Chapter Seven
"MAN, THIS view is sweet ."
Chad stared at the lake and surrounding snow-covered mountains from the eighteenth floor of Harrah's. The relatively cozy bar next to the fancy buffet had turned out to be a nice choice. They hadn't wanted to gorge themselves, so the hostess had suggested they avail themselves of Happy Hour and the six-dollar appetizers. While they snacked on egg rolls and chicken wings, they also indulged in the two-for-one drinks.
Win-win.
Raudel leaned closer. "Open up."
Chad took the last bite of egg roll that Raudel offered him from his fingers. Romance wasn't something he'd spent much time pondering over in his life. It was more about finally getting properly laid and finding someone good to enjoy life with. He had one and the promise of the other, but the day he was spending with Raudel went beyond that. Raudel cherished him, and he knew it. Sharing food, drinks, and laughter with the man he loved while being treated to a gorgeous view was romance, pure and simple.
"You ever have a Fireball shot?"
Chad let out a boozy chuckle. "Reformed beer drinker, remember?"
"Ah, yes. Well, it's about time you did."
Chad grabbed his arm before Raudel could slide off the stool. "It's whiskey, right?"
"Yeah. Don't worry. Lindsey told me about the tequila incident." Raudel kissed his temple. "I'll take care of you."
"Gah. That woman."
Chad watched Raudel stroll to the bar with the barest hint of a sway to his hips. Chad bit a knuckle. Raudel's ass was so fine, round and perfect. He wanted to sink his teeth into it.
He swiveled back around to take in more of the view. What he wouldn't give not to have to go back at all that night. To do what he'd fantasized about, go somewhere nice to eat, go dancing. Maybe even get a nice room instead of a cheapie motel. Give his virginity to Raudel when it was romantic. The night before he hadn't given a shit. The bears could've been sitting there watching them by the side of the road for all he cared, but now? He did want it to be special, after all.
"Here you go. One shot before we go back to the two-for-ones."
Chad let out a hearty laugh for no other reason than he could. Raudel joined in, and Chad assumed that his motivation was similarly driven.
"Okay. On the count of three, slam it down." Raudel raised a tiny glass filled to the brim and some of the whiskey splashed onto his hand.
Chad was overcome by the urge to taste it off his skin.
Pour that shit all over his body then lick it right up.
"Chad." Raudel shook with laughter. "Your glass?"
"What?" He dropped his gaze to discover that yes, indeed, there was a shot glass in his hand. Huh. "Well whaddya know? Should probably drink it."
"On the count of three."
Chad snorted. "Good thing you're the one doing the counting."
Raudel couldn't control his laughter. Then again, he couldn't either, so at least they were on the same page. Raudel was taking in big gulps of air in what Chad thought was a decent effort to get himself under control. "Okay, 'kay. This time's for real. Here we go."
"What are we doing again?"
Both Chad and Raudel sputtered out laughter, more of the liquor spilling out and coating their skin. Raudel didn't take his seat again. Instead, he moved closer to Chad and stood between his legs.
Chad gazed at him intently. "Let me get that for you." He swiped his tongue over Raudel's hand. The cinnamon-sweet flavor mixed with Raudel's salty flesh brought his dick to life. Raudel groaned.
"Ay Dios mío ." Raudel put a hand to his forehead, still chuckling. " Ando bien pedo. Y caliente ."
"Oh man, I'm sorry. I only caught part of that."
Raudel tilted his head. "Part of what?"
"What you just said. I understood some of it, but my Spanish isn't so great."
"Oh!" Raudel dissolved into laughter again. "I lapse into Spanish sometimes with too much alcohol."
Chad inhaled Raudel's scent. "So, what'd you say?"
Raudel's eyes sparkled. "Shot first."
Chad snorted out a laugh. "Oh my God. Duh ."
"I'm counting. Ready?"
"So totally ready. Go."
They finally had their countdown and a mouthful of cinnamon whiskey.
Chad coughed, his throat burning as his eyes teared. "Jesus. Are you trying to kill me?"
