It was disgusting—Dominic would love it.
Carrying both mugs, Levi went back to the bedroom and nudged the door open with his foot. Dominic was still asleep, but he grunted and shifted around beneath the covers when the smell of coffee hit the air. Even Rebel perked up.
“Hey,” Levi said, settling on the bed. He put his mug on his nightstand and waved the other above Dominic’s face.
“It’s too early,” Dominic said without opening his eyes.
“You have no idea what time it is.”
“I know what too early feels like.” Dominic cracked one eye open. “What’s that?”
“An abomination I refuse to dignify with the title of coffee.”
Dominic pushed himself upright, accepted the mug, and inhaled deeply. “This smells great,” he said. He took a sip, and a smile of pure delight broke across his face like a child on Christmas morning. “You made this for me?”
“Yeah,” Levi said, suddenly embarrassed. Was it too much? He picked up his own coffee to hide his discomfiture.
Brushing his fingers against Levi’s jaw, Dominic said, “You’re sweet.”
Levi snorted. “I can say with confidence that you’re the only person who’s ever thought that.”
Dominic smiled, but as his eyes traveled over Levi’s body, his gaze sharpened and became assessing. “Something’s wrong. What happened?”
Damn his observational skills. “I don’t want to talk about it,” Levi said. Then, because he also didn’t want to hold Dominic at an arm’s length the way he had too frequently with Stanton, he added, “I’ll tell you later, though.”
“Okay,” Dominic said. He arranged his pillow behind his back and whistled for Rebel, who shimmied up the bed for a belly scratch. “You know, we don’t have to leave for the Andersons’ until two. That’s hours from now.”
Levi shifted closer with a small smile. “How ever will we pass the time?”
The Andersons lived in the eastern outskirts of Henderson, on three desert acres in the foothills of the River Mountains. As Dominic turned onto the street where their property line began, Levi gazed out the window at a group of horses gathered beneath a wooden shelter to enjoy the effects of a cool water mister.
“Horses?” he said.
Sitting on the bench seat between them, Rebel snapped to attention, leaning over Levi and putting her front paws on his door so she could look out the window too. She went nuts for horses; the word alone was enough to rile her up.
“Yeah, Jasmine’s parents run a small horse farm—boarding and breeding, plus an equine therapy program.” Dominic slowed down on the approach to the main gate. Rebel huffed and dropped back into her seat when the horses faded from sight. “Her mom’s a big animal vet, and her dad teaches animal physiology and behavior at UNLV.”
The gate stood open, and the winding, dusty drive was lined with cars. Dominic parked in the first available space, hopped out, and patted his thigh to signal Rebel to follow. Only when he went to close the door did he realize Levi was still sitting in the passenger seat, his seatbelt buckled and his eyes unfocused.
“What’s wrong?” Dominic asked. Levi hadn’t yet shared what had happened this morning to upset him, and Dominic hadn’t pushed—neither of them were the type of person to easily talk about what was bothering them. They’d managed to have a fun morning regardless; Levi had seemed fine until right this minute.
“People don’t like me,” said Levi.
Dominic blinked, wondering if Levi was fucking with him.
“I don’t mean that to sound self-pitying. It doesn’t matter to me if people like me or not. I don’t care what most people think at all. But you do.”
“Thanks,” Dominic said, a little stung.
Levi unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to face him. “In a good way. Being liked is important to you; you want to make the people around you happy and for everyone to get along. You’re a naturally nice person, and people gravitate toward that. But me . . . even when I try to be nice, it comes out wrong. I can’t even explain this to you right now without offending you.”
Shaking his head, Dominic said, “I’m not offended, Levi, I just don’t understand what you’re getting at. Especially at this particular place and time.”
“I . . .” Levi dropped his eyes to his hands. “I don’t want to embarrass you.”
Oh. Dominic rocked back on his heels, astonished. He knew that Levi was uncomfortable around strangers, but he’d never expected Levi’s anxieties to take this form. “You couldn’t embarrass me.”
