LUKE

Dad walks into his bedroom where I’m getting ready with Atlas, Tyler, Tonk Jr., and Sean. He stops like he’s been punched. “Holy fuck, look at how good you guys clean up in those penguin suits!”

“I can’t figure what to do with this bow tie,” I mutter, wrestling with it, since none of us knows how.

Dad opens the door wider and says, “Might have someone who can help you with that.”

Our old President ambles in, wearing a brown suit, his grey hair and beard down past his shoulder blades and collarbone.

“Scratch!” I grin, strolling over to give him a bear hug. “Came all the way from Montana for me, huh?”

He slaps my back, drawl thick as always, “Nah, I want to see Sofia wearing white.”

“She went with off-white,” I grin at him.

“Probably better that way. What the hell are ya doin’ with this? Think it’s shoelaces? Give me that!” He deftly twists and tucks it a few times until he stands back and surveys his work. “I still got it.”

My brother, equally glad to see the old man, is probably happy that something has broken the tension. I made him my best man, because it had to be him, but we haven’t gotten back to where we were. Probably never will. Who knows. I’m civil to him but that’s it. For the Ciphers. For our history. For our blood.

“Scratch,” he asks, “How’d you learn how to do that?”

“I wasn’t always this surly. Lookin’ good, kid. Give me that thing.” He ties Atlas’ bow and I glance to see Dad beaming with pride at his two sons being taken care of by the man he fought countless missions with, and who he missed like crazy when Scratch retired with Mona up north where it was more quiet, more space.

After Tonk Jr. gets his tied, too, I introduce Sean who looks like he’s not sure if he should disappear. We give him a quick explanation of who Scratch is, and he nods with respect.

Scratch crooks his finger. “C’mere Sean, you’re just as useless as they are.” As he ties the bow, a silent inspection occurs. “I hear you’re comin’ along in the training. Pretty good with your fists.”

“I’m alright. It’s the martial arts stuff that’ll take more time.”

“Time is all we got.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You like livin’ with the Ciphers?”

Sean’s blue eyes darken, somber and direct, with zero sentimentality. “Never want to leave, if I’m honest.”

“I like honest,” Scratch mutters, eyes narrowed. “It’s good to see new blood comin’ in.” He slaps Sean’s arm, job done, and turns to Tyler. “What the fuck, I never taught you?”

Ty grins and bends his head back, “Little help, Gramps?”

“Gramps! Shut your trap. I’m as virile as you are on your best day. Don’t think all those pups you got give you any street cred.”

“How’s Inez hanging in there with all those normies, downstairs? Drunk yet?”

Scratch laughs, fiddling with the knot. “You give that woman so much grief I’m surprised she loves you.”

Jett explodes into the room. “I heard Scratch was here! There you are, you old fart!”

They hug and Scratch rumbles, “Grey eyed sonofabitch! How ya been?”

“My daughter’s shacked up right under my nose and my roof, that’s how I’ve been!”

“Gotta admit, I don’t envy you, but you deserve hell for all the hell you give the world!”

They laugh and Scratch checks out Jett’s tux. “Where’s your tie?”

“I’m going open.”

“Bullshit! Put on a damn tie. This is a once in a lifetime event!”

Grumbling, Jett yanks out a strap of black silk from his pocket. “This thing is stupid.”

“It’s stupid because you don’t know how, ya mean? Come here,” Scratch mutters, grabbing it and going to work.

It’s a rare sight, and I glance to Dad, see him nod to me that he thinks it’s pretty cool, too. If we were the picture-taking kind, this would be one. But we don’t like evidence, so we never developed the habit of cataloguing life moments.

They’re to be enjoyed as they happen, then you just make more—that’s what Mona used to say.

Jaxson Cocker, Jett’s older brother pokes his head in the room and says, “Hey Jett, Luke, we need you down there. About to start.”

My mind is on his son Ben as I nod, “Coming,” and stroll to the mirror to smooth down my long hair. I’m wearing it free since Soph loves it this way. “Nice knot, Scratch,” I murmur, tugging on it and stretching my neck. “Not too tight.”

“Of course it’s perfect,” he chuckles. “Now let’s see you make an honest woman of our wild child, huh?”

The group files out, but Dad grabs my arm to hold me back a sec. Everyone sees it, and nobody says a word. Tonk Jr. is last to go, and Dad grabs his arm real quick. “Got the rings?”

He shrugs, “Lost ‘em.”

“You liar!”

“Then don’t go asking stupid questions,” he chuckles as he closes the door.

Alone now, Dad’s eyes light up with pride. “Look at you in this tux.”

“Crazy, huh?”

“Suits you better than this suits me!” He motions to his.

“You look great.”

“Bullshit. I’m in costume, but hey, it’s just for one night.” His smile fades and he drags a hand through his gray-streaked hair. “Before you left I told you to find a woman like my Meg. I wanted to say before we go down that, I was wrong about that. What you’ve found is yours. It suits. I just wanted you to know…you impress me. You’re not just my son anymore, Luke. You’re your own man, and…” He shrugs, locking eyes with me. “Well, that’s it. I just wanted you to know that.”

I stare at him, and pull him in for a masculine hug. “I’ve always wanted to make you proud, Dad.”

We separate and shake it off, heading for the door. I open it for him, “You want me to get this for you, you big pussy?”

He guffaws, bending back with a huge roar. Then he pushes me away from the door, waving over his shoulder, “I see Sofia’s rubbing off. But I’m still bigger than you. Never forget it!”

Laughing, “I won’t,” I follow him out.