R oyce rubbed his hands together in glee when Sawyer parked in his parents’ driveway. “I should’ve worn sweats.”
Sawyer shook his head as he turned off the car. “It’s not Thanksgiving.”
“If Evangeline hosts a food gathering, it will be a feast worthy of stretchy waistbands.”
“You remind me of Joey from Friends when it comes to food,” Sawyer teased.
Royce waggled his brows and grinned. “How you doin’?”
“Your New York accent could use some work.”
Royce accepted the challenge as he climbed from the passenger seat. He opened the back door, and Dolly enthusiastically wagged her tail in her doggie car seat. “How you doin’?” Royce asked her.
Yip, yip, yip.
“That one was a little better,” Sawyer called from the rear of the car.
Royce unsnapped Dolly’s three-point harness system that kept her securely in place. The memory of their doggie car seat search made him smile. Sawyer had been determined to find the highest-quality product with the best safety rating, and Royce insisted on one that also looked cute enough for their princess. He figured the purchase had created the blueprint for thousands of future parenthood negotiations. Some would take days to decide, like the doggie car seat, and others would click into place immediately, such as the pale gray paint they’d found for the nursery. Their only debate at the hardware store had been how many gallons to buy. The nursery wouldn’t be a large space, but Royce knew the one-coat promise from most paint brands was complete bullshit. And then there was the primer to consider. Did they prep the walls first or buy a paint with the primer built in? Sawyer left that decision up to him, and Royce had gone with the combo option for expediency since they weren’t trying to cover a dark paint color.
Royce lifted their dog from the ultra-safe and super-snazzy seat and cradled her to his chest. “Dolly loved my accent. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”
“She also licks her ass,” Sawyer reminded Royce right as the dog swiped her tongue against his cheek.
“Oh man.” Royce wiped Dolly’s saliva off his face and vowed to do a thorough wash as soon as they passed off their food offerings and the granddog to Evangeline.
Sawyer leaned against the car and laughed. “We couldn’t have timed that any better.”
“We? Only two out of the three Stooges were in on the gag, Asshole.” Royce tried to sound irritated, but that only made Sawyer laugh harder.
A car pulled up behind them, and they both turned to see who’d arrived. Royce didn’t recognize the silver sedan, but he knew the man Sawyer referred to as the silver fox behind the wheel. He was used to seeing his father drive a Harley or a pickup truck with enough horsepower to prove his masculinity. Had Eddie gone out and purchased something as prosaic as a sedan? And was that a relaxed smile on his face as he looked toward the passenger seat? A joyous grin? Royce failed to name the expression because he’d never seen it on his father’s face before. Then a weird thing happened. Royce felt his own mouth curve upward at the corners. No, no, no. He didn’t smile when seeing Eddie or observing him. Abort grin. Abort grin. But his lips still kept stretching until they reached their limits.
“Well, well, well. This must be the new friend he mentioned at graduation night,” Sawyer said.
Royce shifted his attention to the passenger seat, where a woman with auburn hair smiled at Eddie like he’d hung the moon. The unexpected joy he felt moments ago turned to dread in the pit of his stomach. Oh damn. It never ended well for anyone who loved Eddie Locke. “New friend?” Royce asked.
“Oh damn,” Sawyer replied. “I forgot to tell you that part. Eddie asked Evangeline if he could bring a new friend.”
Royce turned an incredulous look on him. “You forgot to tell me?” When Sawyer just shrugged, he added, “Don’t get attached.”
Sawyer cut him a look that implored Royce to play nice. He could be very, very nice, and his husband damn well knew it, but they could get in their car and go home if Sawyer needed a reminder. There were still so many things he wanted to do with his husband to make up for lost time. His thoughts must’ve bled into his expression because Sawyer’s pleading eyes heated with anticipation until he blinked and pulled himself together. “Nice try, Asshole.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Royce widened his eyes innocently, but it only made Sawyer scowl.
“We’re not going home, so tuck your rizz away for later.”
Royce groaned. “Oh no, you didn’t just say that.”
Sawyer’s wide-eyed innocence looked much more believable when he aimed it at Royce. “What? I was just speaking your language.”
