Come Back Around

by BA Tortuga

  Mama was fussing about the chair setup, and Alej was pinned by the arbor.

  “There you are! Mama, I have a favor.”

  Alej visibly relaxed. Big brother to the rescue.

  “What, Mateo? I’m busy.”

  “I know, but Mason here can handle chairs.” He pulled her aside, lowering his voice. “Reid’s foot is really bugging him, and the girls are still napping.”

  “What? Still? They need to be up and have a snack! Get dressed.”

  “I know, Mama. Reid is hurt, bad. He’s trying to keep it quiet, but can you help him?”

  “Of course I can. I have to go, Alej. Be good.” She bustled off, mumbling in Spanish.

  “I owe you bad, bro. She is trying to kill me.”

  “Is she? Weddings bring it out in her.”

  “She wasn’t this bad when you got married, was she?”

  “Worse. I was the first.” He winked. Mama had lost her mind trying to resolve her Catholic upbringing with her gay son, but she’d come through for him. She always had.

  “Lord, I guess I should thank you for that.” Alej hugged him, grinned at him. “Let’s go get a beer with Jen, huh?”

  He arched an eyebrow at Alej. “With Jen?”

  “She can have Sprite.”

  “Okay. I can do that.” His phone buzzed, and he looked. Reid.

  You owe me

  Alej does

  He grinned and showed it to Alej after he answered.

  “Eee! You’re in trouble, eh?”

  “I just keep on keeping on.” Might as well jump in with both feet.

  “Mmm. I guess I’ll know how that feels the first time I do something dumb after the wedding.” Alej headed out toward his cabin, dragging him along. “I hear you and Reid are going hot and heavy again.”

  “I’m moving back in. If he can stop freaking out. Jen told him it might be wedding love. Like the ambiance or something.” Mat grimaced.

  “I apologized!” Jen scared the ever-loving crap out of him, one arm wrapping around his waist. “It was a stupid thing to say.”

  “I know, hon. It just freaked him out. How are you feeling?”

  “Okay. Good, right now. Have you talked to Reid? I mean, really?”

  “Yes.” He felt very confident about that. “I mean, I think we have a lot of talking to do. Two years’ worth, but I feel like we’re on good footing.”

  Jen and Alej shared a look, and Mateo started to get huffy when Alejandro shook his head. “No, bro, about his ankle. He’s hurting real bad.”

  “I know.” Now Mat sighed. “He doesn’t want to worry anyone.”

  “So long as you know. You’ll take care of it, right?” Jen asked.

  “I will. On the way home, in fact. He needs it cleaned up now.”

  “Thank you.” Jen hugged him impulsively. “I love that you’re willing to take care.”

  “You know it. So, what else can I help with?” He had some time.

  “You know, I have to say hiring Mason was the smartest thing I’ve ever done. Seriously.” Jen’s eyes lit up. “He’s on the phone right now reaming the florist because the spider mums are droopy.”

  “He’s something,” Alej murmured, getting whacked on the arm for his trouble.

  “He’s amazing. I’ve been able to relax, enjoy this. Do you know how cool that is?”

  “It is cool.” That was awesome, and Mat gave her a squeeze.

  “Remember him when you guys get remarried.”

  “I will.” He chewed his lower lip. “I keep thinking I ought to ask. Do you think that is wedding love?”

  “Hold up. Let’s take this inside. Mama’s got ears like a damn bat.” Alej opened the door to his cabin and let them in. “Sit. I’ll grab drinks.”

  “Thanks.” He helped ease Jen into a chair.

  “I won’t break,” she said, but she patted his hand.

  “Still, that’s my niece or nephew in here and my new sister out here. We need you, lady.”

  “Mmm. I’m fine.” She chuckled. “So, when are you going to ask Reid to remarry you?”

  “Jen!” Alej handed her a Sprite and tossed him a beer. “What if he doesn’t want to remarry Reid? Maybe Mateo could do better.”

  “Never.” That he knew deep in his soul. “I never even looked at anyone else.”

  “We both know you two were meant to be together.” Jen pinked, looked down. “I may have told his folks he was hurt….”

  Oh God.

