. Deep breaths, boys."

Jasper leaned back into the couch.

"I’m just saying," he muttered, "if we’re airing secrets, let’s air them properly."

Casper shoved him lightly. "One day someone is going to punch you. You never shut up!"

"Probably," Jasper said thoughtfully. "Whatever."

Ian grabbed his jacket.

Mrs Everhart stepped forward quickly. "Ian, honey, don’t walk out..."

He was already heading to the door.

"Let’s just eat and talk about this calmly," Mr Everhart added firmly.

Ian didn’t turn around. He opened the door, and walked out.

"Ian," Mrs. Everhart called again.

The door slammed shut.

We all stared at the door for a second.

Then Jasper cleared his throat.

"Well," he chuckled, "that’s more food for us."

Casper shoved him hard. "You are unbelievable."

"What?" Jasper shrugged. "I hate wasting good lasagna."

Ren rubbed his face. "I didn’t mean for this to blow up like that."

Jasper pointed at him. "Technically, you did. Lover boy."

"Jasper."

"Okay, okay."

Mrs Everhart sighed, but there was still softness in her eyes.