Page 85 of Chasing You

“That’s all it says?”

Adele turned to him. “Have fun, with a poorly drawn winking face.”

Kash snorted a laugh. “So the music…” He tilted his head. “The bedroom.” He took Adele’s hand again and this time led the way down the hall. The door was cracked, and beneath it, he could see light flickering.

His heart jumped in his chest just as Adele pushed the door open. “Tell me that little shit didn’t?—”

Light candles.

He hadn’t. He’d set up electric tealights all over the bedroom. There were piles of rose petals all over the bed, along with a silver tray that Kash had seen in fancy hotel rooms from cheesy romance movies. There was a bucket of something chilling on ice and what looked like a handmade charcuterie board.

Adele cleared his throat. “The boys left a note.” He hesitated, then read, “You deserve this. We’re too young to buy alcohol, and Bronx didn’t believe us when we said it was for you, so you get cider. Also, Lucas put together the snack board, which is why it looks the way it does, but it tastes great because I tried some. Please don’t be nervous about tomorrow. I can’t wait to be a family. Love you. Gage.”

Kash was not going to cry. He wasnot.

He dropped his cane when Adele turned and wrapped his arms around him, tugging him close. “That kid, I swear to God.”

“You did good with him.”

Adele looked down and met his gaze. “You helped shape me to be the man who raised him, so you get credit there too. And don’t argue,” he added when Kash took a breath to do just that. “You have always been half my heart and half my soul, and you always will be.”

And then he kissed him, and Kash forgot everything except those lips on his.

twenty-three

KASH

The chaosof the courthouse took some of the romance out of the afternoon. Their appointment was for four o’clock, and there were sixteen other couples ahead of them getting married. They also weren’t the only ones who brought a whole party with them.

One woman was even in a full ball gown with a bouquet, so Kash felt a little less silly in his suit that matched Adele’s. The guys had all dressed up too, and Rex had given them all matching corsages for their lapels.

He walked around puffed up and proud, nodding his approval at everyone, and then he dragged Frey over to meet the well-dressed bride so his dad could interpret his approval of her too. It was nice. It was more than nice.

Kash stood next to Adele, clinging to his hand, his other palm sweating on his cane handle, and he tried not to stress about the time. His legs were feeling a little uncooperative, but he’d attempted to bargain with the universe about letting him have this one day. He could be as sick as the gods deemed necessary tomorrow—or maybe the day after since they did have to move.

For now, he was okay. He was sitting in the one open spot on a bench in the hallway, waiting to be called in as he watched couples go in, then come out. Most of them looked no different, but a few were a little weepy, and that’s how he felt.

Would he cry? Likely not, but that didn’t mean the moment had no weight to it. He looked up at Adele, who was staring down at him, and he mouthed, ‘Love you so much.’

Adele’s eyes shone as he leaned over to kiss him.

“Save it for the judge!” Frey said.

Adele didn’t stop, but Kash could see him flipping his friend off behind his back.

Eventually, it was their turn. Kash’s knees were shaking as he stood, and the judge had all the witnesses come in first, arranging them on the seats in front of his desk. The signing witnesses were next. Gage looked nervous as he stepped up to the table beside Bowen, fiddling with his flower and his tie, then the hem of his jacket.

Kash caught his eye and winked, and Gage settled a little.

“Give me a sec with the judge,” Kash whispered, then let him go and beckoned for the older man to speak with him in the corner of the room. It took him a minute to find the courage to lay out his plan, and he was terrified the judge would tell him it wasn’t allowed. But he didn’t. The older man smiled and nodded, then gestured for Kash to take his place beside Adele.

“What was that?” Adele asked as he pulled Kash close.

“You’ll see.”

Adele would find out in a moment, once the formalities were outof the way.

“Thank you for coming today. Today, we’re here to witness the marriage of Adele Galanos and Kasher Foy…”

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