  “You called them?” Christ, that was all he needed. Reid’s parents….

  “Yeah. I didn’t tell Reid, but I knew he’d need help, and we’ll be in London, and the girls and….”

  “Oh, hon.” He wanted to hug her and shout at the same time. “When do they get in?”

  “Tonight? They’re staying in Aspen and coming up for the ceremony tomorrow.”

  Alejandro draped his arm over Jen’s shoulders. “They can drive one of the cars, maybe. I know you’re busy, and….”

  “What?” Suddenly he wondered if they were speaking the same language.

  “Well, Reid can’t drive home on that foot…,” Jen murmured.

  “I’ll drive him and the girls. I was figuring Mama and Pop could handle the other car….” He didn’t want John and Leeann coming home with them, not this first bit. Maybe… maybe he ought to leave them here with his folks for a few days before everyone came to Santa Fe.

  He could beg Pop. His dad always had a plan.

  “I wasn’t trying to interfere,” Jen started, and he shook his head.

  “Of course you were.”

  She blinked, then laughed right out loud. “I was? Okay.”

  “No, I know you were doing what was good for Reid. You’re his best friend.”

  “I try. I messed up, huh?” Jen teared up, and Mat held up his hands.

  No, no. No tears. “Not at all. If they needed that kind of prompt to come to your wedding, then shame on them.” He winked, drawing a watery smile. “We got this.”

  “They’re going to be so pleased to see you and Reid are… you and Reid again.”

  “You think so?” He wasn’t so sure after the girls’ trip to Florida.

  “I think so. They love you.”

  Right.

  Then again, maybe he wasn’t being fair. Reid’s folks had always been good to him, and God knew what he’d said about Reid to his folks. It was all part and parcel of getting divorced.

  “Anyway, I can call them back….”

  “Stop it. Alej, stop her. I’m not upset.” He would definitely offer them a little vacay time, though. On him. “We need to tell them I’m moving back in in person anyway.”

  “Oh, good idea. No one likes to see shit on Facebook.”

  He stared Alej down for that one.

  “Are y’all getting remarried? Did you say?” Jen asked.

  “I want to ask him. I was thinking about doing it today, but then the whole wedding-love thing came up.” Now he had no idea what to do. Was it skeezy to do that anyway? To propose at someone else’s wedding?

  “Ask him at the rehearsal dinner tonight, man, or at the reception.”

  “Yeah? You guys wouldn’t mind?” All the “let’s wait and see” didn’t seem useful now. Or important.

  “I don’t,” Alej said. “Jen?”

  “I’m the bride. It’s impossible to steal my day, right? Do it.”

  “I’ll wait until the reception. Like after you cut the cake.” That way he wasn’t being an ass.

  “Do you have a ring, man?”

  “I have mine. You think I ought to run to Aspen and get new ones? Is that weird?” Oh God, was he doing this?

  “Reid’s is in his car.”

  He blinked at Jen. “What?”

  “It’s in the car in the console. He took it off when he signed the divorce papers. He plays with it all the time.”

  “Well, I have rings, then.” No shopping required. Wow. He knew Reid regretted their divorce, but now he knew.

  Th
at little fact made all the difference in the world. Talk was good, but actions were also super important.

  “How exciting! I mean, you were family already, but Reid can be legal family, huh?” Jen beamed at him.

  “He so can.” He gave them both a grateful hug. “Thank you for sharing your day with me.”

  “Well, you are his brother. I mean, I might have gone for you, if you weren’t taken….”

  They all laughed at that one, and Mat felt a weight lift off him. This was the right thing to do.

  “It didn’t help that he is totally anti-boobs, woman,” Alej teased, and Jen looked over at him.

  “I fell in love with you the second Travis introduced you and you gave me your chair.”

  Alej flushed, his eyes only for her, which was so beautiful to see. “You were with that blond son of a bitch. He didn’t know how to treat a lady.”

  “And you looked like such a city boy in your fancy shoes and ironed jeans, but you opened your mouth and cowboy came out.” Jen reached for Alej’s hand.

  And this was his cue to leave before he developed diabetes right here and now. “I need to go talk to Pop.”

