by Sue Brown
“Marty and Lena in the middle,” Akiko ordered. “Dan, you stand next to Marty and Shona next to Lena.”
Dan seriously hoped he wasn’t expected to stand next to Parker, but Akiko spared him that, and Gideon settled comfortably by his side.
Akiko took a series of photos and then swapped them about. She had a sense of fun, Dan had discovered, and asked them to pretend they were dancing. Dan found himself in Gideon’s arms, if only for a second, and Gideon looked highly amused at Dan’s discovery that Gideon planned to lead.
“I’ll take you dancing, darlin’, and you can lead.”
Dan gave a curt nod. “You’d better.”
“Best man and partner, less talking, more dancing,” Akiko snapped, and they both jumped.
“That woman’s a nightmare,” Gideon muttered into Dan’s ear as Akiko told them to pretend they were slow dancing.
“She’s one of the best photographers in the business.” Dan had listened to an in-depth discussion from Marty until his eyes glazed over. “They were lucky she had a cancellation for today.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Dan fit in Gideon’s arms as though he were made to be there, but he only just had time to realize it before he was pretending to dance with Shona and then with Lena.
Lena looked up at him as they posed. “You look happy.”
“That’s supposed to be you and Marty,” Dan teased.
She shook her head. “I know I haven’t known you for long, but you seemed….” She struggled to find the right words. “Lonely. When you’re with Gideon, you don’t seem lonely anymore.”
“I don’t feel lonely when I’m with him,” Dan admitted.
Lena patted his cheek. “He’s the one? He could be, if you wanted it.”
“You and Marty just want everyone to be as happy as you are.”
She rolled her eyes. “Duh. Of course we do. You and Gideon are made for each other.”
“I hope you’re right,” Dan said.
“What do you feel in here?” She placed a hand over his heart.
“Alive. He makes me feel alive,” he admitted.
“Well, then.” Lena smiled at him like it was all settled.
Dan looked at Gideon who smiled at him.
“See?” Lena said. “You’re made for each other.
DAN HAD not exactly avoided Lena’s family, but he hadn’t gone out of his way to get acquainted with them. He’d been aware of a hostile scowl from an elderly woman in a crimson floral dress and a large wide-brimmed hat when the photos were being taken, but he’d been too busy to pay much attention. Once they reached the hotel, however, hostile glances turned into pointed comments. Dan had heard those comments for most of his life, and while he couldn’t say they didn’t find their mark, he refused to let them ruin his day. The person he worried about was Gideon. More than a few times he saw Gideon’s mouth press into a hard line when she made a comment about “that type of individual,” or “he’ll face Judgment Day soon enough.” She was particularly outraged that Gideon was sitting with them on the long table, and she went out of her way to ask Lena—in front of Dan and Gideon—if there had been a mistake with the seating arrangements.
Lena scanned the table. “No, this is correct, Aunty. Why?”
“You have two men sitting together,” her aunt said as she shot a scowl at Dan and Gideon.
Gideon looked as though he were about to lay into her, but unseen under the table, Dan laid a hand on his thigh and silently begged him to stay silent.
“That’s right. Dan and his partner.” Lena gave her a flat stare. “Don’t make a fuss, Aunty Celia.”
Her aunt had a sour expression. “It’s not right.”
“You’re welcome to leave if it offends you,” Lena said flatly.
Aunt Celia gasped, her hand to her mouth. “Lena May Dawson, how could you speak to me like this?”
“I’m Lena May Kennedy now.”
Marty came up and hugged Lena. “Yes, you are, my beautiful wife. It’s time to sit down now.” He smiled at his new aunt-in-law “Come on, Aunty Celia.” He offered his arm and led her to her seat, thankfully at a different table.
Lena turned to Dan and Gideon. “Are you all right?”
“We’re fine,” Dan assured her.
She gave him a skeptical look. “It doesn’t matter what my family says. I love you, and I am so happy to have you in my life.”
