A Bulletproof New Year (The Holiday Collection Book 2)

by Jenna Galicki

  Derek thought about his spur-of-the-moment marriage proposal and wondered why he never thought about it before. Brandon and Cam were married and talked about starting a family all the time. One day, that might be him and Travis. Kids? The idea had Derek shaking his head with astonishment at how much his life had changed. It was a transformation he never expected, but one that enhanced his life in ways he never imagined, and one that he cherished.

  After the tailor left with their measurements, Travis found himself sitting alone in the hotel bedroom with Derek, waiting for their tuxedos to be delivered. He stared into his soon-to-be husband’s gorgeous green eyes and saw everything in his heart reflected back at him. “I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” he admitted. “I never thought I’d find anyone. I was always so lonely. My whole life, it was just me. I never had anyone. I felt worthless.” He lowered his head, ashamed of how vulnerable and weak he’d been when they first met. But that all changed, and he had Derek to thank for being the incentive he needed in order to get well. “I didn’t think I deserved anyone, especially someone as wonderful as you.” Derek was about to say something, but Travis cut him off. “Now, I know that I do. I deserve someone who loves me. I deserve to be so happy that my heart is about to explode. And it is. I know I’m worthy of your love now.” He watched Derek’s face soften with each word, and he pushed his fingers through his lover’s long hair and cupped his cheek. “I want you to know that I’ll never take your love for granted. I’ll never stop appreciating you. Because, without you, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. My world would be a dark and desolate place. You’re everything I ever wanted. You did more than make my dreams come true. You gave me life.”

  Derek wrapped his arms around Travis in a hug so tight that it pushed the breath from both their lungs. “I’ll never take you for granted either, Trav. I didn’t even know I wanted to settle down and spend my life with one guy until I met you. You came into my life like a whirlwind and captured my heart the moment I met you. I remember thinking that I never met anyone like you. You have such a warm heart and kind nature.” A lighthearted smile bloomed on Derek’s face. “Yet, you’re wild and fun. You’re everything I need in my life. I’m so happy we’re getting married.”

  The kiss Derek gave him filled Travis with so much emotion that he didn’t know if he wanted to cry or smile from the happiness that consumed him. He’d never felt love before he met this man, and the magnitude of the endless outpouring of feelings from Derek overwhelmed him. He fell into the kiss and the knowledge that he truly found his soulmate. His other half.

  The sound of the bedroom door opening made them break the kiss.

  Brandon stood there with his hand covering his eyes. “I hope I’m not interrupting, but your tuxedos are here.”

  “Geez, Bran,” Derek said, brandishing a sly smile. “You could’ve said that through the door. What if we were going at it?”

  Brandon spread his fingers and a bright blue eye made an appearance. “Sorry.” When he saw that nothing was going on, he dropped his hand. “I didn’t think you’d be squeezing in a quickie before the ceremony. Besides, I thought it was safe since I didn’t hear any of your usual noises.”

  Travis felt his cheeks redden. Sex was no secret when you traveled together in the confines of a tour bus or shared paper-thin hotel-room walls. He’d been listening to the rest of the guys screw around since day one. Still, heat invaded his neck.

  Derek noticed and lightened Travis’ embarrassment with a joke. “I can’t help it if I’m a screamer.”

  “We’re all screamers,” Brandon replied. “I don’t think anyone even tries to keep it down.” He held up the garment bags that contained the tuxedos. “Felix said go time is in 40 minutes.”

  Travis’ gaze shot to Derek and they locked eyes. Gooseflesh ran down Travis’ back and a nervous smile spread across his face. “This is it.”

  “Don’t back out, Fontana.”

  “Not a chance.” Travis took the garment bag with his name on it and placed a lingering kiss on Derek’s lips. “See you in 40.”

  “Where are you going? You can’t just kiss me like that and leave!”

