Chapter Text
‘You’re insufferable.’ Patrick rolled his eyes and kissed Tim, as he held up the pumpkin.
‘I’m sorry I’m what?’
‘Insufferable is Patrick for ‘I can’t live without you.’’ David winked from the candle display.
‘Being insufferable is Tim’s love language.’ Mark quipped from where he was tangled in fairy lights ‘Also what the fuck is wrong with these?!’ he asked exasperated.
‘David put them away.’ Patrick grinned, ‘Take it up with him.’
‘I put them away in a perfectly reasonable manner.’ David rolled his eyes.
‘Then get over here and reasonably untangle them.’ Mark insisted.
David obeyed sensing this was a battle to concede, and likely if he wanted them hung how he wanted them, then he’d have to help. Patrick and Tim disappeared into the back room to sort the inventory for the Thanksgiving Open Mic. He’d bickered with his husband that ‘Thanksgiving’ wasn’t exactly an open mic theme, but only half heartedly. He knew it was more than that. It was a year since last year and all the worry of his cancer. It was, as ever, the time he couldn’t help but think of his dad. It felt heavier this year than last in some ways. So David appreciated him throwing himself into the festivities. It was what Patrick did after all.
Mark handed him one end and started untangling.
‘How’s he doing?’ he asked with an air of forced casualness as Tim and Patrick disappeared into the storeroom
‘Up and down.’ David said honestly, ‘He’s quiet, which is never good with him. He retreats in until he breaks and well…’ he shrugged. ‘But busy helps and I don’t want to take that off him.’
‘Tim will talk to him.’ Mark said ‘Year from diagnosis, it’s always tough. He still gets... sombre...every year the date of his diagnosis. And Patrick has his dad on top of that.’
‘Thanksgiving. We make it super fun!’ David gestured with the lights and tangled them more. ‘Oops.’ he said.
Mark rolled his eyes and they worked in silence for a bit. David enjoyed the quiet with him, it was a space like with Patrick that just felt ‘right’ to borrow his husband’s term. Yes David could talk for North America, but he could also be quiet with Patrick, and the same feeling with Mark was what drew him to him. That he mused, and how unfeasibly handsome he was. He found himself now, watching him work on the lights, watching his hands work the cord, both delicate and masculine at once. He occasionally realised he had a thing for hands...the way Patrick’s were stronger, more powerful than his long fingers pleased him. Mark’s too had that energy. Similar too to his husband Mark had big powerful arms, longer limbed than Patrick, but with his sleeves rolled up now, David appreciated the curve of muscle on his forearm. He glanced up, of course, Mark’s handsome face didn’t hurt either, classically so he had ridiculous cheekbones and a cheeky charming smile. David stared now at the concentration on his face, his silver-streaked hair falling in his eyes. He pushed it back and looked over.
‘What are you staring at?’ Mark grinned but also blushed.
‘Just admiring a man at work.’ David grinned back and winked. Things had been so weighted and emotional at first, but they’d now settled into some flirty banter that lightened things. They’d realised it was ok to find each other attractive, to enjoy that side of things. In the last few months too they’d relaxed into an easy routine. One where they spent most of their free time as a four, sometimes more with Tim liking to help out at the Store. They went on ‘date nights’ as a four where anyone else would simply mistake them for four friends double-dating. They went to events in the town together, and Mark and Tim effortlessly fit into life here. On the intimacy side too, things just fell into place. With the four of them falling into bed more often than in pairs lately, but still having moments of ‘alone time’ as and when the mood took them. That part had got easier, asking for what they wanted, David reasoned. He’d noticed too he felt more connected to Patrick there, and in life. ‘Being happy’ Patrick had called it teasingly, but they were. They were, he reasoned and he grinned at Mark again, dopily, in a grin he thought he’d reserved only for Patrick.
Mark leaned over and kissed him, a little more than a friendly kiss, David dropped the lights on his end and let himself get pulled in, smiling into it. The bell chimed at the door.
‘Um I was told this was a ‘setting up the Open Mic’ evening not a ‘make out on top of the candles’ evening.’ Stevie declared.
‘Maybe it’s both.’ David said, pulling back from Mark.
‘Get back to work.’ Mark commanded.
‘Ooh I like it when he’s bossy.’ Stevie grinned.
‘So does David!’ Tim’s voice came from the back room.