Dan stood, walked around the table, and swept her into his arms. “I love you too. You’re the one Marty’s been waiting for.”
Then Gideon did the same thing, and Lena hugged him close. “Ignore them. Ignore the comments. Nothing matters except you and Dan.”
Gideon nodded and let her go. “You go and join your husband.”
She smiled at him, and they all took their seats. Marty leaned back to glance at Gideon. “You okay?”
Dan was proud of his friends. It couldn’t be easy to go against their families, but they drew their line in the sand and made it clear that Dan and Gideon were on their side of it. Now, if he could just get past the speeches, he’d have a chance to relax.
Chapter 25
LENA HAD made it clear that Dan’s speech was not to last longer than five minutes and any mention of ex-wives was off-limits. Other than that, Marty was fair game. His brother’s previous speeches had been about getting Marty drunk and letting him get into trouble. Dan’s speech focused on the boy Marty had been and the man he’d become—with a few funny stories thrown in. He also gushed about Lena, which definitely eased the hostile glances from her family, and Lena’s mother even smiled at him a couple of times. He was nervous, sure, and his hands shook as he stood, but he said his words, and by the time Dan finished, there was more than one person dabbing a tear from their eyes.
Marty stood and pulled Dan in for a hug. “Thanks, buddy. You know your friendship means the world to me.”
“Right back atcha, Marty-moo.”
They hugged and thumped backs and eventually sat down. Dan took a deep breath of relief, and Gideon handed him a glass of champagne.
“Now you can drink.”
Dan caught Lena’s aunt scowling at him. “Yes, I can.” He raised his glass to her and drank deeply.
“You’re supposed to sip champagne,” Gideon said.
Dan burped. “After the day I’ve had, I don’t care.”
He noticed a bottle of beer had arrived on the table. “Where’s that from?”
“From me,” Marty said. “You deserve it after today. I know you don’t drink, but you’re off duty now.”
Dan gladly put aside the champagne and took the bottle. “Thanks, bud. I’m real glad my duties are over.”
“Uh-huh. There’s still the dance with the matron of honor,” Marty said.
Dan sighed. “Damn, I’d forgotten.”
“You do your duty,” Gideon said, “and we’ll find somewhere to have a dance together.”
Dan shivered at the thought of the two of them wrapped around each other, if only once. “Make sure it’s a slow dance.”
“You’re on.”
The meal and speeches over with, Marty and Lena took to the floor for the first dance. Dan leaned back in his seat and watched them sway together.
“They look great together,” Gideon said as he draped his arm over the back of Dan’s chair.
“They do,” Dan agreed.
“I had a wedding like this with Sarah. She wore a huge white dress that was a nightmare to get off.”
Dan tilted his head to look at him. “Is this hard for you? Being here? Seeing Marty and Lena together.”
Gideon tangled his fingers in Dan’s. “A little, but that was a lifetime ago. I don’t regret any of my life with Sarah. She was a wonderful woman, and I wish you’d had the chance to meet each other. And Simon. He was so much like her. But now I’m here with you. You’re not competing with a memory, Dan. You’re not second best.”
Dan remembered the conversation in the bar. In his mind,
Gideon’s love for his wife was a positive trait, not a negative one, but it was good to know he wasn’t a runner-up.
“I’ve never been to a wedding with anyone before,” he admitted.
“Not even gay weddings?”
“I spend most of my time at the bar. I don’t have many gay friends. A couple of the guys I do know got married last year, but I still didn’t go with anyone.” Dan looked at their entangled fingers. “It’s nice. Just having this. Thank you for being my date.”
“You’re welcome.”
They stayed where they were until Shona claimed Dan for their dance. She pulled him onto the dance floor with an eagerness he found surprising.
Shona heaved a sigh as they started to move. “Next time an old flame calls up the night before a wedding and asks if he can gate-crash, remind me to get my head checked.”
“Parker?”
