For the third time since blue glitter had rained down from above the door, Vincent watched Alex shake himself off like a dog, showering a laughing TD with the aftermath of his efforts. TD cried out in mock protest and swatted at the air, like it would keep the glitter away. Not all that far from them, Aaron supervised Bo as he scooped glitter off the floor and threw it in the air. KnotMyProblem stood as far away from them as he could without looking anti-social, his arms crossed. If it hadn’t been for the look on his face, Vincent would have thought he was angry—but the pain he tried so hard to hide behind his confidence gleamed like a newly minted penny at the bottom of a pool. What was going on? Vincent didn’t know, but it bothered him to see Knot so troubled.

He tucked his phone back into his pocket and was about to approach Knot when Gwynning and Harley beat him to it. Distracted by the company, the pained look in Knot’s eyes disappeared. With everyone in the group happy, Vincent’s job was done. No one seemed particularly interested to include him in the conversation, but he tried not to let it get the best of him. By nature, he was solitary. It was better that his friends have a good time together than drag himself into the spotlight in an attempt to be entertaining.

Maybe, since he’d found a second to himself, he could find Mal. Had he really left the party so soon? Vincent glanced around the room, but didn’t catch sight of his dark curls.

Maybe he had.

What a shame.

“xV!” TD exclaimed. Before Vincent could brace himself, TD had thrown an arm around his neck and tugged him close. “Oh my god, have you seen the pictures Aaron took? Did you go look?”

“No,” Vincent admitted. He freed himself from TD’s hold. “I’m guessing they’re good?”

“They’re incredible! Thank you so much for helping me organize this. The look on Alex’s face was priceless, and Gwynn is just…” He laughed. “All of it’s so good. It’s the very best first-ever Single Dad group picture we could have taken.”

“I expect they’ll be posted in the group?” Vincent grinned.

TD nodded. “If they weren’t stuck on Aaron’s fancy camera, I’d send them right now. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be the background picture on my phone for life.”

“I doubt I’ll need the picture to remind me.” Vincent held out his arm, which was speckled with blue glitter. “I’ve been infected. I’m going to glisten wherever I go.”

TD’s eyes lit up. “Me, too, but so are Alex and Gwynn. Totally worth it, in my opinion. It’s a wedding they’ll never forget… because the glitter won’t let them.” TD paused. “Who were you talking to, by the way? I saw you on your phone before, and I thought that was weird, because all of us are here.”

Vincent arched an eyebrow. “Are you saying that the only people in the world I talk to are in this room?”

“Yes.” TD paused, then frowned. “Well, and I guess Nikki, but she’s too little for a cell phone still, right?”

“Right.”

Momentary melancholy settled in Vincent’s soul. Nikki, his five-year-old daughter, was at home with her mother thousands of miles away.

“So?” TD grinned expectantly. “Who are you talking to?”

Vincent stalled his reply, and was rescued when Gwynning’s husband, Alex, joined the group and tapped TD on the shoulder. Trouble sparkled in his eyes, rivaled only by the glitter that clung to his purple-black hair.

“Yes?” TD asked, turning his head in Alex’s direction.

“You left before we were done,” Alex said. “I have something for you.”

“Oh?”

Alex raised his clenched hand, unfurled his fingers so his palm faced the ceiling, and blew a mountain of blue glitter at TD’s face. TD danced back, swinging at the air in front of his face as he laughed. Then, his lips twisted with mischief, he took a small jar from his pocket.

More glitter.

Alex gave Vincent an apologetic look, likely for stealing his company, then went to make war with the man who’d glitterbombed his wedding. Vincent watched them struggle for possession of the glitter pot for a moment, then saw his opportunity and slipped away. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to talk to the other Single Dads, but all of them seemed happy doing what they were doing. When the excitement of the moment wore out, Vincent would join them. For now, he needed to keep his mind busy so he didn’t feel guilty about leaving Nikki behind.

It was time to see if the clock really had struck twelve.

There were no dark curls by the dance floor, nor near the dining tables that lined the side of the room nearest the windows. Vincent ventured down the quiet hallway with the storage closet in which he’d enjoyed the most exhilarating encounter of the last decade of his life, but there was no sign of Mal there, either. It occurred to him, as he headed back to the reception hall, that there was a chance he and Mal were passing each other as he wandered. Would it be better if he stayed still and simply observed?

Vincent stopped by the edge of the dance floor and surveyed the crowds. People had begun to move, splitting from their groups to mingle with others. Music started to play—slow and emotional—and there was a rush as people surrounded the dance floor. Gwynn and Alex were likely sharing their first dance.

