Ross stepped into Joe’s and immediately felt the stress of the day slide off him.

He didn’t get to come back to his hometown as much as he liked. Being a surgeon, and on call a lot, meant that he couldn’t afford to be far away from the hospital, and Joe’s was a bit of a drive.

If his shift started, or he got a call telling him it was all hands on deck, he had to be nearby. Especially as one of the senior surgeons. A lot of the newer surgeons would call him for advice on tricky operations.

But tonight, his shift didn’t start until early in the morning. He’d picked up the graveyard as a favor to one of his coworkers, who wanted to take his wife away for the weekend. Ross didn’t have any family obligations, so he figured, why not?

And now he could take the time to zip on back to his hometown and say hi to everyone.

His mom had moved them into the city when he was in high school to try and find better work, but he still got to see Luke and Travis and all the others on occasion. He’d been too busy in medical school to make any new friends, so he’d done what he could to hold on to the old ones.

The guys had always been super understanding. He and Hank had gotten close when Hank moved into the city temporarily to go to culinary school. Luke had started stopping by to take him to lunch when he was already up there to see Adam in the city. He and Adam got lunch a lot too, and Hank and Eric invited him over for dinner all the time, now that Hank had moved in with Eric.

The others he didn’t see quite as much, but they always greeted him as though it’d only been yesterday since they’d last seen each other.

Sure enough, as he walked into the bar—“Ross!” Travis hoisted him up into a huge hug. “My man. Lance, you owe me ten bucks, I told you he’d be in tonight!”

“I’m already buying your drinks, Trav,” Lance replied.

Ross headed over to join the others. Matthew was wearing a cat-that-got-the-canary expression. “What’s that look for?” Ross asked.

Jake rolled his eyes and held up his left hand. “Might as well get all the oohing and aahing over with,” he grumbled.

Ross laughed. “Don’t even act like you aren’t over the fucking moon, MacNamara.”

Jake didn’t say anything, but he leaned into Matthew’s side, blushing faintly.

“Do you guys know when you’ll have the wedding?” Ross asked.

“You’re the fifth person to ask that,” Jake noted.

“Jake likes being in love, he just doesn’t like having to tell anybody else about it,” Luke said from behind the bar, grinning.

Ross high-fived Luke, then waved at Paul, who was at the other end of the bar, serving Bill and Nancy and a few others.

“Just because I’m not the guy who shouts it from the rooftops with trumpets like Davis,” Jake started.

Matthew waylaid that sarcastic tirade by wrapping his arm around Jake’s waist and kissing him on the temple. “They’re happy for us; how horrible, how we must suffer,” he drawled in his Southern accent.

Ross nodded at Lance, who was just sitting quietly, sipping his drink while Travis argued with Preston, as he always did. Ross was never going to understand that friendship. But then, he also didn’t understand how it had taken Lance and Travis ten years to figure out that they were perfect for each other, so.

“How’s the whole moving in thing working out?” he asked.

“Good,” Lance said, smiling. “We finally finished the renovations.”

Travis’s house had been partially destroyed in a fire. He and Lance had been living in Lance’s small apartment while they renovated the house, and were finally moving back in.

“I actually have a room all to myself,” Lance said, laughing. “My office. Travis isn’t allowed in. But I’m not allowed in his poker room, so.”

Hank popped his head out of the kitchen. “I heard you were here, hey!”

“Hey!” Ross waved at him, and then Hank slipped back into the kitchen. “Is Eric here tonight?” he asked Lance.

“Nah; something with the office, he was way too exhausted. But he’ll be pissed when he hears he missed out on the engagement. He’ll be the last to hear, now.”

“Adam will be the second last,” Luke said.

“This better not be a pattern,” Paul said. “You two get married, and then only a month later Jake and Matthew are engaged. It’s like dominos falling.”

“If Travis is planning on proposing, he’s doing an unusually good job of keeping it a secret,” Lance said dryly.

“He managed to keep his feelings secret from you for ten years,” Ross replied.

“Travis’s feelings were a secret from even himself. That doesn’t count.”

“I wish you could stop by more often,” Davis said wistfully. “Hank and Eric and Adam get to see you all the time, and the rest of us have to make do with once a month.”

“I didn’t realize I was so popular,” Ross admitted.

“No stealing my man,” Paul warned.

Davis stuck his tongue out at Paul.

Ross grinned. He missed this, and hated that he couldn’t stop by more often. But he loved his job, loved helping people, loved the adrenaline and quick decision making. He’d move into more of a consulting job or research position someday, but not right now. And so until then, he had to make do with less frequent visits.

“You know, you all can drive up into the city to see me,” he pointed out.

