AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Happy New Year! I hope everyone has had a fun holiday season with friends and loved ones.
My new story, Linden Gardens, Notting Hill, began posting today, about the lives of our dear friends across the pond. If you love the E&O/Culture Shock boys, I would bet you'll love them too. Check it out. It comes to you, as does this, with the invaluable support, brainstorming and collaboration of my brilliant twin sister.
Giant smooches to my girls, in this order, Liz, Maureen, Rebecca and Kate.
Did we all read Errors 60? A surprise or two in there. And again, I can't get enough of those two together.
Anyone who has not read the incredible Equal & Opposite, or is not now reading the brilliance that is Errors & Omissions should go do so right now. Links to both stories are in my profile.
WARNING:
This story is intended for an adult audience! There is crude speech, hate speech and adult sexual subject matter of a homosexual nature. If you are under 18 stop reading now!
AU/AH/OC
All characters from Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer. I just take them out and play with them.
Chapter 23: Remix
The sun emerged in the afternoon, warming the city and more importantly, drying up the park. Olympic Sculpture Park, operated by the Seattle Art Museum, was a triumph in what man could do to restore his environment. Most of the patrons attracted to these quarterly events were not old enough to remember when the site was contaminated industrial land, abandoned by Unocal. Today, the nine acres of green space at the northern end of the Seattle Seawall were home to a host of enormous sculptures of wood and metal. There was even an eighty foot long greenhouse showcasing the diverse plant life that arises from a huge nurse log brought in from the Green River watershed.
Olympic Sculpture Park spanned the full four block area from Broad Street on the South end, to Bay Street on the North, and from Western Avenue to the Sound, passing over both Elliott Avenue and the train tracks that ran along the waterfront. The main entrance to the park and the Pacific Car and Foundery Company Pavilion was located at the corner of Broad and Western. The PACCAR pavilion was home to the Taste Café, SAM shop, Alvord Art Lab, and the Trust for Public Land office and exhibit. This long, low, pale stucco building was fronted by the Allen Family Foundation Plaza with it's wrap around stone steps leading up from both Broad and Western.
They rode in the unparalleled comfort of the Maybach 57S. Garrett drove them up Western Avenue, turned left onto Broad Street, and made an immediate right into the entrance of the underground parking garage beneath the park. For each quarterly Remix party, the two here at the park during the warmer months and the two at the museum itself during the colder months, SAM had a small army of valets on hand to park cars for the bargain price of twenty two dollars. Garrett pulled up into the entrance and stopped the car. He and Seth emerged from the front seats while Emmett and Nasir got out of the back. Garrett paid the fee and handed over his fob. Garrett and Nasir both wore a dress shirt with their snug jeans. Seth wore leather pants that laced up the front with high heeled boots and a form fitting red crew neck shirt. Emmett wore snug jeans like his husband and a black pull over shirt with a very wide neck that fit him like a second skin. This was one of Nasir's favorite shirts as it highlighted every muscle on Emmett's chest, abdomen, arms, shoulders and back. The shirt was also so thin as to be virtually see through. Seth's heavy Emirati gold hung around his neck on top of his shirt and Emmett's cuff adorned his right wrist. Those not in high heels were comfortable in sandals.
All the entrances to the park were cordoned off or had security to allow exit only. The two entrances open during Remix were the main entrance for those with tickets, and the Elliott Avenue entrance where tickets could be purchased. Garrett and Seth led the way up the steps to the main entrance. Emmett and Nasir followed. Both couples walked hand in hand. Nasir had their tickets, which he presented inside, and they were shown through onto the broad patio that wrapped the other side and far end of the building. It was just dusk and they could still see over the expanse of the park where a number of tents had been erected. Here on the patio a loose group stood talking amongst themselves. Several of the faces were familiar.
"Jesus, am I glad to see you," Justin walked toward them, beer bottle in hand. He wore a dress shirt and jeans as well, as he wanted to look nice for his wife at this casual event.
"Hi, Justin," Seth greeted for them. "Where's Malynn?"
"Right over there," Justin pointed with his beer bottle. "You know how it is when she gets together with her theater/symphony/museum friends. I get bored out of my fucking mind," he took a big swig of his beer.
"Bud light, Justin, seriously?" Emmett wrinkled his beer sensitive German nose.
"It's as close as I could get to good beer here," Justin gestured toward the bar that had been set up on the patio.
"In this case, close is way off," Emmett shook his head.
"They have the chardonnay Mel likes, but, of course, she's not drinking it," Justin informed.
"Chardonnay then, Habibi?" Nasir asked with a hand on his husband's waist.
"Yeah, I guess so," Emmett was agreeable.
"A round?" Nasir asked.
"Sweetness?" Garrett put a hand on Seth's back.
"Sure," Seth nodded.
"Please, Nasir," Garrett smiled.
"Coming right up," Nasir headed for the bar.
"Garrett!" the shriek garnered everyone's attention.
"Oh, Henrietta," Garrett stepped forward as the old woman hobbled toward them. Lady Van Cleft wore a school marmy gray wool dress that buttoned up to her high, tight collar and swept the floor. As was her custom, she wore a black shawl over her shoulders, though the night was warm. Her hair, as usual, was a great white puff on top of her head. Henrietta carried a glass of red wine in one hand and clutched her black lacquer cane in the other.
"Hello, Dear," Garrett kissed her cheek.
