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“I see. When would you like to schedule a fitting, Mr. Holman?”
“Whenever you can fit me it.”
Darius glanced at the clock. “Now works for me.”
Was he serious? “Riley and Thorne will be here in a few minutes to try on their tuxes.”
“I could measure quickly.”
“But I want all the usual attentions you give your customers.”
Darius glared at him. “I’ve got some attentions for you.”
“Ha.”
“Go on and change.” Darius pushed him toward the fitting room.
When he walked back out, Darius was still standing at the counter.
“Darius?”
“Yes?” He didn’t bother looking up.
“This means a lot. You making me a suit. I know how special your work is, and the fact that you shared it with me…”
Darius looked up. “Enough touchy-feely shit. We need to get to work.”
“We still have a little while before Thorne gets here.” He’d changed his mind. He needed Darius right then.
Darius’s eyes widened just enough to be noticeable. “So.”
“We might not have time for a full fitting, but I’d like to thank you with more than words.”
Darius didn’t respond. He simply walked to the workroom. Marc raced after him.
***
“Darius? You back there?”
Shit! It was Thorne.
In their scramble to get off the couch, Marc jostled the table next to it. Bolts of fabric and a box of buttons hit the floor.
“I’ll be right out,” Darius yelled, his voice unnaturally high.
Marc searched the floor for his pants while Darius struggled to get his shirt back on.
“Hurry,” Darius admonished. “Thorne will come back here if he thinks I’m taking too long. He’s—”
“Impatient. I know.” At least they’d dressed down since it wasn’t a work day. They’d never have gotten back into nicer clothes as quickly.
As Darius raced out of the workroom, Marc saw the tag of his T-shirt. Shit. He’d put it on inside out. He called him back, but Darius either didn’t hear or ignored him. There was almost no chance Riley would fail to notice.
Darius was pointing Thorne and Riley to the fitting room when Marc stepped out front. He hoped to God all his clothes were on properly.
For several seconds, no one spoke. Thorne and Riley looked from Darius to Marc and back. Marc could tell they were trying not to laugh. Of course they knew what he and Darius had been up to.
Finally Thorne took the tuxes. “We’ll be right back.” He put his hand on Riley’s back and steered him toward the dressing room.
“Your shirt,” Marc said, keeping his voice as low as he could.
“What?”
“Your shirt is on inside out.”
Darius looked down. “Motherfucking shitballs.”
Marc rolled his eyes. “Just go fix it.”
When Thorne and Riley stepped out of the dressing room, Marc braced himself for teasing, but neither of them said a thing. Darius had returned, looking presentable again, and Marc had taken a few seconds to tame his hair, which he’d realized looked like he’d taken a nap after abusing some hair spray.
Thorne and Riley looked amazing. Their tuxes were perfect, and they were staring at each other so obviously in love, they didn’t have time to worry what Marc and Darius were up to.
Jealousy gave him a sick feeling in his stomach. Darius might be ready to admit he wasn’t seeing anyone else. He might even go out in public with Marc again. But what would it feel like to have another person love him the way Thorne loved Riley?
Focus on the present. “You’re both stunning.”
“Of course they are,” Darius said. Marc had to give it to him; he’d picked out exactly what they needed.
They left after Darius made a few tweaks to their ensembles and promised to have them ready the next day.
“Well, we got away with that,” Darius said.
“They knew.”
“Sure, but they didn’t say anything.”
“I should’ve shown them my suit,” Marc said. Thorne would be very pleased he wasn’t planning to wear something outrageous.
“They’ll see it at the wedding.”
The wedding. He’d never asked Darius.
After the disastrous night when Thorne thought he and Riley were sleeping together, Thorne and Riley agreed to cancel the big wedding ceremony and get married in Central Park with only their closest friends present. That meant that if Darius went as his plus one, they’d be together for the whole weekend. Was there any chance Darius would say yes to that?
Marc pulled out his phone and sent Riley a text. Is it still okay if I bring Darius to the wedding?
Sure. But I want more info. He should’ve known Riley wouldn’t stay silent forever.
Where are you?
Bakery.
“I know we’re supposed to catch up on some things since we’re here, but would it be okay if I met Riley for a quick lunch?”
Darius grinned. “I just gave you some lunch.”
“That was merely an appetizer.”
“Hmpf! Take your fucking lunch.”
“Thanks.”
Meet me at Ben’s in fifteen minutes.
K.
Marc grabbed his bag and took off. Ben’s was a nearby bar he and Riley had gone to a few times since Riley started working on the bakery, so it only took him a few minutes to get there.