‘So do you, honey.’ Mark yelled back.
‘Didn’t say I didn’t.’
‘I’m sorry clearly I mistook ‘Open Mic’ for some kind of kink-fest.’
‘Kink-Fest?’ David said ‘I thought that was Jake’s department.’
‘Oh it is.’ she said, folding her arms. ‘And he’s good at it too.’
‘Ew.’ David said. ‘The less I know about yours and Jake’s now fourteen-year affair of sexual debauchery the better.’
‘He gives me what I need.’ Stevie shrugged. ‘You lot know about that.’
‘Oh believe me we do.’ Tim said, emerging from the back room with supplies and a wink at Patrick.
‘Why are you winking at me? Don’t drag me down with you.’
‘Oh, he likes that too.’ David quipped ‘Especially if you like hold-’
‘DAVID ROSE.’ Patrick glared.
‘Brewer-Rose, you co-own this.’ David smirked with a toss of his head.
‘Enough! All of you!’ Stevie said ‘Or at least give a woman a drink if I have to listen to this.’
‘An excellent plan.’ Tim said checking with Patrick who nodded at him before he went to the wine. Stevie looked satisfied as she was poured a glass of red by Tim with a wink.
She was of course the first to find out about them. David is unable to keep a secret at the best of times from her. But she’d caught him and Mark hugging goodbye, and something in David’s face must have betrayed something because she fixed him with her best ‘what is going on’ glare. And it had come tumbling out. He’d cried leaning on the counter in the Store, explaining how deeply he loved Mark and Tim, how deeply Patrick did, and how messed up and sad it was. And how scared he was. He hadn’t confessed to anyone just how scared he was. Of it going wrong, of what the future held for them all, for protecting his husband and himself, but also the other two men they loved. Stevie had listened and nodded and then said simply ‘it took you long enough to find one person to love you, don’t give up two more.’ he’d nodded and resolved to give it his all, if Stevie believed in them, then he could do it.
Since then in typical Stevie fashion, she’d just accepted it. Patrick had told him she’d said it made sense for them and confessed she was jealous- them having more than one person to love them. Not for the first time, David worried about her too, worried maybe she didn’t let herself feel whatever she needed to feel to find someone. But also knowing that Stevie was fully Stevie and that she was all things considered happy on her own. With occasional help from Jake.
They settled into actually working- and drinking- making the place look ‘festive’ as well as setting up the space for the following night- they had found people liked to come and hang out and drink right after Store hours and who were they to argue with that. So they set up everything but the chairs ready for the next night. Patrick turned the lights on with a flourish.
‘Tah dah!’ he grinned, David grinned back, looking around the Store. Even after all these years, he was proud of what they’d created. As much as he mocked too, that the community had embraced things like the Open Mic nights made him happy.
Patrick grinned back at him and he went to his husband and kissed him fiercely until Stevie told them to get a room.
‘We have plenty.’
‘Then go home and use them.’ she downed her wine.
‘You’re cranky, do we need to call Jake?’ David teased.
‘No need. Pre-Thanksgiving drinks at his tomorrow.’ she winked.
‘Ew tell me he doesn't have pumpkin lube.’
‘Goodnight.’ Stevie neither confirmed nor denied. She hugged Tim tightly and Mark, finally Patrick. ‘Looks amazing.’ she said.
‘Don’t blow off our open mic for blowing Jake.’ David warned allowing her to hug him.
‘Wouldn’t dare.’ she said then quiet ‘Take care of him, he looks tired.’
David squeezed her. For all the teasing, for all the walls, she was perceptive, and she looked out for them- all of them- now.
They spent a few minutes clearing up the Store, with Patrick fastidious as ever setting everything out for Katie to open up in the morning, even though she’d done it dozens of times- usually following David’s less than fastidious clearing up. David let him, fussing with his scarf in the mirror they’d hung by the counter ‘for customers’ but mostly for his grooming Patrick teased him. Mark wrapped himself around David’s neck and kissed his cheek.
‘Beautiful as ever.’ he teased ‘C’mon home time.’
‘Coming over for a nightcap?’ David asked as they walked to the car.
‘Better not.’ Tim said ‘I’m teaching a class tomorrow and Mark has an early meeting.’
