Another knock made Luca turn away. When he opened the door again, a dark-haired woman holding a fancy camera waved from the other side.
“Hey, I’m Kate,” she said. “Here to document the groom getting ready.”
Kate kept waving as she stepped inside. Everyone waved back. “Just pretend I’m not here,” she said.
“Come on then,” Alina said to her brother. “Let’s get you in this suit.”
Fifteen minutes later, Alexei stood in the middle of Luca’s cabin, wearing a dark green suit.
“Damn,” Luca said. “You look good.”
Alexei blushed, running his hands over his lapels.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Alina emerged from the bathroom to say. “You do. Help me with this zipper, Alyosha.”
Alina wore a sleeveless rose gold gown, tapered around her collarbones, a collar of tulle fluffed around her neck.
“Alinachka,” Alexei smiled. “You are beautiful.”
“Well.” She sniffed, emotion high on her cheekbones. “As the sole members of the Lebedev family at this affair, we had to show up.”
Alexei took her hand and kissed her knuckles, still smiling. “You’re the only one I need. Now, let’s do your hair.”
Luca felt like a voyeur. He hung in a corner with Delilah while Alexei braided his sister’s hair, some delicate, complexthing that went around her face, while Kate clicked pictures. “Don’t tell Dagny about this guy,” he murmured to Delilah’s slobbery face. “He’s making me look bad in like, twenty different ways.”
When yet another knock sounded at his door, Luca shot toward it.
He swung it wide open to reveal Mae Kellerman.
“Oh,” he said before he could stop himself. Mae grimace-smiled.
“Hi,” they said. “Sorry.” They wore a huge, sherbet colored dress that complemented their pink hair. “I’m here for Alexei.”
“Of course.” He stepped back. “Come on in.”
“Hi, Mae,” Alexei said. He was putting the finishing touches on Alina’s hair. “Go look in the bathroom,” he said to his sister with a step back. “See what you think.”
Mae drifted closer as Alina walked away.
“Alexei,” they said, eyes soft, their smile deep in their rounded cheeks. “Ben’s ready.”
Alexei took a deep breath as Mae patted their hands on his chest.
“You,” they said, “look handsome. But you always look handsome.” And then, more quietly: “How you doin’?”
“Good.” Alexei smiled down at them. “I can really feel them here. Both of them.”
Mae smiled back, but their eyes had turned damp.
“I know,” they whispered. And turning to Luca, still smiling, Mae explained, “Two of our favorite gays in the world used to love this town. But then the bastards went and died before they could see Ben and Lex get married.”
Luca had no idea what to say to that. Luckily, Alexei spoke first.
“I think they’ll see it,” he said, his deep voice quiet and steady. “Or at least—I think they’ll know. I really do.”
Mae looked up at him and patted his chest again. Alina, who had come back from the bathroom, put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