"And my little Seth!" Henrietta reached for the man who, in his heels, was her height.
"Hi, Miss Van Cleft," Seth greeted kindly as he kissed her cheek as well.
"Henrietta, you know my brother," Garrett introduced.
"We said hello," Justin smiled.
"I was just talking with his wife," Henrietta added.
"Our very dear friend Emmett," Garrett continued. "This is Henrietta Van Cleft."
"Ma'am," Emmett offered his hand with a dimpled smile.
"Isn't he a big, strapping, pretty boy," Henrietta handed her wine to Seth to take Emmett's hand. "Nice to meet you Emmett."
"And his husband Nasir," Garrett finished as Nasir returned cradling two wine glasses in each hand.
"Oh, look at you boys with your beards just alike," Henrietta noted with a smile.
"Nasi, Lady Van Cleft," Emmett took two of the wine glasses from his husband and haded them to Seth and Garrett.
"Miss Van Cleft, very nice to meet you," Nasir was by now quite used to offering his hand when he was introduced to a woman. "Garrett has always spoken of you fondly."
"As I speak of him," Henrietta took Nasir's hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm so happy to be with you handsome young people," she took her glass back from Seth. "Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be on the board. I'm happy to help in any way that I can, but," Henrietta leaned closer and spoke in a harsh whisper, "museum types can be so stuffy!"
"You can say that again," Justin heartily agreed.
"I don't know how your wife does it," Henrietta looked over her shoulder to where Melinda stood with Charles Wright, the man who succeeded his father as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Seattle Art Museum, Charles' mother the widow Virginia Wright, Charles' wife Lydia, and Dorothea Whitmarsh.
The Wright family, and the late Bagley Wright in particular, were universally regarded as the patron saints of the Seattle art world. Virginia and Bagley donated over two hundred pieces of fine art to the museum over the years. Bagley was one of the few men responsible for building the Space Needle for the 1962 World's Fair. He was a Seattle icon and there was an exhibit in the main museum dedicated to him. Charles, his wife and mother, all wore suits too formal for the occasion. Melinda wore a French style sleeveless mini dress with a high collar. The bodice was white and the high waisted skirt was black with a belt that had an eye catching buckle encased in rhinestones. Dorothea wore a more demure brown skirt with a long sleeved silk blouse in a lighter shade that had a bow with a big brooch at her neck.
"Wow, I love that dress on Melinda," Emmett commented. "She's gorgeous."
"Don't I know it," Justin agreed. He turned as he took a swig of his beer so that only Emmett would be able to hear him. "If we weren't pregnant already..."
Emmett just gave Justin a broad smile and touched his glass to Justin's bottle.
"Oh, here's all my men," Melinda noticed the troop standing with Henrietta and her husband. She led Virginia, Charles, Lydia and Dorothea over to them.
"Dorothea, lovely to see you," Garrett kissed her cheek.
"Hello, boys," Dorothea was fond of Melinda's gallery partner and his little Native husband.
Melinda made introductions and the two groups became one.
Almost directly below where they stood on the patio was the entrance to the underground parking garage. A white Jaguar XKR convertible with it's tan rag top down, drove up to the garage entrance. The driver got out of his tan leather seat to pay the parking fee and turn over his fob, and in so doing was too distracted to notice how difficult it was for his young partner to climb out of the car. Krister shut his door and leaned on it a moment to catch his breath. He knew to keep a sharp eye on his lover and when James turned toward him, Krister stood up straight and forced his breathing to be even. James walked around the car and graced his partner with what appeared to be the most loving smile. Krister forced himself to smile back and reach for James even as James reached for him. Both men slipped their arm around the other's waist as they headed for the steps. While Krister's hand rested loosely on James' left hip, James hand gripped Krister's right side firmly. Both men were dressed alike in black dress pants and dark grey dress shirts that had white collars and French cuffs. When they started up the steps, Krister held onto James more tightly for support. James looked at the smaller man and smiled. This gave him great satisfaction on so many levels. And the fact that Krister was taking great care to make sure no one could see his effort and discomfort pleased him. Krister was behaving perfectly this evening, just as he should.
The group above, out on the patio overlooking the park in the gathering dusk, didn't see her approach, because she was so small, but she made her presence known almost immediately.
"Oh, happy reunion!" Sylvia clasped her hands as she walked up to Seth, Garrett, Emmett, Nasir, Justin, Melinda and company. She wore a tiny, double breasted, brown pants suit with naught visible beneath it in the collar but a colorful scarf. Miles towered behind her in a frumpy tweed sports coat over a button down shirt and khaki pants.
"Hi, Sylvia, Miles," Seth gave a wave.
"I do love seeing you all together," Sylvia smiled such that she squinted through her huge, round, black rimmed tweety bird glasses that even had a chain draped around her neck.
"Sylvia, Miles, you know Henrietta Van Cleft," Garrett introduced.
"Of course," Sylvia took Henrietta's diamond encrusted hand. "Delightful to see you again, Henrietta."
"And do you know Virginia, Charles and Lydia Wright?" Garrett continued.
"We saw them last at the funeral," Sylvia stepped over to them and took a hand from each of them. "Virginia, Charles, I am so sorry again for the loss of your husband and father. All of Seattle mourns his loss."
"Thank you, Sylvia," Virginia clasped Sylvia's hand.
"Charles," Miles shook the man's hand. "Where do the volunteers check in?"
