“Then you’ll have to let me go get it.”
“Pity.” André kissed him. “I like holding you.”
“Keep that thought for tonight.”
Don’t you worry.
He stood waiting in a warm beam of sunlight while Chess went to the nightstand and rummaged through the drawer for a minute before returning with a small box. “It wasn’t right that I have a ring and you don’t. So Elliot, Win, and I went to the same jewelry store where Win bought Elliot’s ring, and I found this for you.”
André opened the box, and a band glinted at him. Yellow gold with a center white-gold strip. “It’s…it’s gorgeous.”
Chess removed it and held it out to him. “Two within one. Each part of the other. I looked through so many until I saw this, and immediately knew it was the one.”
“Like I knew right away you were the one for me. It’s beautiful.” Chess slid it on his finger, and André held up his hand. “Now you’ll never get rid of me.”
“Try and get away.”
They kissed, and Chess smiled against his lips. “I have to go shower. Wouldn’t want to be late for my own engagement party.”
“Go ahead, love. I’m about to get dressed.”
With Chess in the shower, André dressed in a simple white linen shirt, snug black pants, and slipped his bare feet into soft, black driving loafers. He wore no jewelry aside from the newly acquired wedding band. A text pinged on his phone, and he smiled when he read it. The water stopped, and Chess walked out naked, hair wet, droplets clinging to his broad shoulders. A wave of love hit André so strong, he walked across the room and pulled Chess close. “I love you.”
Chess tipped his head to the side. “Are you okay?”
“Better than I’ve ever been.”
An amused light twinkled in Chess’s eyes. “After last night, I can attest to that. Now if you don’t want me going down to the party naked, you’d better let me get dressed. Although that would certainly make thistheparty of the Hamptons season.”
You have no idea, my love.
Forty minutes later, he and Chess walked outside to the deck. André couldn’t stop smiling, but when Chess nudged him and asked what was going on, he merely shrugged and squeezed his hand.
“Nothing. Why does something have to be happening for me to smile and be happy?”
Skeptical, Chess glared at him. “Hmm. I guess.”
“Look around and see who’s not smiling on this gorgeous night of our party. Don’t be so suspicious.”
“There they are! The lovebirds!” Spencer flew up the stairs to meet them on the deck. He was dressed in a turquoise-blue shirt and white pants rolled up to his ankles. His hair gleamed like burnished gold, his smile bright on his tanned face.
“You know, Spencer, if people didn’t know any better, they’d swear you looked like an angel.”
“God forbid. The devil has much more fun.” He sipped from his glass and wrinkled his nose. “Besides, I’m allergic to feathers. Those wings would have to come off.”
“We can’t thank you enough for arranging this party. It’s an incredible gesture and gift.” André held out his hand, and Spencer pushed it away and gave him a hug.
“As much as long-term relationships give me the hives, even I can see you two belong together. And don’t thank me. I love to plan a party. Besides, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my friends.”
Voices sounded from behind them, and when he turned, he saw his mother, impeccably dressed in a sleeveless peach dress, along with his sister and brother, walking toward them. Bianca was in pink, and Henry wore almost the same outfit as him. Pride burst through him.
“Look at our family,” he whispered to Chess, who stood surprisingly silent before hugging him close.
“I never thought I’d be so lucky, but thank you for believing in me and giving me this,” Chess said, voice rough with emotion. Everyone descended upon the two of them with hugs and kisses.
The photographer had them walk to the beach, and they spent the next half hour taking every possible combination of family pictures. At some point, Elliot and Win, along with Wolf, Spencer, and Quentin, came to watch. They all had drinks in hand, and from their boisterous laughter, it seemed it wasn’t their first or likely even second round.
André called everyone over. “Come on guys, let’s do family portraits. Separate and together.”
