Page 29 of All The Things: The Last Thing He Needs Omnibus

“Probably, but he’s not letting on to the kids. When he caught Davey getting free games from the pinball machine, he stood him in the corner and told him he should’ve just asked for some quarters. When Davey told him he didn’t beg for money or ask anyone for anything, God, you should’ve seen Bobby’s face.” Colleen was giggling as she told him the story. “He stood there in front of Davey so he couldn’t get away, arms crossed, all cop-like, saying, ‘I keep forgetting it would kill you guys to ask for anything. I’m not gonna die in the line of duty. No. It’s gonna be O’Shea stubbornness that does me in.’” Colleen paused for another laugh before she added, “Then he goes: ‘I swear to God, if I can get just one of you to ask for a hand just once, it’ll be a righteous death.’ I about wet myself laughing. I told him we’d personally petition for his sainthood.”

Given the way they’d left things, Tommy shouldn’t have laughed, but he did. “Tell him Carrie can design his medal.”

“I’m sure she’d jump at the chance.” He could hear Colleen’s smile in her tone on the other end of the line. “You want us to bring anything home for ya?”

“Nah, I’m good.” Cheryl’s words about not needing help and Bobby’s comment about him never asking for anything ran through his head and forced him to reconsider. “Ya know, on second thought, I just got the kitchen clean, and I don’t wanna make another mess in there. Could you grab me a burger and some fries?”

Colleen was so quiet, he wondered if her call had dropped until she said, “Sure, Tommy.”

After they got off the phone, Tommy went back to work.

By the time the kids were coming in, the house was almost put back together. It wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t look like a war zone at least.

Colleen carried Max, and Mike had Zoe in his arms. Davey passed Tommy a greasy bag and a cup with what appeared to be a butterscotch shake in it. Collin and Carrie filed in behind them, but not Bobby.

“They still here?” Colleen looked around the quiet house.

“Upstairs. They’re sleeping off whatever they were on. My bet is they’ll be gone before noon.” Tommy glanced out the window. Bobby was leaning against his car, his arms crossed over his chest like they had been several times that day. “You got this for a few? I need to talk to Bobby.”

Colleen gave him a half smile. “Better run. I don’t think he’s gonna wait long for you.”

Tommy was barefoot as he started down the steps. Bobby had parked in front of the house. He seemed surprised to see Tommy, and that hurt on some level Tommy couldn’t look at.

His first urge was to lean in and kiss Bobby, right there, in front of all the neighbors. But he decided against it, mostly because he wasn’t sure if Bobby would take a swing at him for it. He still looked pissed.

Tommy leaned in, putting one hand by Bobby on the side of the car, not quite trapping him there, but hoping to keep him in place long enough to say what he needed to say.

“Look.” Tommy glanced down at the ground before meeting Bobby’s eye and going on. “I’m gonna say two words to you that I’ve only ever said to the kids, okay?”

“Okay.” Bobby was stoic, but he listened.

“I’m sorry.”

Not the easiest thing he’d ever done, but not as bad as he’d thought it would be.

Bobby didn’t look impressed, though. “Okay.”

“Okay, what?”

“Okay, you’re sorry.”

Narrowing his eyes, Tommy huffed out a breath and shook his head. “Jesus. You don’t even try to make it easy on a guy.”

“And you do?”

Tommy considered that. “Fair point.”

That got a small laugh out of both of them and the pressure between them eased.

“I’m not saying I’m the easiest person to deal with, and I’m not saying I’m just gonna roll over and let you take over, but….”

This was the part that would hurt to say out loud and even Bobby seemed to know it. He reached a hand for Tommy and brushed his fingers against Tommy’s chest. A simple touch, unobtrusive, and hopefully hard to see by anyone watching.

“You were right. I don’t ask for help and I don’t like it and I don’t… respond well when it’s offered.” He got a snorted laugh for that, but Tommy continued. “I’m a mess, my family is a mess, my life is a mess, and if I weren’t a selfish bastard, I’d tell you to run. I’d tell you to forget we ever knew each other, but Jesus, I don’t wanna do that. I’m not easy, and I’m a pain in the ass, but if you’re willing to stick around, I’m willing to try, and I’m willing to trust you, and I’m willing to—”

Bobby cut him off by putting both hands on his face and pulling him into a kiss so strong and so hard it sucked the air out of Tommy’s lungs.

After a moment, Bobby let him go, his expression intent as he pulled back.

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