Page 75 of The Step Don't

“I’m tired tonight,” Ash says. “Is it cool if we head straight home?”

“Do you feel okay?” I stand up and tilt his faceto look at him.

“Such a worrier. I’m fine. Let’s go.”

I try to hide my nerves the whole drive.

When we pull up, there are no cars in the driveway. A relieved breath wooshes out of my lungs.

My hands shake slightly as I open the door, and… “What the fuck?” Ash and I say at the same time, before our gazes shoot to each other.

“Why did you say what the fuck?” I ask.

“There’s a white aisle runner with flower petals in front of the door?” Ash says it like it’s a question, and clearly, he’s as surprised by this as I am, but it feels like there’s more to it.

“Troy?” I say, stepping inside.

“Lance?” Ash says.

Our gazes dart to each other again. Something fishy is going on for sure. He’s expecting Lance to be here, but Troy said no one was…

When wedding music starts playing, the pieces fall into place. Troy had something up his sleeve because this isn’t what I planned.

“Shall we?” I hold my arm out for Ash. He hooks his through mine, and we follow the aisle runner and flower petals to the living room. They’ve moved all the furniture and added chairs like they would have at a wedding. A few of the guys from the frat are here, along with Brenner and Taylor. Streamers hang from the ceiling, balloons everywhere, and a banner across the back wall says:ASH AND COLIN…JUST MARRIED!

“This isn’t what Lance was supposed to do,” Ash says.

“Wait. What? I was going to say that about Troy. I had a whole thing planned. I was going to ask you to be my boyfriend.”

He looks at me, heart in his eyes and a grin curling his lips. “I had a whole thing planned. I was going to ask you to be my boyfriend too.”

Because of course we would plan the same thing on the same night. That’s just how we roll.

Troy steps to the end of the aisle. For the first time, I notice two extra chairs, with homemade signs that sayHISandHIS. I’m assuming they’re supposed to be like thrones, and the guys made do with what they could find.

“Are you guys gonna finish walking or what?” Brenner asks. “Because I’m salty I lost out on another hot guy.”

I laugh, and Brenner winks playfully.

“I guess we should go,” Ash says.

Arms still clasped together, we walk toward Troy, the music stopping when we’re in front of him.

Troy clears his throat. “We’re gathered here today to celebrate the union of Ash Fuller and Colin Phillips as boyfriend and boyfriend. Who gives these men away?”

Lance stands. “Frat Cat does.” He’s holding our kitten, who doesn’t look thrilled. I takehim from Lance and snuggle him close.

“Ash, do you take Colin, your stepbrother, to be your boyfriend?”

“Had to add the stepbrother thing in there?” Ash questions.

“Keeping it real.” Troy snickers.

Ash looks at me, and though this is ridiculous and I kinda want to kill my friend, I see the emotions in my chest reflected in Ash’s eyes.

“This won’t end until you say I do,” Troy reminds him.

“Oh shit. I do.”

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