It made Owen uncomfortable, knowing that the same woman who embraced his new status without hesitation and spent months obsessing over his wedding had given his sister such a hard time. It was so out of character. Their mother was the epitome of unconditional love for all of them. Until this happened. He didn’t like to think of Jen having sex—ever—but Ellen Finn had been taking out her own issues, reliving her own mistakes through her only daughter. Ellen had slept with two brothers who were both in love with her and, in choosing one to marry, believed she’d created the rift between them. She’d been too ashamed of what people would say back then to keep them both, and she’d tried to put that shame on Jennifer, not understanding how different the situation was.
Shawn told Owen it was Sol’s choices and selfishness that were to blame, and his choice to stay away. He’d convinced his wife to make things right with Jen after their confrontation nearly cost them their relationship. Owen was relieved as hell that they seemed to be good again. Better. Because he’d sure as hell had no idea how to fix it.
Seamus, however, had taken it harder than he had. He’d been absent more often than not at Finn Agains and family gatherings lately. Nearly as often as their cousin James. It had really screwed with the family dynamic. The kids still got to come, but everyone missed Seamus.
The wedding was helping. Seamus was throwing the small bachelor party tonight at the pub, and he’d promised he and the kids wouldn’t miss the wedding or Christmas morning. Which was good. It really wasn’t the same without him around.
“We’ve lost him.” Wyatt was snapping his fingers in front of Owen’s face. “Worried about your brother, or mooning over Jeremy again? Because that would just be sad and I’d feel more like taking you to rehab than this party.”
Owen narrowed his eyes. “Just wait, Wyatt. When it’s your turn? Just wait.”
“Man, you’ll be eighty and looking for your teeth before that day comes. Noah might be the next one to drop, but not me. I’m single for life.”
“I know that’s what the women you sleep with keep telling you, Wyatt. But never give up.” Rory sent him an innocent expression and Noah barked out a laugh.
“We’re getting off topic.”
“Did we have a topic?”
He took another drink of his beer and focused on Owen. “You are the topic. The groom and his wedding jitters.”
He didn’t have jitters. “Fuck off. Go bother Jeremy. He’s a groom too.”
“Jeremy is jitter free. I think you two would’ve gotten together a lot sooner if I was wrong about you avoiding change.”
“Good point,” Wyatt tacked on, tapping his full lower lip thoughtfully. “But I totally get why Owen held off. I mean, this isn’t like a move to a new apartment is it? It’s a big step from ladies’ man to LGBT poster boy.”
“I guess. If you really believed you weren’t gay,” Rory said with a devilish smirk. “As for me I always knew Owen had it in him. I also know from experience that the straighter they think they are the harder they fall. But they have a hell of a lot of fun on the way down.”
Wyatt punched his brother’s arm. “We get it, okay? You’re the all-seeing king of Gay Land and straight guys fall at your feet. Get another hobby already.”
“But I’m so good at this one.”
Noah met Wyatt’s gaze and they spoke in unison. “We know, Rory.”
It was hard not to laugh as Owen walked around them and headed to the kitchen for something to drink that wasn’t beer.
Noah had a point. Owen liked things the way they were, so much that it took him forever to admit to himself that he wanted Jeremy. That his curiosity and jealousy and constant need to be near his best friend were all red flags that he might want more from their relationship.
He also wasn’t much on talking things out. He liked his actions to speak for him instead. But finally getting around to saying he was gay made everyone happy and won him a fiancé in the process.
He might be slow, he defended himself silently, but when he made up his mind he went for it. He was as committed to Jeremy as he’d ever been to anyone or anything in his life.
Would marriage change them? Would the desperate need to rip each other’s clothes off disappear? He doubted it. He’d dealt with all his fears about their relationship before he’d proposed, but he couldn’t get rid of the knot in his stomach. Wedding jitters on steroids.
“Are you sure you don’t want a beer?” Rory was leaning against the fridge. “It might make the day go faster.”
