“You have no idea how much I want to lay you down on this seat and make out until we get to the Hamptons, but we need to have an important conversation first.”
I took Max’s hands in mine. “I know, Max, I’m so sorr—”
“No, baby, please let me speak first,” he said. “I didn’t handle it in the right way when you told me about this trip, but you were right, I needed to tell Joel.”
“I’m still sorry I pushed you,” I said.
“Don’t be. I spent so much time hiding that secret from him that I forgot that he is family and loves me as such, and for the record, so are you. Family, that is. You and Lucy, you are my family now.”
“That’s good, because Dorian called while we were in Lisbon to say they decided to stay in Paris for the next year so Jean-Paul’s mom can be part of Stephanie’s upbringing. I guess you’re stuck with me.”
“Baby, I’m marrying you because I want to be stuck with you forever.” He chuckled, but then his face took on a more serious note. “Are you sure you want to stay in Manhattan? The Rainbow Foundation is your life. I don’t want you to feel you have to give it up. I speak Portuguese; I don’t mind moving to Lisbon.”
“We have at least a year to talk about it and make a decision. Besides, it’s Lucy’s decision, too.” I decided we’d covered all of the important topics, so I pulled him in for a kiss.
We’d been so engrossed in our conversation that we didn’t realize how close we were to our destination, so Max asked the driver if he could drive us around for an additional thirty minutes so we could make the best use of the fancy car to make out.
“Jesus, Isaac, I haven’t seen you for days.” He sucked my bottom lip as he pushed his hips into mine, making me gasp at the feel of our straining erections under the zippers of our jeans. “There is a strong possibility I might die if I don’t get you naked under me.”
Max was already on top of me, so I stated the obvious. “We’re one step away, baby.” I went for his sweater, but he stopped me.
“Not now or I’ll have to get the driver to take a twelve-hour detour until I’m done with you, and we have a house full of people waiting to see us get married.”
“Twelve hours, huh? I’ll collect on that,” I said as we straightened up, and I adjusted myself, silently apologizing to my neglected cock, promising all the fun later.
“I should hope so, future husband.”
* * *
The house was a hive of activity, and the second we stepped through the door, lots of simultaneous things happened.
Lucy came to hug us, to tell us off for behaving like spoiled brats, and then directed us to the rooms upstairs.
Micah and Fernando were placing a decorative garland on top of the fireplace, and Diogo was directing them and shouting at them to be quick.
Joel pulled Max into a room, and I barely had a chance to give him a quick kiss before David pulled me into the room opposite.
“You’ll get plenty of time for that later,” David said.
Getting dressed in a suit for my wedding wasn’t something I’d ever thought would happen, and here I was, with my best friend fussing over my unruly curls to make sure I looked my best for my future husband.
David was like a brother to me,so I relished the chance to do something like this with him, considering Alex would be my official best man.
“Your maid of honor is currentlysleeping on her dad’s chest,” David said while straightening my tie. “Can’t say I blame her. Alex is gorgeous.”
“That’s my little brother you’re talking about.”
“So you’re saying we can’t appreciate a good specimen of the male species when it’s lying there with the cutest baby on the planet in its arms?”
I punched his shoulder. “Stop it. I’ll tell Joel.”
“What? And you think he’ll disagree?” He laughed.
“Are you happy?” I asked.
“With Joel?”
I nodded. David stopped what he was doing and put both his hands on my shoulders.
