Page 15 of Once Upon An Ever After
Dawson glanced up and his stomach clenched at what he saw. The second-floor balcony was empty except for two figures. He recognized Beau instantly and the man with him had to be the date he’d brought. Heat flared through Dawson when he watched the man reach out and touch Beau’s face. He turned away so that he didn’t have to witness whatever came next and barged back into the house on a mission to confront them.
He couldn’t believe that this was happening. Anger and regret coursed through him. He’d waited too long. He hadn’t told Beau how he felt when he had the chance. Beau had brought a date with him to the wedding, a handsome man that Dawson had never met before and though he’d dragged Beau away and kissed him in the bathroom earlier, he realized now that he’d never given Beau all that much choice in the matter.
Dammit, no. He cursed under his breath as he weaved through people and took the back staircase up to the second floor. Beau was his and he wouldn’t lose him.
He all but burst onto the balcony and his fingers tightened into fists when he saw the two of them again. Their arms were wrapped around one another causing red to cloud his vision. They pulled apart when they heard his approach and he had just enough time to see Beau’s eyes go wide in surprise before he shoved his way between them and pushed the other man away.
“Get off of him.” He growled.
“Dawson.” Beau hissed, “What are you doing? Calm down.”
“No, I will not calm down. He doesn’t get to touch you. I don’t care if he came here with you. You’re leaving with me.”
“Dawson.” Beau’s eyes were still wide and he put his hands up, as if he was trying to calm a wild animal, “Stop it. People are starting to stare.”
“I don’t care. Let them stare.” He turned back to see that there were actually a handful of guests accumulated on the balcony. He threw his arms out and raised his voice even louder. “I’m in love with this man and I don’t care who knows it. I love him.” He turned back towards Beau, “I love you, Lesley Beau Beaumont. You’re mine and I’m yours and you’re not leaving me, do you understand that?”
Beau gaped at him. He opened his mouth a couple of times, as if to speak, but no words came out. He knew he was acting like a crazy person but he didn’t care. He would shout it from literal rooftops. He stepped towards Beau but the man he loved held a hand up as if to stop him and Dawson balked.
Beau’s date, Jonny, decided to take that split second of hesitation to insert himself back into the situation. He stepped between them and Dawson reacted instinctively. He shoved the man, hard, and the second that Jonny stumbled backwards he knew that it had been a mistake.
As if in slow motion he watched as Johnny’s arms pinwheeled, trying to keep his balance. He took one step back, then two. He knocked into the table holding the wedding cake, still waiting for the traditional cutting ceremony. The table happened to be on wheels, and one of them must have been unlocked because it skidded across the floor and knocked into the balcony just a few feet away.
Dawson gasped as the cake took flight. It soared up and over the balcony wall. A second later there was a thundering pop as it landed on the ground below. The backyard, the balcony, everyone who had been watching and even those who hadn’t fell silent. Dawson could do nothing but stare down at the destroyed cake, the small figurines that represented his oldest brother and his new husband still rolling across the backyard.
Bran and Julian looked up at him from below and he covered his mouth in horror.
Fuck. Oh fuck. His anger ebbed and panic quickly took its place. He’d ruined Gibson and Felix’s wedding cake. He’d ruined their wedding. He’d ruined everything. Beau’s voice beside him confirmed it.
“Jesus, Dawson. What is wrong with you?
Dawson turned his gaze back to his best friend and if his heart hadn’t already dropped into his stomach from the guilt and the shame of what he’d just done, it would have fallen at the sight of Beau reaching for Jonny, not him. Beau’s question had clearly been meant rhetorically because he was already turned back to his date, helping to steady him and asking him if he was okay.
“Yeah, I’m fine, but that cake sure isn’t.”
“I’m so sorry.” Dawson felt his entire body flush hot with embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to…”
“To shove him?” Beau snapped, eyebrows going up. “Yes, you did. What were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t.” Dawson admitted. “I wasn’t thinking. I came to find you and he had his arms around you and I just…” Dawson shook his head, hanging his arms at his side and offering the only explanation he had. “He can’t have you, Beau. He can’t. I love you and I can’t let you go. I won’t. I know I probably waited too long to tell you how I feel and I know that I’ve hurt you not being able to admit it but, I won’t give up on us just because you’ve decided to move on.”
“Jesus.” Beau groaned, shaking his head, “You’re an idiot.”
“Wh-“ Dawson pulled up short when Beau rolled his eyes.
“He was hugging me goodbye. He was leaving because I told him I’d catch a ride with you becaue we need to talk about the things you said earlier.”
“But… I thought…” Dawson fumbled for words.
“He’s Tyson’s boyfriend, Dawson. Jonny is Tyson’s boyfriend. Not some new guy I’m dating. He only came with me tonight as a favor because Tyson got called into work at the last minute.”
Dawson closed his eyes as the words sank in. Tyson’s Jon was Beau’s Jonny. They were the same guy. Beau ddn’t have a new boyfriend. He wasn’t dating anyone and Jonny hadn’t been getting handsy with him on the balcony. They’d been saying goodbye and if Dawson had managed to control himself for even a minute before launching himself at the guy, he likely would have been told as much without quite so much destruction on his part.
He winced, “I’m an idiot.”
“Yeah.” Beau offered a soft smile, “But you’re my idiot.”
“Yeah?” Dawson couldn’t help the hope that bubbled up inside of him and he almost managed a smile of his own before a loud, booming voice cut through the tension.