Owen shook his head, reaching for the carafe of orange juice Jeremy kept on hand instead. “I’m good.”
“You’re not good, Owen. You’re great,” Rory corrected, his blue eyes dark. “You’re marrying your best friend. A man so talented in the sack that he made you switch teams permanently. I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t mind knowing his secret.”
Owen laughed. “You mean you’ve exaggerated your skills? Is there actually a man in the world you can’t seduce?”
“I never exaggerate my skills. I don’t have to. Let’s just say Jeremy and I had a lot in common until recently, wanting someone who was off limits.”
Owen’s smile dimmed. “I didn’t know you had limits.” Or that he wanted one man in particular. “But you never know, Rory. Take me for example. Stranger things and all that.”
Rory shrugged lazily, but it was clear the conversation made him tense. “Unfortunately my limit isn’t even curious. He’ll never bend that way and I’m not willing to put him in that position. Period.”
“Sounds serious.” Too serious for his carefree cousin. “Do you want him to? Bend?”
His cousin’s voice was tinged with resignation. “Let’s not go there. The point is you got the big prize. The one everyone wants but doesn’t believe is real. You and Jeremy know everything about each other, the good, bad and embarrassing, and you still can’t stand being out of each other’s sight. Family, friendship, sex and romance—one man is that whole package for you. I kind of hate you right now, so stop fucking pouting about a day of separation or Noah will keep giving speeches. He’s going through a phase at the moment where he thinks he knows everything and it’s irritating as hell. I miss the good old days when he acted like Wyatt’s dumbass double. Just hang out with us and pretend you’re having fun, okay? It’s easier.”
“Speaking of speeches,” Owen said, taken aback. “Anything else you need to get off your chest, Rory?”
His grin was rueful. “Sorry. Tis the season and all. I get a little maudlin around the holidays. We all do. Sol was the original Grinch. If you weren’t getting married I’d be taking double-shifts like James and avoiding flashbacks and my empty apartment until my vacation days.”
“James is working on Christmas Eve?”
“No,” Rory assured him. “Younger would never let that happen.”
Owen set down his juice and put his hand awkwardly on Rory’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re all here.”
“I almost believed you,” Rory said, grinning.
“I am.” He wasn’t lying. They were distracting him and Rory had said exactly the right thing. He still didn’t like Jeremy’s decision to sleep somewhere else until the wedding, but he let himself relax and as soon as he did, he felt it.
“I’m getting married,” he said quietly, causing Rory to laugh out loud.
“No shit. And claiming Christmas forever as your anniversary. Did you think of all the extra presents that would come your way? Is that why you changed the date? Some of us are spoiled, aren’t we?”
Owen let his smile widen. “Some of us are. And some of us should bring non-bending friends to my wedding. Take it from me, nothing makes a man more curious than the right kind of visual stimulation.” He didn’t mention what kind of visual had stimulated him. It sure as hell wasn’t a wedding.
Rory’s expression was doubtful, but something flickered in his eyes. “We’ll see.”
***
“Come on, Brady,” Owen urged, slightly buzz
ed and enjoying himself. “You remember that going all in speech right? The Great Rumming? Do it. Your smack-talking single brothers need to hear all that wisdom from the man himself.”
Brady made an unmistakable gesture that had the small crowd of men at the bar roaring with laughter. Owen snickered. “Is that any way for a best man to treat the groom before his wedding? Do I have to add a new Finn Club rule?”
He glanced at Stephen, remembering their mother’s sadness that he wasn’t going to be Owen’s best man. But Stephen let her know he’d rather sit this one out. At this point the wedding had to be the most talked about event in the city if not the state, and his brother was a sitting senator who’d been on the right side of history before this year’s Supreme Court ruling. Stephen didn’t want the day to be about him and his political beliefs. He wanted it to be about his brother. By having it in a private home they’d denied most press access, but Owen agreed to let one in to avoid a riot and help his brother. She was a morning talk show host, young and seemingly in favor of the match and Stephen’s voting record. He kept apologizing for that, but Owen couldn’t care less. He wasn’t hiding and he’d never been what anyone would call shy.