  “Spoilsport,” Alej teased. “Warn me before you do it so I can be filming.”

  “You’ll be busy being a newlywed, dip.”

  “I will? Ow!” Alej grunted when Jen whacked him again.

  “He will. He’ll be starting a life of sucking up.” Jen grinned at him, so wicked.

  “She’s right, you know. Just do what she tells you.” Mat knew that from Mama and Pop. He and Reid had always been more or less power even. Well, he’d thought so. Clearly Reid hadn’t. That had been his fault in a lot of ways—he’d attacked where he knew Reid was nervous, vulnerable, had picked at his cowboy’s pride.

  So now he had to learn how to build them both up, not tear them down. He was a good learner, thank God. Not only that, but he knew what it was like to be a part-time dad aching for his soul mate. He had fucking motivation.

  Mat was going to figure out how to make the best life he and Reid could imagine.

  Okay, he had about a dozen people to talk to. When he left Jen and Alej, he rounded the corner of the main house, and there was Pop, leading a saddled horse across the courtyard.

  “Pop? You got a minute sometime today?”

  “Good Lord, son. You got some timing. I just got back in. Come on.” Pop waved him along.

  “Thanks. I was hoping you’d say that.” He fell in on Pop’s other side, not the mare’s. Pop was a stickler for horse body language.

  “How’s it going? You’ve been pretty busy this week.” That was the understatement of the century.

  Mat chuckled. “I’ve been trying to find time to talk to Reid.”

  “Wasn’t sure you were much in the way of talking, but how did it go?” Pop didn’t look at him, but Mat saw that grin.

  “Hush now.” His cheeks started burning, almost as red as his Pop’s handlebar mustache had been when he was a kid.

  “What?” Pop chuckled. “I get the feeling you need me, son.”

  “I’m moving back home. With Reid.”

  “No shit? Well, good on you.” Pop wasn’t a big believer in divorce.

  “No shit. I… I need to be home. I need to be with my girls.”

  Pop glanced over at him, blue eyes warm and all too knowing for his comfort. “So how can I help?”

  They got to the barn, and a cowboy took the horse, easy as you please.

  “This is the life, isn’t it, son? You come for a ride; they’ve got the critter saddled. You get done, and they do the rest of the work.” Pop grinned, pleased as punch. “Come on. Let’s find a glass of something cold and have a chat.”

  “Okay.” He should go riding. Once he had Reid all fixed up at home. He and Pop used to go a few times a year, just to spend some time. “A trail ride would be nice.”

  “I’d love that. Do you think that y’all would let me teach Miss Lucia how to ride?”

  “Pop. Of course. We’d love that.”

  “You sure about that?”

  “I am. You know I trust you more than anyone.” Pop was his hero.

  “Yeah, I do. I can’t believe Alej is getting hitched tomorrow. That Jen’s a good girl.” Pop knocked on the kitchen door.

  The chef popped his rainbow-colored head out. “Yes, sir?”

  Pop pulled his huge, wide-brimmed hat off and nodded. “I’m sorry to bother you, but me and my son are hunting some lemonade or iced tea. Whatever y’all have to spare.”

  “Come on in! Did you want that to go, or would you like to sit a bit too? I have fresh cookies.”

  Before Pop could answer, Mateo shook his head. They needed to chat. “To go, please. We’re pressed for time.”

  “We are?”

  “Yep.” He gave Pop a look and got a grin.

  “Well, then. To go.” Two drinks and a bag of cookies later, they were heading for the open area off the entranceway.

  “Okay, spill it, son.” Pop had that bright-eyed look he got when he learned a secret.

  “So, two things, maybe three, but they’re all intertwined. You know how Jen is, huh? She invited the Porters.”

  “Oh, hell, son. You’re behind the eight ball now.”

  “I need to be able to take my family home, Pop. I need to talk to my girls, have those first few hard days without extra baggage, you know?” He could hear the stress climbing in his voice, feel the acid bubbling in his belly. “I have to get Reid to an ortho guy, I have to get our marriage license, and I have to deal with work and cleaning out the condo and….”