"The booth is just down there at the end," Charles pointed down the patio.
"Something to drink before I go, Sil?" Miles put a hand on his tiny wife's back.
"Oh, Miles," she turned and clutched his arm as she looked up at him, "see if they have chardonnay."
"Yuk," Miles made a face.
"Get something red for yourself and leave me to drink what I like," Sylvia waved a hand.
"They have Woodward Canyon," Nasir held up his glass.
"Oh, Miles, a glass of that," Sylvia patted her husband's arm.
"Be right back," Miles patted her back and headed for the bar.
"Now, Charles," Sylvia clasped her hands together, "whatever are you going to do without Derrick?"
"Find a new director, Sylvia. That's all we can do," Charles stated the obvious.
"I like what Derrick did for the museum. I was sorry to see him resign," Sylvia put a hand on her chin. "It's rather a balancing act, isn't it," she mused. "You do have to strike that special balance between financial, administrative and the needs of your artists. Of course, education should be the museum's underlying mission. That's the real point, isn't it? I never lost sight of that when I was the Curator of the Archives at the Suzzallo and Allen Libraries. The University of Washington library system is one of the largest academic libraries in the country, you know. We had nearly seven and a half million volumes to keep track of. Oh, and that office space!" Sylvia let her thoughts just fall out of her mouth. "If only we could find you a tenant. That should be chief among your new director's tasks. That certainly would solve the financial issue."
"What made you leave the university, Sylvia?" Charles asked, his curiosity about the odd little woman piqued.
"I did," Miles returned with two glasses of wine. He handed the glass of white wine to his wife.
"Thank you, Miles," Sylvia took a sip that she clearly savored. "Lovely. Miles and I wanted to retire together, you see, so, we did."
"I'm going to go check in now," Miles patted his wife on the back again.
"Off you go," Sylvia gave him a wave as he departed. "Miles does so love to lead the Park After Dark tour. He looks so forward to it."
"I wonder if we could get both of you more involved with the museum, Sylvia," Charles fished.
"Would you consider coming out of retirement, Sylvia?" Garrett was more direct.
"Well, the art museum is certainly a worthy endeavor, isn't it," Sylvia spoke mostly to herself.
"Good evening," a smooth, sexy male voice intruded. Some found the voice pleasant. Others found it set their teeth on edge and clenched their jaws. Emmett and Seth in particular were entirely unable to keep their hostility from displaying clearly in their expressions. James and Krister each held a glass of white wine. The taller blonde man, the one who had spoken, gripped the smaller blonde's arm, as usual.
"James!" Henrietta was delighted to see him. James was forced to let go of Krister to hug the old lady.
"And sweet Krister," Henrietta smiled and reached for him as well. The hand that held her cane brushed past his ribs on his left side as she embraced him. Henrietta was too close to see his face and her head, fortunately for Krister, blocked James' view. Krister flinched and the shock of sudden, unexpected pain was clear on his face. The younger man was quick enough to make it look like he was just moving to hug the old lady back.
James was right handed. And Seth knew it. Krister's situation was immediately clear to him. Seth grabbed Emmett's forearm in a tight grip. They both well remembered the day Edward lifted Jasper's shirt and they all saw the horrific bruises over Jasper's cracked ribs on his left side. Seth turned and took a big gulp of his wine. He pulled on Emmett's arm. Emmett didn't look and didn't move. His every muscle was tense as he stared at James with unmasked fury and hatred. Were they just given proof that it was all happening again to another smaller, weaker, helpless kid? The venue in which they stood and the company in which they found themselves at present, were the only things that kept Emmett from breaking James' nose again.
"Habibi?" Nasir saw the look on his husband's face and knew the cause of it.
"Henrietta, is that the Van Cleft amphitheater down there?" Garrett asked and pointed past the far end of the pavillion building.
"It sure is," the very wealthy old lady was very proud of the use to which her endowment had been put.
"Oh, show us!" Seth enthused, desperate to get away from the cancer in their midst. "C'mon, Honey, c'mon, Emmy, c'mon, guys."
Henrietta set off, thrilled.
"Oh, I'd love to see it," Melinda took her husband's hand and followed. Garrett watched James and when he made no move to follow Henrietta, neither did Garrett.
"Honey?" Seth paused as he, Emmett and Nasir moved to follow as well.
"Go ahead, Sweetness," Garrett smiled. "I'll catch up," he reached to take Seth's hand and squeeze it.
"Okay," Seth agreed and walked away with Emmett and Nasir. Garrett smiled after them and then did his best to keep his smile in place as he turned back to James and Krister. The more he could encourage James to trust him, the better.
"Come along, kids," Henrietta called as she hobbled down the broad patio.
"That motherfucker," Emmett made a fist as he swore. They trailed a good bit behind Henrietta and were out of her earshot, thanks to the band playing in the amphitheater she had generously donated.
"I know, Habibi," Nasir put a hand on his husband's tense shoulder. But he did not know.
"He's doing it again, Emmy," Seth shook his head. "I knew this would happen! That fuck!"
"Doing what again?" Nasir asked. He looked back over his shoulder. "Is he abusing that boy?"
"He sure as fuck is," Seth stated.
"But what can we do?" Emmett thought out loud. "We'll never convince the kid to leave him. You know how deep he has them in his clutches. The kid'll probably get beat to death first."
