“What?” James asks, blinking down to find a single gold band in the center of Bobby’s palm. “Shouldn’t those be with Cunningham’s nephew?”
“I thought maybe we could do it ourselves, for real, the first time,” Bobby says.
James looks up and meets his eyes. “Ourselves?”
Bobby nudges his hand into James’ chest and James takes the ring, his hand shaking now. Bobby grins and takes James’ left hand, gently sliding his band over the first knuckle of James’ ring finger, where it promptly can’t move any further.
James can’t help but laugh, a slightly wet sound. Oh, he’s misting up.
“Well, that’s far less romantic than I meant it to be,” Bobby says, sighing. “You don’t have to—”
But James is already sliding the ring just over the tip of Bobby’s left ring finger, where it gets stuck. Little surprise, Bobby’s hands are massive compared to Gwen’s. “Well,” he says, meeting Bobby’s eyes.
They both laugh and Bobby hauls him forward into a kiss. James reaches up to cup Bobby’s jaw, holding him close. Bobby’sarms wrap around James’ waist, and they stay there, kissing in the multicolored light, alone in a peaceful silence, a promise made with ill-fitting rings.
A knock at the door splits them apart, and James regretfully tugs off his ring, watching Bobby struggle to yank off his own with a grimace.
“It was a lovely thought,” James says. Bobby stares down at the ring.
“And it’s the thought that counts?” Bobby asks, looking up to meet his eyes.
“I’ll know that you wore that ring before Gwen did.”
“And you wore mine before Beth,” Bobby agrees.
Another knock, louder and far more insistent.
Bobby chuckles and hauls James back for one last kiss just before the doors open. They step back, not looking at each other, and Albert leans into the room.
“Cunningham says the rings have been absconded with,” Albert announces.
Bobby blushes and slinks across to the door to hand the rings to his brother.
“What— You know, I don’t want to know. Two minutes,” Albert says, winking at James before he shuts the door.
Bobby turns to face James, shrugging. “I guess we’re up,” he says.
James smiles, taking the few steps to Bobby so he can reach up and adjust his bow tie. “I guess so.”
“You ready?” Bobby asks, looking down at him, soft and handsome and perfect.
“I’m already in our room in Dover, taking this suit off you with my teeth,” he says, delighting in the way Bobby’s jaw drops.
“You—”
A knock reverberates through the door.
“Come on, let’s get married,” James says, leaning up to kiss Bobby’s cheek once before stepping back.
He straightens his jacket and steps up to Bobby’s side. Bobby reaches out and squeezes his hand. James looks over at him and smiles.
“I love you,” Bobby says.
James’ smile turns into a grin he can’t control. “I love you too.”
***
When they emerge onto the steps of the church after the whirlwind of the ceremony, James squeezes Gwen’s hand, excited to make a future with her—one that they have chosen, and architected, and built for themselves. A life that lets all four of them be who they are, and love who they love.
