Page 12 of All The Things: The Last Thing He Needs Omnibus

“Not a bit, but Zoe reached for a book when she got her clothes changed. I took the cue, they didn’t miss their story.”

“Well,” Tommy tried to joke. “Now I’ll never know how Goldilocks fares.”

“Happily ever after, I promise.” Bobby flashed him a teasing smile as he sat back down on the couch.

Tommy eyed him for a moment. “Make yourself at home,” he said sarcastically, but joined Bobby on the other end of the couch.

“Don’t mind if I do.”

Bobby was grinning again, his fingers laced behind his head, resting, legs stretched out comfortably.

“I can see that.” The silence in the room was peaceful, not awkward or heavy, and Tommy had to spend a few minutes reminding himself Bobby was still more cop than friend and—despite how incredibly good-looking he was—most likely straight. “How’s your mom doin’ now? I mean, after your dad and all.”

Bobby looked surprised at the question, but answered, “She’s better. It was hard at first, ya know? Thirty-six years of marriage and being alone suddenly…. But it’s been over a year and she’s doing pretty good now.”

“Because Sonny Boy swooped in and made a difference,” Tommy pointed out, part teasing, part admiring.

Bobby laughed rather than take offense. “That’s right. Officer Swooper rescued Ma from….” His joke died on his lips and it looked to Tommy as if whatever he had been about to say would have hit too close to home. “Well, whatever I saved her from. Just glad she’s still around to look after.”

“Wanna trade?” Tommy teased, nudging Bobby with his toe, having kicked his shoes off earlier.

A little snort of laughter that Tommy was starting to find far too endearing slipped out. “Over my dead body.” Bobby shifted so he was facing Tommy now. “What happened to your mom, anyway? I know Cheryl is just… whatever she is.”

“Died of an overdose when I was—” He paused for a minute, squinting as he tried to remember. “—almost thirteen. Collin had just been born and as soon as she had him, she went on a real bender.”

“She stayed clean when she was pregnant? That’s impressive.” Bobby’s expression told Tommy how much he meant it.

“Well, cleanish, I guess. I know she still drank a little and smoked pot, probably just enough to keep the cravings down. She wasn’t like Cheryl. I mean, she was a fucked-up mess too, but she did love us, wanted good things for us. Pop too, when we were little, but Jesus, addiction. What are ya gonna do?”

“It’s a miracle none of you had Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or something.”

“Miracle and Irish genes, I’m guessing. I think we must have developed some kind of resistance in utero.” Both men laughed at that, Bobby shifting down a little farther on the couch. If Tommy didn’t know any better, he’d have thought it felt like the end of a nice date. Not that he’d had any of those, but he guessed if he wasn’t just out to get laid, but out to get to know someone, it would feel a lot like this encounter on the couch. Quiet and easy, a relaxed kind of fun with a small simmer of heat under the surface. I must be more tired than I thought.

“You do good, Tom. Considering all that you have to deal with, you do an amazing job of it.”

Bobby didn’t say it like Tommy was lucky to have his approval or like he needed it from anyone, more like he thought it was about damn time someone said it.

“Just do what I gotta do,” Tommy murmured, feeling his eyelids droop. Sleep was creeping up on him. Somewhere deep inside, a warmth was spreading out from his core, something unfurling inside him that made him feel, for maybe the first time in his life, happy to be alive.

“You say that, but you have no idea how many people I see in your situation that don’t do it. You’ve chosen this, Tom. You choose it every day you don’t turn your back and walk out that door. There are seven people that might just make it from here because of you.”

“Just like you, copper?” Tommy teased, but he was half-asleep already, yawning as he spoke.

“Better than me, Tom.”

The words were a whisper, but they were the last thing Tommy heard before finally sinking down into a comfortable, restful sleep. Bobby’s voice chased warmly through his dreams with little laughs and soft endearments.

When Tommy woke, he found himself under the blanket they kept over the back of the couch. The house seemed empty, and he knew Bobby had gone. He didn’t want to look at the heavy disappointment that left him with. Instead, he blinked his eyes open and went upstairs to check on the twins.

Chapter Three

“You wanna do what?” Tommy didn’t mean to sound irritated, but hearing his sister tell him she wanted to go on a real date for the first time in her life was a shock first thing in the morning.

“Prom.” Colleen glanced down like she should be ashamed. “We wouldn’t have to spend money on a dress or anything. Farah said I could borrow something pretty. And I know it’s probably on a work night, but summer’s coming and I’ll be able to work more shifts at the diner soon. I just—”

Tommy cut her off. “It’s not that, Col, swear, I just…. You sure? I mean, do you even know this guy? How come I’ve never heard you talk about him?”

“You have heard of him,” she insisted, rolling her eyes. “You met him a few times. He was my lab partner last semester, remember?”

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