Lazy Valentines (Lazy Days)

the memory of Devon showing up on his doorstep, bruised and bloody. He hadn't made any excuses for his injuries and he hadn't been mad at Shadow in the least. In the long run it had been the thing that pulled both their heads out of their asses. Scott was immensely grateful to Shadow for that.
    "He's a good guy… got the coolest head and most logical mind out of the five of us. I've never seen him start a fight or even let the anger get the best of him, and if any of us ever needed him, he was there."
    Scott brain did a little flip at the word logical. "I'm pretty fond of him myself."
    "That's cool. He deserves something for himself away from us losers."
    "Speak for yourself," Wolfie interrupted.
    "Fuck you, Wolf. You should be minding your own business, dumbass." They were an assertive bunch to say the least. "Anyhow, if he gives you a hard time, you come to me and I'll straighten him out."
    A hiccup of laughter made Scott cover his mouth with his hand. "Sorry."
    "He always said you were really polite, but dude, you will not last in this little group if you don't park that at home and tell it like it is. Now before we join these other meatheads who, I might add, are all chomping at the bit to get their time with you, including your curious as fuck boyfriend, can I ask you something serious?"
    "Of course." Scott felt a thread of discomfort edge along the lining his stomach but the smile in Shadow's eyes stopped its progress.
    "Devon's important to me. I think you already guessed that so I want you to be straight with me, Scott." Scott nodded slowly. Shadow lowered his voice, shifting even closer to Scott. "He'll kick my ass if he knows I said this but he cares about you more than I've seen him care about anybody, even me. But he's still my boy and I need to know I can trust you with him."
    "You don't think he can take care of himself?"
    "No, that's not it at all or well… maybe it is. He can handle just about any situation you throw at him but he does have one very fatal flaw."
    "What?"
    Shadow smiled softly, nudging his shoulder that rested against Scott's "His heart opens up a little too wide sometimes, like when his mom died or when I was going through my wife's cancer or even when he does his volunteering with the kids. I don't want to see him hurt, is all. Plain and simple, he loves you, so do you love him too?"
    Scott tried not to let his jaw drop open but he was certain he failed miserably. God, he'd barely admitted to Devon that he loved him, let alone saying it to someone who had been mostly a stranger only minutes before. There was something about Shadow though, something honest and kind and aching. Maybe it was his grief talking or maybe he was just that caring kind of man that Scott could also see in Devon.
    "I do and that's not something I've admitted to anyone but you and him."
    "Good. Then I think we're solid, Scott. But like I said, if he ever fucks with you, come to me and he'll be on his knees apologizing before the sun comes up on a new day. I don't suspect you're going to need me for that though."
    "I don't think so either."
    "Now I suggest you get back over there and hold his hand or something cuz that hang-dog expression on his face will melt this whole goddamn band to the ground if he doesn't get what he wants. And you are all that he wants."

Chapter Five
    Breakfast went over better than Devon could have ever imagined, and in the end had turned into breakfast, a shitload of coffee, then lunch. He had to pull himself back into the conversation several times, or have his rude-assed bandmates do it for him, when his gaze settled on Scott and he couldn't pull away. Scott had been casual and relaxed, easy laughter and teasing setting the mood for the entire group. It was so sweet to see, such a tug on Devon's already-bursting-at-the-seams heart. Devon was sure Scott himself couldn't have guessed he would have fit in so well.
    Devon had always hoped he would though. His friends had taken Scott's side in the break-up without even knowing him, telling Devon in no uncertain terms he needed to get his act together and get Scott back. They'd offered him advice up the ying-yang until the fateful night when Shadow had made his point and preference very clear with his fist. Damn, Devon loved and hated him for that… but mostly loved ,since he wasn't sure he would have grown the balls to turn up on Scott's doorstep without the very painful push Shadow gave him.
    He was so proud of Scott, could feel the