Babe one day is walking around the apartment and ends up finding Asher's wedding band on the kitchen counter. He wasn't home at the time, on a job, so why would he...
They knew what he was like, he probably set it down and forgot to put it back on. It gave them a little idea...
Meanwhile, even on the security gig — Milo being the unfortunate one assigned with the loveable dumbass — Asher is pacing back and forth, almost nauseous, freaking out because he, swearing on his own life, put it back on before he left home.
"I didn't even realize when I was driving-! Why didn't I realize before I fucking left-! Ohhh they're going to fucking kill meeeeeee..."
Milo, unmoving except his dulled expression watching him go back and forth, rolled his eyes, "Ash. Buddy. So first of all, you take off your wedding band. That's not the issue. The issue is you fuckin' lose the damn thing?"
"I didn't lose it!!... I think!"
"Did you even ask your mate-"
Ash went to frantically get his phone, only to discover he left it in his car, looking defeated as Milo heavily sighed.
"How the hell are you 33... Sometimes I have to wonder."
The rest of the time for the job was spent with Milo trying to console the now anxious wolf, and Asher unable to get his hands to stop shaking.
Milo ended up being the one to tell David about the details of it. Uneventful except Asher almost getting sick several times. David, unaware, answered back with "The solstice isn't for another month, how is he-"
"The dumbass lost his wedding band."
"Wish I was. I had to be the one to practically babysit the guy."
"Did he even think to text his mate to see if they've seen it?"
"He forgot his phone in his car when he figured it out, so that's a no."
The alpha, trying not to laugh, told the other two to go ahead and head back, he'd handle the rest.
Babe had already tucked their husband's ring into their pocket when he got home, and as soon as he got in the door, he didn't even say a word. He silently dropped his things, kicked off his boots, and went over to flop onto them sitting back on the couch.
They didn't get a greeting out before he held them tight, mumbling something against their shirt but they couldn't quite understand it. Maybe they shouldn't enact the plan of teasing him about it, they already felt bad...
"...you wanna talk about it, baby?"
He nodded, but didn't make much effort to move. He stayed for a few minutes until he lifted his head, and that's when they could tell just how upset he was based on the sniffles and the dried tear streaks down his cheeks.
"Ash..." They frowned, cupping his cheeks to bring him down for a kiss on the tip of his nose. "What happened? Was it a bad day?"
He shook his head, lowering it into their touch, hiding away in shame.
It was a few more minutes before he finally admitted it. "I lost my ring, babe... I can't find the damn thing anywhere-" Then he started getting frantic again. "I checked everywhere in my car, I checked the apartment's parking, I checked the sidewalk, I checked around at the gig, I just..."
Curling up against his mate, he felt tears threatening to fall all over again, "I can't find it..."
Yeah, they were not going to tease him about it now. They never expected him to get this distraught over it...
Without moving too much, they got the ring out of their pocket. They held their tongue between their teeth as they tried to tip his chin up. He refused every time, he didn't want them to see him crying.
Another one, this time in a "nuh uh" kind of sound.
"Asher Talbot, will you look at me for one second, please."
He sighed, "Let me sulk in-"
He paused, eyes wide to see his mate holding his ring between their index and thumb, right in front of his nose.
He didn't know what to do for a second. No, actually, he did.
And that was pouncing on his mate with a million kisses anywhere he could reach on them as he profusely both apologized and thanked them at the same time.
They kept trying to get him off of them, every time he pinned them further down into the couch.
But he finally gave them air, grabbing his ring and immediately putting it on, "Where- what- where the fuck was it!? Where'd you find it???"
"On the kitchen counter, next to the sink. Figured I'd get it before I accidentally knocked it off and kept it pocketed until you got home."
Now it made sense. Now he remembered.
He, uh... He accidentally got jelly on his hands getting something quick before he headed out and took it off to wash... Then was in such a rush, he didn't even remember to put it back on.
"Would more kisses help?"