Bish tries to fight a smile. “Damn it. We agreed not to deny it if someone guessed, but yeah, on the trip we took after last semester.”
Perrin points an accusatory finger. “That was a ten-dollar bet, you ass.”
Bishop puts his hands up. “I had five that we would make it to the holidays before anyone guessed, if that makes you feel better.”
Theo snickers. “I’m winning double. I had that you already were and that we would know by the first snow.”
Perrin huffs, and Bish looks apologetic.
“My family is. . .not great,” Bish says to me. “A wedding like Jack and Perrin’s—”
“I saw pictures,” I tell them. “It was beautiful.”
Bish shrugs. “My family wants that. They have all these plans for making it a big deal, forget social event of the year, they want social event of the decade and Quinn and I just want to be married, so that’s what we did. I think Jack and Perrin’s wedding was perfect for them, but not for us. Once my family pushes the issue we will tell everyone.”
“It’s kind of romantic,” Theo says, his pretty face in his hands.
A muted red streaks up Bish’s neck this time. “It was perfect.”
I nudge Theo’s boot with my own. “What about you and Matt? I would go just for the food,” I tease with a waggle of my eyebrows.
Damn, I had forgotten how much I liked having friends. Caleb and Nix have been wonderful, but I wonder how much I have kept them from moving forward with their own dreams and their own plans.
Theo runs a finger over his all important ring-finger where an intricate “M” has been tattooed. I have already noticed the corresponding “T” on Matt.“We have a partnership in Summit House and Sweetness. That’s all the commitment we need. For us, that’s the same as a marriage.At leastthe same.”
“I forgot to ask,” Bishop says, swinging his attention back to me. “How are the online threats? Caleb looks like he hasn’t slept in a week. And with you performing tonight, I would guess he’s beside himself.”
He had looked that way, and I sent him home with a box of pastry, swearing that I would be with Bishop and that he was protection enough until it was time to pick me up.
I sigh. “They escalated after LA, now it’s quiet. He’s not sure if that’s good or bad. I’m being kept out of that loop except what I need to know.”
“It will work out,” Perrin assures me. “I like to believe the universe sort of bends when it comes to love. Just watch, it will sort itself out with the threats and you and Baylor will have nothing holding you back from making plans.”
I nod, appreciating the reassuring hand to my shoulder. Perrin is speaking from experience here, and I want to believe he is right.
Theo taps his lips, lost in thought, and Bishop nudges him. “What are you scheming about, Theo?”
“A bet.”
“Tell me more,” Perrin jokes. “I’m ten down.”
“Well, the holidays are coming up before too long, and I keep thinking about what you said with Jordy and Lucien and a little forced proximity.” A sweet smile plays on Theo’s face, but it has a wicked undertone that transforms his face from the kind of pretty you would notice on a busy street to the kind of allure that would sell whatever product he was promoting.Theo waives a hand. “Let me think about it, we can circle back some other Wednesday.”
“What have you got?” Bish asks Perrin, changing the subject, everyone more businesslike. “You said there was a kid from the school in need.”
Our attention goes to Perrin. For all the gossiping and family-sharing, and triaging of what the family needs that happens in these sessions, they are also about community. If someone has a need, these guys try to know about it, and they try to help.
“Their dad is having struggles at work, and Mom is picking up the slack at home and trying to find extra work, but it’s not enough. Kid’s lunch account has come back with insufficient funds twice in two weeks,” Perrin says. “As the school board, we were asked about policies, that’s how it came to me.”
“Well,” Bish says, “we can pay off the balance on the account and add enough for the semester.”
“What about money for the family?” Theo asks.
I smile, laughing on the inside at how they lament the loss of a ten-dollar bet, but at the same time would find a way to give this family thousands if they need it. I wonder how many little needs like this have been filled in Bear Valley by this group. My guess is this isn’t the first and won’t be the last.
“Well,” Perrin drawls, “I get the impression some of the dad’s struggles are due to his drinking problem. So, I’m hesitant to give money directly to them if there is a question if it would go to the kid or to his addiction. Thing is, they are new to town, and I don’t know much about them.”
“How old is this kid?” I ask.
