Chapter 5 Thomas
Thomas
The following Thursday, we arrived as requested for Hudson and Evan’s engagement party.
Unbeknownst to us, they decided there was no longer any reason to wait to be married.
So when everyone arrived, Evan made the announcement, and their friend, Preston James, stepped up to do the honors.
“I was ecstatic when Hudson asked me to perform this ceremony. I mean, really fucking over the moon.” Everyone laughed because most of the people here knew Preston’s husband, Nick, was Evan’s ex-boyfriend.
“So, without further delay, let’s get Evan officially out of my hair. ”
I was happy for them even though weddings usually made me uncomfortable.
I wasn’t sure why, because I’d never had one.
The closest I came to that life was in Quantico.
And after that night, I swore I wouldn’t allow myself to get attached romantically to anyone ever again.
Becoming a workaholic was the best alternative.
It kept my body and mind busy, and didn’t leave me time to consider what I might be missing.
Mason was all I needed, and that alone was enough for me.
But being there for Hudson was a different story.
I would always be there for him, and tonight was no exception.
Sipping my third club soda and lime, I was slowly becoming more accustomed to my new role as a guest. The urge to jump in and see if I could assist Adley was difficult to resist after standing in the shadows all those years.
Luckily for me, the party was winding down when Hudson headed my way.
With a smile on my face, I held out my hand to him.
“Congratulations, Hudson. This was a nice surprise.”
He chuckled as he took my hand and pulled me in for a hug. “Thank you. It was Evan’s idea. After seeing the agony Carson went through and watching them in Australia, it inspired us to move things along. We didn’t want to wait.”
When a shadow crossed his face, I knew who he was thinking about.
There was no way the Hudson I knew could go through this life change without thinking about Carrie.
When she died two years into his second term, there were times I wasn’t sure he’d ever recover.
But we slogged through, taking it day by day. “She would be happy for you.”
His lips curled in as he took on a wistful smile.
As strong as he was, his grief had taken him to his knees, even though he knew it was coming.
Unlike when I lost Nessa, he had time to prepare.
“She would. She made a video in case this day ever happened. Adley’s been carrying it around, waiting to wreck me and deliver the I-told-you-so. ”
I knew the video well, because I had a copy stored away as a backup. Adley didn’t want to chance losing it. “Sounds like Mrs. Gatlin. She liked to be right. Although I’m sure it wasn’t meant to wreck you. She wanted you and the kids to be happy again.”
He averted his gaze to search out his new husband. When he found him, his eyes softened, and a sweet smile took over his face. He’d found his lifeline. “She got her wish, Thomas. There were times I thought I’d never be happy again. But she proved me wrong. Again.”
I turned to follow his gaze at the same moment Evan found him. It was good to know Hudson no longer had to carry all the responsibility after allowing Evan into their lives. He could breathe and concentrate on being a dad and husband.
“You’re a lucky man,” I said quietly. “Evan adores you and the kids. You’re going to be just fine.”
My friend turned back to me with a lovesick expression. “I think so too.” He paused and put his hand on my shoulder. “I want to thank you.”
My brows furrowed at his words. “For what? I’m not responsible for any of this.”
He shook his head. “Not for this, but for making sure I survived that first year. Without you in my corner, holding me up, I don’t know if I could have finished my term.
There were days I was so numb that I didn’t know what I was doing, and you quietly stood like a sentinel and stepped in to make sure I held things together.
And all the times you helped with the kids…
” He trailed off as his memories took him back to the most difficult time in his life.
“You were my best friend, and didn’t even know it. ”
Swallowing, I cleared my throat. “No thanks necessary, Hudson. You would have done it for me. And I wasn’t the only one who tried to help. Adley was there too, even though she’d lost her sister.”
He looked across the room to where his former sister-in-law and her mother circulated through the room, collecting dirty plates.
“She was. And I’m grateful she was there for Jack and Erin.
But I want you to know how indebted I am that you stepped in when my walls began to buckle.
I know you were the one who kept the endless supply of organic milk in our fridge. ”
I smiled and rubbed my fingers across my lips, remembering Mason’s incessant teasing of my organic food.
It was the kind Vanessa used to buy. “It was nothing. But there’s no growth hormone or antibiotics in organic milk.
It’s better for them, and doesn’t go bad as quickly.
Not that it was ever in danger of expiring. ”
Hudson chuckled. “I was clueless about all of that.”
“You know now.” Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Evan making his way over to us. “And you’ve got a new husband to help you balance your life, and help you raise them. You’ve given Jack a whole new football family that’s going to pay off one day. You wait.”
“That I do,” he sighed as Evan slipped his arm over his shoulders. After a quick kiss, Evan grinned at me. “Thanks for coming, Thomas. It means a lot to us to have our friends here.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it.”
The tight end’s smile lit up the room. “You know, now that Hudson is no longer the governor, my husband here is intent on finding you a special someone.”
Smirking, I shook my head. “Like I told him, I can handle my love life. And I have friends.” I caught sight of Mason, who was talking to Carson and Colin.
When he looked up and found me looking his way, he grinned.
I winked to let him know I’d seen him, which made him smile. What in the hell was I doing?
Evan followed my gaze. “Something is eating at him. He’s always been a man of few words, but he’s got it in him to talk.
He’s been even more withdrawn over the last two weeks.
I don’t know what it is, but he keeps his distance more than usual.
Even from Lennox. I hope he doesn’t feel out of place now that four of us have partners.
Only he and Drew are single now in our friend group. ”
I raised my brows. “I don’t think he’s worried about dating after the last one,” I chuckled. “But yes, he’s got some things going on. He’ll be okay. I’ll make sure of it.”
