The lights went down, and the opening strains of John Legend’s “All of Me” began to play. Evan took Raphael in his arms, and the pair danced close. I could see them talking to each other, smiling, and sharing tender kisses. Like a punch to the gut, I realized I wanted that. The closeness, the tenderness, the sweetness, and I was pretty sure I wanted it with the man sitting next to me.
The song ended, and the lights came up. Evan and Raphael sat down at their small table, and the servers went around to pour the champagne. I had already told them to give Jeremy and me sparkling cider.
Jeremy leaned over. “Do you have the envelope?”
I nodded and lifted my plate to show him the large hand-decorated envelope that contained the sheet music for the piece he’d written for Evan and Raphael. Our attention turned to the front of the room where Luis, Raphael’s older brother, was making his best man speech. He had people laughing as he described how Raphael couldn’t stop talking about Evan. He ended it by saying, “Hermano, I know it’s been a long, rough road for you. I am so happy for you, and we’re all so lucky to be able to welcome Evan into our family.”
There were cheers and hugs all around, and then Jeremy got up to take the microphone. I could tell he was nervous. He’d told me he didn’t like talking in front of people all that much.
He took a deep breath and turned to speak to his best friend. “Evan, from the day we met during our freshman year at Juilliard, you have been my rock. You helped me come out of my shell, and you have been there for me during the best and worst times of my life.”
He paused and cleared his throat. “When you met Raphael and fell in love, I was so happy for you because you deserve all the good things in life. I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for you. I love both of you, and I am so grateful for everything you have done for me.”
Jeremy looked over at me and gave me a slight nod. I grabbed the envelope and rose to stand beside him. Confused murmurs spread throughout the room.
Jeremy continued speaking. “You know I’m not very good at making speeches, so I decided to put my feelings onto the keys.”
Jeremy took the envelope from me and put it on the table in front of Evan and Raphael. Then he went over to the piano and began to play.
The piece I’d originally heard in its raw form had been transformed into something so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. Everyone in the room was transfixed. When Jeremy finished, there were tears and applause in equal measure.
Jeremy sat at the piano with his hands on the keys and his head bowed. I moved to go to him, but Raphael took hold of my arm. “Let Evan do it. They need each other right now.”
Evan knelt beside the piano bench, and Jeremy threw his arms around his best friend’s neck. Raphael leaned closer and asked, “Have you told him yet?”
I looked at him in confusion. “Told who what?”
He stared at me like I was some kind of idiot. “Have you told Jeremy that you’re in love with him?”
My mouth went dry, and I swallowed hard. “I…almost did. When we were outside. But I keep thinking it’s too soon. I don’t want to scare him away.”
Raphael looked over at Evan and Jeremy, who were now standing, but still holding each other. “I haven’t known him all that long, but believe me when I say you won’t scare him away.”
Raphael’s words stayed with me all through the delicious meal Joanna prepared. Jeremy spent most of the time leaning into me or touching me. Even when someone came up to gush about his playing or the piece he wrote for Evan, he still stayed close to me.
By the time the parents’ dances started, I had a sort-of plan. I got distracted when Evan’s father came around the table to thank me for defending his son from those thugs outside. I wasn’t sure how he found out about it until he showed me the video on the hotel's Twitter feed. Oh goody. My mother was going to freak out when she saw it. I turned to talk to Jeremy about it, but he wasn’t in his seat.
Evan had just finished dancing with his mother when I heard the familiar notes of “Your Song” by Elton John. Jeremy came to stand beside me and held out his hand. “Dance with me?”
“My pleasure,” I said as I took his hand and rose from my seat. I took him in my arms, and we danced. I held him close while he sang to me, low and soft, about the color of my eyes. I cupped his cheek and kissed him. “I love you.”
His eyes went wide and shone brightly. “You do?”
I brushed my fingers through his hair. “Yeah, I do.”
Jeremy buried his face in my neck. “I love you too. So much.”
And we danced.
THIRTY-FOUR
JEREMY
I loved Evan dearly, but he needed to leave for his honeymoon. He kept mother-henning me, and I was about to explode. Because Sean loved me. Sean lovedme. I wanted to drag the man to my room to show him how much I loved him, but Evan was stalling because he was still worried about me. I put my hands on his shoulders. “You’re going to miss your flight. I’mfine. Go to Spain. Go.”
“I just want to make sure you’re okay,” Evan countered. “We’ll be gone for a month.”
I pulled his head down so I could whisper in his ear. “Sean told me he loved me. I’m going to take him back to my room so I can fuck his brains out, but you have toleave.”
