A Beautiful Disaster

by Marguerite Labbe

  Fuck, he’d said applicable. Brenden was a bad influence. Surly bastard.

  “Uh-huh….” Jackie’s tone was skeptical as she taped up the first row of prints with quick, economical movements. “And how far is it going?”

  Questions like that made Dakota uneasy. He couldn’t gauge the future the way Brenden could. “We’re worried more about today. We’ll figure out tomorrow when we get there.”

  Jackie made an exasperated sound as she accepted another handful of prints and tacked up the second row. “That’s such a you response. I bet he would have a different answer. What does your family think?”

  “One damn thing at a time, Jackie, jeez. Feeling out our friends is enough of a leap. Family will come when we’re ready.” Dakota stepped back as she jumped down and turned to face him. They’d been close friends for years, and he’d hate to think she’d get upset over his relationship with Brenden. “You aren’t going to get weird about us, are you?”

  “It’s going to take some getting used to. I’d always looked at you one way.” Jackie crouched down and hauled out another bin. “But I’m not going to treat you any different than I always have.”

  A weight lifted from his shoulders. Maybe kissing Brenden like that wasn’t the best way to out themselves, but it certainly cleared up any guessing or arguments. “Hey, do you have the proposals for the ID badges? I don’t want to go back to Brenden empty-handed.”

  “Yep.” Jackie turned to dig through another bin. “I like the way they turned out. I made a dozen different options. Then you and Brenden can decide if you want to make the staff and volunteers one image, the guests another, vendors and so on, or if you want to mix it all up.”

  Dakota liked the mixing idea. Then they could have a set number of each made and it would keep everything from being similar. However, there was one image he had in mind for their core staff. Then everyone would know at a glance who to go to for questions. Ah, there it was.

  Brenden as Brainiac was fucking genius. Dakota was so glad he’d thought of that. When Brenden noticed it would make his day, which was why Dakota was leaving it as a surprise. Brenden would need those boosts over the weekend in Annapolis. It was going to be mental.

  “These are perfect. They’re going to look kickass on the badges. I’ll show them to Brenden and get his okay. You mind sending me the digital copies too?” That made ordering so much easier than trying to scan the images himself. He flipped through the proofs again with anticipatory pleasure. It had the vibe they were going for, kickass fun.

  “Yeah, I’ll send them once I finish setting up.” Jackie handed over a folder and Dakota stuck the images in it before stuffing it in his backpack. That would please Brenden.

  “Thanks, Jackie. I’d better go check in on my other half.” It was one thing to give Brenden time to cool off and another to let him stew.

  “Good luck,” Jackie said dryly. “I promise to come to your funeral.”

  “Make sure there’s plenty of booze and music.” Dakota shouldered his backpack and headed toward Brenden. The new banner was up, the tablecloth spread, and Brenden was laying out their flyers and cards in strict order of size. Dakota strolled up and refrained from commenting on the sad state of regimentation. Putting things in order gave Brenden a sense of security. “You were right about Morris doing the new image. It’s both eye-catching and elegant.”

  Brenden gave him a cool, quick glance and didn’t respond. Dakota had to give it to him. He always knew when Brenden was pissed.

  “I have the concept art for the badges.” Dakota came around the table and slid his backpack underneath.

  “Yipee,” Brenden muttered, taking his seat and not looking at Dakota.

  Dakota could not put up with this all day. “Okay, which are you pissed at? You started an argument and I shut it down. Are you mad because I kissed you in front of everyone or because I didn’t drag you off to a hotel room to finish what I’d started?”

  “Both,” Brenden said in a disgruntled tone and turned to face Dakota. “Don’t you think we should’ve said something first?”

  “Nope. Neither one of us would’ve been comfortable with a grand announcement. I mean, can you think of a way to broach it?”

  Brenden sighed, some of the irritation easing from his eyes. “Not really. With my luck, you would’ve said screw it and announced it over the intercom.”

  Dakota laughed. “Probably.”

