Jimmy glanced at the debauched counter and shook his head, laughing, “I’m good, thank you. I’m ready to get going now.”
“Right!” Charlie clapped his hands together. “Just let me pop off to the loo and we’ll be all set.”
Jimmy waited for Charlie to leave the kitchen before asking Jerry, “So! You and Charlie? Is that... new?”
“Hardly,monsieur,” Jerry replied with a twinkle in his eye. “Things happened, ahem, rather quickly.MonsieurSwenson is a very passionate man.”
“Oh! I had no idea... uhm...” Jimmy grinned sheepishly. “I mean, I kinda knew? But I didn’t think... Uh.” He didn’t know how to say it without sounding rude.
Jerry smiled knowingly, teasing, “Ah, because of my infatuation withMademoiselleQueen, you didn’t think I liked boys as well?”
Face blushing furiously, Jimmy stammered out, “I just... eh... There is no good answer here.”
“Monsieur,” Jerry said gently, resting a firm hand on Jimmy’s shoulder. “I believe that love has no gender. Love has no face. Love is fickle and fleeting, it is but a spirit that guides us to another soul. When we find it, however one does, it is a treasure.”
Jimmy smiled softly, his thoughts filled with Cold as he agreed, “It is definitely a treasure.”
“Man, woman, those who are neither or those who might be both? Love is love,monsieur.” Jerry shrugged, winking as he added, “Even with whips and chains.”
“Oh, God,” Jimmy squeaked as more blood zoomed up to color his cheeks. “You know, uh, we don’t actually, uh, use a whip...”
“Worry not,monsieur,” Jerry assured him. “I’m only teasing. Discretion is part of my job.”
“I’m very glad that it is,” Jimmy mumbled, scrubbing the back of his neck anxiously.
“Ready?” Charlie chirped, popping back in the kitchen doorway. “A luxurious day of pampering and preening awaits you, Mr. Poe.”
“Let’s go!”
Jerry drove them over to the spa while Charlie reviewed last-minute details for the wedding. It was another hurricane of excited noise, and Jimmy did his best to keep up.
David was waiting outside and waved excitedly when he saw the limo pull up. Maury was with him and looked much less enthused.
“Hey, slugger!” David greeted Jimmy as he got out of the limo, wrapping him up in a big hug. “Getting nervous yet?”
“Well, not until you just asked me!” Jimmy laughed, turning to hug Maury. “Hey, Maury!”
“Heya, kid,” Maury grumbled, patting Jimmy’s back. “You better know how much I fuckin’ love you for lettin’ you guys talk me into comin’ to this froufrou place.”
“Froufrou?” David snorted.
“They’re gonna rub us with weird smellin’ stuff and extrapolate our skin!” Maury protested. “Ugh!”
“Come on, Maury,” Jimmy chuckled. “You might actually like it!”
“Fuckin’ doubtful.”
“Your treatments should conclude just before noon,” Charlie said, standing beside the limo with Jerry. “We need to be at the Graham-Wynne House by twelve-thirty sharp to make sure you have time to rehearse with Dario and get dressed. You’ll have just over two hours to make yourself ready. The ceremony begins at three o’clock.”
“Got it!” Jimmy nodded firmly, rubbing his hands together and grinning at his father and Maury. “Let’s go get extrapolated!”
“God fuckin’ help me!” Maury moaned.
* * *
Pampered and refreshedfrom a long massage, Jimmy felt like he was floating on the drive over to the venue. Maury hadn’t complained as much as predicted, and they all had a lovely time. David even said that if Cold ever wanted to send them on another spa trip, he wouldn’t mind one bit.
They arrived at the Graham-Wynne House right on time, the monstrous and beautiful Victorian home towering over them as they got out. Charlie quickly whisked Jimmy over into the Strassen Springs Botanical Gardens where hundreds of chairs had been set up and a small stage had been erected. There was a grand arch in the middle of the stage with dozens of flowers, and Jimmy actually had to stop to catch his breath.
