Perfect Alignment (Thorne and Dash 3)
You didn’t actually ask.
He knows how tired I am of all this.
“I’m going to change.” He started to walk away.
“Thorne, I’m sorry. I know you—”
“No, it’s fine. You have to handle all this stuff sometime.”
“I—”
“Just focus on dinner. I’ll get some work done until Kathryn arrives.”
Thorne tried not to think about how hurt Riley looked as he left because if he stayed in the kitchen, he was going to say something he’d regret. Better Riley be sad and possibly confused for a little while than hating him.
After he changed, he sat down on the bed with his laptop, but he just stared at the screen, unable to concentrate on anything except the sick feeling in his stomach. He needed to talk to Riley; walking away was the wrong decision. As he stepped out of the bedroom, the buzzer rang. Kathryn was there.
***
Dinner was pleasant enough. They actually talked about some things other than the wedding, including an art show Kathryn was helping plan. She’d just joined the board of a local LGBTQ Youth shelter, and she wanted to tell them how that was going. But as soon as they cleared the dishes it was wedding, wedding, wedding. Thorne attempted to contribute to the conversation a time or two, but it became clear that Kathryn was only interested in talking to Riley now. She was all too aware how little Thorne actually cared.
Eventually, he left to go work. He wasn’t even sure if they noticed.
At least an hour later, Thorne heard Riley calling him. “Can you come out here?”
He sighed and shut his laptop. “Just a second.”
When he stepped into the living area, Kathryn and Riley were having a hushed conversation. They both looked at him with expressions that told him they’d been talking about him.
“You deserted us,” Kathryn said.
“You didn’t seem to need my help.” Damn, he sounded like a petulant kid.
She glared at him even as she kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay. Bye.”
She kissed Riley too.
“Bye. Thank you,” Riley said.
“You’re welcome.”
She turned back to Thorne. “Talk to him.”
Thorne gestured toward the door. “Good night, Kathryn.”
When she’d left, he turned to Riley. “Look, I—”
“It’s okay. I know you’re not into the stuff we were talking about.”
“It’s not just that. I really wanted to spend some time with you tonight, after we planned our honeymoon destination.”
Riley drew in a slow breath, and Thorne knew what was coming.
“I meant to think about it. I really did, but—”
“These little gizmos are somehow more exciting?” He picked up what was apparently a groom-shaped stress ball from the table. “Please tell me you didn’t decide on these.”
“You’d know if you’d stayed out here.”
“I might have stayed if either of you’d even noticed I was there.”
“We’d notice if you contributed,” Riley snapped.
Thorne knew he should back down, but he didn’t have that much willpower. “So I have to feign interest in all this crap, but you can’t even choose a fucking city?”
Riley turned away from him and walked over to the tall windows. As he stared out at the city, Thorne couldn’t decide if Riley was more hurt or angry. Hell, he wasn’t sure about himself either.
He just didn’t understand it. Didn’t Riley want to travel with him? He’d said he did. They’d talked about a trip to Paris or Italy, and he knew Riley had lots of other dream destinations. The honeymoon was supposed to be the reward for surviving the wedding. Didn’t Riley get that?
Riley didn’t say anything. Thorne knew he should apologize, open the door for them to work through this, but he was feeling too petty for that. And too ignored. He’d been pushed into something he’d never wanted and blocked from the one thing he did want: time with Riley. Maybe he was fucking selfish, but right then he didn’t give a goddamn.
“I’m going to finish getting ready for tomorrow’s meeting.”
Riley still said nothing. So Thorne took his laptop and closed himself in the guest bedroom.
***
Thorne had lost track of time when he heard a soft knock.
“Come in.”
Riley stood there, wearing flannel pajama bottoms that were so worn they were now silky soft. He looked very young and very nervous. “It’s late. Come to bed with me?”
Thorne glanced at the time on his laptop. One a.m.
“What are you doing still up?”
“I couldn’t sleep, not after…”
“I’m sorry.”
Riley nodded. “Me too.”
Thorne stood and pulled Riley into his arms.
“I love you. I know you have a catering thing tomorrow, but let’s take tomorrow night for us. No wedding, no honeymoon, just you and me, okay?”
“Yeah, okay.”
They were both too tired to do anything more than snuggle when they slipped into bed, but that was exactly what Thorne needed.
CHAPTER EIGHT
As Riley spread cream cheese on bagels for breakfast, he contemplated recipes he could make Thorne that night. Thorne’s phone rang, interrupting his thoughts.
“What the fuck?”