"We should alert Rainbow Beginnings," Nasir offered.
"Rainbow Beginnings is for people seeking help," Emmett pointed out.
"He probably does not know that help is out there," Nasir argued. "Someone from Rainbow Beginnings should talk to him. A professional who knows what to do and say, to let him know."
"How would they ever get close enough?" Emmett wondered. "James guards his victims so closely that they have contact only with him."
"It wouldn't be easy," Seth mused. "Fall term is starting. He'll be escorted to and from campus, and watched while he's there, but I have eyes and ears too. Besides, if we involve Rainbow Beginnings now, you know they'll involve Edward. You know James is at the top of Edward's watch list. The last thing Edward and Jasper need is bullshit with this monster, especially right now, when they're just getting back together."
"Seth is right," Emmett nodded.
"Wait and watch is all we can do right now," Seth stopped and looked back himself. He narrowed his gaze. "And figure out what Gar is doing."
"Yakhreb beytak!" Nasir yelled down the patio in the direction of where James stood. His words were lost in the music and did not reach the intended ears.
"What does that mean?" Seth asked.
"Yeah, I don't know that one," Emmett looked to his husband.
"It means: 'ruin to your house'," Nasir translated.
"From your lips to the Grandfather Spirit's ears," Seth wished.
Dane wore a tank top. He wore a tank top because yesterday Tony had worn a tank top. And Tony looked beyond fine in it. Dane knew he would never fill out a tank like Tony did, but reasoned that he looked pretty good in one, especially a tight one. He was thin and quite fit, if not very muscular. Dane was not sure what Tony would think of him dressing like he did and vacillated over his choice of wardrobe for over an hour. In the end he put on and took off six tank tops, finally settling on the very snug black one he had tried on three times. He put a light cotton short sleeved button shirt on over it, that he left open, and completed his look with denim shorts and sandals. Finally satisfied, he grabbed his camera and got in the car. Dane had not been assigned to cover the SAM Remix party for the paper, but a local celebrity DJ would be playing the venue and there was every chance the bosses might want to use his pictures. He also wasn't sure if Seth would be there, but if he was, Seth was always ready to have his picture taken.
Dane drove across town, into downtown and right to the waterfront, pulling his Honda Civic up to the entrance of the underground parking garage. He was shocked at the cost of parking and considered for a moment trying to find someplace else, someplace with a regular meter, but decided that he was here finally after all. It was well after eight at this point and he wouldn't have to pay for a ticket if Tony had in fact left him one at the gate, as he said he would. Dane paid the fee, hung his camera around his neck and reconsidered yet again what he was wearing.
"Wait!" Dane called as the valet took the wheel of his car. He whipped his cotton shirt off and threw it into the back seat. "Okay, sorry," Dane gave a wave and felt stupid for being so indecisive. He jammed his hands into his pockets, lowered his head and marched to the steps and up into the main entrance, only to discover this was not the entrance for will call tickets. Dane was forced to go back out and down onto Broad Street. He walked to the next block and went around the corner to the entrance on Elliott Avenue. There was only one person in line purchasing tickets for his family and Dane had only a short wait to reach the smiling woman in the booth.
"Hi," Dane greeted. "There's supposed to be a ticket waiting for me. Dane Hyde."
"May I see your ID, Sir?" she asked.
"Oh," Dane fished his walled out of his back pocket and extracted his driver's license.
"Here we are, Sir. A guest of the DJ I see," she smiled. "Have a good time."
"Thank you," Dane took his ticket and license back and proceeded through the gate. And then he discovered just how vast the four square block park was. He turned back to the big security guard who had just checked his ticket. "Excuse me, Sir. Do you know where the DJ is playing?"
"Sure," the guard was amiable. "The DJ is set up right under Calder's Eagle."
"Okay. Thank you," Dane turned back toward the park and just as quickly realized that he had no idea what that meant.
"You see that giant red iron sculpture?" the guard pointed when Dane turned back to him again. "That's Calder's Eagle."
"Great, thank you!" Dane was most appreciative and set off in that direction.
Dane's destination was, in fact, on the other side of Elliott Avenue. Directly under the enormous red iron monster Calder had designed back in the seventies, DJ Tony D spun his tunes. Strobe lights in multiple colors illuminated the makeshift dance floor across the path from Tony in the North Meadow. Gay and straight mingled and danced together. Not only was the popular DJ good, he was damn hot. Many raced to the nearest bar tent only to return to gaze longingly at the DJ as he worked. Tony gave a friendly smile to all the people who clearly wanted him, gay men and straight women alike.
Dane was forced to take the path through the East Meadow, with it's various art displays and game booths, down the Mosley Path over where Elliott Avenue went underground, and finally down to the Benaroya Path to the North Meadow. And as soon as he got there he was mortified. Tony was unbearably hot as his big muscles bulged out of a skin tight black tank top that he wore with very well fitting jeans and sneakers. Dane was sure Tony would think he was some kind of stalker wacko as he was dressed just like him. Dane stood and considered for a long moment turning around and running back to his car as he watched Tony don his headphones and cue up the next track.
