by Haley Walsh
“You all right, babe?”
“Yeah. My Dad and I…we just had a talk.”
“And a dance. That was pretty ballsy of him.”
“Yeah, I guess it was. Us Foxe men are known for our unorthodox moves.”
“He’s all right, Skyler.”
He held tight to Keith. Yes, he was beginning to see that.
Chapter Twelve
THERE WAS MORE DANCING, GUESTS LAUGHING AT the photo booth, and a pause to cut the cake and pass it around. It was a chocolate almond cake with a raspberry mouse filling, and chocolate ganache frosting under the fondant. Skyler moaned as he slipped the cake from his fork into his mouth. “Rodolfo,” he said when he could speak again. “This, my friend, is divine.”
Afterward, he made his way through the room sometimes with Keith, sometimes without, greeting his guests. Finally, he had a chance to slide into an open seat at the GSA table. “Hey, you guys.”
“Congratulations, Mr. Foxe,” said a red-faced Alex, who had just gotten off the dance floor with Rick. Rick draped an arm over the boy’s shoulder and nuzzled the buzz cut of his hair.
“Thanks, Alex. How did you like the ceremony?”
“That was dope,” said Drew. “I mean that lady who did the ceremony, she rocked.”
“She’s something else, isn’t she? There she is on the dance floor with her girlfriend.”
Drew turned and shook his head. “A lesbian, too. Dude, you throw an awesome party…”
He stopped talking as Tyrone swept up to the table and glanced at all the faces looking up at her. “Skyler, who are all these amazing young people?”
“They’re from my Gay-Straight Alliance club at school.”
“And all these precious faces are gay?”
Drew raised his hand. “Not me. I’m just an ally.”
Tyrone strode toward him and crouched down, batting her long, fake lashes. “Honey, you are not just an ally. You are my brother. When you sit with my brothers and sisters here, when you stand with them in their times of trouble and times of happiness, you are not ‘just’ anything. You are a superhero. And we love you. Y’all take care of this one, my pretties,” she admonished the table, ruffling Drew’s hair, before she stood upright again, and swept away, skirts swishing after her.
Drew watched Tyrone depart with a slackened jaw. “Mr. Foxe, who was that?”
“That is Tyrone.”
“That was a dude, right? A real life Ru Paul.”
He chuckled and turned back to Alex and Rick. “So, did we do okay?”
Rick twined his long fingers together on the table and cocked his head with a thoughtful expression. “Mr. Foxe, I think it was beautiful. What that black lady said, the poetry she recited, the things she had you say to each other…it was all beautiful. You made this one cry.” He motioned toward Alex.
Alex shoved at Rick. “I did not.”
“Well, I cried,” Rick admitted. “I think someday I’d like to get married and have a ceremony like that…since I’ll never get my wedding mass.”
“Well, you never know Rick.”
“Oh, I know.”
“Amber was balling her eyes out,” said Heather.
“Omigod,” said Amber, “was I ever! That was amazing, Mr. Foxe.”
He felt shy suddenly, and toyed with the greenery around the candle. “Thanks. I’m really glad you guys came.”
“It’s an experience I’ll never forget,” said Amber with a sigh.
Skyler turned to her date, Ravi Chaudhri. “And what about you, Ravi? Did it leave a good impression?”
“It was fascinating. I’ve only ever been to an Indian wedding, and a lot of the same sentiments were said. Of course, I suppose all weddings are the same in that respect.”
“They would be, wouldn’t they? I haven’t been to very many myself. But to tell you the truth, this is my first same sex wedding.”
“Well you did it right,” said Rob, holding his hand up for high five.
“What are all these troublemakers doing?” said Keith coming up behind him and sliding his arm around Skyler.
“Oh, the usual. You know these characters.”
“Hey, Coach,” said Stephanie. Skyler barely recognized her without her cheerleading outfit. Instead, she wore a flowery short-length party dress. Her girlfriend Jennifer wore a similar one. “So what are the plans for the honeymoon?”
