“Welcome, everyone!” He looks as innocent and disarming as ever, which to me is sexy as hell because I know the truth about his darker nature. “Thank you all for coming today. I know everyone’s eager to see them dance. Not to mention getting through the lunch course so we can all have cake.” He smiles at the ripple of laughter.
“For those of you who don’t know me,” he continues, “I’m Jordan Walsh, President Woodley’s best friend, but also his body man, meaning the person people yell at or suck up to, depending on what kind of access they need to him.” More laughter from the attendees, along with more than a few nods from people who’ve bounced off him while trying to score a few minutes of my time. “I’ve known Leo and Elliot for over twelve years now, and I consider them both not just my best friends, but brothers.”
He turns to us and dammit,pleasedon’t let me start crying.
“I’ve been estranged from my parents since I was a kid. Plus, I’m an only child. My grandmother raised me. She died when I was in college, leaving me alone in the world. But both the Woodley family and the Cruz family welcomed me in and took me under their wings. It is no coincidence these two men are as accomplished as they are in their own rights. They both come from families who provided them with a loving, stable foundation from which to launch their lives, and I consider myself blessed beyond reason that they count me as found family.
Jordan’s looking right at me when he reaches up and touches his daith piercing, and I instinctively reach up and touch mine. “I was one of few privileged to know their secret and I swore I would never betray their trust. Well, as the guy who helped plan this wedding, I’m glad they’ve finally done this because my job just got aloteasier in many ways.” His playful smile prompts more laughter, including from me and Leo.
“But seriously. There is no one more deserving of happiness than them. After their lives of service, it’s about time they can finally be free to live the way they’ve always wanted to. Plus it means I can ditch my list of excuses to stall people wanting me to fix their relatives up with the president.” More laughter at that quip.
He raises his glass as he looks me in the eyes. “To Elliot and Leo, may you have many years of happiness together and may your love be an inspiration to others.” He smiles. “And may Ifinallybe able to grab a few hours off every weekend. Cheers!”
Laughter and applause ripples through the space as everyone toasts with him.
Then Chris stands and he and Jordan exchange places, Jordan passing the mic to him…
And after he and Shae and Casey-Marie and a few others toast and playfully roast us, the DJ calls for the first dance as the servers bring out the salads.
Leo stands and reaches for my hand. While I feel a little self-conscious I let him lead me out to the center of the dance floor where we have our first dance as a married couple. I don’t want to give up a single second of this experience, and I damned sure don’t want to deny Leo a second of it.
He smiles as we slowly sway together. “You did it, pet,” he whispers.
“Wedid it, Master. Team effort.”
“I’m going to kiss you now, Mister President. Right here, in front of everyone.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Mister First Spouse.”
I love the way even Leo’s eyes are smiling as he slants his lips over mine in a slow, simmering kiss that makes everyone hoot and holler and cheer as they clink silver against glasses and yell,“Kiss! Kiss!”
We’re still dancing when he finally ends our kiss, and he’s still smiling. I’ve never seen him look so at peace as he does in this moment and I shove back the voice that tries to scream at me that I cost him so many years of this when I could have just come out…and which also screams that it’s not fair we can’t share this first dance with Jordan.
Then we dance with each other’s mothers, switching halfway through that dance before handing them off to our dads.
Then it’s our sisters’ turns.
I wasn’t sure Stella would play along at first. Leo who walks over to her before I can, leaving me to offer my hand to Kayley.
“Well,thatwent well,” Kayley softly snarks as we dance.
“Hey, Mom, Dad, and Shae gave them the smackdown, not me.”
“Yeah, I know. Worth the price of admission, right? But you and I need to talk later. In private. Okay?”
“Sure. Why does this feel bad?”
She glances over at Leo, who’s smiling as he dances with Stella…who looks like she’s about to pass a kidney stone. “I hope it’s not bad. It depends on what cards my brother hasn’t flipped over yet.”
“Like if he’s holding a royal flush or if he’s bluffing with a 2-7 offsuit?”
“Exactly.” She smirks. “I didn’t take you for a poker player, Mister President.”
“I’m not. When I was first in the hospital after I was injured there weren’t many channels to watch. Ended up watching a lot of poker on a sports channel because I didn’t feel like watching the news, and it was one of the few channels nearly everyone could agree on. I’m a sucky player, too. Oh, FYI, don’t ever play with Jordan. He can bluff like a motherfucker. Not even Leo can pick out his tells.”
“Duly noted.”
When we switch partners and I’m dancing with Stella I fight the urge to just spin her around and send her back to Ellis.