Tony tried to force himself to stop taking quick little glances at his watch. It was not easy for a person for whom timing was such a big part of his job. Tony was acutely aware of the passage of time. He had told Dane anytime after eight. It was now closer to nine than eight and Tony had hoped to see the sweet, cute little guy by now. His cell lay in clear view on his console and he couldn't keep himself from glancing at that either. At some point he would have to face the fact that Dane wasn't coming, but he wouldn't let himself think about that. Not now. Not yet. Dane was a little hottie, to be sure, but there was something about him that touched Tony on a deep level. He made Tony contemplate feelings from which he had shut himself off. With each passing minute it grew harder and harder to smile at the men and women who waved and smiled at him when he looked up to scan the crowd once more.
"Hey, nice camera," a guy with a Bud light who seemed to just appear at Dane's side caught his attention.
"Oh, thanks," Dane was not expecting someone to talk to him. The man wore a very tight white tee shirt and was clearly on the muscular side himself. He looked like he might be a Marine with his very short buzz cut. Bud light guy wore well worn jeans and cowboy boots. The guy was actually fairly hot, and clearly knew it, but he held no interest for Dane.
"Looks professional," Bud light guy observed.
"It is. I work for the Seattle Gay News," Dane stated.
"Gotcha. Well, this does seem to be the gay section of the park at the moment. That's what I'm doing here. Looking for hot little guys with cameras," Bud light guy smirked as he was very forward.
"You're looking for a guy with a camera?" Dane pointed out the absurdity of that comment.
"Well, no, but I sure found one. A hot little guy with a camera, that is," Bud light guy was relentless. "You probably don't want to dance with that thing, and I don't much feel like it either. How about I buy you a beer and maybe we can take us some pictures," he wagged his eyebrows for emphasis.
"Oh, um, thanks, but," Dane looked toward the DJ station under the massive steel sculpture, only to discover that Tony wasn't even there. "Crap," Dane craned his neck to see if could see where Tony went only to discover Tony's beautiful, broadly smiling face, standing right behind him.
"Looking for me?" Tony asked casually. His easy going, friendly demeanor disarmed Dane anew.
"Yeah, um," Dane was at a loss.
"Come on," Tony smiled as he took Dane's hand in his and turned.
"Hey!" Bud light guy was less than amused by this other man swooping down and snatching up the tasty morsel he was working on getting a taste of.
"Something I can do for you?" Tony turned back and pulled Dane behind him as he leaned menacingly toward Bud light guy, all traces of his smile gone.
"It's all good," Bud light guy held up his hands. Tony said nothing else as he led Dane through the crowd back to his DJ station. Dane looked up at the strong back as Tony led him along. Would Tony really fight for him?
Once back behind his console Tony let go of Dane's hand and quickly snatched up his headphones. He was down to seconds to spare to cue up the next song. Dane didn't hesitate. He raised his camera and snapped Tony's picture. Tony noticed the flash and smiled at Dane as the next song began.
"There," Tony pulled his head phones down and let them hang around his neck. "So, hi, Dane."
"Hi," Dane smiled brightly.
"Beer?" Tony bent to open a cooler. "Heineken, right?"
"Yeah," Dane was impressed that Tony would remember what he drank. Tony pulled a Heineken from the ice, popped the cap on a convenient opener on the side of the cooler and handed it to Dane.
"Thanks!" Dane accepted his beer. Tony pulled another bottle from the cooler and opened it for himself. This one was a squat, dark bottle.
"I'm glad you're here," Tony touched his bottle to Dane's.
"So am I," Dane enthused and they both took a swig. "What is that?" he had never seen a bottle quite like it.
"Duvel," Tony turned the label toward Dane. "It's a blonde ale from Belgium. Try it," he held out the bottle. Dane took the bottle and took a sip.
"Oh," Dane made a face. "I think I'll stick with my Heineken."
"No prob," Tony took his ice cold bottle back and took another swig. "Not everybody likes it. That's why I got you what I know you like."
"That was really nice of you. Thank you," Dane smiled up at Tony.
"The name means devil by the way," Tony pointed to his label. "So, watch out."
"Should I be afraid?" Dane teased.
"Oh, you should be very afraid," Tony spoke with a mischievous glint in his eye. He sense of timing told him to turn his attention back to his work. Tony lifted one side of the headphones and cued up the next track. "Hey," he dropped his headphones back down around his neck. "I like the tank top by the way."
"Oh!" Dane looked down at himself and was instantly mortified again. "It was an accident!"
"You accidentally wore a tank?" Tony did not get it. "How does that happen?"
"I mean," Dane knew he had to make sense of this for Tony. "It's just that you had on a tank top yesterday and you looked so hot in it. I thought it might be nice if, I mean, that you might like it if, fuck! I put on this black one 'cause I think it looks kinda nice on me, and I thought you might like it. I had no idea that you would be wearing the same thing."
"Dane, take it easy," Tony set his bottle down and took hold of Dane's shoulders. "I love that we're dressed alike. I love that you wanted to wear a tank top for me. And, just to be clear," he slipped the first two fingers of his left hand under Dane's right strap and slowly moved them down to his chest. "You don't look kinda nice. You look damn fucking sexy," he took the liberty as he spoke of letting his thumb brush gently over Dane's right nipple through the thin material. Dane's nipples were very sensitive. This simple action sent a jolt through him that went straight to his dick.
"Wow," Dane was left almost breathless from such a compliment from this man. "Thanks. You're damn fucking sexy."
"Thanks," Tony smiled. He moved his right hand from Dane's shoulder to the back of Dane's neck. His smile slowly faded as he looked into Dane's eyes. "You know how much I want to kiss you right now?"