  Dakota reached over and took his hand. “Now I can do this, and if anybody feels the need to say something about it, they can come and face us both. I want to kiss you whenever the urge strikes me. And you were deliberately provoking me, admit it.”

  Brenden’s fingers closed around Dakota’s, and a faint smile appeared. “Maybe. I’ll have to remember you take things too far.”

  Not far enough. Not far enough at all.

  “We’re going to have to have a team meeting with all our volunteers soon. The mass email and various calls have worked so far, but I want to make sure everyone is on board.” Brenden squeezed Dakota’s hand, then pulled out his clipboard and a pen. “What do you think?”

  Well, at least considering work was better than doing nothing, because if Dakota had to sit next to Brenden all damn day making small talk, he’d lose his ever-loving mind. All he could think of was luring Brenden to some dark corner of the con and loving all over him.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “TRASK BRISCOE, you are not going to believe this.”

  Trask looked up from his crouch at the sound of Felipe’s voice. The imp was sure in a state about something. His eyes glinted, and his lips kept twitching in a smirk. He knew that expression. “Felipe, didn’t we have a couple conversations about gossiping?” Trask had never been comfortable with hashing out someone else’s affairs. Maybe because he’d been the subject of so much gossip himself. Even if the rumors were true, it was a bitch knowing people whispered about you.

  Felipe rolled his expressive eyes and spun around, waving his hands in the air as his cape swirled dramatically around him. Trask straightened with a shake of his head. Felipe would never change, and Trask was delighted by that fact.

  “Ignore him,” Ryan said as Felipe turned back to face them. “And give me the dirt.”

  There were days when Trask felt like he was outnumbered after Ryan and Felipe had realized they had much more in common than they thought.

  “Ooooh it’s dirty all right, and it’s not like it’s a secret anymore.” Felipe’s smirk widened as he leaned forward conspiratorially. “Dakota Nye just laid a big wet kiss on Brenden Wade. A for real, total tongue kiss in the parking lot.”

  Ryan’s eyes widened, and he looked around at the con staff and vendors as they set up. “You’re screwing around. Where did you hear that?”

  Trask searched Felipe’s expression for any distress. He and Dakota had once been a thing, though that had dried up months before the two of them started dating. But Trask was aware that Felipe had been stung by the whole mess and by the fact that he believed Brenden had sabotaged the relationship. But the only expression in Felipe’s gaze was wicked laughter.

  “Hear it, my ass. I saw the whole thing with my pretty brown eyes.” Felipe made a gesture toward the back of the con. “They were arguing in the parking lot when Dakota kissed him. And let me tell you, it looked like that wasn’t the first time either.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “How long you think they’ve been doing it?”

  Okay, there were limits to how far Trask was going to let this go. If he didn’t put a stop to it now, Ryan and Felipe would go into areas of speculation that would warp Trask’s brain for the next week. He didn’t want to ponder or discuss the sex lives of friends.

  “Ryan, don’t answer that question. Felipe, why don’t you come help me bring in the last load.” Separation was the only option. Besides, this would give him a chance to feel Felipe out and make sure his pride wasn’t bruised.

  “Fine,” Felipe said with an exasperated sigh. “Be like
that.”

  “We’ll talk later,” Ryan promised. “You know where to find me. We’ll catch up when the boss is busy.”

  Trask couldn’t put a stop to it, but at least he wouldn’t have to listen to it. He stuck his thumbs through the loops of his jeans as he headed out next to Felipe. The imp muttered under his breath, gesticulating with his hands. No doubt issuing several sour commentaries about Trask’s rules. Sometimes it still amazed him that Felipe was charmed by him, because Trask didn’t know a single thing about being charming. But he had zero doubts that he had the imp’s heart. Lord knew, Felipe sure had a hold of Trask’s.

  “You mean to tell me you’re not curious in the least,” Felipe said when they finally reached the van. “This is epic news.”

  Trask wasn’t sure that two guys finally waking up and finding each other was considered epic news, but each to his own. “I am curious about one thing.”

  Felipe’s eyes gleamed with triumph, and he rubbed his hands together. “I knew it. Which part? How long they’ve been going at it or how far they’ve gone?”

