Eventually, four of the five Bounds kids climbed onto the stage and gathered around a microphone, with Dominic in the middle. The crowd hushed as everyone’s attention shifted to the back of the room.
“I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for coming,” Dominic said in a clear, steady voice. “Taking time out of your lives to join us in celebrating two amazing people that I have the honor of calling Mom and Dad: Zelda and Robert Bounds.”
Applause roared. At her table, Zelda wiped her eyes with a napkin, one arm around Starr’s shoulders.
Dominic waved a hand to shush everyone. “Thirty-five years ago, Zelda and Robert said ‘I do’ in a quiet Justice of the Peace ceremony, witnessed by their parents. They weren’t looking tochange the world, only to try and make it a better place for those who live in it. And they did, not only in their careers and with their friends, but also with their children. They had so much love to give, and they knew that there were children out there starving for love and support.”
Next to him, Roxy started to cry. Dominic slid his arm across her shoulders and continued. “I have the great honor of being their first chosen child. I don’t know what possessed them to pick a screaming, underweight, half-Filipino baby, but they did. They chose all five of us, for all different reasons, but the results are the same—we grew up loved and protected and we all know how lucky we are. There are thousands of other kids out there in need of love and adoption, not only by straight couples, but now by LGBTQ couples, as well.”
Someone wolf whistled.
Dominic grinned, then turned his attention from the crowd to his parents. “Mom. Dad. You have loved me every step of the way, through every crisis and celebration, through every setback and step forward. I look back at the life I’ve lived and I have no regrets, because every single moment molded me into the man I am today. I am so proud to be your son, and I think I speak for all of my siblings when I say thank you for choosing me.”
One by one, Percell, Taisha, and Roxy each took the mike and repeated the thanks. All of the women, including Zelda, were in tears by the time the four Bounds kids left the stage to embrace their parents.
Joshua glanced past Benji’s misty-eyes to Van, who looked stricken. And pale. He caught Joshua staring and startled.
“Excuse me a minute,” Van said. He shot to his feet, so fast his chair nearly fell over backward. Benji caught it, and they both tracked Van to the meeting hall’s entrance.
“The speech probably got to him,” Benji whispered.
Van was adopted, like Dominic, but not by loving, generous parents. By people who wanted indentured servants, not children.
“Should one of us go after him?” Joshua asked.
“Maybe he needs to be alone for a minute.”
“What’s wrong?” Bobby asked, his cutting through the din of conversation. “Not going after your boyfriend?”
Next to him, Andy choked on his soda.
“Say what now?” Danielle said, eyes wide. “His boyfriend is right there.”
“That’s what I thought, too, until I saw Benji outside with his tongue down Van’s throat.”
Benji flushed bright red, but he didn’t look away from Bobby’s accusing glare. “I’m not cheating on Joshua,” he snapped, keeping his voice low so the whole room didn’t get in on the secret.
Bobby sneered. “Really? ’Cause last memo I got said you two were exclusive. You re-negotiate what that means?”
“Hey, man, lay off,” Andy said. “They’re grown ass dudes. They don’t owe you an explanation.”
“The hell they don’t. Benji’s actions already cost us a week’s worth of gigs, and that can’t happen again.”
Fucking hell.
Benji’s spine snapped straight. “What are you talking about?”
Danielle dropped her face into the palm of her hand. Joshua’s gut rolled unhappily. The secret they’d all tried to keep was about to blow up in their faces.
Benji’s ears were ringing with Bobby’s words, but they didn’t make sense. How had anything he’d done cost the band a week’s worth of gigs? Eddie had given them time off to re-configure theschedule after one or two people cancelled last minute, which wasn’t unusual.
Was it?
Danielle and Andy both looked contrite; only Bobby was glaring at him with open hostility that he didn’t understand. Even Joshua was frozen by the accusation—but not exactly surprised.
“What aren’t you guys telling me?” Benji snapped.
“Our vacation last week wasn’t Eddie being generous,” Andy replied, giving the silent Bobby a cutting look. “He got a bunch of cancellations after those photos of you and that guy got out, so he needed time to readjust our travel schedule and bookings.”