"Yeah?" Dane felt himself growing harder by the second at the mere prospect.
Still, Tony held himself back. "Yeah," he let out a sigh and turned to pull a CD from the console and replace it with another.
"We should maybe do something about that," Dane ventured.
Tony looked over his shoulder and smiled. "Yeah, maybe we should." He continued to work for a moment, pulling out CDs he wanted to line up.
"Fancy finding you two together!" Seth's voice made them both look up. Seth, Garrett, Emmett and Nasir approached the DJ table, each couple holding hands.
"Hey, Seth, guys," Tony greeted.
"Hi, guys," Dane gave a wave as Seth bounced around the table to give them both a hug.
"Okay, let's get some shots. Line up, guys," Dane held up his camera as he walked out onto the path. He snapped a quick picture of Garrett, Seth, Emmett and Nasir lined up in that order. "Perfect. Now just our newlyweds, out and about," he took a picture of Emmett and Nasir with their arms around each other.
"Oh, let me get one of you and Tony together!" Seth enthused.
"Okay," Dane was all for that idea. He lifted the camera from around his neck and handed it over. It wasn't the first time Seth had used his camera and Dane knew the smaller man knew how to use it. "Where do you want us?"
"How about over there," Seth pointed to one of the concrete bases for the legs of the giant steel superstructure above them. "Tony, you stand. Dane, hop up there and sit next to him."
"Oh, um," Dane found it a little high to easily jump up on it. Of course, all he would have to do is hop while he pushed up with his hands and twist his body to get his butt up there.
"Tony, help him up," Seth wasted no time. Before Dane had a chance to do it himself, Tony grabbed his sides right under his armpits and lifted him up onto the big concrete base.
"There," Tony smiled at him.
"Okay, now, Tony, just stand beside him. Act all casual, you guys," Seth instructed. Tony leaned back beside Dane, folded his arms across his chest and crossed one leg over the other. Dane let his hands lay in his lap.
"Great, now act like you like each other," Seth prompted.
"That won't be hard," Tony commented as he put his arm around Dane.
"Okay, one more," Seth set the camera down. "Now, Tony stand right here like this, shoulder kind of over in front of Dane. Right. Like that. Dane, lean your body a little behind him. Rest your chin on his shoulder and hold him," Seth directed. He watched Dane's arms encircle Tony's torso. It was the perfect excuse for Dane to run his hands over the Emmett-quality washboard abs.
"Yes, exactly. Now, Tony rest your arm on Dane's leg, hand on his knee. Just like that. Now hold it," Seth picked up the camera again and snapped this last picture of them. "There!"
Tony stepped out of Dane's embrace, immediately snatched Dane off the concrete slab down onto his feet, and dashed back to his console to switch to the next song.
"Fuck, Seth, I love this one," Dane checked the pictures on his camera.
"I thought you might," Seth was very pleased with himself. "Get any pictures around the park?"
"Not yet, but I will," Dane promised.
"The event is in full swing," Seth gestured around them. "Is something distracting you?" he gave a grin.
"Someone, do you mean?" Dane smiled.
"There, sorry," Tony returned once the next song began.
"Tony, you're working," Seth put one hand on Tony's lower back and patted his six pack with the other. "We understand, don't we, Dane?"
"We do," Dane agreed.
"Okay. Nasir has to go soon, so we're gonna circle back around to the front. You two be good," Seth turned to go. "Or, as Emmy likes to say, if you can't be good, be good at it."
"Bye, guys," Emmett smiled and waved.
"Bye," Dane waved back.
"See ya, guys," Tony did the same. "Seth, huh?" he smiled as they watched Seth lead his immediate family back up the path.
"I love him," Dane expressed.
"So," Tony handed Dane back his half finished beer. "Tell me about Dane."
"What would you like to know?" Dane countered.
"I would sure like to know how a guy as cute and sweet as you, is single," Tony took a swig.
"Oh. I guess I did promise to tell you about that," Dane looked down.
"If it's too painful, Dane...," Tony offered.
"No," Dane shook his head. "It was then, but that's a long time ago now. I want to be honest with you, Tony, like you were with me yesterday."
"I'm listening," Tony prompted when Dane fell silent.
Dane took a deep breath. "I was with Cole for close to four years," he began. "Looking back, I guess it should have been a red flag that after all that time, he still had his own place."
"Uh, oh," Tony saw it coming already.
"Yeah. But we were together all the time when he was in town. He's a pilot. Or, I mean, when I thought he was in town. Well, we were, mostly," Dane took a swig of his beer. "He does short hauls. He flys a seven thirty seven to Vegas and San Fran and Phoenix, places like that. Occasionally, he would fly a longer run or would spend the night someplace and fly back the next day. At least, that's what I thought."
"Dane, I'm sorry," Tony held up a hand.
"Oh, wait till you hear. I want you to know what happened, Tony," Dane expressed.
"Okay," Tony wanted to know Dane's story, but didn't want him to have to relive a painful time. Tony decided that if Dane wanted to talk, he would let him.
"When the law changed in New Hampshire so we could get married there, that's where he's from, I said I wanted to get married," Dane continued. "He just scoffed at me and I dropped it for a while. But," Dane paused, "I loved him and I really wanted him to be my husband. I was so stupid. I thought I knew him. He was in bed beside me most nights, but I wanted more. After nearly four years, I wanted a place that was ours. Our home, our bed. You know?"
