Happenstance(94)

I like to think I’ve done her proud since then. When Crouch went to prison on kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder charges, among many others, I filled his vacant position as Local 401 union boss. I’m a lot busier these days, but nothing can or will stop me from making time for Elise. Or my brothers who love her as much as I do. We’re a family. And we don’t merely work, we thrive.

Now, I push off the bar and meet her halfway on the dancefloor, my pulse surging when she steps into my arms, somehow devilish and angelic at the same time in her long, white dress. She places her hand on my shoulder and I glance down at her ring, a wide gold band stamped with the outline of the Roosevelt Island tram. We each wear an identical one.

Tobias threatened to have his inscribed the Tram Fam.

We surprised him by having it done to all four.

“My Gabe,” she sighs, laying her cheek on my shoulder. “Do you ever wonder what would have happened if we hadn’t all been on Roosevelt Island that night?”

“I wonder all the time.” I wrap her more securely in my arms. We’re barely dancing, more just hugging and swaying slightly, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters is holding her. Absorbing as much of her as I can. “And I think we all would have met some other way. Maybe in a park. Or on a ferry. But it would have happened. Our paths would have crossed.”

“Yeah?”

She lifts her head, eyes sparkling. Radiating love, as always.

God, she never stops taking my breath away.

I can see both men in the distance watching her, and I know it’s the same for them.

She overwhelms us with her strength and beauty every single day.

Today she promised she always will.

“What makes you think we would have met no matter what?”

“Something this perfect can’t be happenstance,” I say confidently.

“I have to agree,” Tobias drawls, coming up behind Elise, planting a kiss on her bare shoulder. “Banks?”

“You’ll get no argument here,” Banks concurs.

“I’m glad we met exactly how we did,” Elise says, turning her head to receive a kiss from Banks. Then one from Tobias. And me. She gives me a little extra, since our dance has been interrupted. Not that I mind, she simply has a way of balancing everything out and she never, ever compromises. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Tobias shudders. “I could have done without the kidnapping.”

“Don’t remind us,” Banks and I say at the same time.

“I wouldn’t even change that. I would do everything exactly the same. Each little thing that led us right to this spot.” Her expression turns solemn. “Even your socks on my floor.”

I throw back my head and laugh.

We tried. We really did. Socks just kind of end up on the floor when three men are constantly disrobing in a hurry.

And we do. Frequently. In fact, we’re probably only going to last another fifteen minutes before we’re dragging Elise out the door to the limousine waiting to bring us to the airport for our honeymoon in St. Lucia. That’s if we don’t get her alone in a broom closet or a deserted hallway first. I didn’t think the need for her could get any more urgent than it was that first week together, but hell if it doesn’t deepen and grow more meaningful with every passing day.

We never fail to fuck her in a frenzy. The kind she screams for.

As if she has read our minds, her voice is breathy when she says, “I guess we should do the whole garter belt ceremony. Which one of you is going to take it off?”

She’s teasing. We know she’d insist on it being all three of us.

At least, she would if I hadn’t already stolen it.

I take the garter belt out of my pocket with an apologetic wince, dangling it between the four of us. Three mouths drop open simultaneously.

“Gabe!”



* * *



THE END