“Where’s Kai?”I ask, looking around the ballroom Nirblob brought me to.
I’ve spent a good fifteen minutes meeting the organizers and talking with them, but my husband is still MIA. He can’t possibly still be in the bathroom, right?
“He should be here any moment,” Nirblob says.
I frown. It’s been long enough that I’m kind of worried.
“It’s not like him to be gone this long. Maybe I should go looking for him.”
“Perhaps he’s here somewhere?” one of the other organizers suggests.
In all fairness, the room is jam-packed. Word’s gotten out that I’m here, and my fans have turned out in droves, eager to join in the celebration.
Nirblob pats my hand. “Fear not, my friend, I’m sure he’s fine. Kai’s more than capable of taking care of himself.”
I know that too. Kai’s a total badass and has some seriously cool fight moves in his repertoire. A lot more than I do.
“I suppose I’m still a bit paranoid after everything we’ve been through lately.”
All of a sudden, the lights in the room go out and an unfamiliar voice comes over the speaker system.
“Good evening, everyone! How are you enjoying Tentacular Tales Con so far?”
The fans aren’t shy about voicing their satisfaction, and it gives me the warm fuzzies.
“As the organizers of Tentacular Tales Con, we’re so happy to hear everyone’s living it up to the fullest. Every day of our event is jam-packed with fun, and every night is a celebration. Who’s ready to party?”
Once more, we’re surrounded by deafening applause and enthusiastic shouting.
“This is our second night together and one to remember. Tonight we pay tribute to our surprise Guest of Honor and our very favorite author, River Sullivan—aka KirklovesSpock4eva!”
The crowd erupts into loud cheers and whistles.
Once the noise quiets down, the announcer continues. “Tonight, we have the much-anticipated second annual Tentacular Tales Con lip sync contest.”
More raucous applause and shouts fill the room. Some folks are dancing to music only they hear. It’s wild and wonderful.
I join in and shout, “Let’s have them lip-sync for their lives!”
Naturally, I’m a gay man who enjoys a good lip sync battle with the best of them. Although I’m not sure if anyone cantop Tom Holland’s performance of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” onLip Sync Battle. I may or may not have watched that video a few hundred times… And yes, I always share it all over my social media accounts when I find it elsewhere becauseeveryoneneeds to see that masterful number.
The announcer comes over the comm system again. “To start things off with a bang, we have an extraspecial, noncompeting performer who’s ready to give his all for the man he loves. River Sullivan, this one’s for you.”
I hold my breath as the familiar opening notes of the Righteous Brothers’ most famous song, “Unchained Melody,” begin to play. When a single spotlight comes on, illuminating the stage at the far end of the room, I cover my mouth and gasp.
Standing there in a sexy-as-fuck Han Solo costume is Kai, holding a microphone.
My heart’s beating so fast I worry I might faint and miss all of this.
Even across the distance, Kai and I lock eyes. Kai’s amethyst gaze draws me in, and everything around me fades away as I hungrily devour every moment of my husband’s passionate and moving lip sync serenade.
This is even more epic than when David lip-synced Tina Turner’s “The Best” to Patrick inSchitt’s Creek.And believe me, that episode was seriously epic. I’ve also watched it a few dozen times.
For me, Kai’s performance is even better. It’s forme.
My chest tightens as I watch his impassioned delivery, the yearning in his eyes making me breathless. He beautifully conveys the longing in the song, enough to make my heart ache.
I remember how, weeks ago, on one of our home date nights, I forced him to watch one of my favorite romantic movies when I was a kid. One that Benji and I both loved, that always made us cry at the end.