"I absolutely know," Tony nodded. "And being misled does not make you stupid, Dane."
"I felt stupid. I brought it up for like, the eighth time one night while he was laying in bed beside me reading, and he told me that he couldn't marry me in New Hampshire, or anywhere else for that matter, because he was already married," Dane dropped his bomb.
"What?" Tony raised his eyebrows. "Fuck, hold that thought," he put his headphones on yet again and quickly cued and played the next song. "I'm so sorry about that," Tony took off the headphones and gave his undivided attention back to Dane. "Are you saying he married some other guy?"
"No," Dane shook his head. "Cole never did admit to being gay and I learned that night that he had always been telling the truth on that point. He was married all right, to a woman who was a flight attendant, who did long haul overseas flights. His wife was in Europe as often as not. She had as much idea about me as I had about her. That's why he was able to be with me and sleep beside me so much of the time."
"Fuck," Tony swore. "No wonder you asked me if I was bi last night," that piece of the puzzle snapped into place for Tony.
"Yeah, sorry," Dane made a regretful face. "I couldn't help it."
"Dane, please don't apologize. And let me assure you, the very interested guy in front of you right now," Tony spread his arms, "is completely, one hundred percent, exclusively gay. And a one guy type of guy."
"Thanks, Tony," Dane smiled gratefully. "Me too. Anyway, long story short, in his head being bi meant that he could have a relationship with a woman, his wife, and another with a guy, and that neither had anything to do with the other. It was all very neatly compartmentalized for Cole. He said that his relationship with his wife meant nothing to us. I said if that were true, he would divorce her and marry me. He said that would never happen. He said he loved his wife, just like he loved me."
"Asshole doesn't know what love is," Tony commented.
"Clearly," Dane agreed. "He told me I was being ridiculous and to go to sleep. Cole slept like a baby that night. I didn't sleep at all. I cried half the night. When his alarm went off I told him that I couldn't live like that. I wouldn't be cheated on, or help him cheat on someone else. I told him to go. He said he would call me when he flew back that night. When he called I told him it was her or me, that he had to choose. We argued, but he finally said that if he absolutely had to choose, he would choose his wife. I hung up, changed my number and my locks, and cried. A lot."
"Jesus. When was that?" Tony asked.
"In the spring," Dane answered. "Just about the time Scotty left you."
"Then good riddance to both of them. Dane, I am so sorry," Tony gathered the smaller man into his arms. He rested his head on the top of Dane's while he held Dane's head to his chest. Dane didn't mind one bit pressing his face to Tony's big, solid pecs. He was even more turned on by the fact that he could feel the hair from Tony's armpits on his shoulders. He and Seth had many times discussed how much a man's hairy pit turned them on. Dane loved it when Seth told him all about licking Garrett's armpits. He hoped he would have a story of his own to share about that very soon. But the sexual excitement inspired by the strong, virile man aside, what touched Dane the most in that moment was Tony's compassion.
"I guess we've both been hurt," Tony concluded as he held Dane's head and rubbed his back.
"I'm sorry too, Tony. I'm sorry Scotty was as big a jerk to you as Cole was to me," Dane expressed.
"Well, their loss, right? Tony leaned back a little to look into Dane's eyes.
"And our gain," Dane let the very hopeful words fall out of his mouth before he realized what he was saying.
"I hope so," Tony smiled as he took gentle hold of Dane's chin with thumb and forefinger. "If I am ever lucky enough to be in bed next to you, I sure as fuck won't be reading."
"I would be the lucky one," Dane whispered. Tony smiled and almost brought himself to kiss the very expectant smaller man.
"Hold that thought," Tony let go of Dane to prepare the next song for the bouncing, dancing throng. There had to be close to a hundred people dancing in the meadow before them, but Tony and Dane paid attention only to each other. While Tony worked, Dane opened the cooler and pulled out two fresh beers for them.
"Oh, thanks," Tony accepted his ice cold bottle and took a swig. "Sorry about that. I hate that this keeps distracting me," he gestured toward his console with his bottle.
"You want me to let you work?" Dane asked.
"No," Tony shook his head. "I would much rather focus on you. We need to get together when I'm not spinning and you don't have that camera."
"I would really like that," Dane readily agreed.
"What if I took you out to dinner?" Tony proposed.
"Sure! Or," Dane stuck his hands in his pockets, "I could make you dinner. I do a killer London broil. You can cut it with a fork. I'll steam some broccoli and carrots. And how about a baked potato?"
"You would cook for me?" Tony was not expecting that and was deeply touched. No man had ever cooked for him, apart from his very Italian father.
"I would love to," Dane confirmed.
"It's a deal. As long as we can do both," Tony smiled.
"Okay, sure," Dane agreed.
Emmett and Nasir stood out on the sidewalk at the bottom of the steps to the PACCAR pavilion on Western Avenue. They faced each other and held hands. Seth stood ten feet behind them on the steps, giving them their own space.
"Call when you get in, okay? You know I don't care what time it is," Emmett stated.
"I will, Habibi," Nasir promised. They were silent for a long moment as they gazed into each other's eyes. They saw love and longing, but also sadness. Neither wanted to be parted from the other.
"I can't lie, I'm really gonna miss you this week," Emmett confessed.
"Me too," Nasir agreed.
"But we'll talk every day and I'll see you bright and early Saturday morning," Emmett looked on the bright side.
