Page 91 of All The Things: The Last Thing He Needs Omnibus

Tommy shrugged. “Then I can rest easy knowing shit don’t change for me.”

A half hour later, they sat at Gene’s little dining table, eating scrambled eggs and toast, looking at pictures of Ben and Gavin’s house, their little nephew toddling around, their dog. But Tommy was too distracted to really care. Not nervous, but he wanted to get the show on the road. He had over an hour before he was supposed to be home, and he’d already showered, shaved, made sure his suit was pressed and ready.

When he started to fidget, Gene smirked at him. “You sure you’re not getting a little anxious there, Tommy?”

“Nope,” Tommy said as he got to his feet and started to pace. “Just…” He patted down his pockets, wanting a cigarette, but he hadn’t brought any, didn’t want Bobby to taste it on him when they kissed or the kids to smell it on him. Damn it.

Gene laughed. “Mine are on the deck. I won’t tell Bobby.”

Tommy thought it over for about three seconds and, in the end, figured Bobby probably already assumed he’d have a few, so why the hell not? He stepped out on the deck, lit up, and let the first drag out in a slow, long exhale. Christ. Why did that make everything feel so much better? He really needed to actually quit. Like, as in, not another one for the rest of his life. But maybe that could start tomorrow.

Before he knew it, though, it was time to get dressed—and brush his teeth again—and head to the house and, okay, yeah, maybe he was a little nervous. Not because he thought Bobby would change his mind—though who could blame the guy if he did—and not because he thought the weather would suddenly turn on them or he’d forget his vows. How can you forget something you didn’t write out and plan? But whatever happened, he just didn’t want Bobby let down in any way. He wanted Bobby smiling all day. Wanted Bobby smiling for the rest of their daman lives. And was Tommy really the person to make that happen? He wasn’t sure, but he’d give it a shot and hope for the best.

Bobby

Bobby let out a sharp exhale as Judy ran her hands down his shoulders and picked a small piece of dog hair off his jacket. “You look so handsome,” she said, her eyes shining.

“Thanks, Ma.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, hoping she understood he meant it for more than just the compliment. “How many cigarettes do you think he’s had this morning?” he asked with a laugh.

“If he’s not still smoking when he walks down the aisle, I think we should call it a win.”

Colleen came around the corner then, wearing a sky-blue dress and silver heels, her hair tied back in some elaborate twist that Carrie had learned how to do off YouTube or TikTok or wherever. “Wow, Bobby, you look hot in that getup.”

“Yeah?” He knew he did. He’d been glad when Tom okayed his Class A because it was impossible not to look good in it. “Think Tom will like it?”

“Well, he’s marrying a cop, so I guess he better.”

Judy laughed. “And it’s too late now to second-guess.”

“He’s here!” Carrie came tearing around the corner, her dress billowing around her knees, the dog chasing at her side.

“Everyone in their seats?” Judy asked, and Colleen nodded.

“Mike and Davey got everyone in their spot. Collin is watching the twins.”

“Where’d they put your father?” Bobby asked, having overheard Mike and Davey joke about seating him by the garbage can or putting him in the back.

Colleen rolled her eyes. “I moved him to the second row on Tommy’s side. Don’t ask where they had him before that.”

“I won’t.” He could guess. And, really, Bobby had just as many mixed feelings about Cal being there as Tom did—maybe more because Tom was the one to invite him, and Bobby wouldn’t have in a million years. But it was Tom’s choice, so Bobby would be okay with it. Right? Right.

They’d talked a lot—a lot being about three minutes, one time, after sex but before sleep—about whether they’d walk down together or if one would wait at the altar or what. In the end, they decided they’d walk down together, holding hands, no best man for either of them, just the two of them up at the front, spit out their vows, and get on with life. It was exactly the kind of no-fuss arrangement they’d wanted.

Though, in the end, everyone had insisted on Zoe as a flower girl and Max as a ring bearer, so there was that.

Judy gave Bobby one quick kiss on the cheek, wiped her lipstick off his face, and went to get the twins in place while the girls went to their seats with the rest of the kids. And Bobby stood alone, just inside the house, at the patio door, and waited for Tom.

Chapter Four

Tommy

“You sure you don’t want one more smoke?” Gene asked as he stubbed his out.

He did. But he wouldn’t. “Nah, but you got a mint or something?”

Ben slapped his meaty paw on Tommy’s shoulder. “Might as well have one, let the man know what he’s getting into.”

“Oh, he knows,” Gene said, snorting a laugh, and Tommy narrowed his eyes. Even though Gene was right. Of all the people in the world, Bobby knew better than anyone what he was getting when he got Tommy.

---