As the calls grew louder, Joshua glanced toward Colin. He stood facing the stage, applauding with the rest, and as the cries of “Author!” grew more strident and demanding, Colin’s eyes narrowed, and he lowered his head. Joshua linked his arm with Colin’s and leaned against him, smiling when he felt Colin’s weight shift as he moved closer to Joshua’s body.
They saw Nate step onto the stage, his movements tentative. He hesitated, then his eyes swung to David, his expression bewildered as if unsure what had caused this commotion. “Get over there!” David called, pointing to the front of the stage. “Go on! This is foryou!”
Kory Holder, the actor Nate had chosen to play Blair Edwards, darted to Nate’s side, dragged him to the front of the stage, and then stood with his fellow cast members applauding their author as the entire audience cheered anew. The ovation was long and loud, and David’s arms fell to his side as he took in his husband’s moment of triumph. His eyes streamed with tears, and Joshua fumbled in his pocket for a tissue, which he pressed into David’s hand. “He did an amazing thing here, David,” Joshua told him. “This play was magnificent.”
Nate acknowledged the acclamation with a gracious flourish toward the cast still gathered around him, and then he clasped his hands and bowed low. Then, standing erect again, he turned to David and his friends and blew a kiss in their direction.
After a few minutes, applause began to subside, and the cast moved to leave the stage. As he walked with the company, Nate pointed to the side door and called to David: “Come backstage! I want you with me!”
“Yousure?” David called out.
Nate frowned and stabbed his finger at the stage door. “Get your ass back there!”
Joshua felt Colin leave his side and watched as he rushed to the edge of the stage and reached up to tug on Nate’s pant leg. Seeing him there, Nate knelt and spoke a few words before embracing him, and Joshua felt his eyes burn with tears as the two friends clutched each other close. Colin ruffled Nate’s hair, then backed away.
“I’ll be out soon,” Nate called to all of them. “Wait for me!”
“Go on, Davy,” Joshua said, urging him toward the stage door. “Go! He wants his husband by his side. We’ll wait here.”
When Colin returned to his seat, Joshua grabbed his arm. “What did he say to you?”
Colin grinned and bent to nuzzle his cheek. “I told him I was proud of him, and he said our support meant the world. Then he said: ‘Jesus, Colin, I just want to gohome!’”
“SEE?” Joshua said, poking Colin’s chest with his index finger. “See? I told you! David told you! Everyone told you! He’snota New York boy!”
“Oh hell, no,” Trent added, stretching. “He told me he’s been miserable these past couple of months. Hehatescity life.”
“And,” Jeff added, “He adores David and those girls. He’d never leave them. David’s his rock.”
“David’severybody’srock!” Colin muttered. He collapsed into his seat and blew out a huge breath.
Joshua set down beside him and then took his hand. “You OK?”
“I’m relieved.”
“That Nate’s coming back to Charlottesville?”
“Well, that, yeah, but I’m also relieved that his play was such a huge success.”
“Are youreally!” Joshua blurted out.
Colin turned to him, scowling. “Man, you must think I’m a real jerk!”
“Right!” Joshua shot back, and Trent burst into laughter.
“You’re confused, Colin,” he said with a quick grin, then pointed to his chest. “Ithink you’re a jerk!” He hitched his thumb toward Joshua. “Heworships the ground you walk on. I know it’s hard to tell us apart, but work on it.”
“You’re just jealous!” Colin teased, then wrapped an arm around Joshua’s shoulders.
Joshua leaned against him, eyeing the stage door. “Wonder how long they’ll be.”
Colin shrugged. “I would think a while. There has to be a ton of press back there.”
“We should have arranged to meet them at the hotel.”
“I could go back and tell them if you like.”
Joshua turned to gaze into his eyes. “No, don’t go.” He rested his chin on Colin’s arm. “I want you here with me.”