“No?” Levi said, looking up again. “These people know you well, and I’m sure they love you as much as everyone else does. They’re going to think it’s weird that someone like you is with someone like me.”
“No, they—”
“Carlos and Jasmine do. Please don’t deny it. I’m not the kind of guy they imagined you being with.”
“Carlos and Jasmine couldn’t give two flying fucks who I’m with as long as I’m happy,” Dominic said, exasperated. He leaned forward into the truck. “You make me happy, Levi. I won’t pretend it’s not important to me for my friends and family to like you, because it is. But I’m not worried about it. They’ll see the same things in you that I do.”
“You didn’t like me until we started sleeping together,” Levi said.
“Whoa, hey,” Dominic snapped. “That’s not true and you know it. I liked you as soon as I started getting to know the real you instead of the assumptions I’d made about you. That was before sex ever entered into it. Don’t cheapen that.”
Levi yielded immediately. “You’re right, I’m sorry. Don’t you see this is exactly what I mean, though?”
Dominic climbed back into the truck, leaving Rebel watching him quizzically from the ground. He took both Levi’s hands in his.
“You’re prickly and uptight and a little caustic sometimes,” he said. “But I like those things about you because they make you who you are. You also care deeply about the people close to you. You’re fiercely committed to your job. You’re heartbreakingly compassionate. And even when you’re kind of a dick, you ultimately treat people with respect unless they start shit with you first. I’m not looking for a nice guy, Levi. I want a good guy. That’s way more important.”
Levi stared at him, his eyes wide with more astonishment than Dominic thought was warranted by what he’d said.
“What?” Dominic asked.
With a sound that was half laugh, half surprised exhalation, Levi said, “Believe it or not, you’re not the first person to tell me something like that.”
“Because it’s true.” Dominic kissed him briefly, careful of his bruised lip. “Now have a little faith in me and help me get this crap out of the back of my truck.”
Levi smiled and nodded. They got out of the cab, and Dominic opened up the truck bed, where he’d strapped down two three-gallon beverage dispensers full of homemade sangria as well as Levi’s contribution, a cooler packed with bottles of Blue Moon. Drinks in hand, they walked the rest of the way up to the house, a pale stucco Southwestern ranch that sprawled out in an upside-down U shape.
Rock music could be heard blasting from the backyard, along with a hubbub of laughter, shrieking kids, and the sound of dozens of voices raised in conversation. The front door stood ajar, only the screened storm door in place. Dominic opened it with his elbow and stepped into the house with Levi and Rebel right behind him.
“Dom, Levi!” Jasmine broke away from a group in the kitchen and hurried over to greet them. She looked radiant in a sundress that displayed her tattoos beautifully, her rainbow braids flowing loose down her back. “Oh yum, you made sangria.”
Carlos came up behind her, relaxed and smiling, a pair of sunglasses perched on top of his head. Dominic handed him one of the beverage dispensers.
“We’ve got a classic red and my own mango-peach recipe,” he said. “Levi taste-tested them both. Actually, if I hadn’t stopped him, there might not have been any left.”
Levi rolled his eyes and hefted the cooler he was carrying. “I’m more of a shopper than a cook myself.”
“Any alcoholic beverage will be a hit with this crowd, believe me,” said Jasmine. “Come on, let’s go out back. I’ll introduce you around.”
As Jasmine and Levi headed for the backyard, Dominic hung back to speak to Carlos privately. “You seem calmer today. Everything set for the proposal?”
“Yeah. We’re gonna do it during dessert.”
Dominic slapped Carlos’s back with his free hand and walked out into the large backyard. A variety of folding tables had been set up for a casual buffet; scattered seating arrangements were shaded by canvas awnings and cooled down by huge industrial fans. Dominic and Carlos set the sangria up where Jasmine directed, and Levi set his cooler down beside a few others.
