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No one bought that.
Gray grinned faintly and touched Darius’s cheek.
“And you know, this dates back to when we were kids too,” Ryan said. “You may not believe this, but Darius could be a real peacekeeper—only he was a sneak about it. Fuck with you to your face, mend fences behind your back.”
That was totally true. Gray remembered Darius telling him he’d sometimes finish his pop’s to-do list since James could be forgetful…and Mary had her moments when she was pretty demanding. So regardless of what Darius had dedicated his life to, being around war zones, having too much experience with guns, seeing so much death and destruction, his priority was always to keep the peace. To minimize the violence. To hurt as few people as possible.
“You’ve always been there, big brother,” Ryan told him. “And now that you’ve found someone to share it all with, someone who’s way out of your league, we’re happy to see you more often too. Don’t let Gray go, ever. You both bring out the best in each other, and we couldn’t be happier for you.” He raised his glass. “To Gray and Darius. We love you.”
“Hear, hear!”
“To Gray and Darius!”
“Cheers!”
Gray snuck closer and kissed Darius firmly. “I love you. And they deserve the biggest hug after that.”
Darius sighed and grinned ruefully. “I guess they do.” He pressed a kiss to the back of Jayden’s head. “Let your old man up, small fry. I’mma go hug your uncles.”
“Okay. Are we doing the thing soon?”
What thing?
“Very soon.” Darius nodded, then met Avery and Ryan between two tables.
Gray locked eyes with the photographer, thankful he was already on it, because that was a picture that needed to go up on the wall somewhere.
“Are you keeping secrets from me, buddy?” Gray poked Jayden’s side.
“Only one.” Jayden grinned. He was too cute. Shirt askew, suit jacket long since discarded, and vest unbuttoned. So far, Gray had only allowed himself to lose the jacket. But his tie was out on wafer-thin ice. “I know where you’re going on your wedding vacation.”
“What the—how’s that fair?” Gray feigned outrage. “Everyone knows but me.”
“Excuse me, everyone,” Avery said into the mic. “Before we move on to dessert, a few friends of Darius and Gray would like to show them something.”
Gray looked up, having no clue who they were talking about, only to see three sharply dressed Tenleys make their way over with a laptop.
Reese didn’t need a mic to be heard. “I was on the phone with Darius around the same time they’d booked the pier as the location for the ceremony,” he started by saying. Then, right when Darius returned, looking just as confused as Gray, Reese set the laptop in front of them on the table. “I asked him why they didn’t just host the wedding at their place. I mean, it’s beautiful up there. Plenty of space—you know. But in true Darius fashion, he said, that’s too many people knowing my address.”
Raucous laughter sounded across the establishment.
Darius made zero excuses.
“The only point to my story,” Reese chuckled, “is that we couldn’t very well bring your wedding gift here to the restaurant.”
“River and I had a blast driving this present halfway across the country.” Shay grinned dryly.
Clarity finally struck when Reese activated the screen and showed a video—or was that a live feed?—of the little barn at home. The chicken coop next to it—no, wait. It had to be a video because whoever filmed was moving. On the other side of the barn structure, the pig pens were revealed, and Gray let out a sound of surprise when he saw three new additions.
Three new pigs.
“Hot fucking damn, are those Berkshires?” Darius knew his shit, and he was impressed.
“We totally named them after ourselves,” Shay said. “So think about that when you, you know…eat them.”
“My son, the pig farmer. Lord in heaven.” Mom came over and dropped a kiss to the top of Gray’s head.
“This is an incredible gift.” All of a sudden, Darius was handing out hugs left and right. “Thank you. Jayden, did you see what they got us?”
“So. Much. Bacon.” Jayden was happy too.
Gray chuckled and stood up to thank the Tenleys too. He left the actual tending of the pigs to Darius for the most part, but he definitely enjoyed reaping the benefits of filling their freezers.
Darius and Reese were completely wrapped up in their conversation about small-scale farm life, and if Gray didn’t know better, he’d guess that Reese was more than a little interested. River was definitely amused by the sight.
Blake was eager to join the same conversation, and then Adam walked over and mentioned he was always looking for local producers for the items they put on the menu at Coho.
Gray withdrew from the situation, needing some Mom time. The entire day had been so hectic and chaotic and wonderful and…Christ, beyond overwhelming—that he was developing a bit of a headache. Plus, he hadn’t gotten to spend enough time with Mom.