  Travis turned and winked at Derek over his shoulder. “Save it for the honeymoon.” He dressed in Brandon and Cam’s room, away from Derek and everyone else. Then sat on the end of the bed and watched the time on his phone, his knee bouncing with anticipation while he waited. He decided to check his social media sites, and they were blowing up with news of today’s wedding. Someone posted a livestream from outside the hotel. Press vans dominated the parking lot and fans swarmed the hotel in hordes. It was a mix of Bulletproof’s metalheads and Travis’ country music fans, so there were rockers in ripped T-shirts and jeans standing right next to flannel shirts and cowboy hats. It was so cool to see two genres blending together and cheering for the union of their favorite artists.

  Muffled voices drifted in from the adjoining bedroom, and Travis listened to them. He recognized Brandon’s deep baritone, then Cam’s New York accent. Derek said something in reply. Jeremy and Alan were there, as well, and Travis moved closer to the wall to hear what they were saying.

  “I’m so happy for you, bruh,” Brandon said.

  “We all are,” Alan added.

  Slaps on the backs were audible, and Travis imagined bear hugs being exchanged between this group of lifelong friends. It caused a pang of emotion to tug at Travis’ chest, because he never knew friendship like Derek, Brandon, Alan, and Jeremy shared.

  Derek’s voice came through the wall next. “I’ve never been happier. I never thought I’d settle down. And then I met Travis. And that’s all I thought about. But he was a hard guy to figure out. He’s sensitive, and he was guarded. I knew there was a huge underlayer that he wasn’t showing me.” Derek paused, and the tone of his voice turned soft when he spoke next. “As I got to know him better, I could see that he was hurting in so many ways. He was broken. And I didn’t know how to fix him. I tried. I really tried. But I didn’t know how to undo the damage already done.”

  “You did everything you could for him,” Jeremy offered. “But he needed to fix himself. And he did.”

  Tears streaked down Travis’ cheeks as he listened. He was ashamed of the person he used to be and embarrassed that Derek had seen him at his weakest. And that Derek felt as if he somehow failed, when the guy helped Travis more than anyone had in his life. If it weren’t for Derek, Travis would have easily fallen into a pit of despair that he may not have been able to climb out of.

  The door to his room suddenly swung open and Brandon, Cam, Jeremy, and Alan walked in.

  Travis quickly wiped his cheeks and got to his feet. He kept his head down so they wouldn’t see the emotion in his face, but Jeremy noticed right away and draped a friendly arm over Travis’ shoulder.

  “You OK, bruh?” Jeremy asked.

  Travis nodded. “I’m just happy.” He found himself wrapped in a group hug. God, he was tearing up again. He wiped his eyes, not even trying to hide his tears. “I don’t know how the hell I’m going to get through the ceremony without crying.”

  “So don’t,” Cam said. “If you want to bawl, go ahead. It’s your wedding day.”

  Jeremy was also wiping his eyes. “And don’t think you’re going to be the only one.”

  Alan hugged Jeremy close to him with one arm. “I got a shoulder right here for you, baby.”

  After another round of slaps on the back, bear hugs, and encouraging words, the guys left. A few minutes later, Travis’ phone dinged with a message.

  DEREK: Ready to get hitched?

  TRAVIS: Been ready.

  Travis heard Derek’s bedroom door open and steps in the corridor before Derek’s voice bellowed through the door. “Get the hell out here, Fontana, so I can marry you.”

  Travis flew out of his room but stopped dead at the sight of his groom. Derek’s long black hair looked like mink as it blended with his tuxedo jacket, and the crisp white dress shirt strained ac
ross his chest. Underneath it all, Derek was wearing his black and gray kilt, and it took Travis’ breath away. Travis put his hand to his chest and stumbled backward. “Are you trying to kill me or something? Warn a guy when you’re going to wear that thing. You know the effect it has on people.”

  Derek pulled Travis into his body and delivered a bruising kiss. “Let’s get married.”

  They left the suite, hand in hand, accompanied by an entourage of security, even though they were only going to the opposite end of the floor. They paused when they reached the suite where their wedding would take place. One of the bodyguards spoke into his walkie, and then the double doors opened into a magical display.