He was back teaching some classes in Elmdale now he was stable and feeling ok. Mark too was able to take on more clients now things were steady. David nodded and leaned over kissing them both goodnight. Tim embraced Patrick tightly, holding on for a long while before kissing him goodnight.
‘Get some sleep.’ he said.
David let Patrick lead him back to the car, halfway there something clicked. Tim knew what night it was. Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and so what tomorrow morning was. 6.47 tomorrow morning to be exact.
‘Oh.’ he said out loud.
‘David?’ Patrick stopped at the car ‘Did you forget something?’
‘No, no it’s fine.’ he said getting in the car ‘I’m tired. Let’s get an early night.’
‘I thought you wanted to watch that show? The one about the fashion interns with impossibly expensive clothes given they earn no money.’
‘Do it tomorrow.’ David gave an exaggerated yawn. ‘Busy few days anyway.’
‘Ok.’ Patrick shrugged, getting in the car.
They went to bed early, and Patrick did persuade David to watch the show he wanted, which he did curled up around him while Patrick read, one eye on it asking occasional questions that got him eye rolls and pokes in the ribs. By 10 pm they were settling down to sleep, David making sure he was holding firmly onto his husband.
Their early night lasted until 4 am. Which was an improvement on some years. Patrick woke up gasping for breath, with David talking to him softly until he came back to reality with a crash. David carried on talking quietly about nothing, rubbing circles on his back while he caught his breath. Then he grabbed his own fluffy robe and wrapped it around Patrick, smelling of all his skincare products and faintly of the Store too.
They moved to the sofa and David wordlessly handed his husband a whiskey, which he took his hands still shaking. David draped himself over him until everything slowed a bit. Patrick shifted and settled into his lap, one eye on the tv, sipping his drink occasionally. It wasn’t until 5 am Patrick spoke.
‘I’m scared David.’ he said quietly, over the sound of the TV with an old hockey game playing quietly.
‘Of what?’ he asked, one hand under the robe, stroking Patrick’s hair down gently. He could guess, but Patrick needed to work through it out loud.
‘That we’ll have to go through it again.’ he said ‘This time last year we had no idea…’ he trailed off thinking about it. A year ago, he’d not been officially diagnosed but he knew, really that he had cancer. A year ago he had no idea that the surgery would go just wrong enough to scare David half to death. He had no idea how hard recovery would be. He had no idea that chemo would make him sometimes wish things so dark he still couldn’t quite admit them.
‘We had no idea.’ David agreed. ‘It was hard. Not just on your body.’ he kissed Patrick’s hair. Which was back to normal now, but like his dad’s had post-chemo, streaked with white. David loved it and made sure to tell him often. So much had changed for them both this last year.
They’d both seen tough times but it was the first time he’d seen anything really break his husband. ‘I’m more scared of...that side of things.’ he confessed. He’d also come close to breaking. They’d got through but it wasn’t easy.
‘I promise to never let either of us get that far without asking for help.’ Patrick took his hand, entwining their fingers and playing with them lightly, a sure sign he was thinking. ‘Maybe I need a bit more help still, with that, than I thought.’
‘Oh, sweetheart.’ David said, kissing his neck. ‘I didn’t know.’
Patrick shook his head, and sat up so he could see David.
‘I didn’t. Not until this week.’ he shook his head, trying to formulate a coherent thought ‘It’s like my brain is in overdrive and crashing all at once. Sometimes I can’t think at all, it’s like cotton wool. Other times I can’t stop thinking.’ he swallowed ‘I know it’s the time of year, but I can feel the paranoia-no the obsession, that’s what it is- with ‘am I ill’ creeping in.’ he looked down ‘I’ve been checking my body for lumps, obsessively. Like over and over again every day.’ he looked up at David looking a bit lost, and a lot sad ‘I’m googling things and analysing everything that comes out of my body, and whether I’m breathing right and…’
‘I didn’t know.’ David said quietly, ‘But now I do, we can get through it yeah?’
Patrick nodded. The anxiety about his health was a sure sign things had got out of control. He’d stopped taking his anxiety medication back in the spring- with their therapist’s agreement- and life had been so good, but the last three weeks had sent him plummeting back.
‘I’m ok. I’ll get through the weekend. Busy is good, and when I’m distracted, I think about it less.’