Keith opened his mouth and then stopped himself. He turned to Skyler. “Why you dirty, underhanded scoundrel. Using children like that.”
“Who, me? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But to Stephanie he mouthed, Nice try.
“Who’s a children?” said Evan. She wore a dark shapeless dress, more like something that Lisa would have worn, only Lisa was wearing an out-of-character boho handkerchief-hemmed gauzy number.
Before he could answer, the DJ eased in Micro’s “Inside of Me” and all the kids jumped up from the table to dance.
“Come on,” said Rick. “Rest time is over, Alex.” Reluctantly, the teen rose, and shrugged at Skyler. The GSA kids took over the center of the dance floor, and were soon surrounded by Trixx boys, the SFC, and Keith and Skyler’s younger relatives.
Skyler watched it for a bit, marveling for the umpteenth time at all these different people coming together.
“It’s pretty amazing,” said Keith in his ear above the pounding roar of the music, seeming to read his mind.
“I was just thinking that.”
Keith had long ago abandoned his tie, and his shirt was opened by three buttons, exposing the first trimmed hairs of his chest. Skyler couldn’t help but start to think about the honeymoon. Maybe it was the muscle memory of the beat of the music. It always reminded him of hooking up, so a hard-on was the natural result. He’d left his jacket back at his chair and now he felt a little trapped sitting at the kid’s table.
“You wanna dance?” Keith asked.
Or he could dance and hope the low light kept him hidden. He opted to dance.
Dancing with Keith, either fast or slow, was one of his true joys in life. And it would all have been perfect, if he hadn’t glanced to the edge of the dance floor and caught sight of Special Agent Slokum and Special Agent Wolf.
Wolf was not out of place in his suit, but Slokum was wearing a modest pant and top ensemble in a boring fabric with a terrible drape.
It all brought home that—oh yeah, someone was trying to kill him.
Of course, Keith noticed his change of mood immediately. Skyler answered his questioning expression by tilting his head toward the agents. That scruffy jaw set immediately. Obviously, he too had forgotten, at least briefly.
When his gaze returned to Skyler’s, he tried to blow it off with a small smile. But the spell was effectively broken.
And then Keith looked at his watch. He motioned for Skyler to leave the dance floor away from the loud music.
“I hate to say this, but it’s almost time for us to go.”
“And we’ll have to shut down this party. We only have the room for so long. I think there’s an evening affair in here tonight.”
But even with the specter of some killer on the loose, there was also the promise of his surprise honeymoon, and he truly did love surprises. He grabbed Keith’s arm. “You can tell me now, right? Where we’re going?”
That sly smile Keith was so good at appeared. “Nope. Surprise to the very last.”
“You are so mean to me.”
He turned and gathered Skyler into an embrace. “Oh yeah. I am going to be so mean to you…you won’t be able to sit down for this whole weekend.”
Squirming in Keith’s embrace, Skyler perked up…and so did his cock. “Oh my. I like the sound of that.”
The DJ turned down the tunes so he could announce, “This is going to be the last dance, you happy campers. Our lovely couple have to scurry off to their honeymoon, but the rest of you can continue the party down at Trixx on Citrus. I’ll be playing all night. It’s been a privilege being your C
ontrollerist today. Let’s get the groom and groom up here to dance away the last of their party.”
Everyone cheered as Keith and Skyler moved to the center of the dance floor again. The beat began, and then it was obvious that it was mash-up of The Village People’s “YMCA” and Madonna’s “Like A Virgin.” Skyler cast a withering glance to the DJ, who saluted with his beer bottle, laughing.
The SFC wormed their way across the dance floor and joined Skyler and Keith, dancing all together. Skyler tried to look over the heads of everyone. “Where’s Sidney?” he yelled.
“Right here!” she hollered from behind him. She and Mike joined them, and they formed a big circle, dancing with each other. Skyler threw his hands in the air. Everything fell away. There was just this. Music, lights, his friends, and his lover. It couldn’t get better than this.
The gang got themselves presentable again, with Skyler and Keith making a quick change in the bridal room after the leaving pictures and video were shot. And then Skyler spotted Debbie talking with his cousins. He rushed toward her. “Debbie! You made it!”