“The one and only. He’s so obnoxious, going on and on about the women he’s fucked. I only let him come because my boyfriend dumped me a couple of weeks ago. And what’s his beef with you?”
Dan blinked as he processed what she’d just said. “Women? He goes on about women?”
“Yeah. Why?”
He smirked at her. “Let me tell the story of my Disastrous Date.”
By the end of the dance and the next song—because it took a while—Shona was openmouthed. “What an asshole. He’s using me to get to you?”
“Maybe.”
“And all those women he’s talking about are really men?”
“Who knows? They’re the same stories. They might not even exist.”
“I was gonna sleep with him just to get some action. Now I’d rather use my vibrator.”
Dan grimaced at the thought. “TMI, Shona.”
“Sorry, I forgot you’re a poor delicate gay dude.” She grinned wickedly. “You knew what it was, though.”
Then Gideon was by their side. “May I cut in?”
For a second, Dan panicked that Gideon was going to dance with him in public, but then Gideon swept Shona away, and Lena was there, holding out her hand.
“I’d like my dance with the best man.”
Marty mock scowled at Dan. “I’m already losing my bride to the cute gay guys.”
“Call me cute again, and you and I will have words.” Then Dan spun away Lena.
“You’re a good dancer,” Lena said.
“Weddings are about the only time I get to dance, usually with all the single women.” Dan steered her away from another couple.
“You can do it,” Lena said.
“Do what?”
“Dance with Gideon. We wouldn’t mind.”
“Thank you. But I think your family would,” Dan said gently.
Lena took on a stubborn look. “It’s my wedding.”
Dan maneuvered her away from another couple. “There’s no point upsetting them. Gideon and I are fine. We don’t expect anything more.”
“You may not, but I think he does.”
Dan was rapidly learning that Lena was very perceptive. “Gideon’s used to what it’s like for straight folks. It’s been a long time since he was out in public with guys—if he ever was. It’s gonna be a hard learning curve for him.”
“You think he won’t be able to handle how gay people are treated?”
“I think he has no idea. No one does unless they have to go through it.” Then he realized Lena was wearing a too-stupid-to-live expression. Dan frowned. “What?”
“Look at me.”
Dan frowned. “What am I missing?”
“I’m a black woman, Dan, a successful black woman. You don’t think I know what you mean?”
Even then it took a minute for him to grasp what she was saying. He groaned, smiling at her apologetically. “I’m a stupid idiot.”
Lena grinned at him. “Marty keeps saying you can be oblivious.”
“I am. I can’t deny it. Thanks for not being offended.”
“I’m not offended—much—but I think maybe you need to give Gideon more credit. He’s not stupid, and he’s a strong man. If he wants you, he’ll learn to cope.”
Dan wasn’t so sure, but he didn’t want to argue with the bride on her wedding day. “Can I tell you a secret?”
Her eyes lit up. “Sure.”
“I’ve wanted him since the moment I walked into the bar.”
“You did?” Gideon asked behind him.
Lena burst into peals of laughter as Dan hoped the floor would swallow him up. He thunked his head gently on Lena’s shoulder. She patted his head. “There, there, baby. I wish I could take a photo of your face right now. Here, Gideon, you take over.”
Gideon bowed to Lena. “Save me a dance?”
“It’s a date, mister.”
She’d only taken two steps before someone else claimed her hand.
Gideon quirked an eyebrow at Dan. “Want a beer?”
“Is that a euphemism?”
“It can be anything you want it to be, darlin’.”
What he really wanted was to be alone with Gideon so they could kiss and dance without any interruptions. But in the meantime, a beer would have to do. “Sure.” Dan shoved his hands into his pockets to prevent the temptation of taking Gideon’s hand.
The evening seemed endless, but Gideon’s presence at his side made all the difference. Dan danced with Marty’s mom, and she was pleasant enough and willing to talk about old times. Gideon claimed his dance with Lena—an elegant waltz around the floor. Marty made the guests laugh as he took Dan on a careering dance at the same time. It was a joke, but Dan appreciated the point Marty was making to certain other guests.
