Chapter Thirty Four
Shannon 2017
Ringing in the New Year at Frank and Taylor’s place brought back memories of the previous year. Watching the people he loved and thought of as family dancing, celebrating and enjoying one another’s company made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. So much had happened over the past year that it seemed like ten had gone by. Caleb and Justine were expecting their first baby in just a few weeks, a little girl, Charlotte Emily Knight. Taylor had broken down when they first told him the name they’d chosen—happy tears, of course.
“You’ll have six months to teach her how to walk, so she can be the flower girl at our wedding, Knight,” Frank said jokingly. Taylor assured the soon-to-be father that it would be fine if little Charlotte had to be carried and pointed out that it might be better if she were ring bearer. They were getting married on the beach at the cottage—the place where the seed of their love had been planted, nourished, and finally bloomed.
Rand’s little sister, Claire, and Rory’s partner, Connie, had moved in together over the holidays, their relationship still going strong. Love was in the air, apparently. The strangest change in their lives was Mannie Tullor moving into the apartment with Blair. The young agent assured them all that they were just friends, that Mannie was taking over half the lease and the bedroom that used to be Rory’s. Shannon wasn’t fooled though; he saw the way Blair looked at Mannie, equal parts fascination and fear. “I didn’t realize he was bi—he’d only ever mentioned one long-term relationship with a woman.” Rory shrugged the night Blair and Mannie shared their new status as roommates when the five of them met for dinner.
Life did have its ups and downs, though. Taylor’s birth father had been killed during a riot at the prison he was incarcerated at in Huntsville, Texas. And though there was no love lost there, it still affected Taylor, so Shannon had left the studio in his lead instructor’s capable hands and spent the weekend with Taylor, shoving Frank out the door of their townhouse, telling him to go demolish things with Rory and Rand at the loft. When he got home Sunday evening, Shannon was pleasantly surprised to see all the hardwood flooring had been laid.
“Earth to Shannon. Have you heard a word I’ve said?” Taylor snapped his fingers. “Tink? Hello?”
Sitting up straight he blinked. “Yes, of course…no.”
His best friend laughed, shaking his head. “I asked what you, Thing One, and Thing Two are doing for Valentine’s Day.” For Christmas, Taylor and Frank had given Rory and Rand T-shirts with Thing One and Thing Two printed on them, the white circles with letters very eye-catching against the candy-apple red material. Rand wasn’t very amused—seeing that the one in his gift bag read Thing Two. Shannon thought it was quite hilarious, especially when Rory slipped his on over the shirt he was wearing, trying to goad Rand into putting his on as well, joking with their detective, calling him the runner-up. Sex between the two of them had been hot enough to melt steel that night after their guests left, and Shannon loved every second of it. Sometimes he thought Rory pissed Rand off or riled him up on purpose, knowing he’d be manhandled in the end.
“I bought them each a watch. Rory’s has a brown leather band and Rand’s is black. I had a triskele and our initials engraved on the underside of the timepiece.” He smiled shyly. “What’d you get for Frank?”
“Roses and chocolates, and I’m making his favorite meal.” Taylor beamed. His Frankie was a hopeless romantic, and Taylor never missed an opportunity to swoon him. “Oh, while I’m thinking about it, Frank wants to know if you’re planning a housewarming party once all the renovations are completed.”
When he’d initially purchased the property for his dream dance studio, Shannon had only set up part of the loft apartment since it was just him at the time. With the addition of Rory and Rand, the other half of the space was desperately needed, so they weren’t always on top of each other. They decided to carry over certain features from the original design, hardwood floors and thick wood beams covering the high, vaulted ceilings, as well as leaving the exposed brick walls. The other side of the loft was now a large master bedroom with a special-ordered, extended king-sized bed that sat underneath two windows. Each man had their own dresser, the three of them lined up along one wall next to the bathroom door that had a Jacuzzi tub and separate shower. The other portion of space they’d opened up was split between a walk-in closet large enough for three wardrobes—make that four; Shannon was a clothes whore that also purchased shoes he loved in every color they were sold in—and an office space that Rory and Rand shared. The bedroom on the other side of the space was now a guest room, and the other rooms stayed the same.
“Actually,” Shannon lifted his bottle of beer in the air, “it’s ready. But I haven’t told my guys yet—it’s part of their V-Day surprise.”
Taylor lifted his bottle as well, and they toasted. “Way to go, Shan. Just let Frankie and me know the date for the soiree, and we’re there.”
***
On the way home from the restaurant, he came up with a fun, romantic idea for how to let Rory and Rand know that the home they shared was done and pulled into the Kroger parking lot. Every year Shannon would drive past the store with the ginormous tent outside full of flowers and candies for inexperienced or ignorant spouses that waited till the last minute to shop, swearing he’d never step foot inside. It was just as bad as he’d imagined—insane, actually. Grown men fighting over flower bouquets and Dove chocolates was so not attractive. Choices were slim, but in the far back corner he stumbled upon an odd assortment of lilies and chose three. White and pink Stargazers, white and purple cappuccino and an exquisite orange and purple bloom; the label told him they were Asiatic lilies. Grabbing some foliage and a large, round vase, he went back to the front of the tent to check out. Christ almighty, he damn near shit his pants when the cashier told him it would be ninety-three dollars, but his babies were worth it.
***
Pot roast in the oven keeping warm, chocolate covered strawberries in the fridge along with two bottles of bubbly, Shannon made a path from the front door to their new bedroom with tea light candles. Filling the vase with water in the bathroom, he cut the plastic sleeve to pull out the flowers and greenery and fiddled with them until they were an assortment of color and beauty. Setting the vase on top of the middle dresser, he stood back and glanced around. There were candles spread randomly throughout the room so that the space glowed in the moonlight. Shannon smiled, happy with his display of affection, grabbing the comforter to fold it across the foot of the bed.
“Damn, now that’s a sight for sore eyes.” Shannon screeched, jumping ten feet in the air.
“Fucking hell, Rand, do not sneak up on me like that!” he hollered, cheeks reddening. Turning, he saw the two men he loved standing in the doorway of their brand-spanking-new bedroom, their silhouettes stark and contrasting. Rand was tall, broad, and loud while Rory was smaller, lithe, and lean. Their joined hands swayed slightly in the space between them, and the vision hit Shannon hard. Emotions washed over him—he felt pure, unadulterated joy. A sudden rush of adrenaline left him weak in the knees as he stumbled backward, the bed breaking his fall. Both men were across the open space quickly, Rory beside him Rand on his knees in front of him.
“Hey, you okay? What’s wrong?” Rory touched his forehead. “You’re not warm.”
Rand’s big hands held his face, eyes filled with concern as his gaze took in every inch of Shannon’s body. “He’s a little pale, Ro. Have you eaten today, Shan?”
“No, I’m okay. It’s…” Exhaling a shaky breath, Shannon fought to regain his composure. “It’s just, seeing you two standing there holding hands in the doorway.…I think the reality of all this, us three, is kind of intimidating.” Deep down, there was a small piece of his soul forever damaged by his time with Bruce. “Will I ever truly be able to let go of the past, of him and what he did to me?”
Rand stood, pulling him to his feet as he did, his lips on Shannon’s before he could speak. Rory’s arms wrapped around him and he kissed a path across the back of his neck. They were bookends holding him up, supporting him and loving him. Finally, in the arms of the two men he loved, Shannon realized that it wasn’t his past that defined him or dictated who he should be. This, every moment, every heartbeat, every touch, caress and kiss the three of them shared was a light bright enough to keep the demons of the past locked away. Forever? Probably not, but it was a damn good start.