‘That’s good.’ David said, reaching a hand behind his neck. ‘Open Mic night, then your mom gets here you’ll be so busy and distracted by trying to feed everyone it’ll feel better.’ he knew that was the case with Patrick, give him a focus he got out of his own head and out of his own way. It wouldn’t solve the things that he needed help with but short term it would get it through.
‘I really miss Mom.’ he said looking sad again ‘Is that silly? I’m a grown-up I-’
‘I miss my mom all the time.’ David interrupted ‘Tell her that and I will divorce you. But I miss her and Dad. More than ever after all…’
Patrick nodded and lay back down, curling into David again. He felt him pull the blanket over him as well and he sighed closing his eyes.
‘What?’ David asked, sensing him thinking.
‘I wish they could stay for the weekend too.’ Patrick said, tracing a pattern on David’s chest with his fingers. Mark and Tim would of course be around most of the time, but with his mom in the spare room or ‘their room’ as it had so quickly become, there wasn’t space. Also, that involved a conversation he wasn’t sure they were at yet. One that deep down was playing on his mind. More than that though he knew both of them needed their best friends this weekend, because this, as much as it was Patrick’s ‘thing’ was also affecting David. He felt him kiss his hair.
‘Me too.’ he said, ‘but we’ll make time together ok? Even if it’s just hiding in the office while Stevie stands guard.’
Patrick laughed at the image, them sneaking around behind everyone’s backs all weekend. In truth it wouldn’t be any different to how they’d been before- they’d been tactile and affectionate with each other from the start. In retrospect it possibly was inevitable this is where they’d end up, but it had been slow, Patrick had never felt so at ease with touching or holding someone, even kissing them, as he had Tim and Mark, apart from David. Again that feeling of ‘right’ should have given it away, but it hadn’t until it hit him all at once. He smiled at the thought.
‘I’m glad we have them.’ Patrick said softly, ‘Not just this weekend but…’
‘Me too.’ David agreed, watching Patrick close his eyes. He pulled the blankets over them a bit tighter, resting a hand on the back of Patrick’s head, before closing his own eyes for a bit.
They dozed for an hour or so, David’s steady breathing under him was comforting and he drifted off, waking again at 6.30. He waited for the clock to tick over to 6.47 and subconsciously tightened his grip on David, who stirred just as he started to cry. Eleven years, since the worst phone call of his life, and one year since he was the most scared he’d ever been. He cried softly into David’s t-shirt for a little while, feeling his hand on his back, knowing David always just let him get it out. Reliving that moment where his mom had called with the news, feeling the stuff he mostly filed away the rest of the year. He heard a noise and realised it was the front door.
‘Just us.’ Mark’s voice called softly.
Patrick sat up, to see Mark and Tim, both still in pyjamas, with coats over the top coming in. Tim shrugged off his coat and handed it to his husband.
‘I suggested calling but was vetoed.’ Mark smiled, coming into the living room properly, and perching next to David, kissing his cheek, and looping an arm over him. Tim hurried over to Patrick’s side and sat down next to him.
‘You can’t give someone a hug through the phone.’ he said doing just that.
Patrick felt himself pulled into a hug, and a fresh wave of tears took over him, this time in gratitude, that they would get up early, just so they could give him a hug when he needed it. He felt David’s hand on his back, and Tim pulled back and kissed him lightly, then used the sleeves of his pyjamas to wipe his face.
‘Didn’t think we’d leave you alone this morning did you?’ he said.
‘You’ve got work.’ Patrick sniffed.
‘Brought our clothes to change into.’ Mark supplied. ‘Plenty of time. Why don’t I make us breakfast.’
He got up and came over to Patrick first, pulling him into a tight hug, and kissing the top of his head.
‘Eggs?’ he asked with a tilt of his head.
Patrick nodded, knowing looking after people was very much Mark’s love language, cooking perhaps more so. David rubbed a hand across his back and got up to help Mark in the kitchen.
Knowing maybe Patrick needed Tim for some of this. They didn’t speak right away, instead, Tim pulled him in for another kiss before sitting back letting Patrick pull his legs up on the sofa and lean his head on Tim’s shoulder, arm across his stomach. The ache in his chest eased slightly. He’d got through this moment at least.
‘Thanks for coming.’ he said quietly, feeling suddenly very small and vulnerable.
‘Of course.’ Tim said ‘I know you like to work through this stuff alone, but maybe sometimes...a bit of moral support?’
