Authors: E. Davies
Swish (19 page)
Alex nodded thoughtfully. “Making good out of a bad situation.”
Thomas hadn't thought of it that way, but he nodded. “I think so, yeah. I've always wanted to do this. To be more than on the front lines. It would be... more fulfilling.”
“I'm sort of doing the same thing. I'm dropping a lot of companies and working on personal cases,” Alex murmured. He carded his fingers through the light hair on Thomas's chest. “I can afford to now.”
“As long as you don't have to become a honeytrap again,” Thomas murmured with a faint frown of concern. “I'm not judging what work you take.”
Alex shook his head. “No, I know. It's not about that. It's honestly... something I need to do for me. I need more faith in people.”
“And investigating cheating assholes will do that?” Thomas laughed.
Alex nodded thoughtfully. “Cause it's not them I'm doing it for, it's the loyal people on the other end of it who got hurt. I want to help them get the strength to walk away.”
The words hung between them for a few moments. Thomas smiled slowly and touched Alex's cheek, then kissed him again. He wouldn't compliment him on being noble because Alex would just turn that compliment down, but he believed it.
Alex had a damn good heart, and Thomas was lucky he'd given it to him.
It had been a challenge, and he knew now that sometimes the biggest challenges didn't come from outside forces. The obstacles Thomas had built up were all in his head, but challenging them was a thousand times harder than standing up to peer pressure from some other person. He didn't give a crap about other people, but facing his own desires was the hardest thing he'd done.
Thank god Alex had stuck around for him. This time, Alex had understood what was wrong and how to help him. And Thomas could see it on Alex's face: Alex was happier now. Maybe not cured yet, not the best man he could be, but he was getting there.
This second time around, they were trusting each other with more than just their hearts. There was a whole life together to look forward to. Sure, it would be messy and complicated sometimes, but it was worth fighting for that future together.
Four months later...
“Here's to the first year!”
Bottles clinked all around in a cacophony of glass as the Riley brothers, their family, and their friends celebrated.
“And,” Jackson continued, still standing at one of the picnic tables in their shared backyard, “to us. Me and Chase, Cam and Noah, and our newest couple...”
A chorus of “Awww”s, predictably enough, sounded from everyone as all eyes turned to Thomas and Alex.
Thomas turned beet-red and even Alex blushed under the scrutiny, but they held up their bottles in answer.
Since moving in a couple months back, the last vestiges of tensions between Alex and the other brothers and boyfriends had vanished. That night with Chase's family had done wonders to ease the tensions.
It helped that Alex was doing better these days – brighter and happier, getting out of bed easier. He attributed it to therapy, more sunshine, but most of all, Thomas.
Their love was clear in the way they watched each other.
“Now kiss!” Kevin shouted while Ryan groaned and Jackson laughed.
Thomas looked like he wanted to melt into the ground, but he leaned in and pecked Alex's lips before swigging from his beer bottle again.
“Oh, that was boring,” Noah groaned.
“If you wanna show us how it's done...” Alex shot back with a grin, his arm around Thomas's shoulders.
Noah grabbed Cam and bent him backwards – even though they were seated side-by-side at the picnic table – for a kiss.
Cam nearly spilled his beer, flailing to grab Noah for balance as Noah kissed him deeply.
Even their parents were laughing at Cam being utterly caught off-guard, his eyes comically huge. Floyd, unlucky enough to share the bench with them, leaned back as far as he could from them and pulled a face while Chase laughed loudly.
Then, Chase stood up beside Jackson and pecked his lips sweetly – a lot less shyly than Thomas had, but not as blatant as Noah. “To all of us,” he toasted, pulling Jackson to sit back down again.
Everyone toasted that and drank again.
“And,” Cam added, not even bothering standing up, “to Kevin. We're seeing him off in just a couple days.”
“Aw, no,” Kevin waved his hand. “I don't do goodbye parties.”
“To the best
damn
hockey player I know,” Cam insisted, leaning over to punch his shoulder. “Coach Walker's gonna have a field day with you unless you practice your crossovers harder.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Kevin groaned to laughter. Cam hadn't even acted a bit jealous since hearing that Kevin was due to head to training camp to fill the very same spot he once had.
Instead, he'd pumped Kevin full of advice, even taking him for some one-on-one exercises at the town court. Now that he could exercise again, he'd taken full advantage of that fact.
The Rileys' parents stood up next, Mrs. Riley urging Mr. Riley to say something.
“Your mother and I just wanted to say,” he addressed them as they all went quiet and looked at him, listening closely. “We're very proud of you and glad to have you here. Most of all, we're happy to see you happy. May you be happy for a long time to come.”
The “Aww”s were mixed with applause and cheering now as he sat down again.
“All right, enough. More burgers!” Jackson told them, wrestling himself free of the picnic table bench to head back to the barbecue. “And more beer.”
The sun shone down on them, the grass whispered in the wind, and uplifted, joyful voices floated beyond the fences around their shared backyard.
For the moment, everything was just right.
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