“I knew you could do it. I knew it.”

Tom nodded, looked out over the city, took a sip of his ginger beer. “Yeah. Turns out I could.”

“I’m...” Theo cleared his throat, a little tight. “I am glad you came up. Glad Gabbi’s at Gwynns. She can look out for Jasper.”

“Don’t count on it. She’s got a hell of a temper, just like Josie.” Tom rolled his eyes, his frustration exaggerated and feigned. So pleased with his partner, their child.

“How is Josephine? I was sorry not to see her.”

“Couldn’t leave the restaurant. Thinks the whole place would burn down without her.”

Theo laughed. “She’s a strong woman.”

“Damn right.” Tom smiled, and it was just as tender and wondering as the first day he realized he loved her. Then—“Sorry about Alexia.”

It was Theo’s turn to look away, letting his eyes wander over the city.

“Yes, well. She said something that—well, she told me it was about time. Time for me to...” He felt an awful twinge of sorrow and guilt-ridden relief.

Tom’s face was unusually shrewd. “You did love her.”

“I do.” Theo nodded, sure of his answer. “Just not the way a husband should love his wife. Not like you and Josephine.”

Tom shook his head. “Still can’t get that woman to marry me. We own a whole-ass restaurant together and she still says she needs her independence.”

“Even so. You both...”

“Yeah. We belong to each other.”

God, how that hurt.

A moment of silence then, which had always been comfortable between them. That quiet was welcome, a reminder of a friendship which had endured so much pain, so many challenges. Theo settled into the couch, and Tom watched him, thoughtful, until he spoke again.

“You talk to Gardner?”

Theo felt his face freeze, his body tense. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I may not be a genius.” Tom shrugged. “But I’m not stupid.”

“I know.” Theo sighed. “Sorry. No, I didn’t. I don’t know if I want to. Ever.”

“Look.” Tom took a particularly determined swallow of his drink and set the glass down with an audible clink. “I know I’m better in the kitchen than anywhere else. Hell, I didn’t even know I loved Josie until she practically hit me in the head with a frying pan. But if you think I never noticed how you felt, you’re not giving me enough credit. I’ve known you since we were in diapers.”

Theo felt like an idiot, an entire fool in this thin blue air over Baltimore. That was one of the longest speeches he’d ever heard come out of Tom’s mouth, and yes, he had not considered that perhaps Tom was so silent because he noticed quite a lot and didn’t feel the need to say it.