She gave him a hug. “That was really something, Skyler. I was so glad I could be here. And don’t worry. I’ll email you that list tomorrow.”
He’d almost forgotten. “Okay, Debbie. Thanks. Of course, I have no idea where I’ll even be tomorrow. Keith is keeping the honeymoon a secret.”
“How exciting! Well, I’m sure it will be amazing. I’m so happy for you, Skyler. You keep in touch now.”
“I will. Thanks, Debbie.”
More people came up to greet him and wish him well. But always in the background, were the shadows of the special agents, circling the pack like wolves.
It didn’t matter. What mattered was Keith. And Skyler began to feel the excitement of their going away. What the heck had Keith planned? A little getaway in the mountains? The beach? It was maddening not to know.
The SFC had gathered for their good-byes and well-wishing. Philip was the last to give him a hug. “It’s going to be wonderful.”
“And you’re the only one besides Keith who knows what it is.”
“That’s right.”
“Still not going to tell me?”
“Have a happy honeymoon, Skyler.”
Sidney seemed distracted but Skyler tugged her into an embrace as he was going through the door. When he let her go he noticed an envelope that seemed to have his name on it that she was gripping hard. “What’s that?”
“Nothing. Something for later. Have a very happy honeymoon, sweetie. Fuck your brains out.” She gave him a loud kiss on the cheek.
The SFC walked them out to Keith’s truck when Skyler paused.
All over the black truck was painted the words “Just Married.” And some rather considerable dildos were tied to the back bumper on ribbons.
“Jamie!”
“How did you know it was me? Besides, they all helped.”
Keith reached into his pocket, drew out a Swiss Army knife, and snapped open the blade. He sawed off each dildo and left them sprinkled on the asphalt. “Souvenirs for you,” he said to the boys, and plunked the knife back in his pocket.
Skyler gave the dildoes a perusal. “Now let’s not be hasty…”
“Get in the truck, Skyler.”
“Bossy. He’s married now. Thinks he can boss me around.”
“Could you please get in the truck?”
“That’s much better. Bye, everyone! And thanks. You really made it a special day! I love you guys!”
“Good-bye, Skyler and Keith!” called Jamie. “Have a good time fucking!” Dave elbowed him so hard he stumbled.
Skyler waved at his crazy friends and watched them as he and Keith pulled out of the parking lot. As the truck hit the street, he saw Sidney gather them close.
Chapter Thirteen
SIDNEY WATCHED SKYLER DRIVE AWAY WITH trepidation. The envelope in her hand felt like a razor.
She motioned for the SFC to come together. Thank God for them! But what could they do that the cops couldn’t? She needed their advice. And with Mike at her elbow, she felt the panic ebb and her confidence lift. “Guys. Guys! Shut up for a minute.”
All eyes were on her even as she glared down at that stupid envelope. “Mike, have you got a handkerchief?”
“Yeah. Why? Are you gonna cry again?”
“Just give me the handkerchief.”
He plucked it out of his breast pocket and shook it out before handing it over. She took it and covered her hand with it, and carefully, with the handkerchief-covered hand, extracted the paper from the envelope again. “I found this on the table. Here’s what it says:
Skyler,
I know where you’re going.
I’ll be there to join you.
Bon Voyage.”
Philip gasped. “Is that from the suspect?”
“I have every reason to believe it is.” She tucked the letter back in and covered the entire envelope with the handkerchief.
“Well…what do we do? Shall we call over those agents?”
“I’ve had this for ten minutes already. Most everyone was gone by then. I’ve been trying to figure out what exactly to do.”
“What do you mean?” said Mike, slipping his hand in his trouser pocket and retrieving his phone. “You stop Skyler and Keith right now. We clear the place and get surveillance footage. We—”
She put her hand on his phone. “I know all that. But goddammit, this is Skyler’s honeymoon. This is his once-in-a-lifetime thing. He was already nervous as hell, ready to back out. I can’t ruin this for him.”