Raudel caressed the top of his thigh. "Never. I only want to love and take care of you for the rest of our lives."
Chad sucked in a sharp breath as more water filled his eyes. He felt oddly emotional all of a sudden but swallowed it down. "That's…." He cleared his throat, his mind racing madly for something equally as beautiful to say to Raudel. However, he wasn't eloquent when sober, let alone filled with Jack Daniels and Fireball. "You never told me what you said."
Raudel blinked a few times, then laughed. "Oh, I was basically saying that I'm drunk and horny."
Chad grinned. "Then you read my mind."
They shared another laugh, Chad stroking the hand that Raudel was using to rub his thigh. He glanced around surreptitiously. He'd sorta forgotten they were in a public place. But it was still too early to be busy, and the majority of the patrons were together at the bar with their backs to them instead of at the long counter where he and Raudel had been eating and drinking while enjoying the view.
"No one's watching."
Chad gave him a lopsided grin. "I've never been so wild in public before."
Raudel leaned in, his heated breath fanning across Chad's neck. "What about in private?"
"Oh God." Chad's heart picked up a rapid pace. "I…. Not like with you last night. I swear. I can't imagine it getting any wilder."
"I'll show you."
Chad bit his lip, sweat forming on his brow. He had a vague memory that he was supposed to be doing something. Something for Lindsey…
"Oh shit! The tuxes."
"We're okay, mijo . I'm keeping track."
Chad exhaled. "Oh good. Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Me neither. I never want to be without you." Raudel's gaze bore into him. "Ever."
Raudel's voice had dropped to the sultry tone that made Chad want to drop his pants.
"Same here."
"Do you mean it?"
Chad nodded shakily. "Very much. I love you, Raudel. I think… I think your mom is right about us."
"I do too, mijo . Will you marry me?"
The world stopped, and so did his breathing. He tried to make his mouth move but couldn't.
He's not serious, right?
Suddenly, he was terrified that Raudel really wasn't serious, that he'd take it back and he would lose out on the best man who'd ever lived.
"Yes!" He choked on some of his own spit, then fell into a fit of coughing.
Raudel smacked him on the back, offering him some of his water.
Chad caught his breath. "Yes. More than anything, yes. I want to marry you."
Raudel broke into a wide grin. "Then let's go!"
Chad almost started choking all over again. "Wait. What? Go where?"
"To get married, my love ."
Chad's jaw dropped. " Now ? As in right now?"
Raudel kissed him—hard. Chad let himself go, let Raudel have him. The passion of the kiss was real, but so was the love.
Like us. Me and Raudel. We're real.
Their exchange ended with him as breathless as ever.
"Well, mijo ?"
"Yeah. We should totally do this." Raudel took a step away and Chad grabbed his sleeve. "Hold up. I don't want to get married in my Batman T-Shirt."
Raudel furrowed his brow, then widened his eyes. "The tuxes! And there are dress shirts for sale at the shop too."
The Batman tee is still pretty new. It might be all right. Maybe I could wear it inside out. "I sorta just quit my job."
"You'll get another one in LA. In the meantime, it'll be my wedding gift to you."
Oh shit, that's right. A wedding gift. And rings. We'll need rings.
More sweat broke out. He needed to get a grip. Already the groomzilla virus threatened to take hold.
Raudel rubbed between Chad's brow the way he'd done earlier. "I want to forever take this away from you."
"You're so awesome, Raudel. I promise I'll make it up to you, that I'll do my part."
"Shh. It's not a competition. When you need my help, I'll give it. And if you can help when I need it, I'll gladly accept."
"Damn, Raudel. You're gonna make me cry before the ceremony."
Ceremony. Wow.
"We can't have that." Raudel winked. "Come on." He grabbed Chad's hand, then pulled him over to the bar. "Excuse me. Where do we go to get married?"
The bartender had no reaction as he wiped a glass with a white towel. "Have a marriage license already?"
Chad's heart plummeted to his feet. Damn .
"Oh. No, we don't." The sorrow in Raudel's voice mirrored his own feelings.
