Noah ⚡ 9:51 AM: Fam

Noah ⚡ 9:51 AM: Is the groom supposed to wear a tie at his wedding? Like - am I supposed to wear one?

Ripley 🎶 9:52 AM: Why are you asking?

Noah ⚡ 9:52 AM: Cause I just realized I only have one and idk if it’s like fancy enough or whatever

Companion Plant 🍃 9:52 AM: Send a picture of it

Noah ⚡ 9:52 AM: (Attachment - Image)

Me 9:52 AM: OMFG

Me 9:53 AM: I nearly dropped my phone

Me 9:53 AM: Noah oh my god that TIE

Ripley 🎶 9:53 AM: NOAH 😭 Where did you even find that

Companion Plant 🍃 9:53 AM: Dude that’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen

Companion Plant 🍃 9:53 AM: No wonder I just heard Ripples burst out laughing from all the way across the gym

Raj 🔨 9:53 AM: Holy shit I’ve gotta run upstairs and see this thing in person

Noah ⚡ 9:53 AM: Fuck off, I don't know about this shit, alright? Do I look like a guy who wears a lot of ties? What’s wrong with it?

Me 9:54 AM: It’s just a little - loud?

Ripley 🎶 9:54 AM: Why are there so many different colors and so many different patterns? And textures, too, somehow

Companion Plant 🍃 9:54 AM: The top part looks like it’s made out of wood or something and that part at the bottom looks like chest hair. But not cute chest hair

Raj 🔨 9:54 AM: Do you guys think it’s too late for me to find a matching one? We could surprise Mel

Me 9:54 AM: I mean, yeah, she’d definitely be

Me 9:54 AM: Surprised

Ripley 🎶 9:55 AM: Have you actually worn that somewhere, Noah? If so I’m interested to hear what kind of reactions it’s gotten

Noah ⚡ 9:55 AM: Nah, I got it ages ago, when I thought I might catch a court date. But I didn’t end up getting hit with any charges, so I never had to wear it

Me 9:55 AM: Omg you were gonna wear that to COURT, Noah?

Ripley 🎶 9:56 AM: They would have given you a life sentence dude

Noah ⚡ 9:56 AM: Relax, no one’s gonna be looking at me at this wedding, anyways

Noah ⚡ 9:57 AM: All eyes will be on Raj by the time we hit the dance floor

Noah ⚡ 9:57 AM: Have you guys seen my mans when he gets sauced and starts to dance? It’s the BEST

Noah ⚡ 9:58 AM: Looking like somebody’s drunk uncle

Raj 🔨 9:58 AM: This is true and I’m not gonna bother to deny it. You’re all gonna see it soon, anyways. Although I may be upstaged by that tie, for real

Companion Plant 🍃 9:59 AM: Noosh, I’m not gonna be your best man if you wear that tie. This is not what I consented to.

Raj 🔨 9:59 AM: Just want to let you all know that Noah is currently holding the tie against his chest and saying shit like 'Don’t listen to them baby, they don’t get us, they want to tear us apart'

Noah ⚡ 9:59 AM: Come on, it’ll be paired with a slick suit, I’m sure it’ll be fine

Ripley 🎶 10:00 AM: No suit can unfuck that tie Noah I’m so sorry to tell you

Me 10:00 AM: Can I ask why you bought that particular one, dude?

Noah ⚡ 10:00 AM: Cause it’s reversible! There’s a Santa Clause on the back, so you’re covered for Christmas, too. Bargain, basically two for one. I was being smart

Companion Plant 🍃 10:01 AM: I’m… speechless

Me 10:02 AM: I’m gonna be sure to incorporate this into my best man speech about you, Noah 💓

Noah ⚡ 10:02 AM: Oh, yeah? Maybe you should also incorporate the story of that time you talked real dirty to me on the phone when you thought I was Aiden

Me 10:02 AM: SHUT UP MAN

Noah ⚡ 10:02 AM: If you don’t want to it’s fine, I’ll give my own speech, separately, just to bring it up

Me 10:03 AM: Noah, I’m dead serious, I will tackle the microphone out of your fucking hands

Noah ⚡ 10:03 AM: I don’t need a microphone 😊

Ripley 🎶 10:03 AM: Noah, have you considered the fact that if you do anything to embarrass Jamie, Aiden will come down on you like the hand of God?