“Fair enough,” Davis admitted. “But we do miss you when you aren’t around.”

That unexpectedly touched Ross. He hadn’t thought of himself as a part of the group, not really. Not when he’d moved out first year of high school, and they’d gone through all four years together.

He was probably the only one who hadn’t had his heart broken by Luke at some point as a teenager. The only one who hadn’t participated in the senior prank. He hadn’t been there when Paul had derailed an entire restaurant to give Davis a romantic speech, or when Matthew had wooed Jake with pastries, or when Travis’s house had burned down and he’d had to move in with Lance and they’d finally—finally—gotten together.

He hated that he wasn’t there, physically, for all of those moments. But the others didn’t begrudge him or judge him for it. They just kept welcoming him back in.

He supposed that was what having a family was like.

Speaking of, actually…

“Hey, Luke, how’s Seth doing?”

“Great.” Luke practically preened, as he always did when talking about his younger brother. Seth had been Luke’s entire world for two years after their parents had died, and he was still Luke’s pride and joy. “He’s working on sending in college applications, can you believe it?”

“I remember when he was a toddler,” Ross said. “How old is he now?”

“He’ll be seventeen soon,” Luke said. “I keep expecting to turn around and see this little twelve year old in front of me and bam, he’s my height and as cranky and hormonal as any damn teenager.”

“They are brats at that age,” Davis mused.

“We were the worst brats, do you remember?” Lance laughed. “God, I think Luke and Travis set records for the number of times they ended up in the Sheriff’s for some prank they’d pulled.”

“And yet, somehow, we turned out alright,” Luke mused.

“Speak for yourself,” Travis cut in, pausing in his friendly argument with Preston. “I still feel sixteen half the time.”

“It’s because you act sixteen,” Jake said dryly.

“Does he still want to be a lawyer?” Ross asked, referring to Seth.

Luke nodded. “Takes after Adam. Don’t tell him this, it’ll give him a swelled head, but I think Seth likes Adam more than he likes me.”

“Not possible,” Matthew said loyally. “That kid worships the ground you walk on.”

“Just like we did in high school,” Davis teased. “Only without the latent gay crush.”

“I’d have to have a serious talk with him if he did,” Luke said dryly. “He’s actually got a girlfriend now,” he added to Ross. “Real sweet girl, we all like her. Adam and I kind of terrified her when we first had her over, I think; we interrogated her a bit.”

“Speak of the devil,” Jake said, nodding towards the front door of the bar.

Ross turned to see Adam entering, a wide grin already on his face. When Ross had first met Adam, the guy had hardly ever smiled. But as time had gone on, he’d started relaxing more and more, and now smiles came easily and quickly to his face.

Ross was pretty sure he wasn’t exaggerating when he put the responsibility for that solidly on Luke’s shoulders.

Coming in behind Adam was someone else. He looked vaguely familiar—had he been at the wedding?

He was handsome, that was for sure. Dark hair, dark eyes, tall, lean … solidly built, though, with a square jaw. He actually kind of looked like Clark Kent, what with the glasses he was sporting, and the awkward air he seemed to have. But that was just Ross being fanciful.

“Hey, Ross!” Adam grinned, hugging him hello. “You didn’t tell me you’d be stopping by tonight.”

“I wasn’t sure I’d be able to; didn’t want to get your hopes up.”

“This is Tom, everyone,” Adam said, indicating the man next to him.

Now that he was up close, the whole awkward reporter vibe was even more pronounced. It was kind of adorable. The glasses drew attention right to his eyes, which Ross could now see were a golden brown color, kind of unusual, but gorgeous.

Ross had to admit, he hadn’t seen a guy this good looking in ages. Please be single, he thought. Please be single.

Ross wasn’t the dating type. Not anymore. But a casual hookup or two, he was definitely down for. Hopefully this guy would be down for it too—it had been ages since Ross had gotten with someone, and Tom was ticking all of his boxes.

Adam introduced Tom to everyone, then let out a yelp when he saw Jake’s ring. “Are you fucking kidding me, Jake MacNamara?” he yelled. “Matthew! You asshole, you didn’t say anything!”

Matthew just grinned like the sappy idiot he was.

Tom looked a little overwhelmed by the whole thing. Ross could understand—their group was a lively one, with a lot of big personalities. He leaned in, smiling. “You look a bit lost, there.”

Tom looked him up and down, then realized Ross probably could see him checking him out and blushed. “I am, a bit. Adam persuaded me to come over and properly meet everyone. I didn’t get much chance at the wedding and apparently I’m a hermit, so.” He shrugged.

