Page 27 of The Tides of March

“He’s waitin’ and lightin’ the way so his brother can find him.”

“Wow! A few months ago, I would have laughed and thought you were pulling my leg. Now, I’m really sad for Elijah and I’m kind of curious to see what a ghost looks like,” Tony said sadly.

“Just a bit of smoke,” Ronan said with a shrug. “He carries on somethin’ awful, though, as if it were someone else’s fault they were out in that fog.”

“What if it was?” Tony asked and Ronan cast him a curious look.

“Wanna call the police and see if they can do somethin’ about it? Ship went down in 1855. Nothin’ we can do fer him now so he might as well mind me tools and keep nosy anthropologists out of me lighthouse.”

“Wanna call the police?” Tony mimicked in a growling mumble and rolled his eyes. “Let’s go home. Your nosy anthropologist’s toes are starting to get numb.”

“We wouldn’ want that now, would we?” Ronan said before he bent and swung Tony over his shoulder.

He was as light as air and Tony was content to ramble about his books and his clothes as Ronan carried him back to the cottage. They pulled the tub in front of the fireplace so Tony could soak and read theOdysseyout loud while Ronan prepared their dinner. Dean Martin crooned from the record player, making the evening even cozier.

It was just a simple bean soup with some bits of soaked, salted pork, served with toasted slices of bread and fresh butter. But Tony made the evening magickal and romantic by insisting they share a bowl and cuddle under a blanket by the fire with the dogs. They fed each other chunks of bread, dunked in soup, and laughed because they got as much on each other’s faces as they did in their mouths.

Later, Tony pushed Ronan onto the bed and sat on his face, like a good lad. He ground his ass all over Ronan’s beard and came all over his chest. Tony licked him clean, then rode Ronan’s cock until they both shattered and collapsed in a sweaty tangle of limbs.

“Yer heaven, lad, but I’m wiped out,” Ronan said with a loud yawn.

There was a sated, drowsy chuckle from Tony as he burrowed into Ronan’s chest. “Me too. Today was perfect. I don’t know why I’d ever go back, except to visit my mom.”

“Yer talkin’ nonsense, Tony. There’s a life waitin’ for ye out there and ye’ll get bored or sick of me soon enough,” Ronan predicted, stopping Tony when he started to argue. “Why don’ ye read to me, if yer not tired yet. I could listen to ye forever.”

Ronan was lying. He was asleep before Tony finished the first paragraph.

Eleven

The big day had arrived and Tony was thrilled to have something else to look forward to as he dragged his aching, nauseous body into the shower. He was bleary and woozy from a night of tossing and turning and terrifying dreams about Ronan. But Tony was determined to put it all behind him and throw himself into the excitement of the day.

Even if he felt like the turd in the punch bowl. Tony was truly happy for Bryn and Everly and would do his best to make sure the day went perfectly. He presented himself in Nox’s kitchen at 8:00 AM, prepared to help. Nelson was ready with his trusty notebook, delegating tasks.

Since Tony could drive, he was sent to pick up the champagne and cake. He also made a run to Silver Spring to drop offmoreflowers before returning to the townhouse to change into his suit. Tony thought he had cleaned up nicely and had a chance of fooling everyone, but Nox stopped him in the foyer on their way out.

“Wow, T. You…don’t look good,” Nox said apologetically. “Are you okay?”

“Me? Haven’t been sleeping well, but it’s nothing,” Tony insisted, jumping out of the way as Merlin hurried past with his arms full of candles.

“Pardon me! I’m officiating!”

“We heard,” Nox chuckled, rolling his eyes at Tony. “He keeps dropping hints about me and Nelson. But we already had our own ‘commitment ceremony’ and anything else would be like hopping on a kiddie ride at a theme park after bungee jumping from a helicopter over a live volcano.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Tony said and hugged his side when he felt a sharp jab.

“Hey!” Nox gripped Tony’s shoulder and searched his face. “You’re scaring me.”

“I might have pulled something but it’s not a big deal.”

“Tony?” Nox sounded concerned and a little frustrated. “You’re not having a relapse are y?—?”

Tony laughed, cutting him off. “I’m fine! And we’re going to be late if we don’t get going,” he said as he hooked his arm around Nox’s and turned them toward the door. “Nelson’s waiting.”

“We should talk after we get back tonight. I can tell you’re not well.”

“Alright.” Tony nodded, pretending he wouldn’t disappear as soon as the happy couple said their vows.

His mom lived just up the street and Tony was secretly sick of being surrounded by so many happy couples. Tony wished each of them the best—individually—but being single over Valentine’s was bad enough. All the whispers about romantic dinners and sentimental gestures and gifts had made Tony feel extra pathetic.

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