Disclaimer:No profit sought nor infringement intended. So not owned by me.
Author: therubyone
Rated: T - for adult situations (love triangle, het, slash, gay marriage)
TRIANGLE
Chapter 3. - Reception
Making their way across the Ramada Sommerville banqueting room, Josh and Mindy sat down at their assigned places. Josh took a moment to admire Mindy in her strapless ¾-lenth gown, the skirt billowing out slightly over layers of chiffon. The off-white dress was adorned with a striking pattern of red and pink camellias, which added fetching bursts of color. Mindy's hair and make-up were expertly done and she smelled alluring, her perfume light and citrusy. Josh drank in her beauty and thought "Mine!"
Mindy edged her chair a little closer to Josh. Smiling, she took his hand, whispering "I'm convinced I'm with the handsomest man here!"
Abruptly, Drake pushed between the two of them, setting a plate of king prawns on the table in front of Josh. Everyone knew of Josh's appetite for really big shrimp.
"I even brought you some cocktail sauce," Drake said to Josh, while flashing an evil grin at Mindy. Mindy was miffed that Drake had gotten to the appetizer table first.
"Thank you. That was thoughtful of you to bring enough for all of us to share."
"You enjoy your treat, honey, while I go get us some drinks." Mindy flounced off to the bar.
"Remember: I'm the designated driver! Some ginger ale would be nice," Josh called to her retreating figure, as she tottered away in her exquisite designer shoes. Josh had heard at the health food store that ginger in any form was good for a man's vitality. God knew he needed all the help he could get.
Drake sat down in Mindy's vacant chair, pulling it even closer to Josh, so their arms were touching. He fed Josh a shrimp.
"Do you ever imagine you and me taking the plunge like this?"
Every day, Josh thought, but replied, "Well, maybe - if they ever legalize a marriage like ours would be. I don't know what they'd call it, though, because Mindy would be my wife and you would be my husband, but I don't see you and Mindy ever living in close quarters."
"You got that right. She's gone from Creature to Queen Cobra! I've never been able to understand what you see in her, Josh."
"And that's what I always say to Josh about you," added Mindy, plunking two drinks on the table.
Josh stood up and squeezed Drake's shoulder, "I'll get you a drink. You want the usual?"
"Make it a Mocha Cola. I'll wait for the toast to have some champagne."
Josh was glad to step away from the table for a breather. Mindy and Drake were having a difficult time remembering their promise to be civil to each other. It was a special occasion and Josh had been curious for some time to see how Drake and Mindy would behave in close proximity. Since they were surrounded by so many people they knew, Josh hoped there wouldn't be any bloodshed. He ate another Tums. It was going to be an unusual night.
It seemed like at least one-third of Belleview's graduating class was in attendance. Yermo, their former exchange student, had even sent a message from Schizzmenistan: it was displayed on a large stand of flowers near the guest book so everyone could see it. Craig and Eric had gone all out and spared no expense, including an open bar.
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Drake stopped the waiter and snagged a glass of champagne from the tray.
"You're supposed to wait for the toast!" carped Mindy.
"Eric made a killing on the stock market and I don't think he'd mind if an old friend took an extra glass of champagne."
Mindy was surprised at how nervous she felt, especially about how the evening was going to end. If Josh didn't come home with her, she didn't know if she could stand it. Their arrangement generally worked because Josh kept her and Drake segregated. She couldn't understand why it was so important to Josh for all three of them to attend this wedding. The drinks relaxed her nerves, and she became increasingly relaxed during dinner.
Drake was doing his best to ignore Mindy's incessant digs. What was harder to ignore were all the baby names she kept cooing at Josh. She kept touching him, as though she owned him.
The servers began clearing away the plates from dinner, so Josh saw his chance to say a few words to the newlyweds. He excused himself and went over to the head table. Josh congratulated Craig and Eric and they all made pleasant small talk, until Craig only half-jokingly said, "Maybe the next time you bring your pets out to play, Josh, you ought to remember their muzzles and choke-chains!"