Anyway, as much as he loved his brother, Brady was the guy Owen wanted standing beside him, so it turned out perfectly. His mountain of a cousin had lived with Owen and Jeremy for a while, and he’d been the one who’d pushed him to talk about their future. To declare himself so the man he loved wouldn’t wonder if he’d change his mind when he got bored with experimenting. The Marine gave good advice. Plus Badass kind of missed having him around the house.
“Good beer, Seamus,” Solomon said gruffly beside them, looking out of place without his uniform. “Did the kids make the label for you?”
Seamus sent him a look. “Very funny. I’m still working out the kinks in my art department. Photoshop is a bitch. I do like the name for it though. Jeremy’s Porter. It seemed right for the occasion.”
“Owen’s Porter would have been better,” Owen mumbled, taking another drink. Jeremy was his after all.
“I like it,” Rory said licking his lips as he took a drink. “Now we can all say we’ve tasted Jeremy. And he was dark and delicious.”
Owen frowned when everyone groaned but still lifted their bottles to toast. “To Jeremy!”
“I told you there wouldn’t be strippers.” Wyatt’s voice was loud in the sudden quiet and it started another round of laughter. “What? Bachelor parties in this family are sausage fests. Someone had to point it out.”
Noah choked on his beer. “How about you stop pointing things out and practice that shut-the-hell-up we’ve been working on?”
Seamus slid Wyatt another bottle and shook his head. “This isn’t that kind of pub, boys. We’re a family place, it’s Christmas, and a senator as well as the chief of police are sitting right next to you.”
Solomon’s expressionless features were completely at odds with the twinkle in his eye. “He’s right, Wyatt. The place is too crowded as it is, since our cousin didn’t see fit to close down the bar for his younger brother’s only bachelor party.”
Owen looked around. It wasn’t that crowded. In fact, most of the tables were sparsely populated. All of them with people he knew. Owen narrowed his eyes. The women looked disturbingly familiar.
“I have kids to feed,” Seamus defended. “I can’t afford to close the bar every time something happens in a Finn’s love life. Which lately? Is every other Tuesday. Owen understands it’s just business.”
Stephen chuckled. “Way to sell it, brother.”
Owen frowned suspiciously at those words, glancing again at his men from Finn Construction and a few of James and Solomon’s buddies from the precinct. And those women… He could swear they were actively ignoring him and trying not to smile. “What’s going on here, Seamus? Who did you invite?” Because I’m pretty sure I’ve slept with that brunette.
Solomon stood and raised his bottle before Seamus could answer. “The city’s most notorious bachelor—”
“Hey!”
Everyone looked at Rory. “Fine,” Solomon growled in warning. “One of the city’s most notorious bachelors is getting married.”
Brady came to stand beside his older brother, grinning down at Owen. “Over the years, the star quarterback turned construction worker and business owner has made a lot of women happy—”
“Countless,” Noah offered helpfully.
Brady dipped his head. “Countless women happy for a very little while.” Very little? Several women at the tables chuckled or snapped pictures with their phones and Owen sighed, his suspicions confirmed. He’d dated them. And he was going to kill whoever invited them later. Brady continued, “After that excessive preparation, all he has to do now is make one man happy for the rest of his life. Let’s hope his shamrock collection brings him luck, because he’s going to need it.”
Owen returned his earlier gesture, but Brady just winked and motioned to Stephen, who held his bottle aloft as well. “I say this as a brother and not a politician. Owen was always a pain in the ass,” he started smoothly, causing snorts and guffaws. “He got away with murder and no matter what rule he broke or scrape he got into, he always ended up on top. Our mother’s golden child.”