The bartender reached up to replace the glass on a shelf behind him. "Then you'll have to get married on the California side. It's about ten minutes farther away. The Chapel of the Bells' location over there will have everything you need, including the license."
"Thank you." The excitement had returned. "Thank you so much."
The ride down the eighteen floors to the lobby seemed to last a lifetime, but they never stopped touching, their shared laughter keeping the momentum going. Once they'd made it to the lobby, Raudel fished his phone from his pocket.
"We've got thirty minutes to get the tuxes, but there's no way I'm driving."
"Pffff. I'll drink to that."
They both doubled over with laughter again.
"Okay, stop!"
Raudel attempted to get his snorts and chuckles under control while he called for a cab. Within minutes, the taxi arrived and whisked them away to their first stop. Chad had some cash on him, so he insisted on paying the fare. It wasn't much, but even though Raudel reassured him that it was okay and he didn't need to worry about it, he couldn't help himself. He'd always done his fair share. It was important to him that they begin their married life working together as a team.
Married life.
"Look. There's a jewelry store across the street."
Chad turned his head in the direction Raudel indicated. He'd almost forgotten. At least all the adrenaline and excitement had sobered him up a bit. "I wonder what time they close?"
Raudel chewed his lip. "I'm betting it's the same as the tux place, six o'clock." Raudel grabbed Chad's shoulders. "I wear a size sixteen and a half, thirty-four, thirty-five dress shirt. Get whatever color you want." Raudel gave him a lopsided grin. "Except peach. Add it to the wedding account, and I'll pay it back later. What size ring do you wear?"
"Are you kidding me? I don't even know my blood type."
"Hmm, let me see your hand." Raudel examined Chad's third finger, pinched it between his thumb and forefinger, and then nodded. "I think I can figure it out." Chad certainly hoped so, because he didn't have a clue when it came to jewelry. "Something simple, huh? We can get them engraved later."
Raudel offered Chad the warm smile he adored, and that alone made him want to say yes to Raudel all over again. "That sounds perfect, Raudel."
Raudel gave him a quick smack on the lips, then took off in a jog.
It was time to face the dreaded tux shop.
We're not wearing any bow ties, or ties, or anything like that, right?
He wasn't sure which was worse, the long-drawn-out agony of preparing for a wedding or the sudden jolt of frantic confusion that went with an insta-ceremony.
"Hey. I'm back." He figured his flushed, sweaty skin and out-of-breath words weren't endearing him any further to Tux-Shop Guy.
"Did your friend give up?"
"Oh no. He had to run across the street and get us some wedding rings before the jewelry store closes. So, I'm gonna get us the shirts." Chad cleared his throat. "You know. To go with the tuxes?"
"So… you need three shirts, then?"
"Only two. The other tux is for the groom, and he's already…. What I mean is that that groom has a shirt back at the house… well, actually, so do we, but those are for the wedding this Saturday, but what I need right now is two shirts for our wedding tonight."
"Our wedding?"
"Mine and Raudel's."
"Who's Raudel?"
"He's the one getting the rings across the street."
"For the wedding this Saturday?"
"No, for our wedding tonight."
"Then who's getting married on Saturday?"
Oh boy. "My sister and the hipster guy who was in here earlier are getting fitted with Raudel and me."
"Ohhh, I understand now. So they're getting married on Saturday with both of you gentlemen in the wedding party. But you and your friend across the street are getting married tonight using those same tuxes, but you need two dress shirts to use for your own wedding, correct?"
Chad ran it through his mind. "Correct."
"Well, then, why didn't you say so? What are your sizes, and what color do you want?"
Holy crap. I'm so sorry, Lindsey. I totally get it now. I would've also picked peach faced with this kind of pressure. "What do you think?"
"Let's see. Did you want something more traditional or something modern? Why don't we start from there?"
"Uh…." The most amazing idea ever came to Chad. "Blue. A deep blue. Like the lake."
Tux-Shop Guy nodded in seeming agreement. "Very nice choice. I think that would complement you both very well."
