Chapter Twenty-Nine

Will And Aiden Tie The Knot

Saturday, July 22

Will awoke to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Carl stood beside the bed, holding the mug.

He smiled as he placed it on the nightstand. "Wake up, sleepyhead. You're getting married today. And it's a beautiful morning."

"Is Becca awake yet?" Will asked as he hauled himself into an upright position.

Carl laughed. "Becca would already be in her wedding dress if Louise let her near it. She's gone to get her hair done. At least, that was the plan."

Will took a sip of coffee. "Dammit. I meant to get my nails done. I guess it's too late now." Carl blinked, and he chuckled. "Just kidding." His phone buzzed and he glanced at the screen.

Still wanna marry me?

He smiled. "It's Aiden."

"And that's my cue to leave. Tell him not to be late. By the way, breakfast shouldn't be long." Carl left the room.

Will snuggled under the comforter and clicked Call. "Hey."

"Hey you."

"What are you up to?"

"Trying to get a bow tie on Midnight but he isn't playing ball."

Will put one hand behind his head. "One, that's because he prefers playing with string, shoelaces, the cord for the blinds, you name it, and two—really?"

Aiden snickered. "Are you always going to be this gullible? Because it's freaking adorbs."

"Is Carol taking care of him?"

"Yeah. Why? You didn't think he was going to be at the wedding, did you?"

Will grinned. "I wouldn't put anything past you."

Silence.

"Aiden? Is everything okay?"

"Are you as nervous as I am?"

Will froze. "You're nervous?"

"You're not?"

He sat up and drank more of his coffee. "Why should I be? I'm just going to turn up and say I do ." He paused. "You're not getting cold feet, are you?"

"Fuck no. I'm just waiting to see what calamities the day brings."

"Like what?"

"Oh, I don't know. A sprinkler going off in the ballroom, and then we all get soaked in foul-smelling water that's been sitting around in pipes for years. Ethan forgets the rings. The wedding cake is a disaster. There's a fire drill in the middle of saying our vows. A bomb scare. Mom wears ridiculously high-heeled shoes and falls and breaks her ankle."

Will laughed. "Wow. You forgot to mention the arrival of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse."

Aiden's sigh filled his ears. "I'm overthinking this, aren't I?"

"Er, yes?" Will relaxed. He could deal with overthinking. "Wait… Go back to the bit about our vows. You have made yours, right?"

Silence again.

"Aiden? I mentioned this two weeks ago."

"You've written yours, haven't you?"

"Duh."

Another sigh. "I need to hang up now. I have some homework to do."

"I'll see you there." Will smiled. "I'll be the one waiting for a kiss, on what's going to be the happiest day of my life."

"Mine too. Love you."

"Love you too. Now go write your vows—and make sure they're better than the sign you had planned for my graduation."

"That's right. Pile on the pressure." Aiden hung up.

It had been a messy couple of months. Most of Will's possessions were in boxes stored in Carl and Louise's garage. He'd been living at Aiden's apartment, until Louise insisted he spend the night before the wedding at their place. Kristen and her family were staying at the Pfister, courtesy of Louise who'd also arranged rooms for Mom and Dad, Ethan and Marley, Dee and Gavin, and Emma. Ethan was dividing his time between his best man duties and his role as a new dad. The wedding was Marley's first event since giving birth to Will's beautiful little niece, Jasmine, and she'd asked for a seat near the back, in case Jasmine woke up and decided to add to the proceedings.

And while life was a little messy? Once we're married, it'll get messier . At least until he moved to Madison in the fall. Aiden was already searching for another job, but there was always the possibility they'd be apart for a while.

Will could deal with that too. The separation wouldn't be forever.

A knock on the door made him jump. "You decent?"

"Why start now?" He smiled. "Come on in, Becca."

Becca looked cute in her red PJs covered in fluffy white sheep. "Morning."

"I thought you were going to get your hair done?"

She gave an eye roll. "Will? It's seven-thirty in the morning. The wedding isn't until two. I'm not getting it done too far ahead." She sat on his bed. "I don't know about you, but I'm buzzing."