“It’s not my language,” Royce countered. “It’s what the youths say, and I was looking forward to a break from their awful dialogue.” He hadn’t repeated half the weird shit they said because it would annoy the Ivy League right out of Sawyer.
“Well, rizz definitely applies to the Lockes. Charisma oozes out of your pores with the pheromones.”
Royce grabbed the collar of his shirt and tugged it away from his neck. “More like sweat. It’s going to be a hot one.”
“Sweat. So cringe.” When Royce only glared at him, Sawyer leaned forward and kissed his frowning mouth. “Relax. Breathe. Give your dad a chance.”
Car doors shut, and Dolly wriggled excitedly when she saw Eddie. Royce watched his father and the mystery lady approach them. “How many chances are too many?” Royce whispered.
“Royce,” Eddie said before Sawyer could respond. He extended his large, calloused hand toward his son, forcing Royce to reciprocate or look like a jerk.
He forced a pleasant smile on his face as he clasped his dad’s hand and gave it a firm pump. “Eddie, it’s good to see you.”
It took Royce a second to realize he’d meant it. He felt a softening in his chest and bit back a silent curse. Apparently, another chance wasn’t too many. Royce had to tighten his hold on Dolly, who was doing her best to leap into Eddie’s arms. She’d get her chance because his dad was a real sucker for the tiny dog, but Eddie was too busy grinning fondly at Sawyer and shaking his hand.
“Settle down, sweetheart,” Royce whispered to the dog before kissing the top of her head. “Grandpa is demonstrating good manners. You could take a lesson from him.”
“That’s the first time someone accused me of modeling good behavior,” Eddie joked.
Royce chuckled. “Credit where credit’s due.”
Dolly yipped her frustration at being ignored, and Eddie gave her his full attention. He held out his hands toward her, and the little dog’s body vibrated with excitement. Royce laughed as he carefully transferred the dog to his dad. Royce would never forget the day Eddie met Dolly. He’d expected his dad to make shitty remarks about him having such a sissy dog, but Eddie had fallen hard and fast for the Yorkie.
“How’s my best girl?” Eddie asked as he lifted her up for a kiss. This interaction, Royce knew, was a hundred percent genuine.
“Hey,” the auburn-haired woman chided. “I thought I was your best girl.” She pursed her glossy pink lips into a cute pout. Up close, this woman was a stunner. She’d applied her makeup like a pro, drawing focus to her finest features, like pale green eyes, high cheekbones, and full lips. Her lightly tanned skin was flawless except for a smattering of freckles across her nose and the barest hint of lines at the corners of her eyes and bracketing her mouth.
Eddie held up a finger to his lips and tipped his head toward the dog, who watched him with unabashed adoration. Dolly wormed against his chest like she was trying to burrow herself inside him, and her tongue licked the air because she couldn’t reach his face. “She’ll hear you.” Then he ducked his head down and let Dolly kiss his cheek.
Royce was just about to warn Eddie that the dog had most likely licked her ass at some point that day, but a light-hearted laugh caught Royce’s full attention. Eddie’s friend was tall and willowy, the antithesis of Eddie’s usual type. He typically went for women who were short and curvy with bawdy laughs. The playful sounds coming from the lady who watched Eddie with heart eyes were infectious. She wore a sage-green sleeveless dress with scalloped edges ending just above her knees. Her sandals were the wedged kind and made from that material that looked like frayed rope. He couldn’t remember what it was called but knew they were popular and often expensive. Kelsey didn’t find it funny when Royce offered to make her the same pair of shoes for less money. He’d even shown her the different rope options he had in his garage, but no go.
“I think she likes you,” the woman said as she lifted her hand to pet Dolly.
The little dog tensed, flattened her ears, and narrowed her eyes at the interloper reaching for her. Royce’s eyes widened, and his lips moved to yell “nooooooooooooo.” Sawyer’s arms appeared in Royce’s periphery as he reached for the dog. But neither of them was quick enough. Their little darling Dolly turned into the Yorkshire Terror right in front of their eyes. Her warning bark was high-pitched and terrifying. Eddie’s new friend snatched her hand back and giggled nervously, but that wasn’t enough to please the six pounds of pissed-off fur. One corner of Dolly’s mouth curled up, and she growled viciously, her tiny body vibrating with jealousy.
