Ruth Sadelle Alderson

Jordan manages to put them off for most of the summer while he talks to a lawyer and goes through a mediation process with Lauren. He makes it clear that they're never getting back together, but she agrees to move to Edmonton anyway, at least for a while. They put a year in the paperwork, and Jordan's counting on that year to be enough time for her to make a life there, and for him to become enough of a part of Lily's life that Lauren won't want to hurt her by taking her away from Jordan.

At least it's all signed by the time Nuge and Hallsy show up at Jordan's place in a rental car, both of them in shades and ball caps, Nuge's impossibly skinny knees showing beneath the end of his shorts and Hallsy's arms showcased by his incredibly tacky "SUN'S OUT GUNS OUT" tank top.

Jordan lets them into the apartment before he even lets himself hug them, because he knows he can't do it in public.

It feels so good to have them here with him that maybe he should have let them come before.

Hallsy doesn't let go of him after they hug, and Nuge sticks close too.

"Where's the kid?" Nuge asks.

"With her mom. I get her tomorrow." Jordan sighs. "I guess we should talk about this. About us now." That's another thing he's managed to avoid all summer.

"You have a kid," Nuge says, "so we have a kid."

"I'm going to be the cool dad," Hallsy announces.

"Oh my God," Jordan says, "you are not."

"Kids love me," Hallsy says. "You're the boring dad, Nuge is the weird dad, and I'm the cool dad."

Jordan looks to Nuge for help, but he just shrugs. "Sorry, dude. You're the boring one." He leans in and kisses Jordan.

Jordan kisses him back, so grateful that he's not losing them. Hallsy butts in for his turn, and they leave a trail of clothing to Jordan's bedroom.

*

Everything is cleaned up in the morning, no stray clothes lying around and Nuge and Hallsy's stuff respectably in a corner of Jordan's room, like they're just polite visitors.

Nuge and Hallsy both know Lauren, and she looks more resigned than anything to find them in Jordan's house.

Jordan bypasses her feelings on the matter and goes straight for Lily, unbuckling her from her stroller and lifting her up. "Hi, Lily Anne." He kisses her cheek. "Are you glad to be with Daddy for the weekend?"

The first few times, she wasn't, but she knows him now, and she babbles nonsense and smacks his cheek, which counts as approval.

Jordan grins at her. "That's right, we're going to have so much fun this weekend." He settles her against his shoulder and tones down his smile when he says, "I'll bring her back on Sunday night," to Lauren.

She nods and half-waves and Nuge and Hallsy.

Jordan shuts the door behind her before he turns and says, "Lily, this is Nuge," he points, "and Hallsy."

Nuge and Hallsy both come closer to smile at her.

"Ba!" Lily says, and she grabs for the douchey sunglasses Hallsy has hanging on the collar of his shirt.

"See?" Hallsy says, taking her from Jordan and letting her drool all over his shades. "I told you I was the cool dad."