"Me too." Will wrapped his hands around his mug. "It's weird how things turn out."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, this all started with me pretending to be your fiancé. I'm now going to be your brother-in-law."

She snickered. "I keep forgetting that part." He put his mug on the nightstand, and Becca grabbed his wrist. "Thanks, Will."

"For what?"

"Putting up with me? I made such a mess of this, and none of it would have happened if I'd found the nerve to tell Mom the truth."

"Now wait a minute. Yes, none of it would have happened—but that also implies I might never have met Aiden."

She smiled. "I love that look you get when you talk about him. You know, the kinda smitten one."

"You don't have to describe it. I see that same look when you talk about Kristen."

Becca gazed at his suit, hanging from the closet door. "Aiden says you're organizing your honeymoon. Where are you going?"

He grinned. "Uh-uh. It's a secret—and it's going to stay that way."

Becca flopped onto her back, staring at the ceiling. "I can't believe Roger and Fliss arranged a week in Cancun for us. Sun, sea, sand and—"

"Yeah, I already know the last part," he said with a chuckle.

"Breakfast!" Louise hollered up the stairs.

Becca grimaced. "I'm too nervous to eat."

"But you're going to. We don't want you fainting in front of everyone."

She sat up, and to his surprise, she gave him a hug. "I love you, you know that, right?"

He kissed her cheek. "Of course I do. You almost married me."

Aiden took a last look in the mirror. Mom's comment about his hair came to mind, and he smiled.

As if I'd get it cut. Will loves my hair. Especially when he got to tug on it when he was balls deep in Aiden's ass.

The recollection was enough to cause a reaction. Aiden peered at his crotch.

"Oh no, you don't. I am not walking up the aisle with a boner."

Dad's cough sent heat rushing to Aiden's cheeks. "You know, talking to yourself is the first sign of madness," Dad observed, gazing at him in the mirror.

Aiden chuckled. "You're wrong. The first sign is when you hear a voice answer back."

Dad stood behind him, his hands on Aiden's shoulders. "Have I told you how honored I am that you asked me to be best man?"

He smirked. "Yeah, Dad. Only about a hundred times."

"I still think you should have let me organize a bachelor party."

Aiden arched his eyebrows. "I already had one, remember? Of course, Will was gonna marry my sister at the time, but it still counts, right?"

And while it had been the most boring bachelor party ever, it was still a night he'd never forget. Everything clicked, it had finally all made sense…

And they'd burned up the sheets all night long.

Dad shrugged. "I guess Will feels the same. He didn't have one either."

Aiden hoped his plans for a wedding night would make up for that. He'd gone all out for romance—a hot tub, rose petals on the bed, champagne in the ice bucket, chocolates on the pillow…

And plenty of lube on the nightstand.

Hey, lube is romantic, isn't it?

What he was dying to know was where they'd be the following evening. Will was being pretty tight-lipped about their honeymoon.

Be honest. Would you want him to be any different?

That was a no-brainer. Aiden wouldn't change a goddamn thing.

The door opened, and Becca came in. "You're ready. Thank God."

"And what does that mean?"

Her beautiful red lips twitched. "Why were we always late leaving the house every time we went on vacation? Hmm? Oh yeah. We were waiting for you."

Dad glared. "That does it. Today of all days, can you two not bicker, please?" He turned to gaze at her. "Let me look at you."

Becca did a twirl, the loop of her train caught around her finger. Aiden had to admit, the dress was stunning, showing off her slim figure. That deep red lace bodice was a show-stopper, and the velvet bow at the back was perfect. A gossamer veil hung from the back of her gorgeously coiffed hair, held in place by flowers.

Aiden had no idea what kept it all from falling apart. His money was on Krazy Glue.

Dad swallowed. "You look amazing."

Becca flushed. "If you look a little closer, you'll find a few stains. Mom got her wedding-day tears started already." She raised her chin. "Think it'll knock Kristen's socks off?"

Dad snorted. "If she's wearing socks, I'm worried."

"She can wear boots under that dress if she likes. No one would ever know."

