Page 80 of All The Things: The Last Thing He Needs Omnibus

Bobby shrugged. “It was on your list.”

Maybe it was just a knee-jerk reaction, but Tommy said, “We can’t afford somethin’ like this. Especially not after all this,” he’d whispered, not wanting the kids to hear.

Unfazed, of course, Bobby told him, “You’d be surprised how affordable it is.” When Tommy started to argue again, Bobby actually put his hand over Tommy’s mouth. “I’ve talked to Gene to make sure he could cover your shifts. I’ve put in for some vacation days. The only thing you have to do is shut the hell up, get a passport, and pack a bag when the time comes.” He still hadn’t dropped his hand. “Okay?” Bobby waited for Tommy to nod. When he did, Bobby slid his hand from Tommy’s mouth and tangled his fingers into his hair. “I love you, you stubborn asshole.”

What more was there to say? Tommy didn’t bother. He fell on Bobby like his life depended on it, kissed him hard and long.

Davey laughed from somewhere behind them. “Get a room.”

Tommy pulled back and tossed the vacation pamphlet at him. “Done.”

Davey looked at the plane tickets and then yelled, “No way!” He turned to look at Judy, who had walked in with a tray of meat and cheese and crackers. “Did you see this?”

“She donated the reward miles for the tickets.”

Judy shot Bobby a look, as if that was supposed to be a secret—which was ridiculous because it actually made Tommy feel a little better—and said, “They were about to expire.”

Probably smelling the food, Mike and Collin came into the room, Baxter-maybe-Brutus hopping along at Collin’s heels.

“What’s about to expire?” Mike asked, confused.

Tommy looked at the sea of shredded Christmas paper and ribbon. “You are, if you guys don’t get all this paper cleared up. The damn dog is about to get lost again.”

“Tommy’s goin’ to Mexico!” Davey was so goddamn excited you’d think it was him going.

Collin still didn’t get it. “Alone? That’s kinda weird…”

“Bobby’s taking me. I don’t even like goin’ to the grocery store without him—you think I’m leaving the country without him?”

When Bobby made a small sound—part laugh, part sniffle—Tommy glanced at him. “What?”

“Nothin’,” The look on Bobby’s face didn’t look like “nothin’,” but Tommy didn’t argue. “Merry Christmas, Tom.”

Better Late Than Never

Author’s note: This was written from a prompt for a contest winner.

Timing: Takes place after the ending but before the epilogue for The Last Thing He Needs.

Tommy knew how he ended up there. He’d retraced his steps, lived through the fight again, picked apart every word he’d said. Every word they’d both said. Every word they didn’t mean.

Well. Every word he didn’t mean. Bobby usually meant what he said and didn’t feel the need to apologize or take it back. Why would he? The bastard was usually right.

“We’ve been living together for over a year, Tom. How long until you stop waiting for me to change my mind?”

Bobby’s words didn’t unsettle him so much as the way he’d said them. Like he was defeated, broken down. Done.

“I don’t know, Bobby. Maybe forever, okay? Think you can handle that?”

No answer. Tommy should’ve felt some sense of satisfaction. He’d finally gotten Bobby to shut up, finally driven a point home so clearly and so hard there was no arguing it.

The only problem was Tommy had wanted him to argue it, wanted him to say he could handle it, could handle anything Tommy threw at him. But, no. Bobby stood in front of him with his arms crossed over his chest, gritting his teeth like he was trying to stop himself from throwing a punch.

Brittle silence had crackled between them, so strained Tommy wanted to break it himself, wanted to say something—anything, really. But he never got the chance. Bobby simply turned and walked out the door into the cold winter night.

“Great,” Tommy muttered. “Fucking fantastic.” He paced the floor for about twelve seconds before he headed for the closet and grabbed his jacket. He went ahead and dug around on the top shelf—stretched his arm all the way back until he found what he really wanted. The one thing that might keep him sane tonight. Marlboro Reds never let him down. His fingers itched for one before he even made it outside.

He thought about chasing Bobby down, having some big, dramatic showdown in a parking lot somewhere or on the side of the road. But he knew Bobby too well. Bobby liked to let things cool down, and if he was the one walking out, it meant he was the one who needed to clear his head and work through his anger on his own so he could talk things through with Tommy.

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