Chad gave him Raudel's size, then went through another slightly less intimate grope-fest to get measured for his shirt. Next, he waited by the front door, anxious for Raudel to return. He couldn't explain it, but he really needed him at that moment.
"You're in luck. I have both of these shirts in your sizes. Which shade of blue would you prefer?"
That's it. It's Raudel's turn when he gets here. I got the ball rolling.
As if on cue, the door chime buzzed and in walked his fiancé.
Fiancé. Crazy. Chad's gaze landed on the small silver-foil gift bag, and his heart trip-hammered. Our rings.
Raudel winked, then held up the bag. He strolled over and handed it to Chad. "Here they are."
Chad accepted it with a shaky hand. He peered into the bag that held two blue velvet ring boxes. Dizziness threatened. He thought he might need to sit down, so he stumbled back and fell onto the unnecessarily ornately carved, brocade-covered side chair.
Raudel rushed to his side. "Chad?"
Chad took in a deep breath. "I'm okay." He glanced up at Raudel, a happy grin spreading his lips. "Booze and excitement."
Raudel stroked the top of his head. "Yeah. Me too."
The sound of a throat clearing brought them back to the present. "Sorry to intrude, gentlemen, but the store closes in five minutes." He regarded Raudel. "Perhaps you'd care to offer your opinion as to what blue you prefer?"
Raudel considered one shirt, then looked at the other. He turned to Chad. "They're both nice. Which one do you want?"
Chad groaned. Really? Then a thought struck him. He pulled one of the little boxes from the bag. It was a dumb idea, but since they weren't making any progress with decisions, it was as good an idea as any. "Which one matches this the best?"
The need for matching shit had never been something he'd indulged in. T-shirt, jeans, another T-shirt, another pair of jeans… yet more T-shirts with more jeans. Rinse and repeat.
They conferred for a couple more minutes before they made a final decision. After they'd asked the shopkeeper to add the items to Lindsey's account, they grabbed the hanging tuxes encased in flimsy plastic bags, with their shirts folded neatly inside yet another plastic bag. Chad clutched the shiny paper one that held their rings for all he was worth.
They stepped outside in the brisk air, the chilly breeze doing wonders to cool Chad down and eliminate some of the sweat.
Raudel placed his cell to his ear. "I'll call for another cab. Can you Google the address?"
Chad reached into his pocket, but his phone wasn't there. He had a moment of panic, then remembered he'd left it in Raudel's car because he'd been answering Lindsey's incessant texts she sent every two minutes wondering when they were going to be at the tux shop.
"Damn, it's in your car. Give me the keys, and I'll run across the street and grab it."
Raudel held up a finger, then spoke into his cell. After he'd finished ordering a taxi, he regarded Chad. "Don't worry about it, I've got mine. The cabbie is right around the corner, so he'll be here in less than a minute." Raudel snaked an arm around his waist, then tugged him to his side. "It's not as if we won't be together the whole time."
Chad let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah. Good point." He leaned his head on Raudel's shoulder, a thread of peace coursing through him. It occurred to him that he should have prewedding jitters, should be worried that he was making a bad decision, that it was all happening too fast, and he'd eventually regret it. But that wasn't what he felt at all. Everything about marrying Raudel was right. Everything about them was right.
The cab pulled up, and they excitedly clambered into it as the giddy laughter returned. It turned out that Googling had been unnecessary—the driver knew exactly where to take them. They clutched each other's hands while he tried to keep from bouncing in his seat. They arrived less than ten minutes later, just as the bartender promised. The white chapel was cute and nicely maintained, with a small lot in front for the presumed guests to park. Chad had a momentary pang of wishing his family could be there, but then he remembered.
Special time for us. Party with everyone else later.
After paying the cabbie, they marched with singular purpose into the reception area. A bell chimed, and a minute later, an attractive middle-aged woman greeted them.
"Hello, gentlemen. How can I help you today?" She actually appeared as though she did want to help them.
Raudel spoke up, his voice sure and steady. "We're getting married, and we were told that everything, including the license, could be handled here?"
