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“Listen, right? Just hear me out.” Paul says as they walk into the dining area at the station.
They’d just gotten back from a call, so everyone was eager for some downtime before the next one. “I think I’d make a great best man,” Ah yes, that. Ever since TK and Carlos announced their engagement all his friends have begun dropping hints here and there about being the best man or woman. However, the hints are becoming less subtle and more in his face. He doesn’t mind them, in fact, sometimes he finds them quite humorous. It’s just he’s beginning to feel pressure to choose. And they all seem to want the title. So as Paul talks, TK walks with him, listening.
“I’m reliable as hell, I can make sure everything runs smoothly, and I’m cool calm, and collected. I’ve got this.”
TK barely has a second to respond let alone process the words when Nancy bumps his shoulder beside him. “Hell, no. Us paramedics gotta stick together.” Was Carlos also dealing with this? Were people battling it out?
“Whoa steady on.” Marjan jumps in. “Best Woman was clearly a title made for me.”
“Everyone can hold their breath, there’s no doubt I’ll be the best man.”
TK tilts his head in confusion at him. “Why do you sound so sure of that?” Does he know something he doesn’t?
“We lived together, man. We’re like brothers.”
“You’re all like my family, that’s why it’s so hard to make a decision.”
“Oh,” Mateo frowns. “So I’m not the best man?”
“Sorry, bud.”
Lost in thought he sits at the table weighing the pros and cons in his head. When Marjan stands waving. “Carlos, can you tell TK I’m the right choice for the best woman?”
Carlos stops adjusting to the chaos he just walked in on. “Hello, nice to see you too.”
TK forgets about everything as Carlos sits beside him. He kisses his cheek quickly before nabbing the bag of food in his hand. “Oooh, what do we have today?”
“Man! No fair, why don’t you ever bring us any food.”
Carlos quirks a brow. “Last I checked I was engaged to only one of you, therefore he gets the lunch.”
“And I am forever grateful.” TK steals a kiss on the lips before setting out their food.
Once comfortable, Carlos leans in asking. “What did I walk in on before?”
TK swallows his mouthful of food, “Oh that,” He laughs halfheartedly. “They all want to be the best man or woman at our wedding and are constantly trying to convince me who it should be.” He rests his head on Carlos’ shoulder. “It was funny at first, now, it’s a little much sometimes.”
“So why don’t you choose?”
“I would if I had made up my mind.” TK plays with his food. “I thought about asking Enzo but he doesn’t live here and it may be hard for him to make it to everything needed and then with all of them, well I don’t want to disappoint anyone.”
“I’m sure you won't, they’ll get that only one of them can be in that role.”
“I didn’t think it would be so hard to choose, you know.”
“Why don’t you make it a sort of competition? Set tasks for them and at the end you decide who did the best and they’ll be the best man or woman?”
TK raised a singular brow. “You the control freak want to leave my best man or woman up to chance?”
Carlos shakes his head smiling. “I’m not that controlling. Plus it might be fun to witness them battle it out.”
TK sits with the idea for a few minutes before saying to hell with it. Looking up he finds everyone but himself and Carlos in the kitchen bickering over who would be best and somehow Judd is mixed up in this mess as well.
“Hey,” TK gets their attention. “You lot really want this role?”
“Duh,”
“Yes,”
“Was it not obvious?”
Okay then. “Since I can’t decide, Carlos has come up with an idea to have you compete for it. You in?” They all nod, except Judd. He waves him off saying, “Whatever y’all have in store just ain’t worth it.”
So that leaves, Mateo, Paul, Marjan, and Nancy. In a perfect life, he’d have them all up there in some form for his wedding. But only one of them can fill the spot.
“How are everyone’s smoothie-making skills?” TK asks. “Make me your best smoothie.” and with that chaos ensues. TK sits back amused. “You know what, this might just be a good idea.”
Carlos chuckles. “Just don’t let the power go to your head.”
“Oh never,” TK says with mock seriousness.
“You know at least none of the smoothies could be as bad as your dad's that time I came in.”
TK laughs, “Oh god I know, they’re awful. I’m surprised it didn’t scare you off.”
“You’re stuck with me I’m afraid, I can handle a few awful smoothies.”
TK leans closer dropping his chin on Carlos’ shoulder. “I’m more than okay with that.”
A glass full of purple is placed in front of him. “Enough of the sappy stuff, try my smoothie.” Nancy slides the glass closer. TK eyes it carefully which causes Nancy to roll her eyes. “The idea is to win, why would I make something awful.” Okay, she had a point.
It tasted really good, but he couldn’t let her know that, not yet. Everyone else places their glasses down meanwhile the kitchen looks like a rainbow threw up. Whoops. Good thing his dad was in his office.
Before he could try anymore the bell rang, and the smoothies were instantly forgotten.
“TK, get over here, we need to have a chat.” Paul waves him over. TK, slightly concerned, follows. “What’s up?”
