The Substitute

by Sean Ashcroft

  He didn’t want to keep Zach waiting, though. They’d both waited more than long enough.

  Flynn looked up at the mirror again, adjusting his tie for the thousandth time before giving up, untying it, and deciding Callie could handle it instead. She knew what she was doing, and if he didn’t see it, then he could just tell himself it was straight.

  The door opened two minutes later, which took Flynn by surprise. He rushed out of the bedroom, relief washing over him as he saw Callie coming into the living room, Alexis and Lily trailing after her.

  Callie lit up into a bright smile. “You look so handsome,” she said, rushing over to hug him. “Look at you. All dressed up.”

  “Yeah, well…” Flynn tugged on his cuffs. “Gotta get it right this time. Too many do-overs and people’ll stop coming.”

  “I’ll keep coming,” Alexis offered. “I like hanging out with Zach.”

  Flynn grinned at that. They’d really hit it off, so much so that Alexis often sat with Zach during his weeks at the craft market and let Flynn and Callie take Lily for walks around it.

  They were like one big family, and Flynn couldn’t remember ever being happier in his life. He hadn’t lost a thing by standing up to Aiden. He’d gained so much.

  Besides, Aiden was starting to come around. They were talking again. It was slow going, and he wasn’t coming today, but that was probably for the best. There’d be other occasions. He didn’t need to be at this one, and Flynn was actually impressed that he’d been the one to say he probably shouldn’t come.

  Maybe there was hope for him yet. Maybe he was growing up.

  “And I like hanging out with all of you,” Callie added. “But yeah, let’s try to get it right this time.”

  Flynn nodded, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. “Okay. I need you to tie my tie for me, and then I’ll be ready to go.”

  Callie rolled her eyes, but didn’t hesitate before tying an expert knot, tightening it up, and then patting Flynn’s chest to smooth it down.

  “He’ll be floored,” she said, smiling warmly. “Hell, I’d almost marry you looking like this.”

  “I’m right here,” Alexis objected.

  “I’ll marry you,” Lily offered, tugging on Alexis’ hand.

  Flynn laughed, crouching down to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You deserve better than me, kiddo,” Flynn said. “But when you do get married, I’ll be there. Deal?”

  Lily considered for a moment, then gave a single, decisive nod. “Deal,” she said, smiling.

  “Okay,” Callie interrupted, holding out a hand to help Flynn up. He didn’t really need it, but it was nice to have the support. “Everyone in the car. We’ve got a wedding to get to.”

  Flynn followed her out, pulling his phone out of his pocket and opening a new text to Zach. He knew tradition said they weren’t supposed to talk, but if he only sent a text…

  I just want you to know before the circus starts that I love you. And that I am actually coming.

  He kept his eyes on the phone, partly to wait for a response, partly to distract himself from Alexis’ creative interpretation of the road rules.

  I love you, too, Zach responded. That was all Flynn needed to hear.

  He tucked his phone back in his pocket, still ignoring the way Alexis was driving.

  Before he knew it, he was standing in front of Zach, holding his hands, promising him forever.

  “I do,” he said, just a half-second after his cue, already lost in the joy of knowing that this time, it was for real.

  Zach laughed as he kissed him, and Flynn’s heart hurt with how in love he was, how happy this made him.

  This was it.

  This was the first day of the rest of their lives, and Flynn couldn’t wait for all of their tomorrows together.

  Bonus Scene

  “She’s beautiful,” Aiden said, reaching out to touch the photo on Flynn’s phone, awe written all over his face.

  “She’s gonna be your new niece,” Flynn responded. “So I’m glad you think so.”

  Aiden laughed at that. “I’m gonna be one proud uncle,” he said. “You sure you’re ready for this? Being a dad, I mean.”

  Flynn shrugged. “Did okay with you, right?”

  “Right,” Aiden agreed, passing the phone back. His tone said everything Flynn needed to know about how he felt.

