Page 86 of Greedy Grizzly
“We’re engaged!” I yelled excitedly and showed off my sparkling ring.
Clapping bounced off the walls. Every face in the room lit up with joy for us.
“I’m so happy for you!” Brynne hugged me, then Landon. “What’s the second part? Is there more?”
Just then, Toby took the mic from Landon and shushed everyone to quiet down. “There’s more, y’all.” He gave it back and told Landon, “You got this.”
“Toby’s right. There’s more.” Landon cleared his throat. “I’ve been in this club for a little more than a decade. It’s been the only safe home I’ve known. Hell, I’ve grown up here with many of you. And yet, I’ve tried to be invisible.”
“Not possible!” Lynx shouted. “We’ve all seen you and love you, man.”
My heart swelled at his kind words. If anyone had suspected Landon was gay, it would have been Lynx. He paid attention to everything and cared deeply for people, despite being a goofball.
“Thanks. This isn’t easy for me to say. In fact, I might throw up.” He took a breath. “Yes, I’m marrying the love of my life. But Libby isn’t the only person I love. Toby owns the other half of my heart. His part of us, and always will be.” He turned toward Toby and they embaced, locking their lips together.
If I wasn’t standing right here to witness it, I would have thought all the cheering was at Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga concert.
“Well, I’ll be fucked,” Track said. “How did I never know?”
“Because he didn’t want anyone to think less of him.”
“Jesus, that breaks my heart.”
“Yeah, mine too. But now it’s out in the open.” I smiled as I watched my two men making out in front of the entire Minnesota crew.
“So how exactly will it work? I mean, if you’re marrying Grizzly?” Brynee asked.
“We’re having an open marriage.”
“Hey, that sounds fun.” Track wiggled his dark eyebrows.
“Don’t even consider it. I’m all you can handle.” Brynne nudged him.
“Speaking of handling you.” He swooped her off her feet. “Congrats you three, I’m taking my wifey to bed!”
Toby and Landon pulled apart, then tugged me into the middle. I didn’t have to ask if how he was doing because Landon had the biggest grin on his face. All the years of pretending he was straight and hiding his feelings for Toby were washed away in one two-minute announcement.
“Now we live life to the fullest and out in the open,” he said.
There was simily nothing else to say.
He’d done it. He conquered his fears and I was so proud of him.
Epilogue
GRIZZLY
Four years ago, I married my best friend and we wanted to have a baby. I tried to hold it together, seated in the doctor’s office waiting for Toby to get here. The three of us have been doing great. Stronger than ever despite the many work trips Toby went on and Libby and I traveling back and forth to Scornrock to visit her sister Mona, and the young mom Ella.
No sign of RJ in South Dakota. But we knew he was alive and it would only be a matter of time before he returned and we caught him. What Storm did with the dude after that was up to the Prez.
But now, Libby and I were looking into IVF. We needed help conceiving a baby, because it just wasn’t happening on its own and my wife was getting discouraged. In vitro fertilization might be the ticket. Toby agreed that we should give it a try. We included him in all of our important decisions.
I cut my gaze at my wife who was uncharacteristically quiet. Ms. Cool and Collected was distracted by something she was reading on her phone.
“What is that?” I asked, leaning over and trying to see.
“Oh, my gosh. It’s Val’s. A draft of her first romance book.” She fanned her face. “She gave it to a few of us old ladies to read. And it’s so good.”