Dad held his arms wide. "I promise not to muss either of you, but right now your old dad needs a hug."

Aiden smiled. "This get-up doesn't muss. Just don't step on Becca's dress."

Dad hugged them, and when he stepped back, his eyes glistened. "Well I guess I'd better get you both down to the ballroom, seeing as I'm pulling double duty."

"Just make sure we're on the right sides when you walk us down the aisle," Becca said with a grin. "Otherwise I might end up marrying Will."

There was a knock at the door.

"It's open, Kelly. Come on in," Becca called out.

Kelly came into the room, looking radiant in a long dress in deep red satin. She carried two bouquets. Her breathing hitched when she saw Becca.

"Oh, you look awesome. I still can't believe you asked me to be bridesmaid."

Becca smiled. "It was the least I could do, after the horrible way I treated you. And it all worked out well. At least you're not doing the cooking for this shindig now." She widened her eyes. "Shit. That didn't come out the way I intended. I didn't mean—"

Kelly laughed. "Relax, Becca. I knew what you meant."

"Time to go," Dad told them.

"You'll need this." Kelly handed Becca her bouquet, a mass of red flowers, glossy green leaves, and white ribbons.

"Just be careful when you throw it at the end," Aiden admonished. "You could take someone's head off with that."

Becca opened her mouth, but Dad got in first.

"Anyone would think neither of you wanted to get married."

They left the room, heading for the elevator to the seventh floor. When they neared the ballroom, Aiden caught the strains of piano music coming from inside.

Ethan stood by the door. He smiled when they reached him.

"Great. I'll go tell Will you're here." He hurried away.

Dad pushed open the door, and Aiden saw a room full of white-covered chairs, every one of them occupied. At the end of each row was a tree-like decoration, a round arrangement of roses, trailing ivy, and ribbons. The front of the room was dominated by a covered dais where Lisa, the celebrant, waited under a wooden archway covered in roses and ivy. She smiled when she saw them and gave a nod over to the right.

The piano music died away, and Mendelssohn's ‘Wedding March' took its place.

"I'm glad you both went with something traditional," Dad commented.

Aiden shrugged. "It's okay. Not what I would have chosen but—"

Becca snorted. "The less said about that the better."

"Why? What did he want?"

She raised her eyes to the ceiling. "Only ‘The Imperial March' from Star Wars ."

"Hey, it was the John Williams recording," Aiden protested.

"I hate to interrupt but…" Dad gave a mock glare. "Both of you. That way. Now."

They walked slowly toward the dais, all heads turning to watch them, Aiden on the left, Becca on the right. When they reached it, Becca kissed Dad on the cheek.

"Thanks for getting me here."

Dad kissed her forehead, then took his place at Aiden's side. Ethan joined them, giving Aiden a nod.

Then the music changed, and Aiden turned his head to watch Kristen walking toward them on her dad's arm, her dress like Glinda's from The Wizard of Oz .

That's a lot of satin. He smirked. Yeah, she could be wearing anything under there.

Then his heart skipped a beat when he caught sight of Will behind them, wearing a dark blue suit that showed off his lean frame to perfection.

Here we go.

Aiden wasn't nervous anymore.

Will gazed into Aiden's eyes, and grinned. "Babe? She asked you to recite your vows."

Aiden coughed, and laughter rippled through the assembled guests. He took Will's hands in his.

"You captured my heart the moment we met, just like you captured everyone's attention." His eyes twinkled. "Of course, you were on the floor at the time, having just performed the Pfister's first flight through the lobby." That got an eruption of laughter. "I didn't know then why I couldn't get you out of my mind, but now I do." He squeezed Will's hands. "You're my missing piece. I hope I'm yours. Because we fit. And I promise to do everything in my power to keep us that way." Aiden smiled. "You and me? We can accomplish anything when we work together. We can even reach the stars."

Will swallowed. He leaned forward, and their foreheads met. "You get an A for that, Teach," he whispered.

Aiden gave him a pained glance. "I was hoping for an A-plus."

Will coughed. "Later."

