Austen hums in contentment. “Doesn’t matter.” He looks up at his husband with the brightest smile and says, “but… two here.”
Cameron smiles back at him.
Alex sighs loudly. “Three.”
Jordan smacks him in the chest.
“What the fuck?”
“Four, dumbass,” he says, rolling his eyes.
Alex’s mouth opens and then closes and he nods.
“So, apparently, we have a pattern here.” Alex chuckles. “Seems you two are the only ones left. Better get on that.” He points to Andre and Paul.
They share a look before looking back at all of us.
“Well, actually…” Paul starts.
“We have something to tell you,” Andre admits, then steps closer to Paul and puts his arm around his waist.
It feels like the entire room goes silent, but that’s impossible because there’s music and people. It lasts all of two seconds before every single one of us bursts into laughter, tears running down our faces.
This wedding will be one for the books.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Trey
Music fills the air, a soft and melancholic rendition ofLingerby the Cranberries echoing off the moss-covered walls. It’s getting late, and most of the guests have already left, if they aren’t slowly meandering their way out now. My gaze drifts to Alex, Austen, and Cameron, who are over in the corner talking to their parents, likely saying goodbye. The cushions shift as Paul sits next to me, pulling my attention. Neither of us say anything, but it’s not strange or awkward. If anything, it’s more relaxed than I’ve felt in a long time.
He’s the first to break the silence as he nods at Andre, Mack, and Hudson.
“We should probably break up the nerds,” he says with a smirk. “Before one of them explodes like—” He animatedly makes apoofsound while miming what Ithinkis his idea of an explosion, and I can’t help but laugh.
“I’d love to see you call Jordan a nerd to his face.”
Paul laughs. “Don’t tempt me. I’ve been drinking.”
Alex collapses on the lounge across from me, sprawling out like he’s melting into the cushions.
“What the hell are you assholes up to now?” he asks, glancing over his shoulder at Mack, Hudson, and Andre.
“Paul called your boyfriend a nerd,” I say with a grin.
The words come out easily, and it’s not because of the alcohol. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I can just… be myself. I don’t have to filter what I say or worry about saying the wrong thing. It’s oddly freeing. The alcohol might have something to do with it, too, but not entirely. I have been drinking Shirley Temples for the last hour with Alex who keeps getting them for me every time he gets one for himself.
Paul shoves me playfully. “Traitor.”
I laugh as I drain my drink.
Alex chuckles. “Oh, I’m definitely telling him you said that.”
Paul moves faster than a speeding bullet as he gets up to shove Alex, who dodges him by nearly falling over on the lounge with laughter.
“You will not!” Paul says, but the threat is full of humor.
“He’ll probably beat your ass,” I say, their laughter contagious.