  “I don’t give a damn, Felipe.” Trask caught Felipe’s face between his hands. “The only thing that concerns me is how you’re taking the news.”

  Felipe’s eyes widened and then softened. “You worried about me, Tin Man?”

  “A little,” Trask admitted. “You once had a thing for Dakota. And you have enough pride for a dozen men. Something like this could tweak a man’s ego.”

  A sweet smile curved Felipe’s generous mouth. It wasn’t an expression he showed often, though Trask knew there was a lot of sweetness in him. He saved that smile for the ones he loved the most, and Trask counted himself lucky to be lumped in with Lady, Sophie, Mariana, and Lola. He got this side of Felipe.

  “It might’ve once, but then this sexy silver fox let me nab him and he showed me what love really was.”

  “Is that right?” Trask smiled slowly as Felipe nodded and linked his hands behind Trask’s neck.

  “It is, and once we get back to our almost finished love nest tonight, I’m going to show you how grateful I am that I have you.” Felipe kissed Trask soundly on the mouth but didn’t press for more. They were learning each other’s boundaries, and Felipe knew how uncomfortable PDAs made Trask, but just this once, considering the circumstance and how much Trask loved to see Felipe smile, it wouldn’t hurt. “And in a couple months, you are mine permanently.”

  “I’m yours permanently without the wedding,” Trask reminded him.

  Felipe’s eyes gleamed. “Damn right you are.”

  “Come back here, you.” Trask caught Felipe’s hand as he started to turn away. “Just in case it wasn’t clear. I love you.”

  He kissed Felipe, and his imp didn’t waste one moment. He returned the gesture wholeheartedly until Trask’s thoughts spun. A discreet cough pulled him out of his moment of bliss, and Trask pulled away with a groan. He glanced over toward Brenden, who looked about as embarrassed as Trask felt.

  “Sorry to intrude,” Brenden said, his eyes on Felipe, who flipped Brenden off.

  “Always trying to cockblock me, Wade. When’s it going to end?” Felipe asked tartly.

  A flash of irritation crossed Brenden’s face. “I recall you butting in on a moment not twenty minutes ago,” he responded in a cool voice.

  “That was different,” Felipe replied with an airy wave. “Besides, you should thank me. Because I’m not so sure Dakota had any intention of stopping. Think of it as a public service. Or saving Dakota’s life, because knowing you two, you might’ve tried to karate chop him with your clipboard.”

  Brenden shrugged one shoulder in response. “You might be right on both counts, but don’t pretend like you didn’t enjoy commentating on the scene.”

  Felipe grinned with wicked delight. “Oh, I did.”

  Trask figured he ought to step in and say something before this turned even more awkward or got ugly, but he didn’t have any idea of what to say. He cleared his throat. “Congratulations, you and Dakota I mean.” He drew in a sharp breath as Felipe elbowed him in the stomach. “Ow.”

  “Stop messing with my fun,” Felipe hissed under his breath.

  “Thank you.” Brenden spared a quick glance for him, then looked back at Felipe. “May I speak with you a moment?”

  “There’s nothing you have to say to me that you can’t say in front of my fiancé.” Felipe crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against Trask, most likely to keep him from escaping.

  If Trask thought for one moment Felipe needed his silent support, he’d be all there for him. But he didn’t doubt Felipe was doing this to make Brenden more uncomfortable. There were times when Felipe could be a little bit evil, and this definitely fell under one of those times.

  Brenden’s eyes narrowed. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Felipe replied in a voice too smooth, too innocent.

  “Behave yourself,” Trask whispered in his ear.

  Felipe turned his head and grimaced at him. “No way.”

  “I wanted to say I was sorry for all the times I gave you hell. I was jealous and I wasn’t in a position to do anything about it, so it ate at me and I took it out on you.” Brenden spread his hands. “It was wrong, and I knew at the time it was wrong. I tried to make it up to you, but you deserve the words too.”

  “You could’ve said something to me. Instead of letting me believe you were some evil comic book villain.” Felipe looked over his shoulder again at Trask. “Right?”

