him hard enough, made a passingly polite observation about the person’s occupation or about the intricacies of a state legislature bill still in committee that had to do with naming baby farm animals. Later, when Hazard whispered something in Somers’s ear about calling in a bomb threat, Somers sent him over to the buffet, where Hazard scooped up a plateful of toasted ravioli and immediately got cornered by Charlene McDowell, who was seventy-six and whose last husband had been thirty-three. She looked like a purple, velour lioness and kept stroking her hair while she leaned closer and closer to Hazard.
When Noah and Rebeca arrived with Evie and their own gaggle of kids, Hazard took a second look at Noah and groaned so loudly that Somers had to elbow him again.
“He insisted,” Rebeca said, rolling her eyes. “He thinks he’s funny.”
“It’s a blue tux,” Noah said, plucking at the jacket and then gesturing to the spill of lace on his white shirt. “It’s hilarious.”
“It’s not your junior prom,” Hazard said.
“John-Henry,” Noah said, “tell him it’s funny.”
“It’s hilarious,” Somers said with a smile.
“He’s just humoring you,” Hazard said.
Somers elbowed him even harder that time.
Evie was wearing a pink dress that Somers had picked out, and she dominated the dance floor, demonstrating to anyone who would pay attention how well she could twirl in her skirt. Rebeca stuck close to her, which was good because most of the twirls ended in falls. Hazard leaned in and spoke quietly into Somers’s ear.
“No Cora?”
“No Nico?”
“Don’t do that.”
“I invited her,” Somers said. “I invited Nico too. I guess they couldn’t be bothered.”
“John.”
“Ok, that was bad. I know this would be hard. I know she’s totally within her rights not to come. But I couldn’t not invite her either, and she’s been so supportive . . .”
“It would be hard for anyone, John. Cut her some slack.”
Somers nodded. Hazard just squeezed his hand, and that helped.
When Dulac and Darnell worked their way through the line, Dulac saluted Somers so many times that Somers gave Hazard a nudge and said, “Make him go away for a while.”
“Gladly,” Hazard growled.
“Dude,” Dulac protested, gesturing to his injured arm. “Bro. Dude. Bro.” Then he seemed to think and added, “Dude.”
“Fine,” Somers said. “He can stay.”
“We’re not done moving yet, by the way,” Dulac said. “So you guys can be there in the morning after your gross old-man sex to help us finish.”
“No,” Hazard said.
“It’s the least you can do after thinking I was a fucking murderer, bro.” Then Dulac grinned. “How badass is that? I was your fucking number-one suspect.”
“You were a possible suspect,” Hazard said.
“You thought I was a stone-cold killer.”
“I mistakenly believed that in spite of all your past incompetency, you might have successfully committed a series of brutal murders.”
“Bro,” Dulac said, his eyes welling, “that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said.”
“Congratulations,” Darnell said; he still had dark circles under his eyes, and he moved slowly as he nudged Dulac along.
“Treat my boy right, Emery,” Dulac said, throwing his good arm around Somers. “Let him get that ass as often as he wants.”
Hazard opened his mouth, frowned, and leaned forward. “Jesus Christ. Are you high?”
“Bro, I got stabbed. I’m just staying ahead of the pain.” To Somers he said, “John-Henry, now that you guys are married, I seriously need you to think about a foursome.”
“Ok,” Darnell said. “We’re done. We’re very happy for you guys.”
“I just love you so much,” Dulac said, drawing Somers into a hug. “I’m so fucking stoked for you. And Emery, I love you too. I just want you to know I love you like my fucking brother.”
“No,” Hazard said when Dulac moved in to hug him next, but it didn’t work.
“Congratulations again,” Darnell said. “And I’m going to apologize in advance for the gift.”
“It’s going to be a perfect fit for Emery,” Dulac said. “And really easy on his jaw.”
Dulac got in one last salute as Darnell dragged him away.
Wesley didn’t come, which was no surprise. Yarmark did, however, and that was a surprise. The skinny man looked uncomfortable in a polo and sports coat; he kept yanking at the polo’s collar, glancing around like he’d stumbled into the wrong room. When he reached them, he flushed and said, “I know I wasn’t invited.”
“Then you shouldn’t be here,” Hazard said.
“You’re invited now,” Somers said, squeezing Hazard’s wrist. “I should have invited you, especially after you saved Gray’s life. Sorry I dropped the ball on that.”
Yarmark just flushed a deeper red and stammered, “I just