Patrick looked up and him and nodded, then allowed himself to be pulled down into Tim’s side, feeling him rearrange the blankets over them both. Patrick found his hand under them and held on. He liked that Tim knew he didn’t have it in him to talk just yet, but that also he needed him there.
In the kitchen, Mark went to the fridge and got out eggs and butter and milk, while David measured coffee. They worked quietly, David realising with a small smile Mark knew better than he did where the pans were in the kitchen.
‘Thanks.’ he said softly ‘For this.’
‘Just making eggs.’ Mark said with a shrug and a smile. He glanced over and tilted his head ‘You needed us.’ he said simply, accepting it as fact. ‘It’s what you do.’
‘He didn’t tell me.’ David said into the coffee maker ‘The day it happened? Until the evening. He couldn’t figure out how- no he had to figure it out in his head first-he thought I was mad at him. For not saying.’
‘He keeps it inside.’ Mark said ‘Until he has it all figured out. I get that.’ he whisked the eggs looking thoughtful. ‘Tim was on a work trip-some conference in Vancouver- when my mom died. It was the first in months, he’d been going through treatment again and I couldn't ruin it for him. So I let him call me, talk about the theatre dorks at his conference, talk about the dinner and the speeches. I even let him drunk call me. He called at 2 am, apologising, when I was up, on my fifth whiskey my eyes almost swollen shut from crying.’
‘How did you tell him?’ David asked.
Mark laughed, ‘I sent him a text. From the airport. I couldn’t say it.’ he shook his head and poked the eggs, ‘Poor guy got off a plane to a text saying ‘Mom died, I’m waiting by the Second Cup stand in the lobby.’
David laughed, but came over and wrapped himself around Mark’s waist, resting his head on his shoulder.
‘I had two coffees and a muffin- because he’s always hungry. And he said ‘Honey you didn’t need to get coffee your mom died.’ and I cried on him in the middle of the airport coffee shop, and the barista came over with fresh coffees because ours went cold while I cried.’ he stopped stirring and David kissed his shoulder waiting. ‘I really miss her.’ Mark said quietly.
David didn’t say anything, he just stood there a while holding him, until Mark kissed his hair and poked the eggs again. They quietly got breakfast ready and called Patrick and Tim through. David did a quick check of his husband, who looked ok for someone who had been up since four and spent a good couple of hours crying. He smiled softly and nodded. David knew what he meant ‘I’m ok for now.’ That was how Patrick got through, bursts of ok and bursts of not. David envied that a bit. He knew whenever anything as major as losing a parent happened he’d be very much not ok, and only not ok probably for a while. The thought scared him too, just how far down that road he might go. Just what version of him his husband might see, what might happen to him.
‘David?’ Tim’s voice cut through. ‘David I said pass the yoghurt?’
‘Oh sorry.’ David shook his head and shoved some egg in his mouth to avoid the silent question Patrick threw at him. Instead, his husband grinned.
‘Are you two ready for the Corn Maze challenge tomorrow?’
David groaned, grinning genuinely now. Ever since that first Thanksgiving eleven years ago they’d gone to the local Fall Festival. Which was really nothing more than a few rides in a farmer’s field. But they had an array of baked goods, and once or twice he’d even found new suppliers for the Store there. And the Corn Maze. Patrick challenged him to a race every year. And every year he won. But he had to protest still.
‘I will win.’ Patrick declared with a wink.
‘You tell yourself that.’ David grinned.
‘What’s the loser’s forfeit?’ Tim asked with a grin.
‘Buying the snacks.’ Patrick grinned ‘Though David has had more creative suggestions.’
‘I bet he has.’ Mark grinned.
‘Maybe we add that in.’ Tim smirked ‘Buy snacks and does whatever the winner wants...that night.’ he winked.
‘Wait are we doing this as a team sport situation?’ Patrick asked.
‘Are we still talking about the maze?’ Tim winked.
‘This is quite enough filth for the breakfast table’ Mark rolled his eyes. Then smirked ‘But obviously this is an individual event, therefore the winner gets full creative control over the rewards.’
He got up with a flourish and spun around to the sink.
‘I don’t like his tone.’ Patrick narrowed his eyes ‘That’s a man with a plan.’
‘Many.’ Mark winked and kissed Patrick’s cheek ‘Husband, get dressed, we need to get you to work.’