Noah ⚡ 10:04 AM: Pfffft love to see him try

Companion Plant 🍃 10:04 AM: Noosh, you do realize that I have stories I could share about you, right? From high school?

Noah ⚡ 10:04 AM: Oh nevermind nevermind

Companion Plant 🍃 10:04 AM: Like that time you and your high school hookup were at her place senior year, and her dad came home and chased you out of the house without any of your clothes?

Noah ⚡ 10:05 AM: Listen

Companion Plant 🍃 10:05 AM: And you drove all the way to my house going like 90 miles an hour down the highway completely fucking naked, and then knocked on my door with a joint in your mouth, all like - ‘hey bro, you got some pants I could borrow?’

Me 10:05 AM: Oh my god. Okay. Between this and the tie I’m about to drop

Ripley 🎶 10:05 AM: Yeah I think I need to sit down for a minute

Noah ⚡ 10:05 AM: Aiden, put that in your speech and I’ll tackle you, I don’t care if Jamie tackles me first

Raj 🔨 10:06 AM: Okay, you know what, brothers? No speeches at this wedding. Clearly no one in this group knows how to do one

Raj 🔨 10:06 AM: Wedding speeches are not supposed to end with anyone getting tackled. I’ve never gotten married before but I’m pretty sure about that

Companion Plant 🍃 10:07 AM: That’s fair.

Raj 🔨 10:07 AM: I feel like the speeches are supposed to involve less nudity, too

Ripley 🎶 10:08 AM: Yeah, let’s maybe let Mel make these decisions?

Noah ⚡ 10:08 AM: True, she’s a party planner, she knows best about how much nudity and combat there should be during the speeches at a wedding

Raj 🔨 10:08 AM: We’ll ask her when she gets home! I guess that’s when we can show her Noah’s tie, too, see what’s good

Ripley 🎶 10:08 AM: God I wish I could be there for this conversation

Me 10:09 AM: Nobody's saying it, so I will: you two are soooooo obviously excited for the wedding 😊

Noah ⚡ 10:09 AM: Whatever

Raj 🔨 10:09 AM: YEAH we are!!😊😊😊😊

Companion Plant 🍃 10:10 AM: What about for your bachelor party?

Noah ⚡ 10:11 AM: Wait what? What bachelor party?

Companion Plant 🍃 10:11 AM: Noosh, I’m your best man. You seriously thought I wasn’t gonna throw you a bachelor party?

Noah ⚡ 10:14 AM: I just thought bro since you’re sober it’s like

Noah ⚡ 10:14 AM: There’s no pressure to do that for me, dude. I already assumed that we weren’t gonna, anyways

Noah ⚡ 10:14 AM: I wouldn’t even want to do it, if you couldn’t come or would have a bad time or whatever

Companion Plant 🍃 10:18 AM: 😊

Companion Plant 🍃 10:18 AM: Appreciate that, man.

Companion Plant 🍃 10:19 AM: But we already thought about that. Jamie and I have a plan, and we decided that we’re not going the traditional bachelor party route.

Me 10:20 AM: Yeah, we have something special planned for you guys! We’re gonna do something for you first half of the night, Noah, and something for Raj second half of the night. There’s no drinking involved but I think everyone’s gonna have fun!

Ripley 🎶 10:21 AM: I know what the plan is and I’m excited about it! Raj, Noah, you guys should be, too

Raj 🔨 10:22 AM: Brothers!!! I’m feeling the love over here in a big way

Me 10:22 AM: Yay!!

Companion Plant 🍃 10:22 AM: Noosh, you on board?

