“And where did you disappear to for…” Free looked at his watch, which was exactly like Tech’s. “… Forty-five minutes?”
“We had some things to discuss. I didn’t miss anything, right?” Tech asked, unconsciously straightening his bowtie.
“No. You’re just in time for that good-looking cake,” Free said, craning his neck to watch God and Day cut the first piece together.
Tech looked around and caught Hart’s eyes looking past the main show and staring at Free. Hart didn’t notice Tech, but he could see something in the SWAT captain’s eyes. Myriad reactions. Confusion, admiration, and something else. Perhaps infatuation. Tech wasn’t sure what was going on with him. He was one of God’s closest friends, so Tech knew he had no problem with gay men, but he was straight and had said so a few times. Tech frowned. So why was he staring at Free? Why was he sticking up for him? Offering him rides home and coming by the department more often than usual to ask if Free was settling in well? Tech chalked it up to Hart being an awesome guy. Like he’d said, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for another, it was just his nature.
Over the past week, Free had fully learned Tech’s system and had made quite a few upgrades, too. He was amazing, just like Tech knew he’d be. When they were out in the field on their first test run, Free was cool and collected. God and Day were happy with him, but most of all, the entire team was impressed with him. Tech wouldn’t’ve entrusted his system to anyone else.
Free was still living with him and Tech loved having a roommate again. He and Free got along just like brothers. It’d been that way since they were in college. It was going to be some time before Free could get his RV here because two of the wheels needed replacing and Free hadn’t had the time to get back to Miami – where his last job was – to get it taken care of. It didn’t much matter because neither of them seemed in a rush to change their living situation.
Everyone clapped when Day wiped a smudge of cake on God’s face, bringing Tech’s attention back to the room. While more pictures were snapped of the happy couple, Tech looked over at Steele standing next to Syn and wondered if they’d get there one day. Sure, it was way too early to think about it too hard, but Steele said he loved him. Said it first. He couldn’t help but hope. Next time he went, he was going to ask Steele to go home with him to meet his father. He’d told his dad about him, so much so that his father was insisting on it.
Tech looked around the room while the servers passed out the cake and more champagne. Watched his family laugh and surround each other with love. They were brothers, all of them. Now he had Free here, too. Life was good.
God and Day
God put the card into the scanner and waited for the light to turn green. He opened the door to their hotel suite and stopped Day before he could walk inside. “Hey. Isn’t someone supposed to be carried over the threshold to the wedding bed?”
Day leaned against the doorjamb, his laughter filtering down the empty hall. “That’s quite traditional, and usually it’s the bride.”
God smiled down at him. “Alright, then. Get your damn arms up and carry me inside.”
Day shook his head at him. “You’re crazy.”
God swooped down and grabbed Day around his waist, lifting him so his legs straddled his hips, and walked them into the room. He let the door close behind them and turned, pressing Day against the door.
“Mmm. I’ve barely had time to kiss you properly today,” God said, holding Day up with his mass.
“So, rectify that now,” Day retorted.
God turned them and moved Day into the large room. The bed was huge and covered with red rose petals in the shape of a heart. He looked down at it, rolling his eyes – Day still clinging to his body. “Vikki is such a sap.”
“You know she had to do at least one thing she wanted.” Day laughed, staring down at the bed.
God laid Day down on top of the fragrant petals and leaned over him, staring into the beautiful eyes he had the rest of his life to gaze upon. His brown and blond hair fell around their faces and Day tucked both sides behind his ears before caressing the long strands around his shoulders.
“Your hair looks so gorgeous today,” Day whispered.
“Blair did it. He went on and on about it’s all in the conditioner, then he used a blow dryer that looked scary as shit, but this was the end result.” God ever so gently brushed their lips together. “Don’t get used to it. No man should spend that kind of time on his hair.”