A little while later the house was quiet again, Patrick emerged from the shower towelling his hair, enjoying there was now hair enough to towel off. He had on his underwear and nothing else and he caught David’s eyes flick appreciatively over his body as he came into the bedroom. His husband was it had to be said lounging on their bed, also in his underwear.
‘That does not look like getting dressed.’ Patrick said ‘In fact, it’s the very opposite, it’s fewer clothes than I left you with.’
‘I might have told Katie we’ll be late. Thanksgiving emergency.’
‘What emergency is that?’ Patrick asked, folding his arms and leaning on the doorway.
‘The ‘it’s about to be really busy for four days and I want another hour in bed with my husband.’ David shrugged.
‘I see, I see.’ Patrick said ‘This hour in bed, is it for catching up with sleep on account of how busy we’re going to be?’
‘I had something a bit more...invigorating in mind.’
‘Ah now there’s the problem David.’ Patrick had to grin when he looked aghast. ‘That’s going to take more than an hour.’
‘Oh, it will?’ David grinned.
‘Good thing I told Katie two days ago we’d be in at lunchtime today.’ Patrick pushed himself off the wall and walked to the bed, pleased at his husband’s aghast look. ‘Figured, make the most of our last alone time for a few days.’ he leaned in and kissed him lightly, teasingly.
The Store was steadily busy that day, which was good. It reminded him of eleven years earlier, but in a reassuring way, in a kind of life goes on way. It was only towards the end of the day when things slowed down Patrick’s mind started to wander. David came out of the backroom and draped himself over his shoulders.
‘It’s ok to be sad.’ he said, kissing his cheek.
‘I know.’ Patrick said quietly. ‘I just wish I wasn’t.’
David spun him gently around, dipping down a little. ‘Be sad. And be happy. And eat pie and whatever else, and we will get through it together like we do every year ok?’
Patrick nodded. ‘I love you.’ he smiled.
‘Love you too.’ David smiled.
They closed up quietly, the familiar routine doing Patrick’s mind good, falling into it easily. Until he found himself with a crate of tomatoes. He remembered David wanting to throw them at him that day and he laughed, remembering his indignance at whatever he’d decided Patrick had done wrong. That David was ready to pelt him with the tomatoes for being grumpy with him all day. And that he’d sat there on the floor surrounded by vegetables on the worst day of his life.
Before he knew it David was taking the box off him and wrapping him up in a hug, and he was wrapping his arms around his waist and crying.
‘I didn’t cry that day.’ he sniffed into David’s soft sweater.
‘I know.’ David said, stroking his hair.
‘I wish I’d cried.’ he said quietly.
He was aware of the Store bell going and he panicked for a split second that someone would see.
‘We thought it was time to take you both home.’ Tim’s voice came from behind him. ‘You’re both working far too hard.’
Patrick felt handed off to Tim, and pulled into him. He didn’t even get a chance to look at him before he was pulled into a hug.
‘I’ll get your stuff.’ Mark’s voice came from somewhere over his head. He was still crying and he didn’t really know why anymore. But Tim was there, and David was still with him. In a blur, they locked up, with him still tucked under Tim’s arm.
‘I don’t know why I cried.’ he said quietly ‘I don’t normally...more than once.’ it was true, normally he got a bit upset first thing, and powered on. More a quiet sadness than actually crying in his husband’s arms. Or Tim’s, he didn’t deserve to see that. ‘I’m sorry guys.’ Patrick said to Mark and Tim.
‘Hey, it’s not Thanksgiving until you cry.’ Mark said, giving his arm a squeeze. ‘Now my husband suggested a new tradition on the way home, ‘pre-Thanksgiving pizza pyjama party’ what do you say to that?’
‘I say Tim is a very wise man.’ David said finishing locking the door and taking his husband back from Tim, tucking Patrick under his arm. ‘See you at home?’
They nodded. Then Mark stopped. ‘Wait which home?’
Patrick grinned, they possibly needed to come up with some labels for things.
‘Come to us.’ he offered ‘Stay until Sunday maybe when my mom comes. You know as that means a few days…’ he shrugged, still awkward about it occasionally.
‘David, order pizza. Husband, drive us home for clothes and wine supplies. Pizza O’Clock in one hour.’ Tim declared.
‘I like a new tradition.’ David mused as they walked to the car.
‘You just like pizza.’ Patrick replied with a grin.