  Derek had obviously made a few special requests, and Travis glanced at them in wonder. Candles still glowed, and the lights were low with romance. The balloons that had floated above were now grouped in large bunches in each corner. The walls were covered in strands of twinkle lights from the ceiling to the floor, so the room looked enchanted. The ceiling had been transformed into a night sky. It was midnight blue/black with a million tiny blinking lights. A beautiful white gazebo stood at the end of the white runner, and it was covered in bright white flowers. A single spotlight shown down on it, showcasing it in the room like a life-size centerpiece. There were even small intimate tables grouped together and a smorgasbord of food on display.

  “What did you do?” Travis asked, as if in a dream.

  “I just wanted to personalize it a little. Make it a little more special.”

  “It’s beautiful.” As they started down the white runner, a single pianist, with the voice of an angel, started performing All Of Me by John Legend. Travis hiccupped a gulp of air. As far as he was concerned, it was the most romantic song of all time, and it couldn’t be more perfect. He dropped his chin into his chest and squeezed Derek’s hand a little tighter. “I can’t believe you picked this song.”

  “Do you like it?” Derek asked, cautiously. “Please tell me that look on your face means you like it.”

  Travis stopped walking and turned to face Derek. “I love it.” His eyes bore into his lover with intensity. “I love you.”

  Derek swallowed hard. “I love you too.”

  They shared a long kiss, right there in the middle of their walk to the little gazebo where they were to exchange vows, as if the ceremony had already concluded. A searing round of applause, accompanied by light laughter, rumbled through the room.

  Travis glanced at their guests. He spotted the guys – Brandon, Cam, Jeremy, Alan, Felix, and the dogs – right away, then his gaze drifted to Emily, and his heart just about melted. She was waving at him with a tissue in her hand, then dabbed at the corner of her eyes. It meant the world to him that they reconnected and that she was here to share in this moment with him. Otherwise, no one from his life would be here.

  Next to her stood the entire MacAlister clan – Derek’s parents, all of his brothers and sisters, their spouses, and his nieces and nephews. Brandon’s parents, along with Jeremy and Alan’s parents, were standing a few feet away. Travis had only met them on a couple of occasions, but Derek had grown up with them. “Everyone’s here,” Travis said, as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.

  “We’re only having one official wedding day. We can have a big blast when we get back from our honeymoon, but today’s the day, and everyone that should be here, is here.”

  Travis blinked and kept his eyes closed for a few seconds longer than necessary, just to keep his emotions in check. “You’re amazing.”

  “No. You are.” Derek nodded toward the gazebo with his head. “Let’s get married.”

  Travis nodded, because he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to get any words out.

  Once at the gazebo, the music stopped, and the ceremony began. The officiant talked about love and marriage, and Derek recited the usual vows as he slipped the understated diamond ring onto Travis’ finger. But when it was Travis’ turn, he pulled a piece of paper from his breast pocket and recited a poem that he’d written about Derek shortly after they first fell in love. The paper shook in his hand, almost as much as his voice, as he read the words that told how much he cherished Derek’s love and support. He ended with, “You’re not only the love of my life, you’re my best friend.” When he looked up, two lone tears were running down Derek’s cheeks, and his bright green eyes were pools of water. Travis barely had time to slip the ring onto Derek’s finger before he found himself enveloped in a crushing hug.

  “I can’t believe you made me cry,” Derek whispered. “That was so beautiful. I love you so much, Trav.”

  The officiant had already ended the ceremony by declaring them husband and husband, but they were still clenched tightly in each other’s arms, until someone shouted. “Kiss already!”

  They briefly smiled at one another before their lips met in a smoldering kiss that lasted through the shouts and cheers from their family and friends.

  “Hot damn!” Derek exclaimed, when their lips finally parted, and raised their clasped hands up to the ceiling. The lights came on full blast, the orchestra broke into a rendition of Pomp and Circumstance, and they were suddenly surrounded by everyone at once. When they were done accepting congratulatory hugs, it was time for their first dance as a married couple.

  The band played All I Want Is You from U2, and Derek paused to smile at Travis. “Did you pick this song?”

  Travis nodded. “It’s always been one of my favorites.” He took Derek in his arms and sang the lyrics softly in his new husband’s ear as they swayed back and forth. The words were incredibly heartfelt and seemed as if he’d written them for Derek. Each chorus left his heart a little more swollen, and he clung to Derek with everything in his soul. “All I want is you,” he sang, in a whisper, over and over into Derek’s ear.

