“Wait, there’s one more thing,” Carey said. He patted his pants and shirt as though looking for something.
“You know, we’ve known each other since Kindergarten,” Carey continued talking. “I knew when I saw you coloring a picture of a truck with your pink crayon that you were special. I felt lucky that you wanted to be my friend. And ever since then, you’ve been etched on my heart.”
He lifted his shirt. “See?”
Some of the people in the crowd laughed.
“I’ve loved you my whole life. And I know I’ll love you for the rest of it. Oh, here it is.” Carey pulled a small box out of his pants pocket, sinking down on one knee.
Much of the crowd, along with some of the cast quieted down as they realized what was going on. Brian gaped while the girl with Carey’s phone continued to click away.
Carey took a deep breath and opened the box, revealing a gold band inset with three very small diamonds. His breath hitched as he gazed up at Brian.
“Please, say you’ll marry me.”
Tears filled Brian’s eyes until he was forced to blink them away.
“You want to marry me?”
“Apparently, I’ve wanted to marry you since I was eight. I was foolish enough to let you go once, but I’m not letting you slip through my fingers again.”
Brian glanced around at the crowd, who anxiously awaited his answer, along with Carey.
“Brian,” Carey drew his attention back. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” Brian choked out, then sobbed.
Carey took the ring out of the box and slipped it on Brian’s finger. He rose to kiss Brian, who was covered in tears. The crowd erupted in cheers.
Wiping the tears from Brian’s face, and a stray one or two of his own, Carey again turned to the girl taking photos. Brian held his hand up as she took another one.
“What’s your name?” Carey asked the girl.
“Alicia.”
“Alicia, you have to take a selfie with us. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have a record of this.”
She leaned in next to Brian, and the three of them grinned as Carey held up the camera.
“Congratulations,” she said, hugging them both.
“Can we leave now?” Brian asked.
“You bet,” Carey answered, grabbing his left hand and squeezing.
Brian was in a daze for the short cab ride home. They kissed in the cab, on the way up the stairs, and as they tumbled into the apartment, drunk on love.
Maggie and a friend were in the kitchen, trying to decide on a snack.
“Hey,” she said.
Still in a daze, Brian said, “Yeah, Carey just asked me to marry him.”
Maggie gasped.
“You can stay if you want, but we’re gonna have sex. So . . .” Brian said, keeping his gaze on Carey.
“Guess we’re going out,” Maggie said to her friend. Before the door had shut, Brian was half undressed, kicking his shorts out of the way.
◆◆◆
The bed creaked rhythmically in time with their bodies, driving forward, arching back. No longer awkward first-timers, their lips, hands and hips knew exactly how to move. They seemed to be made for each other, and Carey realized what had been missing from all his other relationships.
Brian.
The only person he ever really wanted.
Brian inhaled sharply beneath him. “Oh, Carey.”
“Brian,” Carey whispered, pushing forward one last time before stilling. They remained embracing for long moments.
“I can’t believe this is real,” Brian said, breaking the silence.
“Didn’t it feel real?”
“It felt amazing,” grinned Brian. “We’re a lot better at that than we used to be.”
Carey frowned.
“Don’t,” Brian said.
“Don’t what?”
“I know what you’re thinking. But I don’t want to think about all the practice you’ve had with other people.”
Carey smiled. “You know me too well. I don’t want to think about it either, but I can't help be a little jealous.”
“Me too. If it makes you feel any better, I sort of . . . made up some of my boyfriends.”
“You did? Why?” Carey leaned back to gauge Brian’s expression.
“Because I didn’t want you to think I was pining away for you.”
“So, you made up boyfriends? Which ones were real?” Carey asked.
“Glenn, Zak, Carlos, and Xander.”
Carey wrinkled up his nose. “I didn’t like that last one. Too clingy, and touchy feely.”
Brian laughed. “Yeah, I broke up with him two weeks after I saw you.”
“That was a long time ago,” Carey pointed out. “You haven’t been with anybody since then?”
Brian shook his head.
“Good.”
“Okay, so your turn,” Brian said.
“Brian, I don’t . . . it doesn’t matter.”
The crestfallen expression on Brian’s face said it did matter.
“Three. I’ve had three lovers, besides you,” Carey told him. “A one-night stand, a guy I slept with a few of times a year at school, and Laura.”
“No one after Laura?”
“No.”
“Who was the guy at school?” Brian asked. “Did you ever talk about him to me?”
“His name was Mason. He was another Music Ed major. It was just something we did out of boredom and loneliness, mostly.”
“I remember that name,” Brian said. “Who was the one-night stand?”
“It doesn’t matter. None of those people matter. This is what matters. We’re finally back together for good. I love you so much.”
“What don’t you want to tell me?”
Carey rolled over onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. “I really thought setting you free was for the best. I regret so much.” He sighed heavily. “I just wanted to feel not miserable. But it made me feel worse.”
“Say it quick, like taking off a Band-Aid.” That was always Brian’s solution to an unhappy task. “Then it won’t be a secret between us anymore. And you can stop feeling guilty.”
Carey closed his eyes and whispered, “Mark Reynolds.”
