Page 99 of Angel

All around us, guests are still making their way from their cars to the church. Most of them stare, but I’m almost glad they do. Let them see how many people we’ve got on our side.

Mama and Sabrina pause on the sidewalk, halfway between our group and the church’s entrance. Sabrina turns to say something to Mama, but Mama shakes her head and turns toward the church.

Pain stabs straight through my heart at the sight. Things have been tense between us. I don’t like it, but I also don’t know what to do about it. Sunday dinners have been awkward with Sabrina trying to fill the silences. And when I tried to talk to Mama about it one time, she shut herself in her bedroom again. She isn’t happy about me dating Rhys, but I’m still holding out hope that she’ll come around.

Sabrina beams as she approaches us. “I should’ve known. It’s always the quiet ones you need to watch out for.”

My ears heat at her teasing, but I hide it by taking Jonah from her arms. She’s got my nephew dressed in a mini-suit, complete with a mini-bowtie, that is utterly adorable.

“Hi Jo-Jo!” I say in that silly voice people use with babies.

“’ncle ’ngel!” He grabs my face with spit-covered hands, and I grimace but bear it.

Jonah is a good distraction, but not quite enough to keep me from monitoring the parking lot. Mario shows up with a girl I don’t recognize. She looks curious, but his face is shut down in a frown. We’ve only had minimal exchanges at work since I came out to him. It sucks losing one of my only friends, but I don’t regret doing what I did.

Rhys and Nico’s parents arrive and it takes them a few moments to realize it’s their son in the center of all the excitement. Mr. Gallo tries to go into the church, but Mrs. Gallo drags him toward us instead.

My heart races as the women around Rhys part as if they’re the Red Sea and Mrs. Gallo is Moses. Rhys’s posture stiffens when she stops in front of him. Mr. Gallo stands behind his wife, arms crossed, glowering. The parking lot descends into silence as Rhys’s mom gives him a thorough once-over.

Rhys stays perfectly still during her examination. I’m this close to stepping between them when Nico stops me with a hand on my arm.

“Just wait,” he whispers.

“Hi, Mom,” Rhys says, his intonation not giving anything away.

“That’s some outfit,” she replies.

“You like it?” He strikes a pose.

She sighs like she’s giving up on a naughty child and shakes her head with a resigned expression. “You look good,” she finally concedes.

Then she turns her gaze to the people standing around him. The women all look terrified. Nico and Sabrina both stare her down. When she finally gets to me, it takes every ounce of courage I have not to look away.

I love her son. I’ll protect him. Even from her, if I have to.

She breaks first, heaving another heavy sigh. Then, with one last glance at Rhys, she says, “I’ll see you inside,” before walking away. Rhys’s dad doesn’t even look at us before following his wife inside.

Air rushes back into the little bubble that formed around the group. Sounds of traffic in the distance filter through again. We all breathe a sigh of relief.

“Guess we should all find our seats,” Nico says, leading the way.

I hand Jonah back to Sabrina and hold out my arm to Rhys. He takes it and presses himself into me. “You okay?”

He nods with a bittersweet smile. “Yeah, I think so.”

I hold Rhys’s hand through the ceremony. The priest drones on about love and respect and devotion, and all I can think about is how much I want to repeat those same words to Rhys.

I can already imagine it. Rhys in a spectacular wedding gown with flowers in his hair. The sunlight would make his skin glow and his eyes sparkle. He would be radiant as we dedicate our lives to each other.

I want that. I want to marry him, to be his husband. I want to build a house for him and create a life together. Maybe we’ll even have kids? I don’t know how he feels about kids. But I can see him braiding their hair and putting on home fashion shows.

It’s all very domestic and I know Rhys isn’t a domestic kind of guy. But maybe…?

Clutching my hand, Rhys gazes toward the front of the sanctuary where the bride and groom are exchanging rings. His eyes are wet with unshed tears and there’s a longing in his expression that makes me wonder.

After the ceremony, the guests linger in the sanctuary as the photographer calls up various groups of friends and family for pictures. Rhys and I find a dark corner and I draw him to me, his back against my front. I slip my arms around his waist, and with his heels on, he’s tall enough for me to dip down and rest my chin on his shoulder.

He sighs and melts back into me. “Would you ever want to do that?” he asks in a quiet voice that travels the short distance between us.

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