Toward the end of the evening, Lena threw her bouquet and Shona caught it.
“I really hope she’s not expecting Parker to be her intended,” Gideon murmured in Dan’s ear.
Dan turned his cheek, and he was so close he could almost have leaned forward for a kiss, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Marty’s mother looking at him. “I told her about the disastrous date. It seems Parker is telling the same tales about his amazing love life as he told me, but he’s changing the gender.”
Gideon gave a bark of laughter. “Why does that not surprise me?”
Finally the crowd gathered around the bride and groom. Marty put his arm around Lena. They looked exhausted but very happy.
“Thank you very much to everyone who came this evening. I will not forget this day for a very long time to come.”
“Make this the last one!”
Marty laughed at the heckle from an unknown member of the crowd. “I promise this is the very last time. Lena and I have some news we want to share with you. I know some of you thought we were rushing our wedding, and you were right. But there was a reason. In a little over seven months’ time we’re going to have a new arrival.” He placed a possessive hand on Lena’s silk-clad belly. “We’re expecting a baby.”
The noise from the crowd, the gasps and cheers, was almost overwhelming. Already in the know, Dan stood back and watched people’s reactions. Nearly everyone was excited and happy, but he was acutely aware of the angry looks on the faces of Lena’s family. After a few minutes Marty and Lena approached them. Dan really hoped the parents weren’t going to cause a scene and ruin Lena’s day. Of course he probably wouldn’t have dropped a bombshell in that way, but that was their decision.
Whatever Marty said to them, it worked, because the next thing Dan saw was Lena and her mother hugging and her father not far behind.
Gideon raised an eyebrow at Dan. “Crisis averted?”
“I think so.”
Then Marty’s family was there, and everyone seemed really happy. Dan breathed easier, knowing they didn’t need an intervention.
After a little while, Marty and Lena came over to them. Marty gave them a tired smile. “We’re going to bed now. We’ve had enough. Thank you so much for what you did for us.”
Dan hugged them both close. Gideon did the same and then held out a key card. “I know
you tried to book the honeymoon suite, but it was unavailable. I asked again earlier today, and it’s now free. I hope you don’t mind, but I got everything moved into the honeymoon suite for you. It’s yours until Monday.”
Marty stared down at the key card in his hand. “But they said the suite had been booked for months.”
“I know. I must have just asked at the right time.” Gideon paid no attention to Dan’s suspicious glance and smiled at the newlyweds. “Go and relax. You deserve it. Breakfast is also booked for tomorrow in your room. You just have to ring down when you’re ready.”
Lena gave a most un-Lena-like squeal and hugged Gideon again. “I don’t know how you managed to do that, and I’m not going to ask, but thank you.”
Marty shook Gideon’s hand and hugged and thumped Dan again, and then they vanished from sight.
Dan looked at Gideon. “If I ask you what you did, will you tell me?”
Gideon grinned. “Probably not.”
Dan decided he didn’t care enough to pursue the matter. “I want my dance.”
“About time. Let’s go.” Gideon grabbed Dan’s hand. He caught Dan’s shocked expression. “I don’t care what any of them think. Okay? If I didn’t have another plan, I’d take you on the dance floor now and fu—hang all of them.”
Dan stared at their hands and then at Gideon. He couldn’t think of anything to say except “Yes, Gideon.”
Chapter 26
GIDEON SEEMED to have a destination in mind as he skirted around the other guests. They were stopped several times by people wanting to talk to them, and Dan discovered many of the guests knew Gideon in one capacity or another. At some point he was going to have to talk to Gideon about just how many fingers he had in what pies. Gideon would let the conversations go on for so long, and then make their excuses. Dan caught their knowing looks, and his face was afire. Gideon, on the other hand, seemed oblivious, or if he knew, he didn’t care. Dan suspected it was the latter.
They reached the large open doorway leading to the lobby, and Gideon took a deep breath.