Epilogue
“Don’t worry,” Owen said from beside Brent, giving him a gentle nudge. “He’s coming. Charlie would murder him if he didn’t.”
Brent laughed a slightly nervous laugh, not entirely convinced. He believed Riley would come, knew in his heart that Riley would never abandon him like this, but part of him still expected to be left standing there in front of all these people.
Again.
And Riley was running late. Not terribly late, and Brent had seen him in the house ten minutes ago, but…
“Charlie, drop it,” Riley said as he came around the side of the house, all dressed up in his suit—except that he was missing his tie, and the top button of his shirt was hanging open.
Relief like he’d never felt before washed over Brent, the ball of knots in his stomach easing up.
Riley was here. He wasn’t abandoning Brent.
Charlie trailed behind him, stuffing Riley’s matching tie in his own pocket as he followed.
“I’m sorry,” Riley said as soon as he came to a stop next to Brent. “The top button of my shirt fell off. But I figured it was more important to be here than to be perfect.”
Brent smiled at that, reaching out to take Riley’s hand. “You are perfect. Button or no button.”
“I just wanted him to look neat at his own wedding,” Charlie grumbled from Riley’s other side.
Riley reached out with his arm, wrapping it around Charlie’s shoulders and hugging him close. “I know. I just didn’t want to keep Brent waiting any longer.”
Brent was grateful for that. He didn’t need Riley to be neat. Riley dressed up for other people’s weddings, but this was as much about him as it was about Brent.
He needed Riley to bethere. Solid and real and present, ready to tie himself to Brent forever.
Riley kissed Charlie’s forehead, letting him go after one last squeeze.
Brent couldn’t stop thinking about how lucky he was to have him. How luckyanyonewould be to have Riley’s love the way he did.
“Ready?” Riley turned to Brent, his eyes bright, a broad grin spread across his face.
Brent tightened his grip on Riley’s hand. “Last chance to back out,” he said.
“Never,” Riley raised Brent’s hand to his lips, kissing the back of it softly. “I’m lucky to have you.”
Brent chuckled. “I was just thinking the same about you.”
Riley smiled again, the corners of his eyes crinkling like they only did when he was in his best moods. Brent couldn’t have stopped himself from smiling back if he wanted to. Riley’s smiles had always been infectious.
They both turned to face the celebrant, who smiled at them and looked up to address the crowd.
This was it.
“Dearly beloved,” she began, making Brent’s heart pound in his chest.
This wasit. In a few minutes, he’d be married to Riley.
Riley was the best choice he’d ever made.
“Brent and Riley have written their own vows, so they’re taking over from here.”
Brent swallowed.
He hadn’t said any of what he was about to say in front of Riley before, and he hadn’t heard what Riley was planning to say either.
