Chapter Twenty-Eight

Aiden And Will Do It Again

Saturday, May 13

Will had to admit, Kristen had scored a hit. "This place is awesome." He'd read about Owamni by the Sioux Chef, but had never ventured through its doors. The Indigenous menu, with its elk tacos, braised duck, and bison and walnut soup, was unlike anything he'd eaten before, and he'd eagerly anticipated the meal.

He wasn't disappointed. The food was sublime.

The company was pretty good too, especially the good-looking guy seated next to him. Because Aiden in a suit?

Hot.

Kristen beamed. "I'm so glad I booked this months ago."

The place was packed with graduates and their families, but Will saw at a glance that theirs was the biggest gathering. The restaurant had put two tables together end-to-end to accommodate the eleven diners.

Three families gathered around one long table. Everyone was talking up a storm. Will's parents and Aiden's had clicked almost instantaneously. Kristen's parents, Roger and Fliss, had hit it off with Carl and Louise, and from the scraps Will had overheard, the two moms were deep into wedding mode.

Carl caught him looking, and chuckled. "And that's the last we'll hear from Louise for a while."

"I heard that." Louise narrowed her gaze, then dove right back into her conversation.

Dad added his chuckle. "I went through this when our daughter Dee got married. You have my sympathies."

Carl blinked. "You mean it gets worse?"

Dad guffawed. "Oh, much, much worse. You've got weeks to go. But the relief when it's over?" He grinned. "You'll love that part."

"Oh, I like this." Mom read aloud from the menu card. "‘We aim to serve food honoring the people whose land on which we are standing, land known as Mni Sota Makoce, Land Where the Waters Reflect the Clouds.'" She smiled. "That's beautiful."

Dad nodded.

"Well, this is my first time in a restaurant that didn't serve pork, or chicken, or beef, and you know what? I didn't miss any of them." Ethan grinned. "That bison taco was amaze-balls. All of it was, to be fair. I think this was our reward for sitting through that senator's speech."

Dad rolled his eyes. "It's Commencement. What did you expect—a movie?"

"No, but popcorn would have been a bonus." That raised a few chuckles.

"No one said you had to come, you know," Will commented.

Ethan's eyes sparkled. "What—and miss seeing my little brother dressed in his cap and gown?"

Will mouthed Thank you .

Aiden sat next to Will, their hands joined under the table every chance they got. Will leaned into him. "And thank you for not bringing a sign."

He chuckled. "You're welcome."

Will gazed at their families. "You'd think they'd known each other for years."

"And you'll get to see them all again in July." Aiden raised his voice. "Isn't that right, Becca?

She groaned. "Please, no more wedding talk, okay? I'm stressed enough as it is."

Louise gaped at her. " You're stressed? And what precisely has stressed you out? Are you the one organizing the flowers? The catering? The printing? The band? Oh, wait a minute—no, you're not, because that would be me."

"Don't let her fool you," Carl said with a smile. "She's loving every second of it."

Louise flushed, and Becca chuckled. "He got you there, Mom." She glanced at Aiden and Will, then back to Louise. "But seeing as you're doing all this organizing, we could always make it a double wedding." She grinned. "Why should I be the only one to suffer?"

Will shook his head. "Again with this? You're persistent, I'll give you that." Her words had been enough to set his heart racing. She'd come out with them right on cue.

"But it's such a practical idea," Louise remonstrated. "Everything's booked. All you'd have to do would be invite your family, Will, and just show up. Easiest wedding ever."

Becca gave an evil grin. "Yeah, Aiden's already got his suit. I was hoping to make him one of my bridesmaids, but the dress wouldn't fit."

"It wasn't his color either," Kristen added.

Dad fired Will an amused glance, and Will rolled his eyes.

"Okay, you were right. You're not that bad."

Dad beamed. "Thank you." He paused, his eyes twinkling. "Although Louise does have a point."

Will gave him a mock glare, even though his heart was racing harder than before.

Aiden leaned in close and whispered, "Whatever I say next? Play along."

Will blinked. He had his own agenda, and he hoped Aiden wasn't about to ruin it.

Aiden cleared his throat. "Sorry, Mom, but there's no way Will and I can get married in July."

Everyone stopped talking, and all heads turned in their direction.

Not following suit was a huge effort.

What are you up to, Aiden?

Louise stared at him. "But why not?"

"Because we were married last month."

Will had to bite his tongue.

"Is this true?" Will hated his mom's dismayed expression.

"Where?" Louise demanded, before he could come up with an answer.

"The Minneapolis Courthouse."

"How could you do such a thing?" she shrieked.

Carl squeezed her arm. "Sweetheart? You're scaring people. You might want to remember you're in a public place."

She blinked. "What? Oh. Right." She leaned forward, her gaze locked on Aiden. "You got married—without inviting any of your family? Or even telling us?"

Aiden shrugged. "We took photos. You can see them, if you like."

Will was starting to see the funny side.

"It was a lovely ceremony," he said with a smile. "Midnight was the ring bearer." Aiden's hand tightened around his, and he coughed.

Louise's jaw dropped. "What?"

