“Ha!” Jeff replied, delivering a light punch to Colin’s shoulder. “He hasn’t spent the past fifteen years watching your maneuvers!” He wheeled to face Joshua. “Josh, tell me you’ve seen the paperwork. I need visual confirmation before I put my vows in this man’s hands.”
“Yes, Jeff, I did. He’s totally kosher … so to speak.”
“You think I’dlie?” Colin asked, clearly insulted.
“No! I think you’dtease!”
“Not this time, Jeff. Not about this. You will have a traditional wedding ceremony officiated by a nontraditional-but-totally-legit minister,” Colin said, then pointed to himself. “Me!”
“Tradition is something we—and bywe, I mean the gay community—are still struggling to understand,” David added, lifting his stout to toast Trent and Jeff. “At Camp Pride, we’ll be helping these kids build their own traditions, and I think your wedding is going to be an important part of that process.”
“Let them see what love really looks like,” Trent offered.
“I think having Colin officiate is perfect,” Nate chimed in. “A gay, married, ex-cop prosecutor?” He turned to Colin and nudged his arm. “Too bad you never did a Magic Mike routine. Imagine you, full striptease, doing the bumps and grinds to ‘Here Comes the Bride’, or in this case, groom!”
“Tell me you’re kidding.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Jeff,” Trent said, laying a hand on his fiancé’s arm. “Will yourelax? These are our best friends. They’re not going to do anything to screw up the most important day of our lives.”
“Well … not onpurpose,” Nate added, grinning.
“Who’s standing up for you?” Colin asked Jeff.
“Well, weweregoing to ask YOU,” Trent said with a snicker. “But since you’re busy that day …”
“David and Josh will stand for us,” Jeff said. “Nate can be ring bearer.”
“I can’t be flower girl?” Nate whined, winking at Jeff.
“Only if you go toe to toe with our daughter. She claimed the flower girl spot the day Jeff moved in.”
“I will bear your rings like the faithful Frodo that I am,” Nate promised. “Sophie and I can walk down the aisle together.”
“Talk about a nontraditional wedding party!” David said, shaking his head.
“Rufeus asked me if Camp Pride is going to be a yearly thing,” Joshua told the group.
“Who the hell is Rufeus?” Trent asked.
“They’re the corporation that owns Rainier Clinic,” Colin told him, then turned to Joshua. “Seriously, Josh?” Colin asked. “Isit?”
“I dunno. Maybe. Given the state of the world these days, gay youth need all the support and acceptance they can get.”
“Are there any trans kids in this year’s group?” David inquired.
“Not that I’m aware,” Joshua replied, then grimaced and shook himself as if annoyed. “We should be making space for everyone.”
“So, add one!” Colin told him, finishing off his stout and spinning his finger in the air to ask for another round for the table.
“I’ll try, but just like including ahomelessgay youth, including a trans youth has to be handled delicately. Especially in the current political climate.”
“Did we get the unhoused kids?” Nate asked.
“Thanks to Project Hope, we got two,” Josh said. “They’re in foster care now. Only way it could happen legally.”
“Yeah,” Colin added. “Can’t just scoop up gay kids off the street—unless you want kidnapping charges.” He leaned toward Joshua. “I want to meet the boy who,” he hesitated, “…who reminded you ofyou.”
Trent frowned, his curiosity shifting to concern. “He reminded you ofyou? How?”
