“What everything?” Bishop frowned. “Edison wants something a little more traditional, but I don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on some grand wedding. We’re just gonna keep it simple. We’ll have it in Edison’s backyard with family and friends. And, um… I’m gonna surprise him and write my own vows.”
Mike hugged his son. He was shocked and so damn proud. Bishop had made his boyfriend, schooling, and business his top priority, and it was paying off. In another few months, Bishop would be ready to start the GED prep courses. Once he obtained that, his son wanted to go to trade school for a horticulturist diploma.
“Aww, let me get in on this mushy shit.” Trent ran over and threw his arms around their backs, shoving his big head in between them. It was a very effective way to break up the moment.
“B, I haven’t been the best father your whole life. I’m not even the one you boys deserved, but I wanna do this one thing right by you.”
“Dad. Don’t talk stupid. You know that’s not how—”
“Let me finish. I’ve righted a few wrongs here and there with y’all, but nothing would make me a prouder father than to help my son give his fiancé the wedding he wants.”
“Dad, I don’t need you going into debt for this. You just bought a home last year. All Eddie wants is to be my husband.”
“I’m not talking about a five-member orchestra and live swans, damn. But I know a guy who owes me big, and I’ve been kinda saving this for you.”
Bishop ducked his head and shoved his hands into his pockets like he didn’t know what to do with them. “Saving what for me?”
“It’s a surprise, trust me.” Mike winked.
“Ah, shit,” Trent muttered, he and Bishop sharing the usual look of caution that brothers did.
Mike smirked. “It’ll still be simple, don’t worry. But I think you both deserve this. And since Edison’s father isn’t here, this would be a good way to maybe step into that role for him, you know. I don’t talk about how I feel, B, because I fuckin’ suck at it. But let me show my son-in-law how I feel about him the only way I know how.”
Bishop gave him another one-armed hug and mumbled against his shoulder, “All right, Dad. Let’s have a wedding.”
Trent clapped his hands. “I know I’m the best man, so that means I need to get to work on the bachelor party.”
Bishop tried to act like they were exhausting and irritating him with wedding talk, but his excitement was hard to conceal.
They got back to work after a little more wedding date talk and a whole lot of ribbing and teasing. Mike threw the last half-full bag of topsoil into the toolshed and used the water hose to rinse his hands and arms off. He was appreciative to have the help with his yard today, though he never minded working it on his own. It was his relaxing time. But he hadn’t done this with his boys in a while. Trent kept them laughing, and Bishop was phenomenal with his innovative ideas.
The guys had just finished helping Mike put the rest of his tools in the storage bin when he heard his truck pull into the garage. Rayne’s home. Those two words made Mike’s stomach do a somersault.
“I guess I better go help my new younger-than-me, sex-addicted stepdaddy bring in the groceries.” Bishop shoved Mike on his way past.
“How long are you assholes gonna obsess over Rayne’s age?” Mike gritted out, his cheeks heating when Trent laughed way too loud.
“Hey, you’re the one that turned our lives into a twisted reboot of The Young and the Restless, not me,” Bishop threw over his shoulder. “Deal with it.”