Once she has them to her liking, I subtly adjust myself. I went for navy blue pants and a white button up, and I guess without realizing it, Mia and I have color coordinated for tonight.
“Your mom and aunts did such a cute job decorating everything. One of them asked if she could put up a sign that said ‘same penis for thirty years.’”
“Jesus. They probably had way too much fun with it.” I laugh. My mom and her sisters are inappropriate as hell in their fifties, I can only imagine how they were growing up.
As we walk into the reception hall, everything looks great as expected. A slideshow of pictures plays on the big screen at the forefront of the party and there are tables set up with chairs and different wedding photos from when they got married. Mia goes off and mingles on her own and my eyes follow her for just a second. She’s so good at this. Being around people. Even though she doesn’t know everyone here, she just slides right into conversation and everyone is always just taken with her.
My dad gets up to do a toast before we eat, one that inevitably brings my mom to tears. He shares about their last thirty years, the laughs, the highs and the lows. I told them I’d give a speech, but now I’m faltering… I don’t even know what to say. I made a few notes but don’t even feel like that’ll do them justice.
“Nate? Honey, did you want to say something before we eat?” My aunt comes to my side and without me actually answering, she hands me a microphone. Fuck. I’m not good at talking about feelings. I have no idea how I’m going to do this.
“Uh, hey everyone. Mom, dad, congratulations on thirty years. I love you both.” I freeze for a moment, my eyes scanning the room as I’m panicking over what to say next. These are my parents, how the hell am I having such a hard time talking about them? They have the purest love. The best relationship. I switch hands because the hand that was holding the mic is all clammy. Before the pause gets too long and awkward, I find Mia standing at the center of the room. She smiles and gives me a reassuring nod. She’s sandwiched between Grandpa Harry and Uncle Frank and suddenly I don’t feel so anxious anymore.
I look to my parents. “My mom and dad have a marriage I can only hope to have one day.” And then I look back at Mia. “A marriage based on love. Based on commitment. Filled with laughter. They choose each other, every day. The good days and the bad days… especially the bad days. My parents are best friends who are also soul mates. They make each other laugh, they support each other through the hard times. Thirty years is a long time to be with someone. But when it’s the right person, your person… thirty years probably feels like thirty seconds and no time will ever be long enough. So, cheers, mom and dad. And I think I speak for everyone in this room when I say we’re wishing you a hundred more.” I raise my glass to my parents on my right, but my eyes don’t move from Mia.
My mom gets up and hugs me while my dad shakes my hand and from then on, I barely see the two of them the rest of the night. They still act like they’re in their twenties, dancing and having the time of their life with one another. I’ve spent a lot of tonight catching up with family members that I haven’t seen in a while and filling them in on the current state of my life, except, of course, leaving out specific details. Most of them saw the game, or at least heard about it. Everyone’s given me words of encouragement, which I’m thankful for.
“Ahem, I love this song so you’re going to have to dance with me.” Mia’s hand is already pulling my forearm out to the center of the dance floor. We’ve never actually done this. Slow danced. I’ve never held her like this, with my hand resting on the small of her back, so close to her perfect round ass. I could inch my hand down and grab a hold of it, claiming her as mine. She’s leaning into me, letting herself nearly melt into my body and I’m accepting it. I pull her closer as we stand there, swaying to the music. Her hands are gripping behind my neck and I can feel the hairs standing as her fingers lightly graze the skin near the collar on my shirt.
“They sang this at Summerfest that year we went,” I whisper low into Mia’s ear. The summer I was just fantasizing about last night.
“I know. I think that’s when it became my favorite. I loved seeing it live.” She inhales a deep breath, and I just let myself react. I don’t hold back because fuck, at this point I don’t think I can any more. Between the road trip here, last night and now tonight… I’m just at my breaking point.
I pull her body closer to mine, filling any distance that’s between us on this dance floor. Looking down at her, I see her close her eyes for a moment and she blows out a slow, steady breath through barely puckered lips.
The song by REO Speedwagon continues to play in the background. The lyrics sink into me as I’m standing there holding my best friend knowing that I can’t handle being just her best friend anymore.
There’s more here. I feel it. And I actually think she feels it too.
I hear Nate clear his throat only to realize the music has stopped playing, but I was just so lost in the moment of standing there with him, I hadn’t actually registered it.
“Well, let me go, caveman.” I shake my head and try to laugh it off. Pulling myself from his embrace as if I wasn’t just relishing in it.
I’ve spent the majority of the evening spreading my attention between Nate’s sisters, parents, and extended family. He comes from so much love, so much support. I’m honestly jealous. I don’t have even a shred of this. I have no contact with my mother. My father is a constant work in progress. And my sister probably hates the fact that she even has a sister at all. And I wouldn’t even know my extended family if I was standing next to one of them on an elevator either. So that just leaves me. It’s why I lean into my friends so much, especially with Nate.
It’s so clear to me that he’s everything to his family. It makes me wonder if he even knows how much they all love and admire him. Grandpa Harry went on and on, almost getting emotional talking to me, about how proud of Nate he is. It’s really heartwarming, to be honest, hearing how much the people in this room respect the man he’s become. His sisters, whether they would say it to his face or not, consider him their hero. And Helen and Bruce, his parents, are just incredible. They raised Nate well and take a lot of pride in that. Also, they’ll make the best grandparents one day. With Bruce’s random storytelling and the way that Helen can make anything into something fun… they’ll be amazing.
The way Nate made me feel last night was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I felt desired, I felt wanted, I felt… sexy. And the man didn’t even lay a single finger on me, yet I came so hard I didn’t know when it would stop.
There’s a definite chill in the air as I walk out of the venue. I’ve had so much fun tonight, but could go for some hot chocolate, cozy socks, and a movie, if I’m being honest. Nate’s been spending time with his family most of the evening, which I’m happy about. He seems like he’s doing well, like this trip has actually been good for him.
“Do you want to camp out with us, Mia?” Gretchen’s blonde hair swings in her high ponytail as she walks towards me.
I hesitantly shake my head. “I don’t think I’m the camping type. Lions, tigers and bears… oh my!”
“Well, send Nate out in the tent then, that way you’ll get the bed to yourself. He can sleep outside.” She elbows me before walking away to catch up with her sister.
“I’m not camping outside.” Nate’s deep voice causes my head to turn and sends a jolt of excitement between my legs.God dammit.
He’s leaning against the brick wall of this building, a few more buttons undone on his dress shirt, giving his chest some room to breathe with both arms crossed in front of him. His forearms flex as my eyes meet them, and I can’t tell if that’s something he did on purpose or not, but it sends an involuntary shiver down my back.
“How did I completely miss you standing there?”
“Not sure, Smalls. I’m kind of hard to miss.” He pushes himself off the wall and begins to walk with me back towards the cabin.
“I’m planning for a hot chocolate and movie night with cozy socks and blankets. Nothing too exciting. So if you want to go camping or hang out with your sisters, you should.” My hand comes up to my mouth to cover a yawn and Nate just shakes his head no at my suggestion. “Okay, well I have my reasons why I’m not sleeping outside, what about you? Didn’t you grow up doing this?”
“Your reasons are my reasons,” he says.