The migration of guests allowed Vincent a better view of the rest of the venue. It was a waste of time to look for someone who’d already told him they’d left, but Vincent clung to hope that they’d cross paths again. His skin still prickled with excitement from their encounter in the storage closet, and the short text conversation they’d exchanged softened Vincent’s heart.

Mal was gorgeous, but he was also a genuinely interesting person. Vincent hungered to know him better.

As he searched the crowd for his missing prince, a familiar face approached. KnotMyProblem glided effortlessly through the crowd, never once looking anything less than relaxed and casual. His hands were in his pockets, and one of his eyebrows was lifted the slightest bit, as if he was perpetually intrigued.

“Hey,” Knot said as he joined Vincent. “Is your phone on silent? We were trying to get in touch with you through the group, but no dice. TD got worried and sent me out on a rescue mission. On second thought, it was probably because he was worried I’d start shit with his fiancé, but whatever.”

“Oh.” What kind of shit would Knot want to start? Vincent felt very much like an outsider looking in. There was something going on that he wasn’t aware of, but that he caught glimpses of every now and then. “I must have been lost in my thoughts.”

“Weirdo.” Knot offered him a kind smile. Beneath his snark and blunt honesty, Vincent got the impression he was a good guy. “Listen, I’m not here to police you or drag you back into the group if you want to be on your own, but… I know all of us would be glad for your company, even if you’re not TD levels of talkative. Just having you there with us is enough.”

The sincerity in Knot’s voice caught Vincent by surprise. He paused before replying, trying to find the right words to say, but Knot resumed the conversation before he could pull his thoughts together.

“Anyway, if you want, all of us are going to hit the open bar.”

“All of us?” Vincent raised an eyebrow.

Knot rolled his eyes skyward. “All of us except TD, who happens to be gestating another spawn. But, you know, he can have juice or something, I guess. Pretend to be one of the big kids.”

“I’ll be right there.”

“Whenever you’re ready, you know where to find us.” Knot took his hands from his pockets. He clapped Vincent on the shoulder. “It’s a pretty surreal feeling to finally meet you, xV. I hope you’ll come sit with us and have a good time, but I understand if you need some time to yourself to get your thoughts together. I’m going to head over to the bar and make sure I’ve got a good seat. Harley said that he’s on it, but I don’t know if I trust him yet. He knows too much.”

“Knows too much?” Vincent chuckled. “Really? Harley seems just as goofy in real life as he does online.”

“I’m just saying… there’s something going on with him. I’ve got good instincts, and they’re telling me he’s the tip of an iceberg that none of us are seeing in full.” Knot shrugged. “But, then again, I thought I had a chance with TD, so there’s that. I’ll see you at the bar, okay?”

“You got it.” Vincent crossed his arms loosely over his chest, smiling. A chance with TD? Knot? Maybe Knot’s judgment really was shot. “I’ll be there in a sec.”

“I’ll hold you to it.” Knot winked, then made his way through the crowd in the direction of the bar. Vincent watched him until he was out of sight, doing his best to process what had just happened.

One of his friends had gone out of his way to tell him that he was welcome, and not once had he tried to coerce Vincent into doing something he wasn’t comfortable doing. That level of understanding wasn’t something Vincent was used to, and he couldn’t help but be thrilled that the men he considered family had his best interests at heart. When was the last time anyone back home had come to follow up on him when he’d split from the crowd? When had he ever been told it was fine if he didn’t feel like socializing?

In the few moments he’d spent talking with Knot just then, Vincent had felt more loved and appreciated than he had in years.

Vincent took his phone from his pocket. He’d been tagged in several messages by the Single Dads, which he left unread. To his disappointment, there were no messages waiting from Mal.

One last text wouldn’t hurt, would it? He didn’t want to come on too strong, but he didn’t want Mal to feel as though he’d brushed him off, either.

I’m at the open bar if you want to grab a drink. :) You know, in case your pumpkin got rerouted.

An emoji. What was he, twelve years old? It wasn’t the first time he’d used it while talking to Mal, either. Vincent scoffed at his own message, then shook his head and put his phone away. If Mal was interested, he’d reply. The respect Knot had paid to Vincent would be paid forward to Mal—Vincent wouldn’t push. He’d said his bit, and he was done.

Shaking off the last of his nerves, Vincent cut through the crowd, following in Knot’s footsteps. On his way, he plucked a flute of champagne off a silver tray served by one of the waiting staff.

It was his first weekend to himself in years, and he wasn’t about to let guilt or disappointment get the best of him. The Single Dads were finally united—it was about time he joined them for roll call.