Chapter Five
Flynn would have liked to describe the ceremony asbeautifulafterward, but this was Vegas, and they were in a hurry. The nicest way to describe it was legal.
Which was a weird thought. Flynn hadn’t expected to be getting married anytime soon, definitely not this weekend, and definitely not to a man.
Zach seemed okay, though, and he’d looked so relieved the entire time that Flynn hadn’t doubted for a second that he was doing the right thing.
The ring that had been intended for Aiden fit Flynn more or less perfectly. It was strange to wear one at all, and Flynn found himself rubbing the back of it with his thumb more often than he would have liked, but he could always take it off later.
He just needed to be introduced to Zach’s grandma, and convince her that he was stable and sensible enough for her grandson.
It was probably just as well that Aidenhadrun away. Flynn doubted that anyone other than Zach, who seemed to actually like him, would have been fooled that he was a good choice.
Flynn wasn’t an idiot. He knew Aiden had charisma by the truckload, that he could convince people tolikehim easily enough. He could see why Zach had fallen for it, and his heart hurt for the guy.
He’d watched Aiden leave a whole bunch of sad exes behind him his entire life, but it had never seemed like such a big deal until now. And then there was Zach, with his mop of dirty-blond hair and his shy, rare smile, and yeah, it wasreallyeasy to see how Aiden had charmed him.
Flynn got the feeling that maybe Aiden had been a little charmed by Zach, too. But not enough to convince him to stick around. Heneverstuck around. It was probably a good thing he was gay so he couldn’t leave a trail of pregnant girlfriends in his wake.
Flynn really hoped he wouldn’t have done that, he believed there was a lot of good in Aiden’s heart, but some small part of him was glad he’d never have to find out.
“Grandma, this is Flynn,” Zach said, snapping Flynn out of the mental pit he’d been falling down.
He looked up and smiled at Zach’s grandma, who had the same warm, kind brown eyes as her grandson, and offered his hand. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you. Zach’s told me so much.”
That was a lie, but one Flynn was fairly sure he could get away with. He had no doubt Zach reallydidlove his grandma, judging by the way he had her clinging to his arm.
He’d been honestly planning to introduce her to someone he loved today, and he was doing a really good job of not falling apart. Flynn was impressed by how calm he seemed.
Especially since he’d been crying in Flynn’s arms again this morning, wondering how Aiden could havedonethis to him.
Flynn knew, of course. It was just what Aidendid, because no one had ever stopped him, and that was at least partially his fault. He should have stepped in when Aiden was younger, after both their parents were gone, but he hadn’t. Couldn’t bring himself to.
And now Zach was paying the price for that. Which was why, Flynn realized, he was here. Because this felt like hisfault, and he couldn’t let Zach suffer for something he’d done.
“Aren’t you supposed to be called Aiden?” Zach’s grandma asked, her kind eyes suddenly sharp.
“Uh,” Flynn said, blood rushing in his ears as he scrambled for an answer. “Aiden is…”
“An ex,” Zach responded smoothly, like he’d been waiting for this. He probably had. His grandma wasn’t all that old, and in the power suit she was wearing she looked like she could run circles around the both of them.
Even in her four-inch heels.
“Yeah, uh. Zach upgraded for the better model,” he said, winking and offering her his most charming smile.
He didn’t have a tenth of Aiden’s charm, but hedidhave a steady job and a sense of responsibility, which was probably what Zach’s grandma was looking for.
She hummed thoughtfully, and then took Flynn’s still-extended hand. “Call me Violet,” she said. “Walk with me a minute?”
Flynn’s stomach knotted up, but he nodded and took Zach’s place, offering his arm for her like Zach had been doing.
“Zach tells me you live around here,” he said as Violet led him away. It was one of the few things Zachhadtold him, which explained why they hadn’t picked somewhere else to get married.
“Have done all my life. Zach’s a native, too, but he moved to Boston a couple of years ago. Having met one of the locals, I can see the appeal,” she said.
Flynn laughed, even as his cheeks heated up with a blush. He got the feeling he could come to like this woman if he was actually in a relationship with Zach.
“I’ll take care of him,” Flynn said.