Lisa touched his arm. "When you're ready, Will."

He took a deep breath and surveyed the guests. "I read something recently that summed up exactly how I felt." He returned his attention to Aiden, focusing on his face. "And it went something like this." Another calming breath. "Someone once wrote that while love is madness, it's temporary. It rolls in with all the force of an earthquake or a tsunami, and then it gradually fades. And when that happens? We have a choice. We can either choose to call it a day—or we can stay together because two lives have become so entangled with each other that parting is an impossibility. And that's what love is. It isn't that hitch in your breath when you gaze at the person you love. It isn't the buzz you feel when you're with them. It isn't even the…" Will's cheeks burned. "The urge to spend your days and nights—"

"Yeah, I think we all get that bit," Aiden murmured, and a ripple of laughter followed.

Will cleared his throat. "All these things are part of being in love, and we've all been there—if we're lucky. But love? That's what's left when the feeling of being in love has long gone." He gazed into Aiden's eyes and smiled. "I look forward to what is left over when being in love has burned away."

"Just as long as it doesn't burn away too fast," Aiden added.

Will laughed, and the guests joined in.

"That was beautiful," Aiden whispered.

Will coughed. "Unfortunately it wasn't original. I ‘borrowed' the sentiment from a book."

"Which book?"

He smiled. " Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières. You should read it sometime."

Aiden sighed. "You had to be different, didn't you?"

Will blinked. "Of course. Would you have me any other way?"

"Hell no."

Lisa spoke quietly, and Will's heart soared when they exchanged rings. At last Lisa introduced them to the assembled crowd as Becca and Kristin Taylor-Braden and Aidan and Will Taylor-Bryant, to rapturous applause that turned to laughter when Kristen bent Becca over backward in their first married kiss.

Aiden took Will in his arms, and Will glared. "Don't even think about it." The only answer he got was the press of Aiden's lips to his, the feel of Aiden's hands cupping his face, and the sweetest kiss they'd ever shared.

He's mine. He's really mine.

Whatever life would throw at them, they'd face it together.

"Are you ready?"

Will blinked. "For what? It's all done bar the dancing until midnight, right?" The DJ was getting ready to set the ball rolling, and all around them was the noise of chatter and laughter.

"So, your first dance together. What are you all going to dance to?" Louise asked.

Aiden chuckled. "And that's what I was asking if you were ready for."

Becca grinned. "Kristen and I have a routine all worked out."

Carl smiled. "I'd expect nothing less from a dancer. How about you, Aiden? Will?"

Aiden gave that lazy smile that always turned Will's inside to mush.

"Nothing so elaborate. Just a slow number where I get to hold my husband close."

Will let out a happy sigh. "I am never going to get tired of hearing that word."

"I can think of a few other words I'd rather hear right now." Aiden locked gazes with him. "Such as, where you're taking us for our honeymoon?"

"Ah, yes. About that."

Aiden stilled. "We are going on honeymoon, aren't we?"

"Yes, but the first part will only last for a few days."

"First part? There's more than one?"

Will nodded. "Mom and Dad have booked us on a cruise round the med. Turkey, Egypt, and Greece." He grinned. "A gay cruise."

Aiden gaped. "Seriously? So what's part two? Because I don't think you can top that."

"That is part two. We leave next week. But tomorrow night? I've booked us into a little hotel for two nights. The Country House Resort in Door County."

Aiden frowned. "In Wisconsin?"

Will nodded. "It's great. Private water view balcony. Whirlpool bath."

"Sounds great, but I think your parents have got it beat with their contribution."

"Ah, but I haven't gotten to the best part yet. It's a twenty-minute drive from the hotel to Newport State Park—and the forecast for the next three nights is perfect."

He loved watching Aiden's face change, the light in his eyes.

"I guess we're taking the telescope with us." Aiden kissed him. "That's perfect."

Will gazed at the happy faces of their wedding guests, most of whom were a repeat of the anniversary party.

The day we met.

There were a few unfamiliar faces, including…

Will's breathing hitched. "Who is that?"