She gave them a happy smile. "Congratulations to you both. Yes, we can. Were you looking to get married right now, or did you want to look over our various wedding packages and reserve a date for later?"
They both answered at the same time. "Now."
She smiled again. "Wonderful. My name is Cathy, and if you'll step over here, I'll get you started on the paperwork, discuss some options for your ceremony, go over prices, and so on."
More decisions. Chad whispered to Raudel, "I think I can fill out my name and address, hand over my ID, and such, but if we have to decide on candles or ring pillows or flowers or anything like that, do you think you could handle it?"
Raudel gave him a squeeze. "Whatever you want, mijo ."
Everything happened in a daze, Chad half listening, but when they got to which ceremony and vows they wanted to use, he had to intervene with his opinion. He wanted simple. Under the circumstances, he wasn't sure how eloquent he'd be, so shorter and to the point was better. If they had more time, he could've practiced, maybe even written his own vows.
Yeah, right.
Upon further reflection, he decided it was just perfect the way it was.
Cathy led them to some changing rooms. It was obvious that the much larger one was for the bride, the smaller one for the groom. They shrugged, and together they took the larger one.
"Oh shit. I forgot about the whole bow tie, necktie thing."
Raudel shook out his shirt and tissue paper fell from the inside. He'd had to help Chad get the million straight pins out of his. "We can wear them with the collars open."
Chad grunted. "That's probably for the best. You know me. There's not the slightest chance I could've tied one of those things. As it is, I have no idea what I'm going to do for Lindsey's wedding."
"Don't worry, mijo . I'll help you."
Chad glanced over at Raudel who'd just gotten his arms in the sleeves and was buttoning it up. If he knew how to whistle, he would have. The blue was amazing on Raudel.
They completed their ensembles, which meant it was go time.
Raudel smiled at him. "Ready?"
He smiled back. "Totally."
They clasped hands, then peered out into the hallway. Cathy had obviously been waiting close by because she popped up from nowhere.
"Don't you both look wonderful? Reverend Jameson will meet you in the chapel. I'll direct you there and serve as your witness."
He leaned over to whisper to Raudel. "Isn't Jameson a whiskey?"
Raudel snorted.
Cathy glanced over her shoulder before smiling, then looking forward again.
Suddenly, Chad was standing in front of a podium, facing Raudel and holding his hands. Nausea threatened.
What the fuck am I doing?
He lifted his eyes, his gaze locking on Raudel's the moment Reverend Jameson intoned, "Love is the reason we are here today."
And Chad knew exactly what he was doing. A few short comments from the reverend, and after a brief reciting of the vows, he directed them to exchange rings. Chad reached into his pocket to retrieve the plain gold band, then placed it on Raudel's finger.
However, Chad's ring wasn't as cooperative.
"I wasn't very good at guessing, my love. I'm sorry."
"It'll fit." Chad licked his finger—which maybe wasn't the classiest thing to do, but there wasn't the slightest chance he was going to get married without his ring. He assisted Raudel in pushing it past his knuckle. "There. Perfect." He still seemed to have circulation in his finger, so he figured as long as it didn't turn purple, he'd be fine.
Once they completed that task, the reverend announced, "You are now forever joined as husband and husband." He shut the small book he held and smiled at them both. Apparently, that signaled the end of the ceremony.
Chad blinked repeatedly, stunned. He wasn't sure what to do next. "Isn't there supposed to be a kissing part?"
Raudel laughed. It was the same soft laugh Chad had heard when he'd been cringing and hiding behind his dad's Suburban, terrified to see Raudel, his ex-crush. But in less than two days, Raudel had gone from "could never happen" to "always will be."
He grinned against Raudel's lips, so filled with joy he could hardly stand it. They clung to each other, the kiss gaining in fervor. At last, they broke away from each other's mouths, but still held on.
"I'm your husband." Chad's words were tinged with awe, and he couldn't stop smiling.
"And I'm yours, mijo. Forever."
Chad relaxed into Raudel's embrace.
Forever.