Blake and Chad have other ideas, obviously. They’re immediately all over each other.
I think some of their poses might be football related, but at one point, Chad climbs onto Blake so he can hold him in a fucking piggyback, and then when he drops down, he hikes his leg up over Blake’s hip while Blake holds it there. I have to dig my fingernails into my palm to stop the angry, possessive noise threatening to escape my chest as I watch another man touch him.
The pose isn’t the same, but it reminds me of that night in Vegas. Of our kiss and how enthusiastic Chad was, like he is with everything.
Fuck, I shouldn’t be thinking about that night today. My reaction to him and Blake together is stupid. I know it’s unfounded. I stupidly asked Liam about it in Vegas because I couldn’t get past how close the two of them seem, and he confirmed that’s just how they are—as did one of their friends from high school, Ash. Liam said he isn’t bothered by it, so there’s no reason for me to be either.
Chad has been throwing himself atmeall week, not Blake.
Besides, it’s Blake’s fucking wedding day; he isn’t into Chad.
But as the pair of them laugh and smile at each other while holding strangely intimate positions, I can’t stop one word from chanting over and over again in my mind.
Mine.
9
CHAD
“Okay, now the best men together,” Blake shouts, and I’m ecstatic about the idea of taking photos with John.
“Yes!” I agree as I grab John to pull him in front of the camera. I don’t know if Blake is picking up on the vibes between John and I, or if he just wants a photo of the two of us for some reason, but I’m not one to question a good thing. All I’m focused on is how this is just another photo we can frame on the hopefully soon-to-be finished walls of our home. These photos will be perfect next to the ones of our wedding night.
As we move in front of the camera, I don’t tell John what my plan is, but I trust he’ll react the way I want him to as I take a leap of faith and jump into his arms.
As expected, John catches me easily, one arm behind my back, the other under my knees, holding me in a perfect bridal pose. He grumbles but doesn’t drop me immediately, looking into my eyes, holding me close while Chelsea snaps away. For a moment, it’s like I’m really his, and something warm spreads through my chest, a feeling I don’t want to lose.
My cheeks hurt from smiling as Blake yells that he wantsLiam to do this pose too, except Blake is a smidge taller than Liam and, not to question his strength, but I don’t know if they can pull it off like John and I. John makes it seem effortless.
I’m soaking up the moment, enjoying this make-believe world where John and I are a regular, happy couple posing for our own sober wedding, until John abruptly drops me back on my feet. But my arms are still looped around his neck, and our faces are so close I can feel his breath on my lips.
I want to kiss him.
I always want to kiss him. But it’s especially hard to hold back when he looks so handsome today, and he’s right there! His mouth so close to mine. John hasn’t kissed me, hasn’t touched me, since I showed up at his house, but fuck, do I want him to. My eyes flick down to his lips as he licks them.
“Chad,” he growls after a tense moment, snapping me out of my John-induced trance.
Right, I’m being obvious, and he doesn’t want that. I peel my arms off him and flash my best innocent grin.
He rolls his eyes and grunts, but there’s that flicker of something else there too. Something warmer than the annoyance he wants everyone else to pick up on as he says, “You’re ridiculous.”
That little glimpse of fondness in his gaze is what gets me every time. The part that’s just for me, and no one else sees. I know he doesn’t hand it out freely. John is so reserved and guarded with other people. And every time his attention is aimed at me, it feels like I’ve earned something precious.
It makes me wildly proud to know that I’m the one adding joy to his life. He deserves so much more of it.
“Hey, guys, I was told to remind you that the ceremony is set to start in ten minutes,” our friend Ash announces to the group as he approaches, pulling me back to the present as I realize I was a little lost in thoughts of my own romance.
Ash is someone Blake and I grew up with, but we didn’treallyknow him,know him, just that our families were friends and he played football with us. But it turns out that Ash is bi, just like us, but he’s keeping it very under wraps because his family sucks and are a bunch of shitty homophobes who don’t deserve him. He’s slowly spreading his rainbow wings, though. He even got a male lap dance when we were in Vegas. I was thrilled for him when I found out.
“Thanks, man!” Blake responds, and Ash comes over to where John and I are standing while the photographer talks to the grooms.
“Um, now might not be the best time, but I’ve got to ask, do you know who those two guys sitting with Kieran and Jace are?”
I look into the barn where most of the guests are seated. “Oh, awesome! Those are Jace’s uncles. Joey and Patrick. Hell yeah, I’m so happy they’re here. I can’t wait to say hi.”
“Jace’s uncles?” Ash repeats in a choked, tight tone, looking confused for some reason.
“Yeah, why?”
