Page 117 of The Killer Card

I take over her effort, swiping any signs of running makeup from her cheeks. “But you fucking did it and now it’s over and your best friend has a memory that will last a lifetime.”

“Yeah…”

Camera’s flash as Elias and Poppy cut their wedding cake- none of that smearing cake across each other’s faces bullshit- and then slices are passed around to those who want dessert. The dance floor is opened up to the guests once more, first dances already done when the bridal party was introduced, but Naomi and I don’t join right away.

For a moment we just sit, my arm around her shoulders in a public setting the way I’ve imagined for years. I finish my champagne, she sips at her water, and for just one blissful moment this feels like the way it will always be.

✽✽✽

"Long time no see, amigo.” I pat Gavin’s shoulders as I make my own rounds with Elias’ guests.

The manager of The Pink Flamingo holds out a hand with a smile. “Graham, nice to see you again. Great speech, man. Real rib tickler.”

“Muchas gracias.” I take the empty seat next to him, reaching across him to shake his husband’s hand. “And Nathan, always a pleasure.”

Naomi’s brother smirks, shaking my hand. “Graham Rosales. Gotta admit, I never thought I’d see your face again.” He looks past me to the dance floor where Naomi is dancing with her dad. I have yet to find the courage to approach the senator even for a hello. “I hope my sister is treating you well.”

I laugh, glancing back at her. She laughs at something her dad says, leaning into him for the slow song. They have a great relationship, even if maybe his expectations are set a little too high. He’s the parent who stuck around after all. It didn’t stop Naomi from carrying her mother’s abandonment straight into alcoholism and a need to meet every single bar her father set. But clearly- from the smile on his face and the clarity in her eyes- that’s something they’ve both moved past. Because I know even from a single interaction with him that all Senator Mychal wants for his children is for them to be happy. I mean, his son owns a sex club, and I have never once heard either of them mention him complaining about it. I mean, he does run on a platform of acceptance and love, but he’s one of the few politicians who actually practices what he preaches. Especially when it comes to his children.

“She’s treating me just fine,” I tell Nathan, returning my attention to him and Gavin. “For a change.”

Her brother laughs, shaking his head. “Thank God, I thought she was never going to get over her bullshit. Now she’s calling me at fucking one in the morning, crying her damn eyes out.” He nudges Gavin who averts his gaze immediately when he sees my confusion. “Hopefully that phase will be over soon too, yeah?”

My brows knit and Gavin hisses a warning to his husband under his breath, “Nathan, shut up—”

“What are you talking about?” I immediately ask.

Nathan’s smile drops, realizing he’s put his foot all the way into his mouth. “Oh fuck,” he shakes his head. “Forget I said anything, man—”

“She called you crying? When? What happened—”

With a heavy sigh, “This morning,” he admits and my eyes widen because that’s around the same time I left her to go stay with the guys in Rowan’s cabin. “But it was nothing man. We sorted it out, she’s gonna be fine—”

“Why did she call? What did she say?”

Fuck what did I do? What did I confess that had her calling her brother in tears at one in the morning? I gave her a whole impassioned speech about how much I fucking love her and she called her brother in tears?!

Or had Nelly gotten hold of her? Asked her a million questions that finally broke her down enough that Nathan was the one she reached out to?

Or maybe she had a craving and called him first. He has been her entire support system through her recovery after all—

“Dude, I can literally see smoke coming out of your ears.” Gavin squeezes my shoulder. “I swear, she’s fine. Nathan just has no fucking tact.” He glares at his husband as the other man bows his head in shame.

Still, the anxiety lingers. “Then why did she call? Why was she crying? Did she say anything?”

Gavin gives Nathan a look and the other man licks his lips. “That she loves you, for one.” Okay, not news. Still feels good to hear. “And that she didn’t quite know what to do with that yet.” When my brow pinches he sighs, “Fuck, she’s gonna kill me. Look, she was freaking out because she doesn’t want to go back to Boston and do whatever happened two years ago all over again.”

“That will never happen again.” I swallow the lump in my throat that memory forms, the only one of us who knows that what happened two years ago was entirely my fault. “She should know that—”

“Should is very different from won’t.” Nathan shrugs. “And she doesn’t want to fuck up whatever you two have managed to fix.”

She doesn’t want to fuck it up? I drag both hands through my hair with a groan. “Coño… She could never fuck it up,” I mutter. I pat Gavin on the shoulder on more time. “I need to talk to her—”

“Graham, wait—”

“I’m not promising you shit, man,” I tell Nathan, but I give him one more handshake as a familiar rhythm fills the hall. “I need to go tango with your sister.”

Nathan makes a face. “I hope that’s not an innuendo.”