After a brief silence, Brian said, “Wow, that wasn’t what I was expecting.”
“What were you expecting?”
“I don’t know, something really bad, like, my sister.”
Carey laughed unexpectedly. “Yeah, that would be bad. You don’t seem all that upset.”
“About Mark? Well, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me at all. But the way he flirted with you and stared at you, I’m not surprised he finally got you.”
“When did he stare at me?”
Brian laughed. “You always were oblivious. I caught him staring at you all the time.”
“You never said anything. Why not?”
Smiling, Brian answered. “Because you didn’t notice. You only seemed to notice me, so I didn’t have anything to be jealous about. And if sleeping with him only made you feel worse, I still don’t have anything to be jealous about.”
“No, you don’t.”
Carey drew lazy circles with his finger over Brian’s taut chest.
“Any other secrets?” asked Brian.
“No. You?”
“I guess you didn’t notice the tattoo,” Brian smirked.
Carey sat up. “What tattoo? Where?”
“Just kidding,” Brian laughed. “I was thinking about getting one, but I never did.”
“We should get matching ones,” Carey suggested. “We’re engaged,” he said, giggling.
“By the way, when did you get this ring? Did you bring it with you?” Brian questioned.
“No, I actually thought you were seeing someone. I didn’t expect anything to happen during this visit, except to be kicking myself all over again.” Carey snickered. “I went to the Diamond District all by myself and bought it. I’m sorry it’s not fancier. Teacher’s sala
ry.”
“It’s perfect. We get to plan a wedding,” Brian squealed. “You want to have a wedding, right?”
“We can have whatever you want. God, what are our families going to say?”
“Are you worried about your dad?”
Carey grinned. “Well, he was just telling me not long ago that I need to get married. He’s going to get his wish.”
“I want to tell my parents in person,” Brian said. “But I don’t know when I’ll be able to get back home. I really only have Mondays off.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out,” Carey said, kissing his temple.
◆◆◆
As promised, Carey drove out to State College to help his sister move home. She finally told her parents about Luke, but the pair would have to settle for a long-distance relationship while he continued his education.
At the end of August, the Reids threw a belated graduation party for Michelle, inviting all of both their families, and many of their friends, including the Stricklands. Several of Michelle’s friends were also able to attend. And of course, Luke.
Brian and Carey did their best to act casually as they circulated among the guests. Every so often, they ended up talking together, though. They figured people were probably wondering if they were together or not.
After food was served, Carey brought out a small cart with a projector and his computer on it.
“I was wondering why there was a white sheet hanging on the side of the house,” Jeannie said.
“I borrowed a projector from school and made a slide show,” Carey said. He turned on the projector and a larger than life photo of Michelle as an infant appeared on the sheet.
“Hey,” Michelle whined. “What’s that?”
“Michelle Prudence Reid, this is your life in pictures!” Carey shouted, gathering the guests' attention.
“I can use horrible middle names too, Carey Dorian Reid,” Michelle shouted back.
Carey plugged a set of mini speakers into the computer and pushed play. “Isn’t She Lovely” began to play as the picture faded into the next one. The guests cooed and laughed at the various photos from Michelle’s youth. Michelle walked over to Carey and hugged him as she watched.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
He kissed the side of her head. “I’ve always been proud of you. I just never told you enough.”
One of Michelle’s friends laughed loudly at a picture of her with spaghetti in her hair and all over her face. “She still eats like that!”
Michelle ran over to tickle her, leaving Brian to fill her spot.
“This is really nice,” Brian told him. “I’m glad you two finally learned how to get along.”
“Mom always said we’d be friends when we grew up, but we never really believed her,” Carey laughed.
“I’m getting nervous,” Brian admitted. “Are you going to make our announcement soon?”
“Soon. I have a little surprise.”
The final picture on the screen was the four members of the Reid family at Michelle’s graduation. Everyone clapped while Jeannie and Malcolm beamed from their seats at a round table on the lawn.
A photo of the Statue of Liberty came into view.
Carey walked closer to the computer. “Oh, that’s a picture from my trip to New York last month. Brian showed me all the touristy places,” he said, loud enough for most to hear. Everyone quieted down to listen.
The pictures continued to change from Penn Station, to Central Park, to Brian’s apartment building. Carey narrated a little bit, explaining what was in each picture. The song Carey played down in North Carolina years earlier began to play while photos melted into one another.
“Jeez, you took a lot of pictures,” Brian said in Carey’s ear. He glanced back up at the slide show. “Now I’m really nervous.”
“This one is me waiting in line to get autographs at the Broadway show Brian was in. I didn’t have a program to sign.” Carey laughed. He was getting nervous too.
He remained quiet through the rest of the slideshow. Carey kept his eye on his parents as the pictures showed him getting down on his knee, opening the ring box, and slipping the ring on Brian’s finger. Most of the guests sat with mouths open. Carey reached down to hold Brian’s hand.
Michelle ran over to Carey screaming, and jumped on him. “Are you serious? Oh my god!” she hugged him tightly.
He grinned at his sister’s approval, losing sight of his parents. Other family members crowded around the men shaking hands and giving their congratulations. Jeannie made her way through, in tears.
