Chapter Three
Soren was a little ashamed to admit he actively tried not to be alone with Shane for the rest of the trip. Not only did he feel too much, but Soren also never wanted Kyson to think Shane was the reason he was there. He accepted the invitation to help his best friend. That one night at a pizza shop had Soren feeling entirely too close to Shane. He knew how easy it would be for him to follow Shane around and make a fool of himself.
Of course, heading to the wedding was a whole other matter. Soren had to focus on Shane. Not that it was hard, but still. “You haven’t said how you feel about the guy your sister is marrying.”
Shane focused on him with laughing eyes. “Actually, she’s marrying a woman, and she’s great. She’s a sideline reporter for the Los Angeles Apollos. They met when Izzie lived in Virginia for a while. Anna was in the military and Izzie owned a secondhand store. When Anna got offered a sports reporter gig in New Orleans, Izzie closed up shop and went with her. After a while, Anna actively sought a job in L.A. to move Izzie closer to me. I love her for that alone.”
“Izzie lives in L.A.? I guess I just assumed, since the wedding is in Pennsylvania, she would still live there.”
Shane turned left, turning onto the road where the hotel was located. Soren could see it in the distance. It was nice. “My aunt is here, so this was easier for the older folks to come to the wedding. Anna’s family is from Texas and are a military bunch. They enjoy the travel.” Shane shrugged. “I don’t mind the travel either. It’s not often I go places without Banks.” He shot a quick look Soren’s way. “Not that I don’t love Banks and Kyson.”
Soren didn’t hesitate to reassure him. “No. I get it. No matter how much you love them, they’re your job. Even at home, you’re at work. So, the only time you feel like you’ve had a day off is by going out of town on vacation. I’m the same, working from home. You’d be surprised how many solo cruises and what not I’ve taken. I’d go insane if I waited for anyone to do things with me. Working from home or not, I’m burned out.” Soren had no clue why he constantly confessed things to Shane. Maybe Shane was just a listener. Soren didn’t have a lot of that in his life.
“Banks pretty much lets me take off wherever I want. Anytime you want a travel partner, just hit me up. I don’t really enjoy solo travel.”
Soren’s chest warmed. If nothing else ever came of them, Soren felt like he had made a friend. That meant everything to him. “Okay. I’ll do that. Fair warning, though, I wake myself up all the time talking in my sleep. So I might keep you awake with tales of all the pirate ass I’m kicking in my sleep.”
A bark of laughter cut through the air.
Soren’s face hurt from smiling. Even the horror of insinuating they would share a room didn’t cut through his happiness. He didn’t think Shane took anything he said seriously. Soren was invisible like that.
Shane watched Soren drag a car-shaped suitcase while wearing a kid’s car-themed backpack through the posh hotel. He couldn’t stop staring or smiling. If anyone looked twice or judged, Shane didn’t notice, and Soren seemed unbothered. He was incredibly unique. Shane felt good in Soren’s company. Everyone and everything else disappeared when he was around. Soren might claim his Little status wasn’t like anyone else’s, but that suitcase, backpack, and no fucks of judgment demeanor said differently.
A loud squeal rent the air.
Shane’s head snapped around at the sound. He spotted Izzie skipping his way. Her bright purple hair bounced with each hop. A smile stretched his lips. “Hey.”
When she reached his side, she launched herself at him. Shane didn’t hesitate to squeeze her against his chest, leaving her feet dangling a foot off the floor. While they might live in the same town, they honestly didn’t get to see each other that often. Shane also understood Izzie was on top of the world, finally marrying Anna.
“You made it.”
Shane set her back on her feet. “Of course. I always show up, don’t I?”
“I know.” She punched his arm. “I’m just glad you’re here.” Her gaze moved toward Soren, who had also frozen at Izzie’s screech. “Oh, my goodness. This must be Soren.” She moved to greet Soren while Anna thanked him for coming. Shane only half listened. He was too worried about how Izzie would react to meeting Soren.
Soren’s gaze moved between Izzie and Anna. “Oh, holy wow. You’re both so gorgeous. I’ve never felt so short and fat in my life.”
Izzie immediately hugged him, squeezing him like a teddy bear. “That’s so sweet.” Her gaze moved Shane’s way. “Can we keep him?”
Shane couldn’t stop smiling. He got it. Soren sounded so sincere, as if truly blown away by their beauty. For Anna, that was normal. Not only were female sideline reporters expected to be perfection, but Anna also did that job in L.A., where people were already flawless. Anna was the picture shown under beautiful in the dictionary. Thankfully, she was just as gorgeous on the inside. But Izzie, while also pretty, had struggled with her weight her entire life. They were a big-boned bunch. She was curvy and Anna loved it. So Izzie had embraced it. It was obvious Soren’s words touched her.