“That make two of us,” Ross replied. He let his gaze slide down Tom’s body and then back up again, letting him know that he might be looking, but Ross was looking right back. “I never get to come down here as much as I’d like, and they always give me grief for it. It shows they care, though.”

“Adam and Enid are that way,” Tom admitted. “They’re always on me. But it’s nice. I don’t have any siblings, so I guess they’re trying to make up for it.”

“Pretty sure that’s what’s happened here with me,” Ross said with a grin.

He discreetly elbowed Jake, who moved over with a grumble. Ross gestured for Tom to sit down in the empty seat.

Tom did so, smiling shyly. “So. Uh. You grew up with everyone else, then?”

“Sort of. Why, you need protection? They’re a little overwhelming.”

“We are perfectly normal, non-overwhelming people,” Paul scoffed.

Ross leaned in. “Don’t worry,” he said quietly. “I’ll keep them at bay for you.”

Tom ducked his head down a little, giving him a pleased, if embarrassed smile. “I wouldn’t say that I need protection, necessarily,” he said, lowering his voice as well, “but I wouldn’t say no to you sticking close by.”

Ross felt a thrill of heat shoot through him. It wasn’t arousal, not just yet, but it was anticipation. It was the possibility of it.

“So you work with Adam, then?” Lance asked, always the polite conversationalist. “I think I saw you at the wedding.”

“Is he an awful boss?” Davis teased, because Davis was nosy as fuck.

“He’s great, honestly,” Tom said. “Like a big brother. It’s a really nice atmosphere at the firm, which is good. The law is pretty cutthroat.”

“Are you a lawyer too?” Ross asked, genuinely curious.

“I’m a paralegal,” Tom explained. “That means that I do a lot of the prep and leg work. I help Adam and Enid do all the research. I like it better, since I’m not good at talking in front of people, which you have to do a lot of in court as a lawyer. I like having more of a support role.”

“We couldn’t manage without him,” Adam cut in.

“Besides, I just couldn’t do seven years of college,” Tom added with a laugh. “No way.”

“I get paid a lot more,” Adam whispered conspiratorially.

“Yeah, because you’re the one the clients yell at when they’re unhappy,” Tom said.

“Fair enough.”

“It’s hard work,” Tom acknowledged. “But good work. I’m really detail oriented.”

“I’m a doctor,” Ross said. “It’s all about the details there.”

“Oof, congratulations,” Tom said. “Years of medical school, and your residency … I’m impatient. I wanted to get straight into the workplace and not spend forever in the apprentice stage, if you know what I mean.”

“How long have you been working for Adam?”

Tom made a face. “Damn. Um, four years now, is that right, Adam?”

“Something like that.”

“And you’re just now meeting everyone.”

“I know, I’ve failed horribly,” Adam moaned.

“We’ll try and forgive you,” Matthew said.

“I’ve heard tons about everyone else,” Tom said, fixing Ross with a dark stare. “But I haven’t heard anything about you.” His tone made it sound like this was a grave oversight.

Ross gave him a flirtatious smile. “I guess that just means you’ll have to find out about me firsthand.”

Tom smiled back at him, leaning a little bit closer. “I don’t suppose I’d mind that.”

“Oh no,” Davis groaned. “They’re hitting it off.”

“It could be worse,” Travis said. “He could be hitting it off with Preston.”

“Hey!” Preston said, having caught the tail end of that.

Ross leaned in. “Preston’s got a bit of a temper.”

Tom nodded in understanding. “I think I like someone a little more even-tempered.”

“I can manage even tempered,” Ross assured him. “Got to keep your cool in the operating room, after all.”

“The last time people hit it off, it was Hank and Eric, and we all know what a mess that was,” Jake grumbled.

“They worked it out in the end.”

“After causing the rest of us grief for weeks.”

“I think Travis and I still take the cake for most drama,” Lance said, laughing self-deprecatingly. “Ten years of unresolved sexual tension.”

Everyone got a chance to explain a bit more about themselves to Tom. Ross waited patiently. He was sitting next to Tom, leaning in occasionally to whisper something to him, just a little too low for the others to hear—explaining how Davis was a hopeless romantic, that Paul was a troublemaker but good natured, and that Jake’s bark was worse than his bite.

Every time he leaned in, he got a little closer, until by the end he could brush his lips over Tom’s ear. Tom leaned into him, swallowing hard as he felt Ross’s lips on his skin, and Ross felt a pleased rush of heat. He was slowly working Tom up, he could tell, and it gave him a fantastic feeling. He’d forgotten how much fun teasing someone could be.

After a bit, some of the men went upstairs to play pool. Adam got drawn into a conversation with Bill and Nancy, Davis got distracted flirting shamelessly with Paul, and Luke served customers.

That left just Ross and Tom.