“I had no idea you two were even back together.” She hugged both Brian and Carey together.
“It’s only been since my trip,” Carey told her. “When Brian agreed to get back together, I didn’t want take a chance on losing him again. So, I proposed right away.”
“It’s so romantic,” said Michelle, who was still hovering over her brother.
“It was.” Brian sighed. His own parents and sister were there to offer hugs and kisses.
“I’ll be right back,” Carey whispered.
His heart pounded as he walked to his father, who looked pensive.
“I know this isn’t what you had planned for me,” Carey said.
“No. If I had my way, you’d be engaged to Laura.”
Carey’s shoulders slumped slightly. “I know.”
“And you would probably be miserable. I haven’t seen you this happy in years. Not everyone gets to marry their best friend.”
“So, you’re okay with this?”
“I just want you to be happy, son.”
“I am.” Carey sniffled as his father hugged him close.
Chapter 28
Fiddling with the ring that he still hadn’t gotten used to, Carey sat in his seat at the Academy of Music waiting for his and Brian’s parents. He glanced down at the gold band, recalling the small ceremony in a local banquet hall the previous June.
Much to Michelle’s disappointment, the wedding didn’t include bridesmaids and groomsmen. But she and Grace Strickland were given carte blanche regarding to the decorating. Each round table had been draped in crisp white lace and topped with a shallow round candle holder with a miniature tutu wrapped around. Music note confetti was scattered about, along with white and milk chocolate in the shape of treble clefs and ballet slippers.
Because neither Brian nor Carey expected to be escorted down the aisle by his father, they walked hand in hand to the makeshift dais, covered by a canopy of flowers. A Justice of the Peace performed the ceremony in which the men recited their own vows. Though teary eyed through most of the ceremony anyway, Brian wept when Carey told him that his eighteenth birthday wish had finally come true. He was getting to spend the rest of his life with his true love.
“Carey.” His mother’s voice pulled him out of his reverie. He stood to greet his parents.
“Hi, Mom.” He leaned in to kiss her cheek, then moved out of the way to let her into the row, shaking his father’s hand with a smile. “I’m so glad you’re here. Is it still snowing?”
“Not anymore,” Malcolm answered. “The driving wasn’t too bad.”
“Your father got us all here safe and sound,” Lori Strickland smiled. “Is Brian nervous?”
Carey smiled. “I think more excited than nervous.” He kissed her cheek and got a brief hug from John. “Grace isn’t here? I thought maybe she’d surprise him.”
“Her semester doesn’t end until December twenty-second,” John Strickland said. “But then she’s finished with her Masters, a semester early.”
“I’m sure Brian will understand,” Carey said. “Michelle wanted to come too, but Luke’s family is having a big family Christmas celebration early.”
The lights in the theater flickered, directing patrons to get to their seats. Carey sat next to his father, with Lori on his other side.
“Have you ever seen a ballet, Dad?” Carey asked quietly.
Malcolm nodded. “Don’
t you remember coming here when you and Michelle were young. We actually came to this very show.”
Carey’s eyebrows raised. “You took us here? I don’t remember.”
“I think you were only about seven. Michelle must have been four then.”
“Wow, so you already know the story?”
“Yeah. And, I’ve seen it on TV a few times. Your mother doesn’t seem to think it can be Christmas without the Nutcracker.”
Carey laughed softly. “Right. I never wanted to watch it when I was a kid. And now, my, uh, Brian is in it.”
Malcolm turned to Carey. “It’s okay to say your husband. I realize you’re married by now.” He shrugged.
Thankfully, the lights dimmed, relieving Carey of a response. It was difficult to tell exactly which dancer Brian was from his balcony seat, but Carey thought he had picked him out during the party scene. He knew later on, Brian would have the spotlight during the candy cane dance. He was becoming nervous, the closer that scene came.
Carey smiled to himself when he heard Lori gasp as Brian came out for his brief solo. He looked flawless to Carey, leaping and twirling with a red and white striped hula hoop. It was all over much too soon.
After the performance, many of the dancers came out to greet children that waited in line with various things to sign. Most of them were little girls with a single ballet slipper. Some had programs. And nearly all of them wanted to be ballerinas when they grew up. A professional photographer took pictures of the girls and boys with their favorite dancers. One boy chose Brian after he found out that he danced with the hula hoop.
Letting Brian bask in the limelight, Carey stood with the Stricklands and his mother, talking to one of the other dancers. She had nothing but praise for Brian and his strong work ethic. A few minutes later, Carey realized that his father wasn’t with them, and wondered where he had gone.
He saw Brian smile and nod as Carey’s dad handed him a water bottle.
“Excuse me,” Carey said to his group and made his way over to the pair.
“That was as good as any dancing I’ve ever seen,” Malcolm said.
“I think I was a beat off for a few measures there,” Brian said. “I was more nervous than I thought I’d be.”
Malcolm chuckled, looking down at a small curly haired girl who was holding a ballet slipper up to Brian. Brian gladly signed it. “You seem to have found your niche.”
Brian and Carey Page 29