"How did you get him to do that?" Becca asked.

Aiden grinned. "We laid a trail of kitty treats down the aisle."

Carl burst out laughing. "You had me going for a minute, but that last part was a giveaway." His eyes twinkled. "Nice prank, son. Seriously good effort—almost as good as mine." Becca and Kristen applauded, and Aiden gave a half bow.

Louise sagged with obvious relief. "You just made that up, didn't you?"

Aiden laughed. "Oh Mom, your face…"

Dad chuckled. "That was a good one." He glanced at Carl. "Remind me to ask you later about some of these pranks you've pulled."

Carl grinned. "Sure."

Will glared at Aiden. " Now look what you've done."

"I still don't see why it's such an out-there idea," Louise protested.

Now .

"Of course, your mom is right, you know," Will announced, his heart hammering.

Aiden jerked his head to stare at him. "About what?"

Will managed a shrug. "It is practical. Like she said, the room is booked—"

" Everything is booked," Louise piped up.

"And I'd be there anyway, right, Becca?"

She nodded, smiling. "You've already got your suit too."

Good girl. Just like we planned.

Aiden had gone very quiet.

Moment of truth.

Will removed the ring box from his pocket, opened it, and got down on one knee, looking up at Aiden.

Louise screeched, and every single person in the restaurant was now staring in their direction.

Ignore them.

Will took a deep breath. "Would you—"

Aiden's breathing hitched. "I do not believe this."

Not exactly the words Will had wanted to hear, but—

He froze as Aiden brought out a very similar box.

Oh. My. God.

"You have got to be kidding me," Becca said with a gasp.

"Hey, that's my line," Will retorted.

She stood and walked around to where he knelt. "You two… You did it again?"

"If you can stop interrupting me, I can finish this and get up off my knee," Will groused.

"Allow me." Aiden helped Will to his feet. He grinned. "I guess great minds really do think alike. So, which one of us gets to ask first?"

Will laughed. "You think we could do it simultaneously?" He glanced at the occupants of the now silent restaurant: all attention was focused on him and Aiden. "We need to do something. It's too damn quiet in here."

Aiden gazed at the gold band Will held out. "At least the rings are different."

Will chuckled. "You went with white gold, and I chose rose gold. Apparently it works well with redheads."

"Well, one of you ask the freaking question!" Ethan blurted. "Or we'll never get to the champagne part."

Will straightened. "I've applied to Madison. My interview is next week." He grinned. "I guess I'd better change my status on the application form."

Aiden's eyes widened. He put down the ring box, Will did the same, and a heartbeat later they were in each other's arms, kissing, amid rapturous applause that started with their families, and swelled to encompass all the diners and servers in the restaurant.

"Love you so much," Aiden murmured.

"Love you more," Will fired back. He grinned. "Can we get to the rings now?"

"Never mind the rings," Mom called out. "I want to hear you ask the question."

Will looked Aiden in the eye. "Marry me?"

Aiden smiled. "I thought you'd never ask." Then they kissed, and the applause started up again, rising in volume as they exchanged rings. Tears streaked Becca's cheeks, and she hugged Kristen who was similarly afflicted. Mom and Dad were crying too, and Ethan's grin would not quit. Kristen's parents clapped with everyone else, both beaming with delight.

"Didn't I say this was a great idea?" Louise wiped her eyes.

Will kissed Aiden once more before retaking his seat, giddy with joy. "You scared me to death just now. Becca knew I was going to propose. That's why she came out with that double wedding remark, to give me an opening. And then you decided to play a prank." He rolled his eyes. "Your timing sucks."

Aiden chuckled. "Sorry." Then he paused. "That's a lie. I'm not sorry at all. Because that was my opening to propose to you ." He stared at their joined hands. "I'd better start looking for a job in Madison. It might be a while before one shows up, so we'll have to be patient."

"But you will find one," Will said with utter confidence. "Because it's like you said—you'll be there for me every step of the way. And I trust you to do just that."

"Hey, don't we get some of the credit?" Becca put her arm around Kristen. "After all, we're sharing our big day with you."

Will laughed. "Believe me, no one will be looking at us, not with you in that amazing dress."

"You need a To Do list," Mom remarked.

"And at the top is a marriage license," Dad added. "Don't forget the legalities."

Will smiled. "We have seventy days. There's plenty of time."

Louise chuckled. "Seventy days? That'll be here before you know it! Okay, what we need to do is…."

Her voice faded into the background as Will stared at the guy who was going to be his husband in a little more than two months.

I don't know how I should feel.

Excitement squirmed in his belly like… like… something squirmy. And as for his heart, it thumped madly, especially when he smiled or laughed.

And every time he gazed at Aiden.

Is it too soon to be thinking of marrying him?

Who could say? He'd read about people who were married a week after they met, and were still going strong decades later.

I want that. Today and every day.

Will wasn't naive to think there wouldn't be problems along the way. He could remember some of his parents' arguments, but each time they made up, their bond became stronger, deeper, more cohesive.

Seventy days? In the grand scheme, it was nothing, but each day would seem like an eternity, until he stood at Aiden's side and said those all-important words.

I do.