  Things were still a little awkward between them, even a year after Flynn had married Aiden’s ex-fiance, but they were getting better. They’d been emailing lately, taking things slow, rebuilding their relationship from the ground up.

  Aiden was actually holding down a real job, and had a steady boyfriend who seemed like a good guy. Flynn was proud of him for turning his life around, and doing it on his own terms.

  He’d always known Aiden could grow up to be a good man. It’d just taken him a little while to grow up. Which was fine.

  Apart from everything else, Aiden had brought Zach into Flynn’s life, and while he’d done it under the worst possible circumstances, it was hard to stay mad at him.

  Flynn was deliriously happy right now. He had a wonderful husband, and they were adopting a perfect little girl. His life was going exactly the way he’d pictured it when he’d dared to dream.

  Well. The husband was kind of a surprise, but he wouldn’t have traded Zach for the world.

  “I mean that,” Aiden said after a moment. “You were always there for me. And I took you for granted, and I was selfish, and I really screwed up, but… you’re still here, buying me coffee and showing me new daughter and inviting me to dinner. You’re awesome, Flynn.”

  The tiniest, shyest smile spread over Flynn’s face. “Yeah, well. I still love you, y’know?”

  “I know. And you loved me enough to give me the kick in the ass I so desperately needed,” Aiden said.

  He even looked better. Healthier. Happier.

  Flynn kicking him out had been a wake-up call for him, and it had worked out for both of them. And sometimes Flynn still worried that if he’d done it sooner, Zach would never have gotten hurt in the first place. But there was no point in dwelling on that.

  Everything had worked out in the end.

  “Always happy to kick your ass for you,” Flynn said, sipping his coffee. He was still using the reusable cup Zach had given him, the chip in the bottom not enough to convince him to throw it away no matter how many times Zach offered him new ones.

  He’d made one for Aiden, too, so clearly he was over it, or getting there. He was even willing to go to dinner with him later in the week.

  Flynn was proud of him, too. And he was proud of Lily, who was running rings around the other kids at pre-school, according to Callie.

  His whole life was full of wonderful people, and he was so damned grateful to be allowed to hang out with them.

  “What’s her name?” Aiden asked, nodding to Flynn’s phone.

  “We’re calling her Grace,” Flynn said.

  Aiden’s eyes widened. “After mom,” he said softly, something between joy and sadness in his voice.

  Flynn got that. He’d felt the same way when Zach suggested it. He’d burst into tears, actually.

  At least Aiden didn’t look quite like he was about to do that.

  “Yeah,” he said after a moment, swallowing past a lump in his throat. “Yeah, after mom. And Violet, after Zach’s grandma.”

  Aiden nodded. “Nice. Both pretty names.”

  “Yeah,” Flynn repeated, smiling. He was glad he got to share this with his brother. Even with his little family about to expand, he still didn’t want to lose any of it.

  And he didn’t have to. All he’d needed to do was stand up for himself.

  All he’d needed was something worth standing up for, and Zach had been that for him.

  Zach had been the centre of his happiness for the last four years, and now Grace would be, too, and he couldn’t have been more thrilled.

  With Aiden’s life on track, too, he couldn’t help but feel
that everyone had gotten their happy ending. Even if it’d taken a few tears to get there.

  “Guess this means I have to decide what kind of uncle I wanna be, huh?” Aiden said. “I’m thinking… cool uncle who buys you beer even though you’re only sixteen, and swears blind to your dads that you’re sleeping over at his house when you’re actually hanging out with friends.”

  Flynn chuckled. That sounded about right, but he figured he had a solid sixteen years to worry about it.

  Besides, most kids grew up with someone like that around. They both had, through friends, and they’d survived it. Aiden, if he kept going the way he was, would be good for Grace.

  Just like Flynn had always promised to be good for Lily.

  “You’ll have to up your game to fool me,” Flynn said. “But I appreciate that your loyalty already lies with her.”

  Aiden shrugged. “She’s cuter than you,” he responded, sipping his coffee.

  Flynn beamed at that, his heart soaring at the thought that his whole little family was knitting itself together again, stronger than before.