“Oh my.” The lady held up her hands in peace and backed away a few steps. “My bad.”
“She doesn’t mean any harm,” Eddie told her, though Royce wasn’t sure how his lips could form words with that wide, cocky grin taking up so much real estate on his face.
“I’m so sorry,” Royce said, extending his hand. “Our dog is just a bit possessive about Eddie, which is really irritating.”
Eddie’s smug grin faded into a scowl. “Because I’m not worthy of her devotion?” His dad’s voice was gruffer than usual, and he sounded highly insulted. He no longer looked like the carefree man who’d arrived just minutes ago.
Royce reacted the way he always did at the first sign of conflict with Eddie. He tensed from head to toe and went straight into fight mode. “No,” Royce replied tersely.
Sawyer’s hand landed at the small of his back, a gesture Eddie’s dark gray eyes didn’t miss. Would his father recognize the act as love and comfort, or would he view it as Sawyer trying to tame him like a wild animal? Maybe both things were true at the same time. Eddie knew how to raise Royce’s hackles better than anyone on the planet, but Sawyer’s soothing touch reminded him that neither he nor his father were the men they used to be.
Royce forced his shoulders down and softened the tension in his face. “I just meant that we’re doing all the work, and she loves you the most.”
The good-natured smile returned to Eddie’s face. “That’s just the perks that come with grandparenthood. I’m just the good-time guy who gets to show her all the love without having to train or discipline her. Isn’t that right, Doll Doll?” The dog yipped her agreement and licked Eddie’s cheek.
“The same phenomenon happens with my grandcat.” The woman smiled at Royce and extended her hand. “Hello, I’m Jolene, but my friends just call me Jo.” She rolled her eyes. “Or they sing certain lyrics to me.”
“Royce,” he said, shaking her hand. “No wonder Dolly doesn’t like you.”
Jolene giggled and winked at the outraged dog. “I’m not looking to take your man.”
“Forgive my sh—um—crappy manners.” Eddie’s stammered apology was awkward and oddly endearing. “Royce is my second-oldest son.”
“The problematic middle child,” Royce teased.
Eddie scoffed and shook his head. “Don’t listen to him. He’s been a great kid, always looking out for everyone he cares about. I’m not at all surprised he became a cop.”
Royce glanced over at Sawyer. He had to be dreaming, right? Sawyer’s features formed a brief “I told you so” expression before he turned his attention to Jo.
“Oh, and this is Royce’s husband, Sawyer,” Eddie said. “Jo is the new friend I told you about.”
Royce shot his husband another disbelieving look as he introduced himself to Dolly’s nemesis. Then he looked at his father with objective eyes. Eddie’s polo shirt was different than the one he’d worn to the graduation ceremony. Were they buy-one-get-one-free purchases? Did Eddie have a closet full of preppy clothes now? His jeans didn’t have a single hole in them, and the brown leather belt at his waist didn’t feature a wallet chain or metal ornamentation. Royce was oddly comforted by the familiar leather biker boots on Eddie’s feet. He understood his father was trying to become a better version of himself, but he didn’t want the man to become unrecognizable. And was this a change Eddie wanted or one he thought he needed? One Jolene thought Eddie needed?
“You’ve got smoke coming from your ears, kid,” Eddie said. “Don’t overthink it?”
“That’s my fault,” Sawyer said. “He picked up that bad habit from me.”
Eddie clapped Sawyer on the shoulder and looked at Jo. “My son-in-law doesn’t have bad habits. The world would be a better place if more people were like him.”
Jo grinned at both Royce and Sawyer. “Just so you know, he’s said that about both of you more than once.”
Eddie grimaced, then asked, “Do I repeat myself obnoxiously?”
Jo shook her head. “You’re a proud father. I think it’s wonderful.”
“I’m trying to be the father my kids deserve.” Eddie might’ve responded to Jo’s comment, but his steely gaze was locked on Royce, as if willing him to believe the words. “It’s long overdue.”
