“Er. He is,” I said. “But Luke and I just need to, um, do a quick thing first.” I sounded about as suave as Aiden when he was trying to get away with something—the kid was the worst liar ever—and I gave Luke a helpless look.
Van braced both hands on the bar top and watched me suspiciously. “What quick thing?”
“A historical reenactment,” Luke cut in, using his best, most official teacher voice. “Webb was telling me about the, ah… the inspiring bugle story you told him earlier?—”
I nodded enthusiastically. It was funny how hearing him say my name in that uptight voice was actually kind of a thrill, now that we were on the same team.
“—and so he and I decided we would reenact the bugle blowing, to cement the change in our relationship.”
Van’s eyes were wide as saucers, and he looked at me. “You? You want to blow the bugle with…him? Alad?”
I was aware that I hadn’t been very fair to Luke until about an hour before. I’d been stubborn and even a little immature. But I regretted that. And I resented the implication that I couldn’t change my mind and offer the man friendship.
I threw my arm around Luke’s shoulders, pulling him so he stumbled drunkenly against my side with his head against my neck. “Yes, withhim. And he’s not a lad, he’s a grown man, thank you very much. I like him. And the whole town should know it.”
There. That should take care of any lingering bad feelings. Not that I thought there actuallywereany.
“And that’s why Webb and I want to be…” Luke broke off, like he was searching for the right word.
“United,” I supplied. “Hence, the Unity Bugle.”
“United,” Luke repeated, taking the bugle off the wall. “You’re so good at words, Webb.”
“Aw. Thanks.” I stood a little taller. Not a lot of people appreciated it, but I had a fucking great vocabulary.
Van’s jaw dropped. “Holy shit. Hooooly shit.” He held out a hand toward a man on a stool. “Pinch me, Ravi. Webb’s being sweet to someone who’s not his kid.”
I scowled. I could be sweet!
When it was warranted.
It just… was never warranted, that’s all.
“And you two are sure you know how the bugle blowing works?” Van demanded.
Luke shot me a look of disbelief, and I snickered. How hard could it be? It was abugle. Youblewit. The instructions were right there in the action.
“Yeah. We know how it works,” Luke assured him.
“Hot damn,” Van breathed. “I have no idea what the protocol here is! I’m gonna have to tell the mayor, of course.”
He made it sound like we were stealing the fucking thing.
“Jesus. We’ll have it back to you in two minutes, Van. You’re ruining the mood.” I rolled my eyes and grabbed Luke’s free hand. “Come on.”
“Do you know the Unity Pledge?” Van called. “There’s a ritual, you know! You have to hold up your hand and say ‘I, Webb Sunday, pledge unity…’”
The door closed behind us as we ran out into the cold night, cutting him off.
We jogged as far as the gazebo in the center of the town common, when Luke turned to me, laughing so hard he was gasping for air. “This might be… the most ridiculous thing… I’ve ever done.”
“I did some pretty ridiculous stuff as a kid, but it’s been a while. This isnotresponsible dad behavior.” But, shit, for once I didn’t care. We weren’t hurting anyone, or permanently tattooing our faces, or running off to Vegas—God forbid. We were two fully clothed men, having silly fun. And I felt lighter and younger than I had in years.
“M’kay.” Luke held up his hand like he was taking an oath in court. “I, Luke Williams, pledge unity with you, Webb Sunday.”
“Thomas Webb Sunday,” I corrected. “To be official.”
“Oh. Interesting. Okay, Thomas Webb Sunday,” he repeated. Then he blew the bugle.
