Page 56 of Numbers Boy
“Yeah. And not only is he getting married, he’s getting married to a fuckingman.”
Oh shit, this is bad. Steve catches my eye, and I can tell by the sympathetic look on his face that he remembers that this is the guy I was telling him about. Our previous third friend in our best friend triangle.
“Maybe it’s just a gender-neutral name?” Steve says, trying to find a possible explanation that this isn’t Blake’s worst version of his worst fear come to life. He tries to sit up a little, and while I’m not happy about the loss of contact, it’s probably for the best. I reluctantly loosen my arms and let him go. Blake needs our full attention now, not two lovesick cuddle bugs. Well, I’m hoping it’s both of us who are lovesick. But that line of thought can wait.
“Not unless he found the one female Joshua in existence.” Blake tosses the paper in my now empty lap before running his fingers through his hair, hanging loose around his face. I pick it up to see it’s an invitation to a wedding. An invitation with two very masculine names and an image of two rings intertwined, neither of which has the telltale diamond to make you think it’s for a bride. So, all in all, pretty damning evidence that this is a wedding for two dudes.
I look up at my best friend to see him blinking back tears.
“I’m sorry.”
There’s not much else I can say. Steve quietly gets up to give us some space and heads over to pick up the rest of the mail from the floor. I stand and pull Blake into a hug. He all but collapses into me, and I can feel the hurt and confusion pouring off him.My arms tighten as I run my hand over his hair, trying to calm him down and let him know I’ve got him.
“Umm, guys?” Steve says uncertainly from behind us. “I don’t know if this will make things better or worse, but there’s a note.”
Both our gazes snap to Steve. We end our embrace, but I stay close by my best friend. Steve is standing with a small sealed envelope in his hands. There’s something written on it, but I can’t read it from here.
“What does it say?” I ask and run my hand soothingly up and down Blake’s arm.
Steve’s face crinkles like he really doesn’t want to say what comes next. “It’s got Blake’s name on it. The rest of the stuff in the main envelope is typical wedding invitation stuff. Hotel info, RSVP card, all that jazz. This envelope doesn’t even match the color scheme of the other papers.”
Blake tenses against my side, and I hate that Kyle has this hold on him, even years later. He reaches a shaking hand out toward Steve, who is watching with concern etched into his face.
“Are you sure?” he checks. “Noah or I could always read it for you and see if it’s worth your time.”
I nod in agreement at the same time Blake shakes his head. He takes a deep, steadying breath and stands a little taller. “No. I’ll take it. I don’t know if I’ll read it right away, but I’ll take it.”
As Blake steps more resolutely forward, hand still outstretched, I give him one last thought before I know he’ll want to disappear and think about things for a bit. “You can always change your mind about one of us reading it first. And there’s nothing that says you have to read it at all. He only gets the brain space you choose to give him.”
He nods silently, then takes the envelope addressed to him and walks to his room.
For a moment, Steve and I just look at each other, matching expressions of “what the fuck just happened?” on our faces, mixed with a bit of “poor Blake.” Finally, I tilt my head back toward the couch.
“Come on, Princess, I could use a few more cuddles right now.”
I know it won’t be the same as a few minutes ago, but I need him close. Steve gives me a small smile, bringing the rest of the invitation materials with him as he settles back in against me. My gaze roams over the words and pictures, mind reeling with everything that this brings up. Besides obviously messing with Blake’s emotions, it’s weird for me, too. I haven’t seen or spoken to Kyle since our junior year in college, ever since he broke away from our friend group, breaking Blake’s heart in the process. I don’t know how to feel about being invited to his wedding. I’m intrigued to see that both of us have been given a plus-one.
“Okay, as bad as I feel for Blake, the design of the invite feels really old-fashioned and formal. That doesn’t really fit with what I know of him.” Steve flips between the various papers. His bottom lip sits between his teeth like he’s trying not to say more, but the tightness of his eyes gives him away. “I guess I just wouldn’t picture Blake with someone who would choose this as their wedding invitation.”
I breathe a small laugh through my nose and pull Steve closer to press a kiss to his temple. “You’re not wrong about it not being Blake’s style, Princess. Kyle was fun, but not exactly easygoing. And his family was all very traditional. His options for school, laid out for him by his parents, were pre-law or business. I think that’s partially why he never wanted to admit to what he and Blake had. It was easier for him to stay closeted and tell himself that what they were doing was just a college experiment. So, the fact that Joshua is somehow different makes me really curious.”
“Well, unless Blake isn’t comfortable going, I guess you’ll find out more in a few months.”
“True.” I thread my fingers through his curls as Steve rests his head on my shoulder, my eyes skimming over the invitation again. He was right; it really is a stuffy design. And that makes me curious about something else. “What kind of look would you want for your wedding invitations? Assuming marriage is something you want.”
Steve doesn’t answer right away, one finger lightly tracing over the intertwined rings on the paper, and I consider the barely concealed implication of my words. Is he imagining getting married to me? How we might wantourwedding invitation to look? Given the fact that we’re dating, it would make sense, even if it is a bit early to be thinking about.
My heart speeds up at the thought. Seeing Steve dressed to the nines and walking toward me down an aisle. Or waiting for me so we can walk down together as one. Holding my hands as we promise a lifetime to each other. My heart clenches. Fuck, I want that. A lifetime with this sweet, gorgeous person who has an adopted dog and lovesLord of the Rings. Who dresses in a way that is both comfortable and sensual, and who doesn’t think twice before sending me the cheesiest puns he can think of. It doesn’t matter to me that we’ve only known each other a few months. Or that we’ve been together for even less. All that matters is how he makes me feel. And a lifetime with him feels like it was meant to be.
As I’m picturing our life together, Steve eventually looks up at me, a hint of a smile on his perfect lips. “Yes, marriage is something I would want. But I think theme and colors and all of that depends on who I’m getting married to. It would have to be something that feels right for both of us. Something beautiful and fun.”
Beautiful and fun. Two words that aptly describe the man I’m now sure I’ve fallen in love with.
“I think that sounds perfect.”
We both smile widely, our lips meeting in the middle for a tender kiss. One that almost feels like a promise. A few moments later, Steve pulls back, his smile now a giant grin that makes his eyes sparkle in the morning sun.
“Since Blake probably wants some space, would you want to go to my place and help me with my dress? There are about a billion rhinestones I have to finish putting on, and it always goes quicker with company.”