“You know what’s up.” Okay, so he might know what's up. He may or may not have had them competing for over two weeks and still hadn’t decided. He doesn’t want to disappoint anyone. Carlos says he won’t but he doesn’t see them every shift vying for the position. “Come with me,” Paul begins to walk to the main area and TK reluctantly follows. He's beginning to feel like he is in trouble. And as he expected everyone is gathered on the couch eyes watching him walk closer. Not intimidating at all. “What’s up?” He says with his best smile. It always seems to work on Carlos, maybe it’d work on them. Apparently not, as no one’s expression changes.
“Nah uh, none of that. We mean business.” Mateo folds his arms over his chest.
Marjan adds, “This has gone on too long. You’ve had us make smoothies, give you practice speeches for your wedding, and a mock trial run of the wedding day to see how we react to everything going wrong, and a number of other things.” Well TK wanted to argue the last one was very important but chose to save that for another day.
“You need to decide,” Nancy states, “Now.”
His eyes cast over Mateo, Nancy, Paul, Marjan, and Judd – Wait. “Why are you here? You bowed out.”
“We wanted him for moral support,” Mateo replies.
Judd quirks a brow, “They said you’d be more likely to answer if I were here, don’t know how they figured that though.”
“Cause you’re like our older brother and a little intimidating,” Mateo adds.
“You calling me old?”
“What? No, no - I.” A sigh of defeat leaves Mateo.
“Look that’s not important.” Marjan interrupts. “TK’s decision is what needs to be discussed here.” Shit, okay. Glancing at his watch he was pleased to see it was his end of shift. Trying to slowly move backward he cast a glance around, “Look as much as I’d love to stay and chat I forgot I’m making dinner for Carlos tonight.” He smiles awkwardly. “So, I best be off.” He shoots his thumb over his back.
Nancy chuckles. "That’d be believable if Carlos didn’t do all the cooking in your household.”
“Hey! I cook. Sometimes. I think I’m not too bad at it. My salads are always a hit with him.”
“Yeah well, you can make his salad later. We need an answer.”
TK stopped, pursed his lips weighing all his options for escape realizing he was just gonna have to make a run for it. “Yeah, no can’t do that. Bye.” and bolted for the exit hearing a wave of disgruntled words as he left.
“TK what the hell!”
“Seriously, TK?”
“You can’t run from this decision.” Watch me, he thought. Lastly, he heard Judd say, “Why do I work with y’all again?”
Only once he was out and a few hundred meters away he realized he’d left his bag which had his house keys. Luckily he had his phone on him.
TK: Hey baby, you in the area?
Fiancé <3: I happen to be about 5 minutes away from the station, why?
TK: You free?
Fiancé <3: Yeah…
TK: Can you drop off the house key for me? I don’t have mine.
Fiancé <3: Yeah of course, but didn’t you have it this morning?
TK: Yeah, it’s a long story.
Fiancé <3: Okay, I’ll be there in a couple of minutes
As promised he drove up a little over two minutes later. Jogging over to his cruiser he opened the door and leaned in on the driver's side. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey,” He leaned in for a kiss. “Want to tell me how you lost your key?”
TK shuffled on his feet. “I didn’t.”
A frown pulled his brows down, “So why don’t you have your key?”
“Well,” TK’s voice went up in pitch. “You see, everyone was demanding an answer from me for the wedding and I panicked and ran.” He pulls his teeth through his lip. “So, yeah.”
Carlos tries and fails miserably at hiding his smile. “Oh baby, so you just ran and left everyone sitting there?”
“Sure did.” He smiles awkwardly smacking his head. “Why am I like this.”
Carlos shakes his head laughter bubbling up, “God, I love you.”
TK beamed. “I love you, too.”
“Do you want me to go get your bag?”
His eyes widened. “You’d do that?”
“Yes, I’d do that,” He pulls him closer dropping a kiss on the side of his head. “But babe, they’re going to need an answer at some point.”
TK drops his forehead to Carlos’ shoulder, a sigh rattling his chest. “I know,” he pulls back even though all he wants to do is nuzzle in for a cuddle. “I will, just not today.”
“Alright, I’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” TK replies but before he can walk off he quickly adds. “Oh, and if they ask I’m making you a salad tonight.”
Carlos tilts his head, “I thought were having dinner with my parents tonight?”
“We are, but I used that as my excuse,”
Carlos chuckles, “Your excuse needs some work,”
TK waves him off, “Yeah, yeah.” He sighs, “And make sure you tell them you love my cooking.”
Even more perplexed Carlos says, “I’ll sing your praises.”
“Well, not too much otherwise it won’t be believable.”
“Do you want me to get your bag or not?”
“Yes, yes, sorry.”
“So let me just make sure this is right. We are having salad for dinner, a salad I love but not too much, and grab your bag while I’m at it?”
“That’s it,” TK gives him a thumbs up.
“Never a dull day with you my love,” Carlos left to get his bag while TK wondered how he’d deal with them next shift. Maybe he could move fire stations? No that was far too dramatic even for him. No, by the next shift he’d have a decision for them.