Soren motioned toward Izzie’s bright hair. “I love this. I tried to go pink once, but it lasted like five minutes. The first time I washed my hair, it was straight down the drain. Not that it mattered. No one ever sees me anyhow.” Every word Soren spoke was bright and cheerful, and they made Shane angrier by the second. The entire interaction made Shane realize something important he had missed before then. Soren always did this. He always poked fun at himself to make other people feel better about themselves while laughing the entire time. Shane hated it.
Thankfully, Izzie was just as kind. “I think you’re more of a dark purple guy too. When we get home from our honeymoon, we should make plans. I can do your hair any color you want. It’s been so long since I’ve been a natural color, I couldn’t tell you what my real hair color is any longer.”
They kept chatting while Shane tried desperately to think of a way to lift Soren up the way Soren did for everyone else.
“Save a dance for me.”
Shane came back to himself when Anna’s request for Soren cut through his spiraling mood. “Soren taught me how to dance for the wedding. He’s amazing. Not just at ballroom either. He also does hip hop.”
Soren’s face turned cherry red. “It’s not that special, really. Please don’t ask me to demonstrate. I’d hate to fall on my face and make a liar of Shane.”
Well, goddamn. That didn’t go as planned.
Once again, Izzie took the reins. “We can fall on our face together tomorrow. I don’t know how to do any style of dancing, but that doesn’t stop me.”
Shane wished he knew what to say. He wasn’t kind like his sister. Shane wasn’t good at being soft. Soren needed someone gentle and loving to care for him. Shane didn’t know how to be those things. Not once in his life had it mattered. It did now.
Meeting Shane’s sister and future sister-in-law had Soren chipper as hell. He had been so scared they would hate him, but they were both so, so amazing. Soren couldn’t wait to see them again. For now, they had to get settled.
When Shane invited him on the trip, he had made sure Soren had understood everything was on Shane’s dime. He hadn’t really thought about sleeping arrangements. It seemed they had one room. Soren tried not to overthink that, but he turned into a nervous Chatty Cathy on the way upstairs.
“I wasn’t joking earlier. Why do your sister and her fiancé both look like they belong on the cover of a magazine?”
Shane flashed him a smile. “Izzie would love to hear you say that. As for Anna, like I said, she’s a sideline reporter for the L.A. Apollos. She’s expected to be the epitome of what men want to see. Unfortunately, that’s exactly why Izzie and she are just now getting married. They’ve been together forever, almost since right after Izzie moved to this side of the country, but Anna never would’ve been successful in her field as an out and proud lesbian. She’s smart and badass, but no one cares. All anyone sees is her looks.”
“So Izzie has been a secret all this time?” The idea of that hurt Soren’s chest.
“Not really. Anna has never hidden Izzie. They own a house together and do everything together. But they also weren’t out in the open with things. I guess it was a sort of a don’t ask don’t tell situation.”
Shane shrugged as he let them into their room. “She’s pretty settled in her career now. Her credentials speak for themselves. Obviously, Izzie has been more than patient. I guess it was finally time.”
When the door swung wide, Soren’s nerves settled. It was a suite. He could sleep on the couch. No need to overthink. “Well, I think they’re amazing. Thank you so much for inviting me and sharing your family with me.”
“Don’t get too excited. You haven’t met any of Anna’s family. They’re all retired, career military. I’m never been sure how they feel about my brightly colored sister.”
Soren dragged his suitcase to the window and left it before pulling back the curtains to look out. “This place is gorgeous. I can’t imagine what they’re paying to have a wedding here.”
“I’m paying for everything. It was a lot, but it’s worth it to see Izzie happy and it’s not like I’ll ever need to pay for my own wedding.”
Shane made the claim so dismissively as he took off his shoes—like he had no thoughts on a loving future. Soren didn’t know how to respond. Shane didn’t give him time.
“Come on. We need to get dressed for dinner.”
Soren nodded and peeled off his backpack. He felt a lot better about this trip since meeting the brides, but he was still nervous. If what Shane said was true about Anna’s family, he was likely doomed for them to hate him. Still, he was here for Shane. That was all. His gaze slid toward the window. There was an amusement park nearby. It wasn’t open this time of year, but Soren was already making plans inside his head. He would check prices while he was here. Maybe this could be his next vacation.