  “Slow down, now.” Pop motioned him to a comfy chair. “First you get home and get Reid all looked at. Then the girls. The rest can wait a few more days. You call that assistant of yours about the condo, and that new junior guy about work.” Pop sipped his lemonade. “Then you leave the Porters to me.”

  “Yeah?” Oh, thank God. Pop was like Santa Claus in a cowboy hat.

  “Yep. You know we get along fine. We’ll stay up here a few days, give everyone some breathing room.” It was like his dad had read his mind.

  He nodded, hiding his emotion in his lemonade, gulping it down and trying to breathe.

  “Hey. Hey, you’ll get all sick.” Pop grabbed his wrist. “I got you.”

  “I’m going to propose, Pop, at the reception.”

  “Holy Jesus, Mateo.” His dad stared at him, mustache vibrating.

  “Alejandro suggested it. I want him to know I’m serious. I know it’s right. I know, Pop.” He held his father’s gaze. “I was wrong to leave him. I should have gotten help.”

  “Well, that’s true enough.” Pop searched his eyes. “Okay, then. That’s what you’ll do.”

  “They’re my family. I’m ready to put things to rights, and Reid is too. He asked me to come home.”

  Pop let him go. “I’m happy for you. Your mama is gonna freak out.”

  “She loves Reid. I know that.”

  “She does. She loves you more.”

  He grinned. “Then she’ll want what’s best for me.”

  Pop laughed, the sound ringing out. “Good luck with convincing her you know what that is.”

  “I know.” Mama had every reason to doubt him. He’d been an idiot.

  “You’re a grown man, Mateo. You know yourself.”

  “I do. A lot better than I did a few years ago.” Magically, his stomach had settled, so he had a cookie.

  “I’m proud of you.” The words were simple, easy.

  “Thank you.” His eyes stung a little. His dad wasn’t faint with praise, but it was just what Mat needed to hear.

  “So, I will talk to your mama, warn her about family and proposal. I don’t guarantee she won’t come to bite you.”

  “As long as she has some warning, I can take it. Thanks so much, Pop. I love you.” He did. So much. It felt super important to tell everyone.

  “I love you, son. Have another cookie.” Pop did love a gingersnap.

 
Ginger was great for digestion, which was good. He couldn’t afford an episode now.

  His phone buzzed, and he grabbed it, smiling as he saw Reid’s name pop up.

  Love? Can you help me? I need to get a shower.

  “Thanks so much, Pop. Reid needs some help before the rehearsal.”

  “Man, that poor ankle. He just has to get through tomorrow.”

  Pop knew what it was like. He’d broken an ankle out on the range once, and had taken two days to get back to the barn. “Yessir. I got his back.”

  “Good man. Take him a couple cookies.” Pop stood. “I got to find your mama.”

  “Okay.” He fired off a salute, then took off with his lemonade and cookies. His Reid needed him.

  God, he loved that.

  Chapter Seventeen

  THE rehearsal took no time at all.

  Now, the rehearsal dinner was going to go on and on and maybe kill him. Reid wanted to scream or cry, whichever came first.

  He was hurting, he was tired, and he was supposed to be supportive and shit. He kept smiling every time Jen looked his way, because she was glowing, like for real. Not in a weird way, but with joy.

  It made everything worth it, knowing that her wedding was right.

  Tomorrow would be magical, and all he had to do was make it through the reception. Then the fetal position was his. Mat could watch the girls while he died.

  He chuckled at the idea of Mat letting him expire now. Probably not likely.

  Possible, but unlikely.

  “What’s funny, querido?” Mat had finagled a seat close to him, and one hand landed on his thigh.

  “Just pondering my future.”

  “Yeah? I’ve been doing that a lot today too.” Mat stroked his leg, which eased all sorts of sore somehow.

  “That’s a good thing, right? Our future.” Their babies. Their love. Their house.

  “Yes. A very good thing. You look like you want to curl up and die, though.” Mat knew him so well.

  “I hurt, darlin’, balls to bones. Bad.” He figured, if he couldn’t tell Mat, who could he tell?

  “I know. I brought you some Tylenol. Half an hour or so, then bed.” Mat just sat next to him, a solid presence.

  “Thank you.” He let himself lean, refusing to look and see if Patricia was glaring.