And Royce wanted to trust him. Sawyer had faith in Eddie’s intentions, and that should’ve been enough for Royce. His husband had exceptional intuition, but then again, he’d never really witnessed Eddie during his darkest hours. Royce struggled to see anything else when he looked at his father. He sometimes woke in the middle of the night after nightmares of becoming another Eddie. Royce and his dad had taken positive steps forward, only to shuffle backward more times than he wanted to count. Could this time be different? The expression in Eddie’s eyes said it was, and he’d sure dressed the part and brought the right accessories. Royce immediately scratched that thought. It was cruel and disrespectful to a lovely woman who didn’t deserve it. He was sick to his stomach that the thought had even crossed his mind.
Royce wanted to blame Eddie’s past influence, but this was all him, and he mentally apologized to a person who thankfully couldn’t read his thoughts. Royce dreaded telling Sawyer the path his thoughts had taken, but he would. He told his husband everything—the good, the bad, and the freaking ugly. Sawyer was his salvation, the shiny beacon of what good people could be, and Royce really wanted to be good people. He’d surrounded himself with the finest humans on the planet since meeting Sawyer Key, hoping their decency would rub off on him. Why couldn’t he allow himself to believe Eddie wanted the same? Couldn’t Jolene be his shiny beacon of hope? Why the hell did he sound like the sappiest dickhead to live? Because he was, and he loved the person he’d become. Just maybe Eddie saw something in Royce that made him think he could do it too. Cue the moody classical music. Someone just had a breakthrough. Snarky quips aside, a weight had been lifted off Royce’s shoulders with the epiphany, which was why he decided to extend an olive branch to Eddie. Well, maybe not a branch. Perhaps a fragile twig that would snap easily, but it was a start.
Royce turned to Sawyer. “Why don’t you show Jo around and introduce her to everyone? I already know Evangeline will adore her. Eddie, Dolly, and I will take the food inside.” And find a private place to talk .
His father looked at Jo, and the couple exchanged so much with that single glance. It reminded Royce of the life he’d built with Sawyer. He turned and met warm, chocolate-brown eyes. Quicker than he could blink, Royce had expressed how hard he was trying, and Sawyer let him see his unabashed pride at Royce’s effort. A snarly growl interrupted the sweet moment when Jo tried to emphasize her support with a pat on Eddie’s shoulder.
“I’ll win you over, Dolly,” Jo vowed. “Just you wait and see.”
Sawyer approached Jo and extended his elbow. She looped her arm through his with a gracious smile. “This is how you treat people, Doll Doll. Notice I didn’t try to bite off a finger.”
“Dolly is pure Locke,” Eddie said. “It’s going to take a long time to retrain her bad habits.”
Sawyer and Jo laughed as they strode away, but Eddie wasn’t wrong. It was the entire reason Royce hadn’t wanted to submit his sperm for consideration.
Eddie peered into the trunk of Sawyer’s car with a raised brow. “Should I have brought something too?” He sounded unsure and embarrassed. That small display of vulnerability drew Royce closer to his father than any of Eddie’s previous past displays of toxic masculinity. “I asked Evangeline, but she told me not to worry about it. I really struggle to read social cues. Was that really a code for yes? Kind of like when a woman—er—partner tells you everything is fine when it’s definitely not?”
Royce chuckled and clapped Eddie’s shoulder. Dolly curled her lip as if to snarl, but Royce quelled her behavior with a single glare. “Evangeline is a straight shooter, Eddie. If she told you not to bring something, then she meant it. The Keys always make more food than necessary.”
Eddie gestured to the trunk. “Then what’s all this?”
Royce sighed, shook his head, and hoisted a massive tote with at least three types of Southern salads in there and one hoity-toity, super-healthy kind that probably only Sawyer would eat. “This is just my husband.”
Eddie shrugged and reached inside the trunk with his free hand to hoist an equally large bag holding desserts. “You lead,” he said.
Royce led him around the side of the house to the backyard, where the party was already in full swing. People chatted, sipped colorful beverages, and engaged in games on the expansive lawn stretching to the river. Royce turned to check Eddie’s reaction and was surprised to see an easy smile on his face. He followed his father’s gaze and smiled when Evangeline greeted Jo with a hug upon introduction. Royce nudged Eddie to get his attention and nodded toward the house. “Come on, Romeo.”