Evan and Hudson gaped at me. “You talk to Mason?” Evan asked.
“Yes, every day. Sometimes more. Why is that a surprise?”
“Wait,” Hudson said, holding up his hands. “You and Mason are friends? Like, talk on the phone every day, kind of friends? Like texting friends?”
I nodded. “Yes. Weird, I know. And sometimes, we even have dinner together. Most nights, actually. Like friends.” I couldn’t explain our relationship to them, because I didn’t know how to describe it. But the way they were smiling at me, they were reading more into it.
“Thomas, you have a life,” Hudson teased. “No wonder you didn’t want us to set you up.”
Lord love a duck, I could see where this was going.
“Slow your roll,” I said to them. “Before you get carried away, we are friends. That’s it.
We just enjoy each other’s company. That’s all.
” I wasn’t ready to admit that every time I saw him, a surge of energy shot through me.
Or that I felt a closeness to him that I’d never felt with anyone.
Not even Nessa, and for that, I felt guilty as hell.
“How long?” Evan asked. “Since you moved here?”
Why was this so interesting to them? “We met at the Gala, the same night the two of you met. You were there, Evan. Don’t you remember?”
His eyes widened. “When he was in the hallway looking for me?”
I smiled. “Yes, after Hudson poured his bourbon on you.”
Before my friend could reply, Mason joined our little discovery session.
His big goofy grin made me smile. “What are you talking about over here?” He elbowed me, then leaned in with more ammunition for them.
“I picked up another bag of dog food and a collagen supplement. Avery was moving really slowly the other morning, and it won’t hurt Athena either. The hips are the first to go.”
“Oh, good. That saves me a stop. I’ll pay you in tacos.”
Mason grinned. “Deal.”
When we looked back at Hudson and Evan, I realized we’d given too much away. Evan laughed and looked at his friend. “What is happening here?”
Mason frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“You, and how under the radar you are,” Evan added. “You never fail to surprise me, Kennerly.”
Mason’s brow knitted as he covered his mouth and leaned back into me. “What’s he talking about?”
“The night you met,” Hudson added. “You two have been hiding your friendship.”
Mason burst out laughing. “What? No, we haven’t. People just don’t pay attention to us. There’s nothing to hide. Not really.”
I glanced at him, only to find him looking at me as if he were asking if he should share. Holding his gaze, I gave him an answer. “It’s up to you.”
Hudson and Evan grinned like we were the most exciting thing they’d seen in a long time. Evidently, they were so enthralled with us that they had forgotten their own wedding reception.
Mason, on the other hand, hadn’t. He was fidgeting again. “This is your reception, not the time to…”
“Spill it,” Evan said. “It’s the perfect time. You’re among friends.”
Glancing around, I noticed we’d caught the attention of the others, and it hadn’t taken long for them to join our circle.
“What’s going on?” Lennox asked, looking around at us. “What did I miss?”
Evan pointed at us. “These two have been friends for almost a year, and none of us knew it.”
“I did,” Dane added. Everyone slowly turned to look at Lennox’s Navy fighter pilot boyfriend. “What’s the big deal?”
“And you didn’t tell me? Not even when I…” Dane slapped a hand over his mouth.
Much to my surprise, Mason wasn’t agitated. He seemed to find the whole thing hilarious.
“Oh no. You’re hiding something, and you need to spill,” Evan added. His expression changed when he remembered who he was talking to. “If you want to, that is. No pressure, Mase.”
Mason rolled his eyes, then sighed. “Fine. Let’s sit down, and I’ll tell you.”
“We have to sit down for you to tell us the two of you are fucking?” Lennox asked.
“NO! That’s not it, and if it were, it’s none of your beeswax. What we do or don’t do is no one’s business.” You tell them, buddy. But the thought of an intimate relationship with him made me warm all over.
Lennox’s eyes went wide, but Dane slapped a hand back over his mouth. “I apologize for his lack of manners. Please ignore him. I’ll straighten him out later.”
Oh Jesus. “We are not in a relationship,” I clarified. “We are in a friendship. If you don’t want to hear what he has to say, we’ll go. We have tacos to find.”
All their eyes widened as if I’d just admitted something. I rubbed a hand over my face as Hudson spoke. “Agent Kingsley is in protection mode. Now I see why you’ve been turning down our offers to set you up.”
“I just found out I might be adopted and have a brother in London. He’s a professional hockey player. That’s the secret,” Mason said, coming to my rescue. “That’s what Thomas is helping me with. Are you happy now?”
The room went silent as everyone stared at Mason.
“Holy shit,” Colin said.
“Damn,” Carson added. “Are you okay, Mase?”
As I glared at each of them, they fell like dominoes onto the sofas and chairs. Mason took a seat, then reached up and pulled me down beside him. I saw Hudson smirk, but ignored him, as Mason told them his story. When he was finished, they looked more surprised than when he started.
Carson was looking at something on his phone. I would bet my last paycheck he was searching for Axel. “That’s really cool that he’s a hockey player. A badass one if I’m reading his stats right.”
“What are you going to do, mate?” Colin asked. “I’d say let us help, but you’ve obviously got the best in Thomas.”
Mason glanced at me, then back to them. “He is the best. We’re going to figure out who I am. Right, Agent Kingsley?” He elbowed me.
I smirked at the agent business he loved to tease me with. “Right, Champ.”
Lennox snorted. “They even have nicknames. It’s adorable.”
“Doesn’t the Lieutenant have a nickname for you?”
“Yes,” Dane quipped. “It’s asshole.”
“Better than shithead,” Lennox added, making everyone laugh.