8. Quinn
“Jesus H Christ.”
I burst out laughing at Tristan’s gobsmacked expression.
“I take it I pass muster?” I asked teasingly.
He stepped onto the front porch and closed the door behind him. “I figured you’d look good in a tux, but how in the hell do you look like a cross between a secret agent and a supermodel?”
“Good genes and a talented tailor.” I took the lint roller he held out to me.
“I’m going to need the name of your tailor because my off-the-rack special is one step away from looking like I stole my big brother’s tux for prom.” He locked the door and stuck his keys in his pocket. “And of course, the pet fur just adds to the whimsy.”
“Arms out.” I wiggled the lint roller at him.
He stuck his arms out in a T-pose.
“You look amazing, Doc.” I ran the lint roller over the front of his jacket to collect the various pet hairs that stood out against the dark material. “Don’t sell yourself short.”
“I don’t look like a model.”
I made a turn around motion with the lint roller. He did, presenting me with his back.
“Probably because you’re not a model. Remember, Doc, my jobs depend on me looking a certain way. Do you know that saying, ‘Comparison is the thief of joy?’ You look amazing.”
He really did. Tristan was one of those men who was handsome but didn’t seem to know it or know how to accentuate his looks.
His hair was thick and glossy, and the dark strands contrasted nicely against his pale skin and bright eyes. Even the few streaks of gray near his temples looked good, adding an air of maturity and refinement to his overall demeanor. He normally wore the slightly wavy strands in a tangled mess, but tonight they were neatly styled and tamed with product.
With his bright eyes, strong jawline, and baby face, he could easily pass for someone in their early thirties.
I wasn’t sure if it was an older millennial thing or if Tristan just didn’t care about fashion or clothes, but the worn jeans, faded sweats, and printed t-shirts he wore unironically always made him seem like he’d been caught on laundry day or like he was reliving his student days.
The tux he had on was perfectly fitted to him and accentuated his long limbs and broad shoulders. He’d told me he used to be a four-season athlete when he was younger but stopped playing sports when he went to vet school and hadn’t done much working out since his marriage had fallen apart.
The shadows of his time as an athlete were still visible, and while I hated to use the term dad bod because I found it condescending and ageist, that was the body type he had. A little soft, but the kind of softness that suggested he’d be down for sleeping in on a lazy Sunday instead of rushing to the gym or would be a fantastic cuddle buddy.
I froze mid-fur collection. What the hell? Why was I picturing me and Tristan cuddled up together on my couch?
“That’s true.” Tristan glanced over his shoulder. “All clear?”
“Almost.” I shoved that thought out of my mind and ran the roller over a large deposit of bright yellow and white fur on his butt. “Did you sit on Koda? I’m worried he has a bald spot from how much of his fur is on your ass.”
“He’s a shedder. It’s a year-round thing with him. Another reason his previous owners didn’t want him. I made the mistake of laying my clothes out on the bed while I showered, and he decided to roll all over my pants to accessorize them. Sneaky guy was hiding in my closet, and I didn’t see him when I closed the rest of the gang out of my room.”
“He’s a bit of a brat.” I chuckled and pressed more firmly against a stubborn patch of fur.
“He’s such a brat.” Tristan laughed. “But I love him for it.”
“I wish I’d had a pet growing up.” I gave up on the roller and put it on a chair near the door. “Do you mind if I use my hand? This thing isn’t doing anything anymore.”
“Yeah, go ahead.” He dropped his arms from his T-pose. “Are you a dog or cat person?”
“Both. I’ve been around more dogs, but I love cats. They give zero fucks, and I appreciate that.” Being careful not to spread the fur around more, I brushed off his butt with firm strokes. “My parents have a dog, Sadie. I swear my brothers and I go over to see her more than our parents.”
“What kind of dog is she?”
“The shelter said her mother was a lab and her father was a border collie/Doberman mix. I only see the lab and border collie, but her siblings at the shelter had Doberman markings, while she’s pure yellow. She’s sweet, but not the brightest light on the tree. My parents had to teach her how to wag her tail without moving her whole butt when they got her, and she still hasn’t figured out that fetch is more fun if you keep bringing the ball back. She always looks so indignant after the third throw, like she’s personally offended that we keep throwing away the perfectly good things she’s bringing us.”
Tristan chuckled. “Sounds like Freddie. I love that big oaf, but he didn’t know how to be a dog when I rescued him. He grew up with cats and thought he was a giant cat. It’s why he gets along with our gang so well and why the cats rule the roost.”
I stepped back and did a quick fur check.
“How does it look?” he asked.
