Page 117 of Sweet T

“What can I say?” Pedro chuckled, shifting over to Titus’s side of the steps, reclining between Titus’s legs. “I wanted My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”

“That’s great. I was thinking about wedding movies today. I totally forgot that one.”

“Yeah,” Titus said, kneading Pedro’s shoulders. “Only it’s our big fat gay wedding.

Pedro looked up into Titus’s eyes. “We only get to do it once.”

“Yep.” Titus kissed him on the forehead. “Might as well knock it out of the park.”

Evan smiled. He had never really seen the two of them be affectionate. They made a cute couple, very Beauty and the Beast–not because Titus wasn’t handsome. He was. Evan guessed that Titus might be even better looking in his mid-forties than back in the day. And Pedro, with his caramel skin and dark eyes, was stunningly beautiful. It was the size difference. Pedro looked tiny by comparison, especially with Titus’s giant hands resting on his shoulders. Evan wondered if he and Tucker looked similar. Tucker was not as massive as his father, but Evan was smaller than Pedro. So, the ratios were likely similar.

Tucker came down the pool steps halfway and sat, extending a drink toward Evan so that he would join them.

“You guys have big plans this week?” Titus asked.

“Not really. I imagine we’ll be cleaning a lot,” Tucker said, looking around.

“Nope. I have cleaning crews coming Monday morning and all this rented stuff will be picked up, too. It’s all taken care of, son.”

“This margarita is divine,” Evan said.

Pedro raised his cup and tipped it to Evan’s. “Fresh lime juice is key.”

Evan eased back between Tucker’s legs and settled, mirroring Titus and Pedro next to them. “This is so nice,” he said. “Thank you for letting me be a part of it.”

“Funny you should say that,” Titus said. “Because I’m having a hard time picturing you not being a part of it.”

“Same,” said Tucker, giving Evan a gentle squeeze from behind.

“What happened to your parents, Titus? I know about P’s mother but, when I was looking at place cards today, I didn’t see any other Shepherds.”

“There aren’t any. I was an only child, and my parents have passed. They were much older when I came along. My mother was told by old Doc Helton that she couldn’t bear children. One day, in her late thirties, surprise.”

“I’m sorry they’re gone,” Evan said.

“Yeah. I would have loved having them here tomorrow. They will be in spirit... in me.”

“Such good people,” Pedro said.

“Your mother too.” Titus patted Pedro’s chest above the heart. “They’re all right here.”

“I love they were supportive of you. My parents–” Evan began. “Never mind.”

“That they were. All-in, too,” Titus said with a chuckle. “It threw me for a loop. I mean, I even married and had a child because I thought that’s what they expected of me. It wasn’t, though. But thank God I did.”

The tequila was making Evan lightheaded. He nestled more in Tucker’s warm embrace, his mind drifting. He thought about how random life was. How Titus had been a miracle baby and, had he not, there would have been no Tucker. It made his heart ache. After this last month, imagining a world without Tucker was unbearable. He thought about all the people he knew now outside of those on the pool steps. There was Sebastian, Shelly and Ben, Chuck and Brody, Barb and Cassie. How easily he had assimilated into their lives all because of a violent encounter with a stranger. And as surprising and horrible as that encounter had been, he wouldn’t trade it for the world now.

He felt a hand squeeze his shoulder. Not Tucker’s. Larger. Titus.

“You’re family now, too, son. You’ll always be welcome here.”

“Speaking of family,” Tucker said. “Shelly told me what you did, Daddy.”

“I told her to keep her mouth closed. Of course, that doesn’t matter with you two. Never did.”

“It’s very sweet of you.”

Titus waved dismissively. “She deserves it. Shelly’s smart, talented. She should go to whatever school she wants without worrying about fucking money. Roz was–damn, talk about people I wish were here. Roz was like a sister to me. I don’t know what I would have done without her, especially when your mother died and you were a baby. She taught me how to change your diapers. Helped me keep my shit together when the world was crumbling around me.”

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