Page 74 of All The Things: The Last Thing He Needs Omnibus

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Contents

1. All Bets Are Off

2. Everything He Needs

3. Better Late Than Never

4. Favorites

5. As Long As It’s You

6. Untitled

7. Deleted Scene

About the author

All Bets Are Off

Previously untitled ficlet available on my old blog.

Timing: The first Halloween after moving in with Judy.

“Tell me again why this is so goddamn important to you.” Tommy tugged at his collar. He knew he was scowling, but he figured Bobby was lucky he hadn’t throttled him yet, so the guy could put up with a few irritated looks.

Bobby was clearly trying to cover a smirk as he said, “Tell me again why you hate Halloween so much.”

With a shake of his head that made his wings flap behind him, Tommy told him, “First off, spending money on a costume is stupid. Especially for the twins, who are gonna outgrow ’em before they can even wear the damn things again. Second off, the kids are gonna be jacked up on sugar for a week. Third off…” He didn’t bother with a verbal response. Instead, Tommy made a wide gesture with his hands, up and down his body, so Bobby could take in the full effect of his outfit for the night. A black leotard, for starters, followed by giant glittery butterfly wings.

Thankfully, all the other kids were off at school dances and Halloween parties, so only the twins could see him in his humiliation.

Zoe looked up at him from the stroller and grinned. She was dressed up like a flower, and Max was a bumblebee. Tommy hated to admit it, but they were pretty damn cute like that. Max was busy pulling at the antennae bobbing on the top of his head and didn’t so much as glance at Tommy.

Leaning close to Bobby, Tommy hissed, “And I find it pretty fucking hard to believe that you were gonna wear this getup. I find it harder to believe that you promised Zoe. And harder still to believe that you got called in suddenly. I call bullshit on the whole thing.”

Some strange mix of amusement and guilt mingled on Bobby’s face. Tommy had nailed it, and they both knew it. “Let’s just say Colleen owes me fifty bucks now.”

“Unbelievable!” Tommy groaned and tossed his head back. “Fifty bucks? This was only worth fifty bucks to you?”

Bobby laughed and wrapped an arm around Tommy’s shoulder. “She’s saving up for a car. Besides, just knowing I could get you to do it was reward enough for me.”

“If you wanna keep your hand, you better get it off me, copper.”

Zoe looked up at them again just as Bobby let out a bark of laughter. Kids in all kinds of costumes raced past them, and the twins were eager to get moving. “Let’s go!” Zoe said in her little two-year-old munchkin voice.

“We’re goin’, keep your petals on.”

She giggled for him and kicked her feet. Max finally managed to tug the antennae off his head.

Tommy leaned in again and whispered to Bobby, “When you get home, your ass is mine.”

“My ass is always yours, and you know it.” Bobby grinned at him as he shifted closer for a quick kiss.

They were standing at the end of Judy’s driveway, out in the open for all the neighbors to see, but Tommy was past caring about that kind of shit. If they didn’t like it, they shouldn’t look.

“Yeah, well, don’t you forget it.” With one more quick kiss, Tommy added, “Be safe tonight.”

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