Sean
SEAN
He had to admit, the beer Blaine and Eric had chosen for the reception was surprisingly good. had never been much of a beer drinker, but even he had to admit the fruity ale went down smoothly. He didn’t know what it was called, but as he sipped on his third mug, he discovered he didn’t care. Though he did make a mental note to find out what it was later.
The food was being set up on tables beside the main floor’s front door. and everyone else at the wedding were patiently waiting at their assigned tables in the pavilion for the green light to start getting food. At the head table, gazed out on the rows in front of them and then to his left where Eric, Blaine, and Blake sat.
His brother eyed the glass and then him. “Are you drunk?”
blinked. “Me? Never. Perish the thought.”
Blaine leaned over to look at him. “Shit, is he drunk?”
Eric snorted. “He hasn’t started singing yet, so no. But if we don’t get food in him soon, we’ll be treated to some music.”
“He sings?” Blake asked, leaning back to see.
“I’ve been known to, on occasion,” told him.
“How many have you had?” Blaine asked.
“A couple,” said vaguely.
“Since when have you drunk beer anyway? Or better yet, who convinced you to try that?” Eric asked suspiciously.
shrugged, taking another admittedly small sip. “I branch out and try new things, Eric. It’s not unheard of.”
From beside Blaine, Blake visibly relaxed. While Blake and had dealt with bringing the caterers in and helping them set up, it had been Blake who coaxed to try the beer. On learning that liked it, however, Blake handed him a full mug before opening the taps to the rest of the wedding party. The second and third mugs, though, had been ’s choice.
And he was not drunk. Although he was feeling pretty good.
eyed his brother. “Congrats, by the way. It was the most ridiculously sweet thing I have ever witnessed.”
“I’d say that was a sign, but he’s always sentimental,” Blaine commented.
scowled at him. “Though you are ruining my good feelings about your speech now.”
“Huh, he pegged me as a happy drunk,” Blaine said.
Eric rolled his eyes. “He is, and he likes to hit on anything with two legs that looks good to his drunk eyes. And he sings.”
Blake raised a brow. “ Anything with two legs, huh?”
“You heard me,” Eric grunted.
“I’d like to think I’m a little more discerning than that,” protested.
“Not really,” Eric snorted. “It certainly makes you wonder, though.”
No one was paying attention to Blake, who smirked at over his brother’s shoulder. gave the three men a roll of his eyes and returned to his drink. He was willing to privately give his brother credit for seeing more of than he’d originally believed and saying nothing. But he didn’t think the man’s wedding reception was the time to start talking about his sexuality.
And once again, Blake’s interest in the topic was interesting.
“He’s only cranky,” Eric continued. “Because he’s hungry.”
“ gets hangry?” Blaine asked.
“If he gets hungry enough, he makes me in the morning seem like a ray of fucking sunshine and joy,” Eric told him.
“So that’s why he’s always got snacks in his office,” Blake said.
sighed. “I have those because some of my patients forget to eat, and it can be difficult to work through feelings and thoughts when the mind is distracted by the body’s hunger. It’s a perfectly valid method of helping my patients.”
“Helps too, when their therapist isn’t a crank,” Eric muttered.
glowered at him. “I take back everything good I said about this wedding. You’re both terrible people.”
“Hey! I got left out,” Blake said with delight.
Eric rolled his eyes. “That’s because everyone already expects you to be a pain in the ass.”
“Or maybe he’s just put me on his list of people to hit on when he’s had one too many drinks,” Blake pointed out.
Blaine sighed. “I suppose that would give you someone to be interested in. Ah, wait, that’s right, I’m the gay twin.”
“I should hope so,” Eric told him.
“Or,” Blake interrupted the potential flirting, “I’m just so irresistible I can provoke him to hit on me.”
caught Blake’s eye and cocked his head. Blake froze, and raised a brow slowly. Blaine and Eric seemed to be doing their best to ignore Blake, so they missed the interaction. They also missed the point where Blake’s eyes widened, perhaps remembering their interaction the day before and what had happened the previous night. Which meant they missed Blake’s mouth working soundlessly as his face flamed once more and he quickly sat back in his seat.
They were spared any further discussion when the call for the food to be served went up. Chuckling to himself, pushed out of his seat, growing even more amused when he caught Blake glancing at him from the corner of his eye.
While had been teasing Blake the day before, his suspicions about how seriously Blake had taken him grew deeper. didn’t have anything definitive, though Blake’s blatant refusal to deny anything was intriguing. As was the fact that had caught Blake watching him speculatively more than once, including as they were retrieving their food.
glanced over his shoulder, catching Blake’s head snapping back toward the table. No one else seemed to notice, but had, and he also caught the color on Blake’s cheeks.
He knew he’d been caught as well.
It turned out all four of them were hungry, and they dived enthusiastically into their plates of food. The settled theme for the meal had been Blaine and Eric’s version of surf and turf, which meant burgers and steak, seafood pasta, and crab cakes. The two wanted to combine the small town, rural setting they’d grown up in, hence the thick burgers and wood-grilled steaks. But they also wanted to celebrate where their lives together had started and would probably end, hence the seafood.
wasn’t going to complain, he loved seafood. As tempting as the burger on Blake’s plate was, practically dripping with cheese and flavor, there was no way was passing up the chance for the pasta. Mussels were so rarely done well, bearing the flavor of the sea but not overwhelming and not a bit of toughness. He was pretty sure they’d smoked the shrimp too, which even he would admit was probably his favorite way to cook anything.