He could have pumped his fist in victory. He didn’t know if the others had done it on purpose, sensing the connection between the two, or if it was just a great coincidence, but he was glad that he hadn’t had to nudge the others out of the way. It might have been a while since he’d had a chance to sleep with someone, but he didn’t want to be rude to the only real friends he had.

“You look a little dazed,” he teased, seeing how Tom looked a bit like he’d gotten hit by a strong wind and was trying not to fall over.

“They’re a little … enthusiastic. Energetic,” Tom said, as if searching for just the right adjective. “Nothing at all like the people we usually deal with at the firm. Or people we run into at parties. We just came from a party, actually, that we threw for some of the firm’s clients. Social networking and all that. It’s why Adam dragged me here; he and Enid said I was too uptight.”

“You don’t seem at all uptight to me,” Ross pointed out. A little nervous, yes. Uptight, no.

“Oh good, my ruse is working,” Tom replied, grinning. He peeked at Ross, as if to check that the joke had gone over.

Ross smiled back at him and nudged him with his elbow to let him know that he’d liked it. Tom struck him as the kind of guy who needed friends and needed to get out more.

“You know, I’ve been trying to find a way to ask this,” Tom said, sobering a little, “but I can’t be subtle for the life of me. You’re single, right?”

Ross laughed. “Trust me, I wouldn’t be flirting with you if I wasn’t.”

“Oh thank God.” Tom blushed. “I wasn’t sure if you were flirting or not. I mean, I thought you were, but I’m horrible at reading these things.”

“Well let me make it very clear for you.” Ross leaned in, gently trailing a finger down Tom’s neck, until he reached the collar of his jacket and hooking his finger in it, using it to drag Tom in and get his mouth right at the other man’s ear. “I’m interested.”

He felt Tom shiver, and then felt a hand creeping up his leg, a bit tentative, but resting on his thigh and squeezing gently. “Good,” Tom breathed, turning to look directly into Ross’s eyes. Their faces were barely an inch apart. “Because I’m interested too.”

Ross could sense a bit of hesitance—not reluctance, or hesitance in desire. More like … Tom didn’t have the confidence to go with what he wanted.

That was totally fine. Ross had enough confidence for the both of them.

“Hey,” Adam said, coming up to them. Ross slid back a little, giving them both some space. No reason to be all over each other in front of their friends. Ross wasn’t big into public display of affection, and Tom was just meeting these guys. Not to mention that Adam was technically Tom’s boss. Ross didn’t want to embarrass him.

“Hey,” Tom replied, turning to face him. “What’s up?”

“Well, I hate to interrupt you, but I did give you a ride out here,” Adam said, laughing a little. “I was wondering what time you wanted to get out of here?”

“You shouldn’t have to drive all the way back into the city and then home,” Ross protested. “I can drive him back.” He looked over at Tom. “That is, if you’re comfortable with it.”

Tom looked pleased, blushing a little again. “I’m definitely comfortable.”

“I’m sure you’ll get him home safe and sound,” Adam said, rolling his eyes like he couldn’t believe this was actually happening, but was sort of amused by it. “Shall I tell you to stay safe, kids?”

“We’re the same age,” Ross replied, deadpan.

Adam gave a very put out sigh. “And yet, I have ten years’ more maturity than you.”

“Hardy. Har. Har.”

Adam just winked and then hopped around the bar to go and bother Luke, who, to be fair, didn’t mind in the least when Adam broke house rules and got behind the bar to pester him.

“Do you want to head out?” Ross asked. “We can hang out some more, if you’re having a good time.”

Since he had such an early shift, he might as well just stay up until the shift started, then sleep in the afternoon when he got off. Yes, it basically made him nocturnal, but his job had fucked up his sleep schedule years ago.

So if Tom wanted to stay and keep chatting, getting to know everyone better … it wasn’t what Ross wanted, he’d rather skip straight to the bedroom, but he could respect that. He had known all of these guys for years, and Tom hadn’t.

But Tom shook his head. “I’m good.” He leaned back on his elbow to look at Adam. “It was nice getting to know everyone, though. I’m glad you brought me here.”

“Yeah, I bet you are,” Luke said, grinning.

Tom blushed but glared determinedly. “No, I really mean it; everyone’s really nice.”

“You can always hitch a ride with Eric or Hank or both, if you want to come hang out,” Luke said.

“And with me, although I don’t come down here as often,” Ross said. “Hank works here, so he and Eric are down here all the time.”

Tom nodded, looking a little surprised but pleased at being so easily invited into the fold. “You guys are all really friendly; thanks.”

“Should we get out of here, then?” Ross asked.

Tom’s smile turned sly. “Yes.”