  It was everything he’d ever wanted.

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  The Wedding Date - Chapter One

  “Hey,” Ethan nudged Caleb as he set a beer down in front of him and started opening and setting out boxes of Chinese food on the coffee table. This was one of his favorite parts of the week, just getting to sit and be with his best friend without having to worry about anything else. Caleb was quiet tonight, though, running his hand through his hair more often than usual, a frown line stubbornly set between his brows.

  Ethan hated to see him upset, and he knew the signs well. “You’ve been quiet tonight. Wanna talk about it?”

  “No.” Caleb sighed. “Yes. Not really. I caught Matt cheating on me. Like, literally in the act. I’m processing.”

  Ethan saw red for a moment, a flash of rage that yet another deadbeat boyfriend had hurt Caleb. It wasn’t the first time—it was so far from the first time that Caleb didn’t even seem surprised—but it still made Ethan angry every time.

  Not at Caleb. Never at Caleb. Just at the awful partners he kept ending up with.

  “I have both ice cream and tissues,” Ethan offered, only half-joking. If Caleb needed to sit on the couch and cry and eat ice cream straight out of the container, Ethan wasn’t going to stop him. “And later, I can dig a baseball bat out of the closet and break his kneecaps for you.”

  Caleb laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. Ethan shifted in place, not sure what to do. They’d been here before, and Caleb eventually got over it, but Ethan always found himself muddling his way through, trying desperately to think of something that would make Caleb feel better and, as far as he knew, failing horribly.

  Maybe it was just that what Caleb needed was someone to listen to him, which Ethan was always happy to do. He just wished he could do something more practical. Ideally, something to solve the problem before it happened.

  “He’s not worth the trouble. I’m better off without him, I guess,” Caleb said, breaking his pair of disposable chopsticks apart. “I’m just… so tired of not being able to hold onto a man for more than a few months. There’s gotta be something wrong with me.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with you,” Ethan said. “Except for your taste in men.”

  Caleb snorted, plucking a piece of orange chicken from its container. Ethan envied his skill with chopsticks. He’d never seen Caleb drop anything with them.

  He, on the other hand, made a point of picking up the container first and holding it close, so he wouldn’t have to move his bite of food too far. Grace and elegance were not Ethan’s strong points. He was too stubborn to switch to a fork, though, and Caleb had stopped suggesting it long ago.

  “Maybe I’m destined to be alone forever. I should get a cat. I just wish he’d been able to keep it in his pants until after Olivia’s wedding. Now I have to face my family alone.”

  “Hey, if you go alone, you’ve got a way better chance of picking up a groomsman. Or whatever they’re called. A male bridesmaid.”

  “I think you were right the first time,” Caleb said, cracking open his beer and taking a mouthful, closing his eyes for a second as he swallowed. Some of the tension in his body seemed to have eased, but Ethan could see he was still stressed. “Payton’s friends are probably gross rich people.”

  “I hate to point this out, but your family isn’t exactly broke.”

  “My family are comfortably upper middle class. Payton’s family are disgustingly wealthy. The engagement party was on their private yacht. His dad cornered me and explained the pros and cons of different tax havens at length. It was... uncomfortable.”

  Ethan wrinkled his nose. “Yeah, okay. They’re gross. I guess not going to the wedding isn’t an option?”

  “It’s my sister’s wedding,” Caleb said. “And the whole thing’s booked and paid for, and I’ve already gotten the time off work. So no, I can’t really not go.”

  Caleb was right about that. He couldn’t skip out on one of his only sister’s big life events, and judging by what Ethan knew of his family, not having a social buffer with him would make it awkward.

  “Bummer. Maybe you’ll meet a hot Hawaiian guy and hit it off.”

  “I can’t hook up at my sister’s wedding. She’s got her life all figured out and I’m gonna show up having to tell my family that I broke up with the guy I was going to bring with me because he cheated on me, because apparently I’m just that unappealing as a romantic partner.”