Eddie fell in step beside him and said, “I’m not a literary expert, but I’m almost positive Romeo and Juliet isn’t a love story.”
“It’s a tragedy,” Royce said.
“I want the love story.” Eddie halted suddenly, and Royce stopped too. “I want to be the kind of man Jo deserves.” He swallowed hard, and the color leached from his tan face. “To be the kind of man your mama deserved but didn’t get.”
Royce had talked to his father enough over the past few years to know Eddie deeply regretted many things about his life, and the way he treated the mother of his children topped the list. Believing Eddie wanted to change and trusting him to carry it out were two very different things. For the first time in decades, Royce believed Eddie might be capable of both aims. “I want that for you too, Eddie.” He continued to walk toward the house. “Jolene seems like a really nice lady.”
Dolly growled as deeply as a tiny dog could, and Eddie shushed her. Royce was pretty sure he heard his dad land a playful kiss on top of Dolly’s head.
“These bows,” Eddie said. “Does she have one for every holiday?”
“And season. I have a problem,” Royce admitted. “And that groomer recognizes a sucker when we waltz into her salon.”
“I’m sure she can use the support in this economy,” Eddie said. “It’s got to be rough owning a small business in this day and age. Between the DIY videos on YouTube and same-day delivery from Amazon, everyone thinks they’re an expert on everything, and they expect the tools to fuck shit up to arrive within hours.”
Royce nearly tripped over his feet when he stepped through the open atrium doors at the back of the house. He figured the price of gas and beer was the extent of Eddie’s economic knowledge, but his father had surprised him with thoughtful commentary. Royce had the sudden urge to explore Eddie’s opinion on other topics, but it wasn’t the time or place. There was one pressing thing he had to know, so after they dropped off the food in the kitchen, Royce led Eddie to a small sitting room that overlooked the backyard. Sawyer and Jo were still talking to Evangeline and Barron. Eddie watched their interactions for a beat too long because Dolly growled at him.
“Don’t be sassy,” Eddie gently scolded as he sat in a club chair that faced away from the windows.
“Pretty sure she was born that way,” Royce replied as he took a seat opposite his dad. “How’d you meet Jo?”
Eddie held his gaze long enough for the pause to feel awkward. Royce was a thousand percent sure he hadn’t picked her up at one of his local haunts. “I met her at a PFLAG meeting.”
“A PFLAG meeting?” Royce repeated.
“Yeah, that’s what I said.” There wasn’t a hint of annoyance in Eddie’s voice. He sounded nervous instead. “It’s an organization for parents and allies of—”
“I know what PFLAG is, Eddie. I’m surprised to learn that you do. When did you become involved with the organization?”
Eddie puffed up his cheeks and huffed out an exhale while rubbing the back of his neck. “I went to my first meeting about five months ago. It was after our last argument.”
“The one where you disrespected my husband in his own home?” Royce hadn’t meant to raise his voice, but it occurred naturally when speaking to his father.
To his credit, Eddie remained calm and stroked his big hand over Dolly’s tiny back. Royce couldn’t tell if Eddie was comforting himself or the dog. “I didn’t mean to disrespect Sawyer—in his home or otherwise. You know I like him a lot. And I meant what I said earlier. The world would be a better place if we were all like Sawyer. I am sorry about what I said. I never meant to sound disapproving about you having kids with him. I think you’d make a wonderful dad. I just thought you didn’t want to have children.”
“That was true until I met Sawyer. Kids were always going to be a part of his future. I needed to get on board or let the train pull out of the station without me.” Royce thought back to the earlier days in his relationship with Sawyer when everything was so new and scary. He hadn’t known how they’d arrived at love or where they’d go next, but Royce had wanted Sawyer and would’ve done anything to make their relationship work. That meant a lot of healing and growing in ways that made Royce extremely uncomfortable at the time, but all the hard work became the tracks he laid so he could chug his way toward a beautiful life. “Eddie, you didn’t just express surprise that I wanted kids. You questioned why I hadn’t chosen an easier path since I’m bisexual. That’s the part where you disrespected my husband. There’s a lot of shit I’ll tolerate, Eddie, but never that. And it makes me question if you’ve ever truly known what love is.”