Noah ⚡ 10:23 AM: Fine, I guess I’ll come see what you two lames came up with

Raj 🔨 10:23 AM: He’s so fucking excited, you guys

Noah ⚡ 10:24 AM: I fully could care less bruh

Companion Plant 🍃 10:24 AM: Oh, yeah? Let’s put that to the test. How about this: the plan is off, unless you throw that tie in the garbage. Right now. Under Raj’s supervision.

Raj 🔨 10:25 AM: He did it SO fast. We were snuggling and he just goes FLYING out of the bed and slam dunks it in the trash

Noah ⚡ 10:26 AM: Not because Aiden said to, though! It’s because I think it gave me a rash. Just from holding it.

Raj 🔨 10:26 AM: Yeah it actually does feel really weird on the hands? Scratchy, like - wires, or something? Your theory about it being made from chest hair might actually be right, Aiden

Ripley 🎶 10:27 AM: Okay, Aiden and I are officially abandoning the gym. We’re laughing too much, everyone is staring at us

Raj 🔨 10:28 AM: Oh god, sorry boys!

Companion Plant 🍃 10:28 AM: It’s fine, Ripples was just finishing up and I’m not lifting today, just here to spot him

Noah ⚡ 10:29 AM: Why aren’t you lifting, Aiden? Do they not make weights big enough for you? You could always go out to the parking lot and just start lifting people’s cars

Ripley 🎶 10:30 AM: No, it’s because he has rope burns on his hands, which he won’t explain. That’s totally normal, apparently, and we’re moving right past it, I guess

Raj 🔨 10:30 AM: Um - what? Rope burns?

Me 10:31 AM: Yeah, it’s a long story. We had a whole incident with a rope two nights ago. Mine are pretty fucked up, too. It was definitely worth it, though!

Ripley 🎶 10:31 AM: The fuck are you guys up to, half the time?? I swear

Noah ⚡ 10:32 AM: Something KINKY, obviously, if they've both got rope burns

Noah ⚡ 10:32 AM: ‘Definitely worth it’ Jamie says LMAOOOO

Me 10:32 AM: Omg dude NO

Companion Plant 🍃 10:32 AM: Thank you so much, Noosh, for the wholly unnecessary side text of a lot of high five emojis. You have one hundred percent misread the situation

Raj 🔨 10:33 AM: You two and your strange mysterious secretive shit

Noah ⚡ 10:34 AM: Do I need to make it clear that I don’t want any ropes involved at my bachelor party?

Companion Plant 🍃 10:34 AM: No you do not, it was unrelated to the planning.