“Almost got it. Just a bit more on your leg.”
He held still as I got rid of what was left on his upper thigh. “You have been de-furred.”
“Thanks.” He turned to face me and adjusted his bow tie. “I usually just pretend like I don’t know I’m covered in pet glitter. Helps I’m a vet. People expect me to be that guy.”
“I bet having Jinx helps in situations like this. Not like he can get you all furry.” I motioned for him to follow me off his porch.
“You’d think, but sphynxes have their own issues. They don’t shed, but they get oily.”
“Oily?”
“Mmmhmm. All cats produce oil, but it usually gets trapped in their fur, and they clean it through grooming. Sphynxes need to be bathed, otherwise they leave streaks of the oil behind on clothes or whatever else they rub up against.” Tristan sighed heavily as we paused near the end of his driveway. “He was in horrible shape when his previous owner brought him to the clinic. They got him without doing any research on the breed and didn’t do any of the maintenance he needs to be healthy. Sphynxes’ skin and ears are vulnerable to infections, and they have special dietary needs because they burn so much energy to keep warm. They’re great pets when they’re taken care of, but not everyone is willing to put that work in.”
“That’s really sad. I could go on a full rant about designer animals and breeding, but tonight is about having fun and watching Simon turn fifty shades of purple. We can bitch about irresponsible people after we ruin his night.”
Tristan smiled, the tightness around his eyes easing. “You’re right. Tonight I’m just Tristan, a regular guy going to one of my oldest friend’s weddings with a hot guy on my arm. Not Tristan the vet or Tristan the dad.”
“Exactly. Tonight is about you having the night out that you deserve.” A flash of light on metal caught my eye. “Looks like our ride is here.”
“Holy crap on a cracker.” Tristan gaped at the gleaming limo that pulled up in front of us. “Now that’s a car.”
The back passenger door flew open as the driver started to get out of the front.
“Chillax, Vlado. It’s just Quinn. No need to be all fancy pants,” Nick called to the driver.
“Roger that.” The driver’s door closed.
“Get your butts in here so I can drool over you up close.” Nick popped his head out of the open door. “Quinn Methuselah Reynolds.” He shook his head ruefully as he looked me up and down. “If you don’t have a whole series of suit porn on your OnlyFans, Imma have to start a revolution.”
“Methuselah?” Tristan asked me quietly.
“His middle name is Hudson.” Nick rolled his eyes. “Quinn Hudson doesn’t have the same oomph when I wanna middle name him, so I made up a better one.”
“You gonna let us in?” I asked Nick.
“Oh, right.” He disappeared into the limo. “Get your sexy butts in here.”
We climbed into the back with him.
“Hi. I’m Nick.” Nick stuck out his hand and beamed at Tristan. “We’ve met, but not officially.”
“Hi. Tristan.” He shook Nick’s hand while I closed the door behind us. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too.” Nick pumped Tristan’s hand enthusiastically. “That’s Vlado.” He hooked his thumb at the open partition and the heavily muscled and tattooed man in the driver’s seat.
I’d met Vlado, who was Nick’s boyfriend’s best friend and bodyguard, multiple times and knew him to be friendly and chill, but he could be scary as fuck when he wanted to be.
“Hi.” Tristan swallowed and glanced between me and Vlado.
“He’s a teddy bear.” Nick waved at Vlado. “All grr and no kill.”
“Thank you for driving us,” Tristan said to Vlado. “We appreciate it.”
“My pleasure.” Vlado pulled away from the curb. “You want me to close this?” He motioned to the partition.
“Leave it open.” Nick glanced at us.
We both nodded.
“So, we have an hour until we get to the wedding.” Nick steepled his fingers like a movie villain and grinned wickedly. “I am loving that we’re choosing team petty. Now, tell me all the plans for Operation Put Dickbag In His Place.”
“Dickbag?” Tristan covered his laugh with a cough.
“You know what, that’s too nice for your ex.” Nick tapped on his chin thoughtfully. “A bag of dicks can be useful if you need a bunch of dicks or something to smack someone with. We can workshop a new name later. Now, tell me the plan so I can approve it.”
Tristan was smiling as he outlined what we’d talked about.
The plan wasn’t really a plan at all. We were going to show up, have a great time, and go out of our way to fuck with Simon while pretending to ignore him.
“I love it!” Nick clapped excitedly when Tristan finished. “The ignoring him part is key. That’ll piss him off even more because he’s gonna show up thinking you’ll spend the whole time watching him and Tristan 0.5 and be miserable. It’ll drive him crazy that he’s not the center of your universe anymore. Narcissists always melt down when they’re not the main character in their former victims’ lives.”