Aiden followed his glance to the tall, muscular man with the blue eyes. "I have no idea. He isn't from your side?"

"No. I'd remember that… face."

Aiden chuckled. "Sure, it's his face you're staring at."

"I wasn't staring!"

Aiden narrowed his gaze. "Not even married five minutes and I catch you making puppy dog eyes at a gorgeous guy. So, you've got a thing for muscles, huh? Do I need to bulk up? Join a gym? Get a personal trainer?"

Will smacked him lightly on the arm. "I am not making puppy dog eyes, okay? He just… caught my attention, that's all."

He chuckled. "I can see why. Even his muscles have muscles." Then he grinned. "And he's taken, by the look of things." Aiden pointed to the guy at his side, and it was then Will saw their joined hands.

"Well, crap. We're not the only gays at this shindig." They made a striking couple. He met Aiden's amused gaze. "And for the record, there's a song that pretty much nails how I feel right now. Something along the lines of me only having eyes for you."

Aiden's sweet kiss was tender, loving, and held the promise of more to come.

"You two. You have the rest of your lives to kiss. Right now it's time to dance."

Will laughed. "Yes, Louise." He tilted his head in the direction of the two men. "Do you know who they are?"

She peered into the crowd of guests, and then her face brightened. "Oh yes. That's Daniel and Charlie. They're staying with Luke and Gloria this weekend. When Luke realized he'd double-booked, he was going to decline the wedding invite. I told him to bring them along."

Aiden blinked. "Because they're gay?"

She scrunched up her face. "Of course not. Because they're hot." She rolled her eyes. "Your Aunt Deborah thought we'd hired strippers for the party and asked when the show began." She pointed to the muscular guy. "That cheeky bastard started unbuttoning his shirt until Charlie stopped him. Then he said they'd do it together later." She snickered. "I can't wait to see if they have the nerve." She gazed at the couple and beamed. "Aren't they sweet? Daniel's a firefighter here in Milwaukee, and they have the cutest little boy. Charlie showed me pictures. And they have sugar gliders! Charlie had this photo of him with them on his shoulders." She gazed at the men. "Such a lovely couple."

"Wow, Mom." Aiden grinned. "You're a regular gay magnet. We'll have you waving a flag at PrideFest yet."

Her eyes widened. "I'm free in June!" Before Will could come up with a suitably witty response, she smiled at someone across the room, and a moment later, she'd disappeared.

"Who are Luke and Gloria?" Will asked.

Aiden chuckled. "I have no clue." He glanced at Will. "Do I need to find you a tissue?"

"For what?"

"Your drool. Am I going to find you've ordered a naked firefighter calendar next year?"

Will grinned. "Would you complain?"

Aiden's eyes twinkled. "Hell no."

Whatever else he'd been going to say was lost when the DJ announced that Becca and Kristen were about to dance. Beyonce's ‘Single Ladies' burst from the speakers.

Becca and Kristen were phenomenal. Their moves were polished, and everyone stood around the dance floor, clapping and cheering. When they finished, they brought the house down.

Will chuckled. "Your sister is incredible."

"Her dancing? Or her attitude?"

Will smiled. "Both?"

The DJ spoke again. "And before you hit the dance floor I'd like to ask Aiden and Will to share their first dance with you all."

Aiden held out his hand, and Will took it. Aiden led him to the middle of the dance floor and put his hands on Will's waist. Will looped his arms around Aiden's neck.

"So… did you choose a song for us?" he asked.

Aiden merely grinned, and from the sound system poured—

‘The Imperial March' from Star Wars.

Will laughed so hard, his sides ached. "To quote you, you had to be different, didn't you?"

Aiden gave a nod to the DJ, and Tyler Shaw's ‘When You're Home' filled the air.

Ohhhh.

He lost himself in Aiden's arms. "Okay, you nailed it." They moved in a leisurely motion, their cheeks pressed together. "I could stay like this forever."

"And are you going to love me forever?" Aiden's breath tickled his ear.

Will pulled back to look him in the eye.

"I'm going to love you until the stars turn cold."

THE END