Chapter 21 Lake #2
“I’m Lake,” I say, holding out my hand. He takes it tentatively.
I don’t shake too hard because he kind of looks like a deer in the headlights, and he might take off if he really gets startled.
That’s what deer do. “This is my husband-to-be, Grady. And our official celebrant, Sebastian, who can totally legally do this and make it binding.”
“That is the complete opposite of what I said,” Sebastian remarks. “But sure.”
“Izaac,” the man says, a little more confidently. Makes sense he should know his name. Even these two drunks can remember their names. For now.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Do I have to sign something?” he asks. “Because I’m not comfortable with that.”
“You don’t need to sign anything,” Sebastian assures him. “Just watch.”
He nods. “Will this take long? I’ve only had three of my five drinks. I still have a—” He stops and fishes out his phone from his pocket. “A negroni and an espresso martini. There are ten, but I split the list in two.”
That’s a weirdly specific list. “We’ll even buy you the last two.”
“Oh. Thank you.”
“Ready?” Sebastian asks. When no one disagrees with him, he clears his throat. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to witness the joining of Lake McKenna and Grady Donehue. Their love story began last New Year’s Eve, when Lake—”
“What are you doing?” Grady interrupts.
“I’m telling your love story,” he answers, like Grady is an idiot for even asking.
“Why?”
“Because that’s what you do at weddings. I introduce myself—”
“You didn’t do that,” I point out.
Sebastian frowns, his glasses slipping down his nose. He pushes them back up with his index finger. “Right, good point. I’m Sebastian Devlin, and I’ll be your authorised officiant today to join these two men in matrimony.”
Grady groans. “Can we just skip to the ‘I do’ part? What is all this bullshit?”
“It’s proper process, Lord Farquaad,” Sebastian says sarcastically.
“Who?”
“You can’t seriously not know who I’m talking about.”
“He’s from the first Shrek,” Izaac helpfully offers.
“What does he have to do with this?”
“Because he—” Izaac stops and gives a half shrug. “Never mind.”
“You’re supposed to go through all the steps before you get to the end. I know you’re eager to get to the kissing part, but you need to learn some patience,” Sebastian says.
“I’m about to fire you,” Grady warns. “Anyone told you that you’re a fucking terrible celebrant?”
“You can’t fire me if you’re not paying me.”
“You can fire unwanted volunteers,” Grady snaps back.
“I didn’t volunteer as tribute,” Sebastian says.
Grady scrunches his face up in confused disgust. “As what?”
“Someone seriously needs to sit down and make you watch movies. How can I make smart remarks when you don’t even understand my references?”
“It’s a real tragedy,” Grady deadpans. “I’m the groom, and you have to do what I say, so skip to the kissing part.”
“Are you planning to be this impatient at your wedding?” Sebastian asks with an amused smirk.
“This is my wedding. Seriously, what kind of celebrant are you?”
“The kind that isn’t one.”
Izaac glances between us, hesitating. “So… is anyone getting married today?”
“We are,” Grady says sternly. “Now hurry the fuck up.”
Sebastian holds out his hand. “Do you have the rings?”
I show the one I got for Grady, practically vibrating from the excitement of knowing I get to put it on him. I’m not expecting Grady to have my ring on him. Except he reaches inside his jacket and pulls out his own small black box.
“You have mine on you,” I say, shocked.
“Didn’t want to lose it,” Grady grumbles, almost sounding embarrassed.
“Excellent. Now”—Sebastian clears his throat again—“Dearly beloved, we are here—”
“Fucking hell, Seb.”
“Do you, Grady… What’s your middle name?”
“You don’t need my middle name.”
“It’s important.”
“For fuck’s sake. It’s Alfred.”
Sebastian pauses. “Seriously?”
“It was my grandfather’s name. You make fun of it at all, and I’m punching you in the face. You can still marry us with a broken nose.”
Sebastian does another throat clear. Is he doing that on purpose? He can’t possibly have that much phlegm in there. “Do you, Grady Alfred Donehue, take this man to be your wedded husband?”
“I do.”
“Is this what they actually say, or are you taking all this from the movies?” Izaac asks curiously. “Should I google it for you?”
“Movies are a font of information,” Sebastian says. “We can worry about real details for the other wedding.”
“There are two weddings?”
“They’re overachievers and want to do it twice.” Sebastian straightens his tie, though he just ends up making it even wonkier. “Go on, then, put the ring on him.”
My everything skips a beat as I open the box and pull the ring out.
It’s a black tungsten band with polished edges.
It’s masculine, elegant, and perfect for him.
Sliding it onto his finger is the highlight of my life.
When I look back on my most important moments, this will be the one at the very top.
It looks so damn good on him that I want to suck his finger into my mouth, tasting the way it circles around the digit. I want to kiss him while he’s wearing it, while we’re married. Grady’s right, we just need to hurry this up so we can kiss.
“What’s your middle name, Lake?” Sebastian asks, moving it along.
“Anton,” I say. “Also a grandfather’s name. We’re twins.”
“You don’t look like twins,” Izaac says, looking between us as if he’s looking for a similarity. I feel like I’d be more concerned about twins wanting to get married, but maybe that’s just me.
“Get on with it,” Grady growls. “I don’t care what we are, just marry us.”
“Kinky.” I snicker.
“Do you, Lake Anton McKenna, take this man to be your wedded husband?”
I beam, heart bursting. The ring Grady reveals is nothing like I imagined and the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
He’s gone the opposite direction with the engagement and wedding rings, with a simple platinum for the engagement and then this.
It’s a black tungsten as well, but that’s the only similarity.
The centre of the band, threaded like the depths of the ocean, is filled with an inlay of blue crushed stone and gold flakes.
It’s bold, colourful, and I’m never taking it off.
His hand is warm as he glides the ring into place, snug beside my engagement ring, like they were made for each other. Just like Grady and I are.
Even though this isn’t real, it’s exciting. Besides, it is kind of real. To us it is. I’m gonna call him my husband after this, I don’t care what anyone thinks. “I do.” So much. This is the start of the rest of our life together, beginning in the bathroom hallway of a bar.