After Jasmine excused herself to fetch her parents, a group of elementary school-aged children ran past with a couple of happily barking dogs. Rebel whined, stamping her feet in place as she watched. “Go ahead,” Dominic said, and she was off like a shot.
Levi was surveying the backyard with an expression of slight surprise, and Dominic knew he was struck by the incredible diversity of the people milling around, the same way he’d been himself the first time he came here.
“These are all Jasmine’s relatives?” Levi said.
“Well, you know Jasmine is multiracial herself, but the Andersons have also been foster parents for decades. A lot of those kids come back to these reunions as adults with their own spouses and children.”
Levi turned to Dominic, his eyes sharp with sudden interest. “The Andersons are foster parents? Do they still take kids?”
“Yeah,” Carlos said, “they’ve got two right now.”
That obviously held meaning for Levi that Dominic didn’t understand, but just then, Jasmine approached with her parents Marcus and Wendy in tow. There was a strong resemblance between parents and daughter, though Marcus’s skin was much darker than Jasmine’s and Wendy’s a few shades lighter. Both were athletic, outdoorsy people, as well as the most welcoming individuals Dominic had ever had the pleasure of meeting.
“Dominic, it’s great to see you,” Wendy exclaimed, as he kissed her cheek and shook Marcus’s hand. “And this must be your new boyfriend?”
Levi went still. Dominic met his eyes, thought sure, what the hell, and said, “Yeah, this is my boyfriend Levi Abrams. Levi, this is Marcus and Wendy Anderson.”
Levi shook their hands and pleasantries were exchanged all around. Wendy’s gaze lingered on his injured mouth, but she was too polite to mention it. Levi must have noticed, though, because he brushed his fingers against the bruise and said, “I was in a physical altercation with a suspect the other night. It looks worse than it is.”
“Levi is a homicide detective with the LVMPD,” Jasmine put in.
“That must be an intense job,” said Marcus. “Are you from Las Vegas originally, Levi?”
“New Jersey, actually.”
Dominic slipped an arm around Levi’s waist as he and Marcus continued talking. Levi looked up at him with a smile and returned the gesture, pulling him even closer.
They passed a couple of pleasant hours under the hot sun and clear sky, gorging themselves on barbeque and chatting with Jasmine’s various relatives. Dominic stuck by Levi’s side, knowing he wouldn’t want to be left alone among strangers, but multiple glasses of sangria eventually had their expected effect. He murmured an apology as he excused himself to the bathroom; Levi just waved him off impatiently.
When Dominic returned, he found Levi deep in conversation with the Andersons’ two current foster kids, Josh and Rima. Both teenagers were smiling and gesturing effusively with their hands while Levi listened in contemplative silence.
Curious, Dominic stayed back, but it was impossible to watch Levi for long without him noticing. He twisted around in his chair a few seconds later, waved at Dominic, and said something to the kids. Then he pushed away from the table and came to stand by Dominic’s side.
“Do you know where either of the Andersons are?” he asked. “I need to speak with them about something important.”
“I think Wendy’s in the kitchen,” Dominic said, even more intrigued now.
Levi headed back into the house, Dominic trailing behind. Wendy was indeed in the kitchen, emptying fresh bags of chips into big serving bowls.
“Dr. Anderson,” Levi said.
“You can call me Wendy, hon.” She stuffed the chip bags into the garbage can. “What’s up?”
“I’ve been talking to your foster kids all afternoon. They were all happy here, even when things got off to a rough start. You and your husband made a real difference to them, changed their lives for the better.”
“Well, sadly it doesn’t always work out that way, but we do try our best with every kid who comes through our door.”
“I believe that,” Levi said. “And I know a young woman who could really use your help. Would you possibly have room for one more?”
“So what do you think?” Levi asked, after he finished his story about how he’d met Adriana and the dilemma she was facing. He, Marcus, and Wendy had retreated to Marcus’s home office for privacy.
“Sounds like she’s been through hell,” Marcus said.
“She has. I don’t even know the full extent of it.”