His father winced at the memory. “Does he know I said something so stupid?”
“No,” Royce said. “And I didn’t withhold the details of our argument to protect you.”
“Then why?”
Royce let his gaze wander out the window, where children squealed with delight as they chased one another on the lawn. He’d never thought about why he’d kept Eddie’s latest gaffe to himself. Sure, it would’ve hurt Sawyer’s feelings, but he would’ve worked through it like healthy adults do. He would’ve said that Eddie only asked a question most people would’ve been afraid to, and he would’ve reached the point where he commended Eddie’s curiosity and viewed it as a step in the right direction. Royce could even picture Sawyer saying something like “learning is growing.” No, he hadn’t kept quiet to protect Sawyer. So why? The truth hit Royce hard and stole his breath as he met Eddie’s anxious gray eyes. They both realized this was a big step in their relationship. “I kept it to myself to protect you, to keep this moment right here a possibility. I saw the acknowledgment in your gaze when I pointed out how wrong you were to suggest such a thing. You weren’t ready to admit your mistake out loud, but I thought there might come a moment when you would. And maybe I didn’t want to make it harder on you to apologize and put things right.”
Eddie scrubbed a hand over his face and exhaled heavily. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I want it.” He paused to swallow hard before continuing. “I was wrong to say what I did. There’s no way I’d want you to turn your back on the guy you love just to choose an easier path. Hell, I can’t imagine you with anyone else. Sawyer is it for you. I’m truly sorry for what I said.”
“Thank you, Eddie,” Royce said. “And I accept your apology.”
Eddie expelled a long breath. “And I learned I don’t have to understand every damn thing to accept it.”
Royce arched a brow. “Wow. That’s awfully woke of you, Eddie. I’m impressed.”
His father snorted. “Well, they were running a sale at the store. Buy a polo shirt and get some empathy and compassion for free.” He looked down at his chest and pulled the shirt fabric from his body. “Do I look stupid?” He raised his chin and met Royce’s gaze head-on, letting him see genuine vulnerability. “Or do I look like an actor trying to portray a decent guy?”
Royce scoffed. “You look very handsome. Sawyer calls you a silver fox.”
“Clearly, the man has good taste,” Eddie said, gesturing between the two of them.
“But you don’t have to change your clothes to be a different person on the inside,” Royce told him. “If this is what you want to wear, then strut your stuff. But if you don’t think Jo will like you if—”
“This wasn’t her idea,” Eddie said. “I just wanted to try something new.” He looked down at himself again briefly. “I like how I feel when I wear nicer clothes.”
“That’s all that matters,” Royce said. “Tell me about PFLAG and Jo.”
“I’d told a lesbian on my construction crew about our argument. She let me have it with both barrels and told me about PFLAG. It took me a few weeks to work up my courage to attend a meeting, but I went. I felt foolish and so out of place, but the people went out of their way to make me feel comfortable. It took a couple of weeks before I let my guard down long enough to have an honest conversation with the group. It helped to talk to parents of bisexual sons in same-sex relationships.”
“It also didn’t hurt that one of the parents was exceptionally pretty,” Royce teased.
Eddie chuckled, and a pink blush crept up his neck. “I was already on the right path when Jo arrived on the scene. Her daughter had just come out as pansexual, and Jo wanted to take all the right steps to support her.” Eddie inhaled deeply and pressed two fingers to his sternum.
“Are you experiencing chest pains?”
Eddie nodded but held up his hand when Royce reached for his phone to call 911. “Not those kinds of pains. The growing kind, I think.” He swallowed hard and kissed the top of Dolly’s head. The little dog licked his cheek excitedly. “Jo scares me.” He shook his head. “No, that’s not right. Damn, all this talking about shit is hard.” His honesty made Royce smile, but he didn’t risk saying anything that would ruin the moment. “My feelings for Jo scare me.” Eddie continued to rub his sternum. “I haven’t felt this way about a woman since I met your mama. My track record with good women is downright terrible. I’m afraid to love Jo almost as much as I am to lose her.”
Royce pinched his forearm to see if he was dreaming. The gesture caught Eddie’s attention, and he snorted. So much for not ruining the moment.