  Ethan made a sympathetic noise, trying to think of something useful to say. He got where Caleb was coming from. He wouldn’t have wanted to explain his own love life to his family, and Caleb’s was way worse. At least Ethan’s only suffered from being practically non-existent.

  It wasn’t Caleb’s fault that the guys he picked were awful, but Ethan wished he’d pick someone who deserved him, just once.

  “It’s not your fault that asshole cheated on you, man. You know that.”

  Caleb sighed. “I know. It’s just hard to believe when you’ve had the relationship history I have. And my whole family knows all about it and I just wanted to show them one time that I could make a good choice, that I could find someone who loved me, too, and that there was some hope I’d be getting married someday.”

  A thought occurred to Ethan, but he pushed it aside as stupid. Caleb wouldn’t go for it, and it was bound to come back and bite them in the ass.

  But then he looked up and saw Caleb’s slumped shoulders, his tired face, and the general cloud of misery hanging over him. It had to be worth at least mentioning it. Caleb could tell him it was stupid, and at least he’d feel like he was trying to help.

  “So take me with you instead,” Ethan said. This was something he could do, something practical that would go some way to fixing the situation for Caleb. “I could use a break.”

  “I’m sorry, but that’s way more pathetic than not bringing anyone. I don’t want to have to explain to my family that I brought my best friend so I wouldn’t have to spend the weekend alone because I really can’t get a date.”

  “No, I mean, bring me as your date. As your boyfriend or whatever. I’d be the perfect doting boyfriend. And I’m hot.”

  Caleb raised an eyebrow. “Someone has a high opinion of himself.”

  Ethan opened his mouth to ask if Caleb was seriously suggesting that he didn’t think Ethan was attractive, but then thought better of it. Caleb was his best friend, he was better off not knowing.

  Besides, he’d been joking. He knew he wasn’t necessarily much to look at, and he didn’t need to hear that from Caleb, either.

  “I’m just saying. I’ve always wanted to see Hawaii. I can be a nice, sensible choice, and I’ll even wear a suit. What could possibly go wrong?”

  “You’re straight,” Caleb said.

  �
��You say that like it’s a problem.” Ethan shrugged. “They’re not gonna want to watch us having sex, right? So that won’t make any difference. It’s only for what? A few days, and then you can tell your family stories about how awesome I am for a couple of months after and then quietly break up with me. Say we decided we were better off as friends.”

  The more Ethan thought about it, the better it sounded. He’d get a tropical vacation out of it, and Caleb wouldn’t have to face his family with another story of a relationship gone south. No one was going to figure it out, because in public, he could be a doting boyfriend. Speaking well of Caleb came as second nature to him. To Ethan, Caleb was one of the coolest people ever.

  Ethan was just one of the internal IT guys, keeping the network and all the computers safe from the idiots in the office. Boring stuff. Caleb was a user experience designer. He was the one who made websites, apps and physical products fun and easy to use. It was a way more creative, important job than Ethan’s. Caleb never treated him like he was less important, though.

  Besides, that was only the work stuff. Away from work, Caleb was fun to be around. He was the perfect wingman—even if Ethan never quite managed to close the deal—and he knew all the best bars. They had similar tastes in movies and comic books and video games, and they were still friends after maybe a thousand Mario Kart matches. If people had friendship soulmates, Caleb was Ethan’s. Pretending to be his boyfriend didn’t seem like a huge leap from there, though Caleb’s boyfriends usually weren’t people either of them would choose to be friends with.

  Ethan got that, sort of. He suspected his own insistence that he had something in common with the girls he dated was why he hadn’t gotten laid in over a year.

  “This is a bad idea,” Caleb said, swapping his takeout box with the one Ethan was holding. Ethan went with it, used to Caleb’s habit of stealing his food. He didn’t mind. Caleb was the one who brought him food when he was stuck doing overtime all week and no one else was around. Busy and stressful as they were, Ethan liked those times. He liked quiet hangouts with Caleb while he waited for two hundred computers to download and install an update so he could check them before anyone got in the next morning.