The Andersons exchanged a glance, and then Wendy nodded. “Why don’t you give us this Natasha’s phone number, and we’ll see if we can set up a meeting with Adriana tomorrow? If everything goes well, we’d be happy to take her.”
“Thank you,” Levi said, light-headed with relief. He fished his phone out of his pocket. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“It’s very sweet of you to take such a personal interest in her welfare.”
That was the second time Levi had been called sweet today, when he couldn’t remember having ever heard himself described that way before in his life. He didn’t know how to accept that kind of compliment, so he just smiled awkwardly and read Natasha’s number out so Marcus could jot it down.
Shortly afterward, they returned to the party, where various members of the extended Anderson clan were clearing up the remains of lunch and putting out a bountiful dessert spread that was sure to have Dominic’s sweet tooth itching. Unlike the lazy summer mood of earlier, the crowd in the backyard was buzzing with a strange nervous energy that put Levi’s senses on high alert.
It took him a minute to find Dominic, standing off to the side and whispering to Carlos, who was a little pale. Dominic stopped and smiled when Levi joined them. “How’d everything go?”
“Good, I think. What’s—”
Carlos signaled to someone behind Levi, and seconds later, Marcus called out, “Jasmine, can you please help me in the kitchen?”
Seeming puzzled, Jasmine put down her drink and disappeared into the house. The moment the back door shut behind her, the rest of the party burst into frantic activity like a kicked anthill.
Tarps were thrown off a cluster of crates that had been stacked in one corner, and Wendy dug through them, handing out objects to the family members who rushed up to her—picture frames, Levi saw upon closer inspection. Carlos gave Dominic a fist bump and moved to stand about thirty feet from the back door, fiddling with something in his pocket. The people with frames raced to line up on either side of him in a wide V formation while the rest of the family amassed around them.
“Oh my God,” Levi said. “Is he proposing?”
“Yep.” Dominic grinned, kissed Levi’s cheek, and strode away to collect his own frame and take position in the line to Carlos’s immediate right.
Levi drew closer with everyone else. The framed pictures were all of Carlos and Jasmine, and he could tell from the changes in their appearances that they extended throughout many years, with the oldest at the front of the two lines and the most recent in the back. Standing to Carlos’s left, Wendy held an empty frame with today’s date engraved
on it.
The music from the speakers cut off abruptly. When the back door opened, a new song started up, a quiet arrangement of strings and piano that sounded oddly familiar. It wasn’t until a few bars in that Levi realized it was a version of “All I Ask of You” from Phantom of the Opera.
As Jasmine emerged into the backyard with Marcus, she stared in open-mouthed confusion at the spectacle before her. Her father gently encouraged her to keep moving, and she glanced from side to side while she walked, taking in the photographs. Levi saw the exact moment she understood what was happening.
Already misty-eyed, she proceeded down the aisle of pictures to where Carlos was waiting for her. He’d looked nervous earlier, but now he was beaming, watching her like she was the only person in the entire backyard.
A hush fell over those assembled, so the only sound was the song playing softly in the background. Even the dogs were quiet.
“Jasmine,” Carlos said, “when we first met, I was afraid to be the person I knew I was supposed to be. You were the one who taught me how to embrace the parts of myself I’d tried to ignore, who showed me that I didn’t have to hide or be ashamed of who I was. You’ve always been my strength, my solace, my safe place.”
He choked up then and had to pause to clear his throat. Jasmine was crying silently, tears sliding down her cheeks. Levi looked at Dominic, who had a soft smile on his face.
“I learned about unconditional love from you,” Carlos went on. “And when my family rejected me, yours didn’t hesitate for a moment to welcome me with open arms and open hearts. That’s why I wanted to do this here, in one of the few places I’ve ever felt truly safe and loved, surrounded by the people who have become my family too.”
Wendy reached out to squeeze his shoulder from behind. He flashed her a quick smile, then lowered himself to one knee. Jasmine cupped her face with both hands.
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