“She did say I was special.” Owen shrugged. “You had to run for public office to become the favorite.” His smirk was teasing. If they were going to roast him, he could give as good as he got.
“True enough.” Stephen pursed his lips over laughing blue eyes. “But despite his flaws, he did have great taste in friends. Having Natasha and Jeremy around the house almost made up for his less attractive traits.”
“We all liked having Tasha around,” Seamus said with a knowing grin, making his twin scowl in his direction.
“Yes, my wife has that effect. But we aren’t talking about her.” Stephen raised his voice again. “The only time any of us could stand Owen’s company was when Jeremy was around. So I know I speak for all of us when we ask that he not screw it up. For everyone’s sake.”
“Here, here!” The crowd drank.
Owen bit his cheek to keep from smiling. Tasha had definitely loosened his brother up. “I’ll do my best.”
“One more.” Seamus now. “I’m not exactly an authority on the subject of love, but working here I’ve seen my fair share of the search for it. And I have the bartender’s curse of knowing it when I see it in other people. I see it in you Owen, when you look at Jeremy. I see it in him every time you’re in the room.” He looked into Owen’s eyes. “You two have the real thing. All the happiness in the world, baby brother. I couldn’t be prouder.” He opened a bottle for himself and tipped it toward Owen. “To love and marriage.”
The men at the bar joined him. “Love and marriage!”
Owen’s throat was tight. “Thanks, Seamus. You were always my favorite.”
Seamus and Stephen laughed together then glanced as one toward Solomon, who motioned to one of the tables. “Officer Wayne? We’re ready to give Owen Finn the send-off his legendary bachelor days deserve.”
A black man with heavy-lidded eyes and deep dimples nodded, getting to his feet. A friend of James, Owen thought, trying to remember where he’d met him before. Whoever he was, his knowing smile was alarming as he walked to the front door, glancing at Solomon once more before opening it with a flourish.
The band took that as their cue and began to play a raunchy song as a line of firemen and policewomen poured into the pub and headed straight for the new dance floor. Much to Wyatt and Rory’s delight, both men and women began to undress to the beat.
“My faith in you is restored.” Wyatt gave his older brother a thumbs up.
“Wait, so all I have to do to get a stripping coed flash mob is marry a guy?” Noah raised his voice to be heard over the sudden din. “What if I married two of those women at the same time? Would that earn me a naked parade?”
“Not cool,” Wyatt pointed at the costumes before rubbing his hands together.
“You didn’t have to hire fake firemen. The real thing is right here.” They all watched as Wyatt tossed back his drink and joined the crowd on the dance floor, flinging his shirt over his head as the women who’d joined their party screamed their approval at his lean-muscled frame and shaggy dirty-blond hair.
“He took off his shirt again,” Noah sighed. “I’m starting to hate that calendar.”
Owen couldn’t stop laughing. He leaned over the bar and gripped his brother’s wrist. “This is insane, Seamus. Who came up with this?”
Stephen pressed in next to Owen and grinned. “Who do you think?”
It was easy enough to guess. “Tasha? You let Tasha plan my bachelor party and Jeremy’s? That’s too much power for one woman to have. Especially that woman.”
Seamus disagreed. “Are you willing to tell the bedridden senator’s wife carrying my nieces and/or nephews that she can’t have anything she wants? Because I’m not.”
“I’m definitely not,” Stephen spoke over the music, frowning as he looked down at his phone. “She said I’m not allowed home for another hour, but Jen’s been sending me text updates and I have Trick on standby in case she needs anything.”
Seamus frowned. “You should have invited him to the party, Stephen. Especially since Declan couldn’t come.”
“Shit.” Stephen paled. “You’re right.”
“Relax, Stephen.” Owen put his arm around Stephen’s shoulders and squeezed. “He knows you’re distracted. You can buy him a drink later, and before you know it you’ll be holding two new Finns in your arms and Tasha will be causing more trouble than you can handle.”
Finn Again (The Finn Factor Book 5) Page 3
