“Nate,” Vincent interjected. He tore his eyes from his fiancé and looked at Dom. “Nate,” he said softly with a nod of his head. His eyes were back on Nathan an instant later. The nickname clearlymeant something between the two because Nathan began to cry. I heard Vincent whisper something softly to him that none of us could hear as he wiped at Nathan’s tears. Nathan managed a shaky smile and nodded in response to whatever Vincent had said to him.
“Vincent, do you take Nate to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, protect and cherish him in this life and the next? Do you promise to put his needs above your own and spend the rest of your days bringing him the same joy and happiness he will bring you?”
“I do,” Vincent said as he slid his ring onto Nathan’s finger.
“Nate, do you take Vincent to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, protect and cherish him in this life and the next? Do you promise to put his needs above your own and spend the rest of your days bringing him the same joy and happiness he will bring you?”
“I do,” Nathan managed to say as he secured his ring on Vincent’s finger.
“Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husbands. You may kiss your Nate, Vincent Wilder.”
Dom barely even finished talking before the men were kissing. The guests burst into applause. Everett wiped at his cheeks, then turned to seek us out. As I held his gaze, I pulled Gage’s hand up to my mouth and pressed a kiss into his palm. “We need to make this work,” I said. “I want this with both of you.”
I knew it wouldn’t be legal, but I didn’t care. It had nothing to do with a piece of paper. “Promise me, Gage. Make this happen for us.”
I knew it wasn’t fair to put that much pressure on Gage, but I knew if anyone could make it happen, it was him.
And I was that desperate.
But if he responded to me, I didn’t hear him because several guys broke out into wolf whistles and shouts of encouragement at that exact moment as Vincent dipped Nathan over his arm and kissed him deeply. I was afraid to ask Gage what his answer had been because I wasn’t sure what would happen if it wasn’t the answer I needed to hear.
Chapter 27
EVERETT
“Dad?”
I froze at the sound of Reese’s voice, then looked up from the flowers I’d been cutting so I could make a bouquet out of them to give to Charlie when she got home. The little girl was part of a recital at her school, which she’d been very nervous about because she was singing a small part of the song by herself. I’d so badly wanted to go with Phillipe and Gage to watch the show, but it would have been too big of a risk that I’d be recognized. But at least I could give the little girl the traditional bouquet given to stage performers. Fortunately, the weather hadn’t turned too cold yet, so there were still plenty of flowers left to pick from.
I lifted my eyes to find Reese standing at the end of the section of the garden I was working in.
“Yeah?” I said as I practically stumbled to my feet. “Everything okay?”
“Um, yeah,” Reese said. He had his quad cane with him, but I was glad to see that he wasn’t leaning on it too much. Every day I saw a little more progress with his ability to walk and while I was overjoyed, I also knew that it meant our time together was coming to an end.
Just like my time with Nash and Gage was coming to an end.
I’d been obsessing over that fact ever since the wedding four days earlier. Almost as much as I still obsessed over what would happen when Reese discovered the truth.
I knew Gage and Nash were frustrated with me that I wouldn’t just talk to Reese about the relationship the three of us had found, but they just couldn’t understand that I knew better than them what would happen if I did say anything. Reese wouldn’t just turn away from me forever, he’d likely turn away from Gage too, maybe even Ronan’s group. Then he’d once again be adrift. I couldn’t allow that. I could deal with him hating me, but not Gage and Ronan too. They were all he had.
“No, actually,” Reese said after a moment. “Gage called a few minutes ago. He and Phillipe are stuck in traffic and won’t make it back in time before I need to leave for my therapy appointment.”
“Oh, um, okay. You can use our car, but should you really be driving yet?” I asked. Before I even gave him time to answer I said, “I’ll get Nash to drive you.”
I knew Nash wouldn’t like leaving me alone, but he’d do it if I asked him to. He’d gotten a lot more lenient with needing to have eyes on me at all times in the past few weeks. He often spent his days helping Gage around the house. As far as I knew, he was currently in the barn fixing a loose board in one of the stalls.
I began to move past Reese, but he caught me off guard when he grabbed my arm. He almost immediately dropped it, but the move did the trick. I came to a grinding halt in front of him.
When was the last time he touched me?
“I was wondering if you could take me… or come with me, I guess, since Nash probably needs to come too.”
My throat was so tight, I could barely speak. I managed what had to be a jerky nod. “Um, yeah… yeah,” I said, my voice growing louder with each word.
I couldn’t believe it.
He was talking to me… he… God, he wanted me with him?