“But he’s in danger.”
“I know!” She gritted her teeth before lifting her face to Philip. “Philip, where are they going?”
“I promised not to say—”
“You promised not to tell Skyler. This isn’t a joke, Philip. Tell me where they’re going.”
“Oh hell. Okay. They’re going on a cruise.”
Jamie squealed. “That’s so romantic! Oh, I wish I’d known.”
“Where Philip? What ship? How long?”
“Out of Long Beach. Till Wednesday. The Mexican Riviera. Oh my God, Sidney,” said Philip, “you’ve got to stop him from going.”
“I can’t ruin his cruise. Shit!” She clutched at her hair.
“Then there’s only one solution,” said Jamie. “We’ll go and make sure nothing happens to him.”
Philip tapped his shoulder. “What do you mean ‘we’?”
“It’s simple. We just go on the cruise with him and protect him.”
Dave pushed forward. “Jamie, we can’t do that.”
“Of course we can. For Skyler.”
“Right. You mean buy a ticket on a cruise ship. At the last minute.”
“Yes! I’m willing.”
“But honey, I have to go on shift.”
“You don’t have go to till next week. We can do this.”
“Wait,” said Philip, “besides how stupid this is, he’ll see us. I don’t think he wants a group honeymoon.”
Jamie folded his arms over his chest. “We just make sure he doesn’t see us.”
“Jamie,” said Rodolfo, pointing his finger at him, “are you saying that we go on this cruise and sneak around to watch out for Skyler?”
“Exactly.”
“I think this is a brilliant idea!”
“Now wait a minute,” said Sidney, cutting through all of them. “You are not doing this. I am doing this. I’m going to call the cruise line now and explain that this is police business.”
“We aren’t doing this,” said Mike.
“You’re right. You aren’t. I am.” She had her phone in hand, jabbing at the keypad with her thumb.
“Sidney—”
“I need you to watch Fishbreath. I told Skyler I would.”
“I can’t check on Fishbreath. My allergies, remember?”
“Then wear a surgical mask— Hello, this is Detective Sidney Feldman with the Redlands Police Department, badge numb
er one forty-two. I am following a suspected felon who is traveling onboard one of your ships scheduled to sail this evening. The—” She snapped her fingers at Philip.
“The Exaltation.”
“The Exaltation. Yes, this is a police matter and the utmost emergency. I’ll hold.”
Mike raised his hands in frustration. “The station will never pay for this.”
“I don’t care. I’m going.”
“And we will go with you!” Rodolfo declared.
“You’re not.”
“You can’t stop us.”
“I can,” said Philip. “We are not going.”
“We are. You know, Philip, sometimes our friends are more important than common sense.”
“Yeah,” said Jamie. “And besides, this isn’t a fun trip. We won’t be able to lay out in the sun or go to the dance parties. We have to lay low.”
“Wow.” Dave looked at Jamie anew. “I thought…well, I thought you were just looking for an excuse to get in on this cruise deal.”
“How can you say that to me? This is about Skyler and Skyler alone. And we can all share a room.”
“I’m not sharing a room with all you goons,” said Sidney, sighing into the phone. The operator got back on the line and connected her to a supervisor. “Yeah. Yeah. Only one room left?”
Four pairs of eyes stared at her anxiously.
“Shit. How many people does it sleep? I have a team going with me. Five? Well isn’t that just perfect. Okay. Book it. We’ll be there before you sail.” She clicked off the phone and dug her hand into her hip. “Everyone go home and pack very lightly. I mean it. Anyone brings a trunk and I’m chucking it overboard. And grab your passports. I guess we’re going on a cruise.”
Part Three
“I never knew what real happiness was until I got married. And by then it was too late.”
– Max Kauffmann
Chapter Fourteen
SKYLER BUZZED WITH EXCITEMENT. AND SOMETHING of relief. Whoever this stalker was, Skyler felt better knowing that there was little chance of the guy following him and Keith on their honeymoon, especially with Keith driving the way he was on the freeways. No one could keep up with that!