“Smart-ass,” Eddie said.
“I come by it naturally.”
“That’s for damn sure.” Eddie ran a hand through his hair. “I’m a damn mess, aren’t I?”
Royce smiled at his dad. “That’s how you know you’ve found a good one. Giving in to the fear is easy, but you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. Putting yourself out there is risky, but the rewards are worth it. And if you don’t think you deserve her, then do the work until you do.” Moments of his life with Sawyer flashed through his mind like a beautiful slideshow. He relived the moment they got engaged and exchanged vows. He replayed grocery store shenanigans and backyard barbecues. Royce thought about the trip to the fertility clinic and the myriad ways they’d celebrated their love, like slow sex on Sundays. Hot damn, risking his battered heart and putting in the effort to become a better man was so worth it.
Eddie stared at him for several moments before he nodded. “You’re right.” He slapped his knees and stood up. “You’re wearing that dopey expression you get every time you think about Sawyer.”
“Guilty, but maybe I’m more like you than I realize.” When Eddie only tilted his head, Royce continued. “You should see your face when you look at Jo.”
The blush from earlier turned a darker shade of pink on his father’s skin. “She’s incredible. And not just her looks,” Eddie quickly added. “She’s intelligent and thoughtful. I don’t think Jo knows a stranger, and she always has something kind to say. And the way she parents…is incredible.” Eddie lowered his head to look at Dolly. He lifted the small dog up and softened his voice. “That’s how moms and dads are supposed to be, Doll Doll. They’re not supposed to make their kids afraid to be themselves.”
A tingling sensation began in Royce’s nose, and tears stung the back of his eyes. He blinked before they could form because Eddie hadn’t reached that level of openness yet, but he sure appreciated the steps his dad had already taken.
Eddie lifted his head once more and met Royce’s gaze. “That’s the kind of parent you’ll be.”
Emotion clogged his throat, and Royce swallowed hard so he could respond. “I hope so, Eddie.”
“I know you will. I, uh, I’m proud of you, Royce. You’ve made a wonderful life for yourself with your career and your husband. You really impressed me at the graduation ceremony on Thursday. Those kids are lucky to have you as an influence.”
“Thank you for being there. It meant a lot to me.”
Eddie scrubbed a hand over his face again before he said, “Getting deep in here, isn’t it?”
Royce could tell his dad wanted to pull himself together. “Sure is.” He rose to his feet and reached for Dolly. “I’ll take her so you can get within a foot of Jo.”
“Appreciate it.”
Dolly gave him a little sass when he tried to take her from Eddie, but her tantrum didn’t last long, and she offered an apology by licking his cheek. Royce pulled a leash from his back pocket and connected it to her harness. He usually let her run free at the Keys’ house, but there were too many people at the barbecue. Royce didn’t want her tripping anyone, and he surely didn’t want her to get trampled. Dolly’s distaste for Jo was another concern to consider. “Sorry,” Royce told her. “Just for today.”
They retraced their steps into the backyard and joined Sawyer and Jo in conversation with Evangeline and Barron. After they exchanged pleasantries, Eddie struck up a conversation with Barron about his new smoker. The next thing Royce knew, their fathers were exchanging tips and recipes like lifelong friends. Eddie moved with an ease Royce had never seen before, and he decided to stop questioning the change and enjoy it.
Sometime later, after stuffing their faces with an exorbitant amount of food and playing more lawn games than Royce dreamed possible, Sawyer pressed his lips to Royce’s ear. “Told you so.”
They’d snuck off to the dock to enjoy a few private minutes alone. He’d planned to tell Sawyer all about the conversation he’d had with Eddie until his husband got smug with him. “You did,” Royce said instead. “Right as always.”
“I caught bits and pieces of conversations about Dr. Matisse today.”
“It’s shaping up to be quite a scandal.”
“Sure, but these chats sounded more personal,” Sawyer said. “I bet there are a lot of people here who know him.”
Royce didn’t doubt that Barron and Evangeline ran in a similar circle to the doctor’s family. “There’s nothing to investigate until something or someone gives me a reason to.”
As if he’d tickled the mighty cosmos’ taint, Royce’s cell phone rang.