Josh turned from the dais to see Drake and Mindy standing, gesturing, up in each other's faces, talking loudly. Josh rushed over to break up the argument.
"And that wristwatch he wears every single day? It's got two hearts engraved on the back, one with a 'D' and one with a 'J'" –
"I gave him those cufflinks, 18 karat, inlaid with genuine jade, to match his eyes. All the way from China!"
Josh put himself between the quarrelling pair, moving them apart from each other, his arms encircling their waists. As soon as he touched them, they began to calm down.
"Do we need to go outside for some air? Come on. Let's take a little walk together."
By the time they returned from a stroll around the parking lot, the toasts had been made. Josh was relieved that Mindy had missed the champagne and asked the waitress to bring her some coffee. They sat down just as Eric playfully smeared some cake in Craig's face.
Surprised, Craig called out, with a hint of dismay, "Eric!"
Craig retaliated, but Eric was so elated, he didn't mind. He giggled as he removed his glasses, now coated with fluffy white buttercream frosting, and led Craig onto the dance floor; their two sets of parents came forward to join them for the first dances.
The lights dimmed and the music started. Josh whispered to Drake that he was going to dance with Mindy first because he wanted to test her coordination. Drunkenness and high heels were not a good combination. As Josh expertly squired Mindy around the dance floor, he found her unsteady. He wasn't concentrating on the song or the lyrics, but Mindy was:
"And when you're lying next to me
There's no where else I'd rather be
The only thing I wanna do
Is keep on makin' love to you
This is serious
And I can't wait until we get home
Yeah I'm delirious
No I can't wait until we're alone"
She sniffed and tried to dab a tear from her eye without mussing her makeup. "Are we serious, Josh? Or am I just your Barbie doll?"
"Mindy, I am not doing this right now, so don't even go there. I want you to take a break and sit in the ladies' lounge for 15 minutes. Then stay put at our table and drink your coffee, very slowly." Josh had continued dancing her in the right direction and waited until he saw the door of the restroom close behind her.
Josh headed to the bar. He found Drake there, drinking a bottle of beer. Josh waved and went to join him.
Eric's nephew Maury looked almost like a clone of his uncle. Maury had been chatting all night with Craig's cousin Lopita. He was going to try something illegal; he was desperate to get laid. Maury stood at the end of the bar and unobtrusively sprinkled white powder into both the soft drinks he'd ordered. He turned aside, fumbling in his pocket, searching for the envelope containing the crushed-up tablets. The bartender put down the ginger ale that Drake had just ordered for Josh, as Maury scooped it up along with the doctored Mt. Fizz, leaving the tainted ginger ale behind in error.
Josh took a sip from the glass Drake handed him. His drink looked strange, a different color than he thought it should be. With the lights down, it was hard to see. He couldn't taste any liquor, so he assumed it was fine. Since he knew Drake wouldn't ask, Josh told him anyway about Mindy's condition.
Drake brightened. If Mindy turned herself into a puking, mewling drunk, who would most likely pass out, he knew that Josh would not be having sex with her tonight. In your face, Crenshaw, he thought.
Josh put his arm around Drake's shoulders, saying "I know you're not crazy about it, but I'd love it if you'd dance with me."
"Sure! As soon as we finish our drinks. I do feel like dancing tonight."
Drake waited for a slow song and cocked his head towards the dance floor. Josh took Drake's hand and away they went. Mindy sat at their table, looking out of it, her mascara smeared, while Drake and Josh danced cheek-to-cheek. As they passed her, Drake stuck his tongue out. She nearly spilled her coffee.
The next song that came on was in between slow and fast. Josh surprised Drake by not letting him leave the dance floor. Josh led Drake in a mock tango. Drake crooned along, "You know I got it bad. You don't know how bad I got it." He hoped Mindy was getting an eyeful.
Continued in Chapter 4