Me 10:35 AM: Don’t sweat the bachelor party, man! It’s gonna be a good time.

~~~~

“I really do think it'll be a good time.” I nudge my earbud back into place with the back of my wrist, since my fingers are full of flowers. “Do you think that Noah and Raj will-?”

“Jamie.” Even through the phone, Aiden’s huffing laughter warms me like a mouthful of hot chocolate, like stretching out on sunbaked sand. “We’ve been through this. They’re gonna have a blast.”

I smile to myself, alone in the warmth of the flower shop.

It’s getting towards the end of my shift. The storm has subsided into quick, scurrying little bursts of rain showers, but the shop has been quiet tonight. It’s mostly just been me and the plants, which was nice.

But now, having Aiden’s voice in my ear - suddenly I desperately want to get back into his arms.

We took all of yesterday to recover from Justin's rescue. Cozied up together in peaceful exhaustion, falling asleep and waking up and snacking. Aiden watched me play some video games for a while, his head resting in my lap. It was perfect, just what I needed.

So it feels stupid that I already want more of him. That I’m aching for him so badly.

I shake my head, try not to let how much I miss him show in my voice.

“Did you put down the deposit?” I ask, wrapping up the bouquet I’m making, sealing everything into place.

“It’s all taken care of, just like I promised.”

I smile again, relieved. That was the last thing we had to do to get Noah and Raj’s bachelor party organized. Sounds like we’re all good to go.

“Sweet. Thanks, babe.”

“No problem. You gonna talk to the ghosts tonight, by the way? We’ve got stuff to catch them up on.”

“No, I wasn't planning to.” I flip off the store lights, then reach for my jacket. “Thought we’d just talk to them in the morning, right? Before we split up to go to work?”

“Oh.” Aiden hesitates for a moment. “I was actually planning on sleeping at my own place tonight. I’m busy, so I can’t hang out. I’m sorry. I’ve got plans with Noah.”

I had just pulled my jacket on and picked up the bouquet I made, but now I stop, caught off-guard.

Aiden can spend a night without me whenever he wants, obviously. I just wasn’t expecting him to do that tonight. To make plans with other people for tonight.

I tuck the flowers against my chest, zip them into my jacket, and head for the door of the shop.

“Okay,” I answer, trying not to sound disappointed.

But I am, just a little bit.

Aiden and I usually both feel a powerful need to be close, right after a rescue. Right after anything that puts us in serious danger, really. Am I the only one feeling that, this time?

We usually need to stay in each other’s arms for longer than this, we usually need to -

I blink as Aiden lets out a sudden, deep growl of frustration.

“God fucking damnit. I wouldn’t have made these plans if I’d known we were both gonna nearly fall off a cliff - especially because we always have like, crazy sex right after we’ve been in trouble, and believe me, Keane, I’m pissed off beyond belief that we can’t do that tonight-”

“Wh-?” I let out a startled laugh, my cheeks starting to burn. “Aiden!”

“-especially since we were both too sore and exhausted last night, and I didn’t want to dislocate your shoulder again-”

“Oh my god, okay-”

“Don’t deny it, man. You’ve been thinking about the same thing.”

I have.

“I have not.” I let myself out of the shop, hoping that the cold air will take some of the heat out of my face. “Move on, please!”

Aiden lets out a soft chuckle, and the husky rumble of it immediately turns my cheeks crimson again. “Point is, I’m sorry. It’s just something I don't want to reschedule.”

“No?” I lock up the shop, then pull my hood up over my hair before I set off down the sidewalk. “Like - definitely not? Because, um. You can dislocate my shoulder again. I don’t care.”

This earns me another huffing laugh. The sound warms me against the chilly air, against the cold raindrops I’m shielding the flowers from. My Heliomancer, keeping me cozy even from afar.

“Listen, dumbass!” he says, still laughing. “The reason I’m telling you that I don’t want to reschedule is because I don’t want you to start saying sexy things to make me change my mind about that. Because it’ll work, and I will.”

“Nah, I wasn’t gonna do that,” I tell him, even though this makes me smile even wider. “I’m not about to make you cancel on Noah at the last second.”

“Good. Thank you.”

“What are you guys up to, though?”

“Don’t you worry about it,” Aiden answers.

Something about the warmth and texture of his voice when he says this - it fills me with curiosity.

“What are you doing, Callahan?”

“Tell you later, alright? I promise. But Noah just pulled up, so I’ve gotta go.”

I'm really curious, now, but I know that Aiden doesn't make me any promises he doesn't intend to keep.

“Okay, okay. I love you.”

“Love you, too, Keane.”

I stop and stand still for a minute, savoring those words. Then I set off again, walking through the drizzle towards Kent’s house.

Aiden’s little attic apartment is dark, empty, quiet. I let myself in and go to his bedroom, then make some small adjustments to the flowers in my hands, making sure they look how I want them to.

After I saved Aiden’s Tree, he surprised me with flowers, then mentioned off-handedly that he’d never had anyone do the same for him. I know he didn’t think too much about it, but I promised myself that I would get flowers for him, one day. Surprise him with them.

After the last forty-eight hours we’ve had, today felt like the right day. I spent the better part of my late-night shift getting the bouquet just right. I tried to make it like sunrise, full of soft and creamy colors, full of light and air.

I had intended to put it into Aiden’s hands, but instead I place it against his pillow. I scrawl out a note - For you, Sugar Maple - then head out into the rain again, making for my own apartment.

I wish that Aiden and I could be together tonight, but after that phone call, I’m feeling loved, warm all over. It’s hard to be too upset.

And the flowers will be there waiting for him, when he gets home.