“You look like you’re thinking hard about something,” Blake said.
looked up, blinking at the two empty spaces between them. He looked around, finding Eric and Blaine talking to Eric’s old partner, Sam, and his wife. had completely missed them getting up from the table, and he hoped they hadn’t tried to talk to him, only to be met with silence.
cleared his throat, draining the last of his beer. “Was thinking I need to get a smoker.”
He was making Blake uncomfortable, but not in a way he thought would drive the man away.
Interesting.
Blake shook himself. “Yeah, but I am au natural.”
smirked. “Considering I’ve seen you almost completely naked, I can attest that there doesn’t appear to be anything fake whatsoever.”
“Looked, did you?”
“Bit hard not to.”
“And noticed.”
“Second verse, same as the first.”
Blake watched him, and could see something at work behind his gaze. One of his favorite traits of Blake’s was how expressive the man’s face could be. Normally, it left his thoughts and emotions wide open for anyone to read. In this case, though, his thoughts were going far too quickly through his mind for any of them to linger on display. thought he spotted some nerves, wariness, confusion, and perhaps intrigue.
And then Blake snorted, his good humor returning. “I think I’m beginning to like you when you drink, Dr. Andreas.”
“That’s a dangerous attitude, Mr. Edwards,” warned.
Blake cocked his head, eyes glittering with mischief. “Is that so?”
“It is.”
“Then let’s put it to the test.”
Before could say anything, Blake snatched ’s empty mug off the table and walked back toward the house with it. didn’t need to watch to know the man was off to refill it. As to why , wasn’t entirely sure. Based on what he’d seen Blake doing so far, he wouldn’t have been surprised to see him trying to get alcohol into his own system. But why try to booze up?
“Interesting,” muttered just as Blake emerged, a filled mug in hand and looking smug.
“And here you are,” Blake said, grinning wide.
“If this was a date, I’d accuse you of trying to liquor me up,” told him even as he took the mug.
“I would have plausible deniability.”
“Oh?”
Blake pointed at the mug. “That’s not liquor.”
laughed, taking a drink. “Well, I suppose you win that round by a technicality.”
Blake tapped the side of his head as he took his seat. “I do give these things thought.”
eyed him over the rim of his mug. “It’s nice to know you gave thought to how you were going to lube me up with alcohol.”
As he began to suspect, the phrasing was enough to bring a flush of color to Blake’s cheeks. never would have pegged Blake for a blusher, but he quickly discovered it was possible, given the right circumstances. That he found it incredibly attractive only made him want to make it happen more often.
“I’m not trying to...lube you up,” Blake muttered, looking around the room.
chuckled, taking another drink. “Don’t you worry, Blake. No one’s close enough to hear how you’re trying to seduce me with charm and booze.”
Blake huffed, shaking his head. “I’m beginning to regret starting this.”
“And here I thought you were enjoying the attention,” teased.
Blake eyed him. “Your brother wasn’t kidding. You really do get flirty when you start drinking.”
settled back into his seat comfortably. “Ah, I just watched my brother get married to the love of his life, and now we get to celebrate with great food, good drinks, and acceptable company. It’s hard not to be in a good mood.”
“I said flirty, not good.”
“Same thing in the end.”
“And I love how I’m only ‘acceptable’ company.”
smirked at him. “Are you saying you want me to go back to flirting with you?”
“Only if you want Eric to get even more suspicious of you than he already is...apparently,” Blake added, raising a brow.
chuckled. “As interesting as it was to find out that I wasn’t quite as subtle about flirting with other men as I thought, I’m not too worried.”
“Probably doesn’t hurt that Eric doesn’t seem keen on looking at your love and sex life too closely,” Blake pointed out.
“No,” agreed. “But apparently, I can leave that up to you, as you’re certainly curious enough for him...and probably everyone else here.”
Blake’s expression was guarded, and for a moment, wondered if he’d gone too far. He would have been lying if he claimed he wasn’t interested in seeing how far Blake would let things go, but not at the expense of their friendship.
“I’m being a little too aggressive,” admitted, wincing in apology.
Blake’s face went blank, and then he burst into laughter. “I wouldn’t worry too much, . You’re not the first guy to hit on me.”
“And I thought I was special,” said with mock indignation.
Blake stood up, clasping a hand on ’s shoulder and squeezing. “If it makes you feel any better, you’re the best at it so far. Gotta say, didn’t think you had it in you to be so forward.”
“Maybe I’m full of surprises,” said, looking up at Blake.
A twinkle of interest flitted through Blake’s eyes and then was gone. “Maybe so. I guess I’ll probably find out by the time the night’s over.”
Before could figure out precisely what that meant, Blake walked off, taking the warmth of his hand with him. watched him slip between their brothers, much to Eric’s visible annoyance and Blaine’s exasperation. sipped his beer, watching as Blake flung his arms around both men’s shoulders, talking animatedly.
Most interestingly, his eyes slid over to where sat contentedly drinking.
“What an interesting night this could turn out to be,” said softly, taking another drink.