Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Joker opened the sliding glass doors and stepped inside, Jack right behind him. Four wagging tails rushed up to them, and after getting some pets, the pups ran off to keep playing. All conversation stopped, and Joker let out a sigh.
“Wow. Nice job being subtle. Oh, wait.”
Fitz worried his bottom lip, relief coming into his face when Jack smiled, breaking the tension and silence.
“Congratulations!” Ace threw his arm up, and another handful of dog treats rained down.
“Dude, seriously,” Joker said, shaking his head. “Where are those coming from?” Was he walking around with pockets filled with treats or something? Weirdo.
“Not important. Find it,” Ace replied, smiling as the dogs ran over excitedly and gobbled up the treats. “You’re getting married!”
“Yeah, we established that,” Joker grumbled, rolling his eyes when Ace held out his arms. “Fine.” He might as well. There was no escaping it.
Ace hurried over and gently hugged him. Before Ace could pull away, Joker squeezed his arm and leaned in. “We need to talk.”
“Sure,” Ace replied quietly. “Maybe just not tonight, okay? You’re home, and safe, and it’s your engagement night. Besides, we’re working through it.”
Joker sighed. “Anston—”
“I know. I promise we’ll talk.”
“Fine.”
Ace pulled back, his big smile back on his face. “If you need help with the bachelor party…”
“Yeah, uh, Jack’s my best man, so he’s gonna take care of it.”
Ace waggled his eyebrows at Jack. “We could make it a team effort.”
“Um…let me get back to you on that,” Jack replied, eyes slightly wide.
Good luck with that. Joker held back a grin.
Ace’s inserting himself into the bachelor party arrangements was Jack’s problem now.
His friend was looking better than when he’d visited Joker at the hospital.
He’d shaved, brushed his hair, and the dark circles were gone from around his eyes.
His brothers were so damned stubborn sometimes.
Joker turned, and Leo was there, with his hands behind his back.
“Hey, pal. Thanks for loaning me your fishy pal. Did King get it back to you?”
Leo nodded. “Yep. And you’re welcome. I know he always cheers me up when I see his happy fishy face.
I hope he was good company. Also, I made you something,” he said, handing Joker a cellophane bag containing a big cookie shaped like his favorite Goldfish cracker, with “Get Well Soon” written in icing.
“It’s a Blondie cookie because I know that’s one of your favorites.
Technically, this is Blondie 2.0 because her predecessor ended up a little on the crispy side when I forgot to check on it, so King helped me with this one. ” He frowned. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
Joker couldn’t take the sad Leo puppy eyes. “Come here.”
“I’ll put it on the counter for you,” Ace said, popping up from who the hell knew where. He laughed when Leo peered at him, his expression full of distrust.
“Is she going to make it intact?”
Ace raised his hand. “I promise. No harm will come to your fishy cookie friend.”
“Okay.” Leo handed the cookie to Ace, then turned and carefully hugged Joker. “Don’t ever scare us like that again.” Leo pulled back, gave him a curt nod, and walked off.
“He’s adorable,” Gio said, standing next to Joker.
“I hate that I put them through this. I don’t like that they were scared for me,” Joker murmured. His family must have been terrified, hurting, so many buried emotions coming to the surface.
“They love you. Of course, they were scared.”
Gio must have sensed Joker was exhausted because he thanked everyone for coming, promised they’d talk soon, and walked them to the door.
The only ones who stayed behind were Fitz, Jack, and Duchess, who was curled up on Chip’s bed, fast asleep, with Chip next to her, on his back, legs up in the air. He was such a dork.
Jack turned to Joker as he rubbed his eyes. “I guess we should head out.” He yawned, and Joker met Fitz’s gaze. Fitz nodded, and Joker leaned into Gio.
“They’re gonna stay the night.”
“Of course,” Gio replied quietly. He went to prepare one of the spare bedrooms upstairs on the second floor.
“Come here, handsome,” Fitz purred, patting the couch next to him.
Jack seemed like he wanted to say something, but Fitz’s warm smile and welcoming gesture were too tempting. He sat, and Fitz patted his lap.
“Lie down.”
Jack kicked off his sneakers, lay down with his face towards Fitz, his head resting on Fitz’s lap, and almost curled up around him. Then he was out.
Fitz ran his fingers through Jack’s hair, heartache in his eyes. “I’ve been so worried about him,” he murmured. He met Joker’s gaze. “I know he lied to me. He hasn’t slept more than a few hours in days. I’m so glad King insisted he take time off.”
Yeah, none of them needed Jack spiraling any more than he already had. “Wait, you knew?” Joker frowned. “But you were so happy when you came in.”
“You and Gio are getting married. I was, and am, so incredibly happy for you both. My worry for Jack doesn’t change that.”
“Why didn’t you say anything to him?” Joker asked, carefully sitting on the couch across from them.
He’d had way too much movement for one day and was exhausted.
Everything hurt. Probably time for some more pain relievers.
Every time he got annoyed, he could picture his doctor wagging her finger at him and telling him to take it easy and be patient. Ugh. This sucked.
Fitz smiled gently. “Because it’s different this time.” He looked down at Jack, his smile disappearing. “I’ve never seen him like this. But then he almost lost one of his brothers, almost lost you. All I can do is be supportive and wait until he works through what he’s feeling.”
“Right now, he’s feeling shitty that he lied to you, knowing you’ll be upset.”
Fitz sighed. “I’m not upset. I mean, I am, but I understand why he did it. You know what he’s like when he feels helpless. And then add sleep-deprived to that, and he’s…”
“An asshole?” Joker offered, helping. At least he thought so.
Fitz chuckled. “I was going to say emotional.”
And that’s why Fitz was perfect for Jack, because next to Joker, no one knew Jack better.
“Sacha’s right,” Jack grumbled sleepily. He rolled onto his back and looked up at Fitz. “I was an asshole. I’m so sorry.”
Fitz brushed Jack’s hair away from his forehead. “Why don’t we go to bed? You can get some sleep, and we’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
Jack looked worried.
“It’s okay, baby. I’m not upset.”
“I love you,” Jack said, taking Fitz’s hand and placing it over his heart. “So much.”
“I know,” Fitz replied sweetly. “I love you too.”
Ugh, these two. “Okay, you two need to get all sappily sweet in your room.”
Jack laughed. “Wait. You just proposed, and we’re the ones being sappily sweet?” He snorted at Joker flipping him off. Getting up, Jack took Fitz’s hand and headed for the stairs.
“Goodnight,” Fitz said. He patted his leg. “Come on, princess.”
Duchess hopped to her paws and trotted happily after her dads.
“Night,” Joker replied as Gio returned. He wished their family a good night before sitting next to Joker.
“Well, tonight’s been quite an eventful evening,” Gio said softly, his arm around Joker’s shoulders. “I know you’re exhausted.”
Joker leaned into him, a contented sigh escaping him at the warmth and strength of the man who would soon be his husband. Joker lifted his head, his smile wide.
“Holy shit, we’re getting married.”
Gio laughed softly. He cupped Joker’s cheek and kissed him. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too,” Joker replied, returning Gio’s kiss, his heart full. Everything about marrying Gio felt right. They had built this incredible life together, and now it was time for the next chapter of their journey to begin. All he had to do was survive the Boyfriend Collective.