  By the time the song ended, Derek was sniffling and had buried his face in Travis’ shoulder. “You’re killing me today.” He wiped his eyes. “And here I thought you were the sensitive one.”

  “I am. That’s why I picked such an amazing song. But I’m not done. I got one more.”

  Derek looked up, wetness covering his thick black lashes. “I don’t know if I can take—” He stopped talking when he heard The Time of My Life start playing. “You picked this song?” he asked, with a quirk of his brow and a crooked smile.

  “I’m having the time of my life,” Travis said, high from everything that was taking place today.

  “Me too.”

  They really were having the time of their lives, but there was a specific reason that Travis chose the song. “You know we gotta do it,” he told Derek.

  “Do what?”

  “The lift.”

  Derek stood perfectly still and blinked several times. “You mean the Dirty Dancing lift?”

  “Yep. The full Patrick Swayze-Jennifer Grey lift.” The first time Travis had seen the movie, he’d been totally captivated by Patrick Swayze’s sexy and suggestive undulations as he glided across the dance floor. That, together with the tender-hearted rebellious bad-boy attitude and Swayze’s sculpted dancer’s bod, was all it took for Travis to form a long-lasting celebrity crush. The moment he saw Jennifer Grey hoisted high in the air with her arms spread like a graceful swan, he was a goner. She looked as if she was gliding through the sky, and Travis had vowed that one day he’d find someone and mimic the maneuver. He ran his fingers over Derek’s biceps and squeezed the hard muscles. “These guns can handle my skinny body.”

  Derek rested his hands low on Travis’ waist and looked down at them. A smile quirked on his lips and he raised his brows as he started to caress Travis’ hips with his palms.

  Whatever lewd thoughts were going through Derek’s mind would have to wait, because Travis wasn’t missing this opportunity. He tugged on Derek’s hands and led him to the head of the room. “Back up, everybody!” Travis instructed, so they’d have enough space to execute the move.

  They got into position, leaving a good 25 feet between them so Travis could get a r
unning start. Murmurs began to ring through the room as people realized that Derek and Travis were about to re-create the iconic dance move. The guys cheered. Derek’s mom called out, “Be careful!” Felix’s voice bordered on panic as he exclaimed, “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

  “Ready?” Travis called.

  Derek looked at him with wild eyes, as if he couldn’t believe he was actually going to attempt the lift, and shrugged. “I hope your health insurance is paid up,” he said, with a laugh.

  The room quieted, except for Felix, who let out an exasperated sigh and a resigned, “Good grief.”

  Travis’ heartrate skyrocketed as he ran toward Derek, whose eyes were growing wider as the distance between them lessened. Travis had no idea if they’d be able to pull it off, but he was about to find out. He jumped up, and Derek grimaced as he lifted Travis high above his head.

  Travis stiffened his body and spread his arms, mimicking Jennifer Grey’s pose as best he could remember. They both began to sway, but Derek bridged one leg back for support and steadied himself. They did it. Travis was floating in the air under the twinkling lights above him. He felt as if he were flying high in the sky, soaring in the moonlight.

  “Fuck!” Derek exclaimed, a second before they both came crashing down to the floor.

  Travis landed on top of Derek, luckily with enough time so he could brace his hands on the floor and prevent them from cracking their skulls together, and they couldn’t stop laughing.

  “I can’t believe we just did that!” Derek said, wiping his eyes.

  “It was fucking rad!” Travis pulled Derek to his feet.

  “Are you both all right?” Felix was suddenly there, looking them over like an over-protective mother.

  “Yeah.” Derek opened his arms and extended them toward Felix. “Want to give it a try?”

  Felix huffed and rolled his eyes. “Very funny. The two of you are going to give me a coronary one day.” He smiled. A rare, relaxed, and playful smile. “Now that I can breathe again, I must say, that was an incredible display. Very entertaining. And quite romantic, I might add. And neither of you sustained a concussion on your wedding day. Now, if you two can just get through the day without a food fight, it will be one for the record books.”