Tristan glanced at me. I’d floated the idea that Simon had some narcissistic tendencies based on what I knew of how he treated Tristan but hadn’t said anything to Nick. He’d come to that conclusion on his own.
“Tristan 0.5?” I asked.
“This Jace dude sounds like a downgrade. He’s the wish.com version of Tristan.” Nick shot Tristan one of his trademark grins, the one that lit up the room. “You’re the OG.”
“I don’t really understand everything you just said, but thanks.” Tristan smiled at Nick. “It feels good to have people in my corner.”
“We’re all in your corner, my guy.” Nick elbowed me in the side. “Be a dear and pour us some sparkling juice. Vlado took the champagne out of the car because he’s responsible.” Nick made a face.
“I took the champagne out of the car because I spent almost two hours cleaning up after the last time you opened a bottle of bubbly in the back.” Vlado’s voice was filled with affection as he looked at Nick through the rearview mirror.
“Not my fault it exploded like that. The cork scared me and I flailed.” He shot Vlado a sweet smile, then turned his baby blues on me. “Ahem. We’re still waiting on chivalrous Quinn to get us some refreshments.”
“I’ve got it. I’m closer.” Tristan reached toward the console where the bar stuff was kept.
“Nope. That’s not your job tonight.” Nick elbowed me again. “Quinn is going to shower you with attention. You’re not to get your own drinks, pull out your own chairs, open your own doors, or get your own food for the rest of the night. No point bringing a boy toy if you don’t put him to work.”
I patted Tristan’s knee. “How pissed will Simon be if he sees me waiting on you hand and foot?”
“So pissed.” Tristan’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “This is the same man who couldn’t even remember my coffee order after ten years together. Who refused to get up for nighttime feedings when Leo was a baby. He’ll lose his mind if he sees you doing all the things for me that I used to have to do for him.”
Nick and I exchanged a quick look.
Tristan had let a lot of little anecdotes like this out in the past three months. It was plain as day that Simon had been emotionally abusive toward him, and it made me sad to know Tristan had wasted so much time on someone who didn’t deserve him.
Tristan was a kind-hearted man who was empathetic and caring to a fault. He was a natural caretaker and loved to make people happy, but those traits also made him a prime target for assholes who wanted to exploit his kindness. He needed someone who put as much into him as he did into them. Someone to share his burdens, not add to them, if he ever decided to date again.
“What about dancing?” Nick asked. “Did you guys ever dance? Is that something that would piss him off?”
“He doesn’t dance. Not even at our wedding.”
“What? You didn’t do a newlywed dance or anything?” Nick gaped at him.
“Nope. We didn’t have a full reception because Simon said it would be a waste of time. Instead we did a cocktail hour thing and spent a fortune on tapas and imported wine while he used the time to network and talk business.”
Nick scrunched up his nose in distaste. “Your ex is the literal worst. And I know a lot of terrible people. Right, Vlado?” he called to the front seat.
“Yup,” Vlado piped up. “Just say the word, and I’ll come in with you and give him the old stare down. My record is pretty good for making assholes reconsider their ways.”
“It really is,” Nick said. “I once saw him make a dude piss himself just with a few words. Not gonna tell you what those words were because that’s need-to-know, but he’s the best for a reason. He’s the only one I trust to have my back in Ev’s world, other than Ev. And myself, of course. I’m amazing, but Vlado’s good backup.”
“Thanks, kiddo.” Vlado grinned at him through the rearview mirror.
Nick blew him a kiss. “Love you. You big goober.”
“Love you too, kid.” Vlado’s voice was heavy with affection.
Tristan folded his lips inward and glanced at me.
“Your offer is tempting, but maybe we won’t cause a scene before the wedding even starts,” I said to Vlado.
“Fair enough. But the offer is there for when we come get you after if you need it.”
“You’re going to pick us up too? The reception won’t be over until late,” Tristan asked. “Or early, depending on how you look at it.”
“I’ve got to stick around to drive this one home after work.” Vlado hooked his thumb behind himself. “And he makes the rules, so I go where he says.”
“You really thought we were gonna get you there and abandon you?” Nick waved dismissively. “Oh, honey. That’s not how we treat family. And I need all the tea from tonight while the deets are fresh.”
Tristan sat back in his seat, a smile on his face and his cheeks flushed pink as Nick rambled on about all the ways we could mess with Simon.
I busied myself with getting us some drinks. I figured having Nick here would help calm Tristan’s nerves. Now he was in the right headspace to have the kind of night he deserved.