  Trask rubbed his jaw, trying to search for something to say. He didn’t belong in the middle of this. “Well, to be honest, I didn’t get to witness many of the confrontations you had with Brenden. The ones I did, well, you were breaking the rules, though Brenden didn’t have to take such a hard-ass stance about it.”

  “You’re supposed to be on my side,” Felipe muttered. “Okay, silver twerp here has a point. Maybe I should apologize for the times I goaded you because I was jealous too. I could see you had something special with Dakota that I was never going to get, and it annoyed the fuck out of me. But that’s okay because I’ve moved on to better things.”

  Trask rubbed Felipe’s shoulder. He wouldn’t regret mending the mood between himself and Brenden. He’d watched Felipe do a lot of mending in this last year, from adversaries he’d had as a child to more recent wounds. This would be another irritation he could put behind him.

  “Could I really have said anything?” Brenden asked in a wry voice. “Even if I thought I had a chance, and at the time I didn’t, if I came to you as a potential rival, what would you have done? And don’t tell me you would’ve given me any comfort or backed off because you’re not a liar.”

  “Why is everybody being reasonable?” Felipe asked hotly. “I wanted a good argument. A scene for everyone to chew over. I want you to squirm. Fine, if you’d tried to talk to me about wanting him, I would’ve clawed out your eyes.”

  “No, you would’ve attempted to claw out my eyes. Big difference.” Brenden paused, his gaze unreadable. In a way, Trask had always understood him. They’d both had inner demons they’d tried to control with too many rules. He’d recognized that much at least, even if he hadn’t known what Brenden was hiding. He could understand where the man was coming from.

  Trask had overcome many demons and fought many battles, but he never recognized that loneliness had been one of those demons until Felipe. He squeezed Felipe’s shoulder again in silent support.

  “But if it makes you feel better. There were many, many moments during your time with Dakota and for a bit afterward that I did squirm, even if I didn’t show it.” Brenden gave Felipe a slight smile. “Will that work for you?”

  “I’m screwing with you, Brenden. I have what I’ve always wanted, and now you have what you’ve always wanted.” Felipe reached back and took Trask’s hand. The fact that he meant every word wasn’t lost on Trask. He didn’t have to worry about Felipe’s feeli
ngs being hurt because he was perfectly content where he was. “Truth is, Dakota has always been focused on you, whether or not either of you admitted it.”

  Brenden pursed his lips in thought, and then he reached a hand out to Felipe to shake. “Hey, I’m happy for you, man. I wanted you to know that. I like seeing you and Trask together, and not because of jealousy. I was wrong about you. You’re only a little trouble.”

  “Fuck that.” Felipe shook his hand back. “I’m definitely a lot of trouble, but not as much as Dakota is.”

  “Truth, though the cons wouldn’t be the same without you.” Brenden glanced toward Trask, and Trask smiled in return but didn’t weigh in. This wasn’t his conversation. “Thanks for hearing me out.”

  As Brenden turned to walk away, Felipe called out, “Just be careful of him. He kisses like a demon.”

  Brenden’s ears turned scarlet. “Don’t I know it,” Brenden muttered loud enough for Trask to hear.

  “You had to make him blush, didn’t you?” Trask said as Felipe looked at him with sparkling eyes and a mischievous tilt to his lips.

  “Hell yeah, I did. I couldn’t let an opportunity by without tweaking Brenden’s nose a bit. Comeuppance for all the times he’d given me grief.” Felipe bowed mockingly as Trask raised an eyebrow. “I was a pleasure to witness, let me assure you.”

  “You’re incorrigible.” Trask grabbed the first box to pass to Felipe, who set it on the trolley.

  “I gotta give it to him. I thought he’d turn tail and run away, but I give the man credit for saying something,” Felipe said grudgingly as Brenden disappeared into the building with rapid steps.

  Trask grabbed another box and smiled at his fiancé. “Face it, Felipe, you are a romantic.”

  “Don’t spread such lies.” Felipe gave him a severe scowl that Trask ignored. He didn’t get to tease Felipe often.