"I look so very forward to that," Nasir squeezed Emmett's hands.
They both noticed the black Town Car pull up to the curb exactly where Bobby said he would meet them. Emmett immediately took Nasir in his arms.
"I love you so much, Nasi," Emmett held his husband tightly. "Ana b'hebbak, my zawji," he used a little of the Arabic he knew.
"Ana b'hebbak, Habibi zawji," Nasir held to Emmett just as tightly. Bobby emerged from behind the wheel and walked around the car. He stood quietly by while the men said their farewells.
Garrett emerged from the pavillion then and made his way down the steps. He carried Nasir's suit jacket and briefcase that had been stashed in the trunk of his car. Seth took up with him and they joined their best friends on the sidewalk.
"Hello, Bobby," Garrett handed over Nasir's things to the driver.
"Mr. Thompson," Bobby smiled and nodded.
Emmett took Nasir's head in his hands and brought their lips together. Both men closed their eyes as their lips moved together in sweet kisses. They both loved the feel of the other's facial hair.
"Okay, Babe," Emmett pulled back just enough to look once more into his husband's soft brown eyes as he gripped Nasir's shoulders. "I don't want you to miss your flight. Go be brilliant in New York like you always are."
"I do not know how I will make it until Saturday," Nasir confessed.
"I know, Nasi, me too," Emmett nodded.
"Okay," Nasir stepped back only to have Seth fling his arms around him.
"I love you too, Nasir," Seth held to Nasir's torso.
"I love you too, Sethy. Take care of my habibi," Nasir rubbed Seth's back. Seth let go of Nasir and leaned up. Nasir leaned down to give the little Native American a kiss on his lips.
"We all love you," Garrett took his turn giving his best friend a hug and kiss.
"I love you, Garrett. I leave Emmett in your hands," Nasir rubbed Garrett's arm.
"You know we'll look after him," Garrett assured. "Take care of yourself. I'll see you in two weeks."
"Yes, yes," Nasir nodded. He turned toward the car and Bobby opened the rear door.
"Wait!" Emmett grabbed Nasir again in another, even tighter hug. Nasir buried his face in Emmett's shoulder and clung to him.
"Okay, I'm sorry," Emmett let Nasir go after a long moment. "You need to go."
"I need to go," Nasir agreed. He turned and seated himself in the backseat of his Town Car. Bobby handed Nasir his briefcase and suit jacket and shut the door.
Emmett stepped up to Nasir's door and put his right hand on the glass. For the first time Nasir did not put the hand that would match up to the glass, but put his right hand as well, so that both men could see the other's wedding ring. Bobby took the wheel, put the car in gear, and pulled out into the flow of traffic on Western Ave.
Emmett watched the car take his husband away and felt his eyes well up. "Fuck," he muttered to himself as he wiped at his eyes.
In the back of the car Nasir twisted around so that he could see Emmett for as long as he could. When traffic finally blocked his view he turned to face forward. "Fuck," Nasir swore quietly as he wiped his eyes.
"Emmy," Seth stepped up beside his big best friend and took his hand. "Do you want to go home?"
"Fuck no," Emmett put his arm around Seth and held him to his side. "That's the last place I wanna go. Let's get another drink," he and Seth turned, Emmett took Garrett under his other arm and they three went back up the steps.
Dane took the opportunity to make a quick circuit of the park and take some pictures when event staff came to talk to Tony. He wasn't gone more than twenty minutes and when he returned he found two women and a twink up at the DJ station. And just as soon as he was within earshot, it was clear that they were less interested in requesting songs, and more interested in taking the DJ home.
"See," Tony gestured as Dane walked around behind the table to join him. "I told you guys my boyfriend would be right back," he took Dane under his arm. Dane put his arm possessively around Tony and was thrilled once again to feel the hair under Tony's arm on his shoulder.
"Oh, shit! He does have a boyfriend!" the twink lamented.
"Fuck," one of the girls swore as all three headed back to the dance floor.
"Sorry about that," Tony let go of Dane. "I hope that wasn't uncomfortable, calling you my boyfriend. It was the only thing I could think of to get them to leave me alone."
"No, not at all," Dane shook his head. "I would be very lucky to be your boyfriend," he added quietly.
"I would be very lucky to be your boyfriend," Tony countered.
"Yeah, I think it's the other way around," Dane stated.
"Are you sure? I'm high maintenance," Tony warned. "I like to cuddle after sex. I will hold you all night. I will insist on a kiss before we go to sleep and when we wake up. I like to shower together. And if you love me, you have to love my dog."
"Are those all your demands?" Dane gave a teasing smile.
"All that I can think of off the top of my head," Tony admitted.
"Well, I like to cuddle after sex too. I want to hold you all night. I want to kiss you too. I can't wait to meet Kayla. And if we have to be naked in the shower together, I guess I can endure it," Dane tried to keep a straight face, but a snicker broke through.
"So, you're a wise guy," Tony nodded with a smirk. "Good to know."
"Sorry," Dane blushed.
"Don't be. You couldn't be any cuter," Tony smiled as he put a hand to Dane's face and caressed the smaller man's cheek with his thumb. Dane looked up at Tony with unabashed longing. Both men clearly felt their desire for each other. The air was thick with it. Tony took a step closer to Dane and closed the distance between them to no more than an inch. Tony's smile faded. Dane's was long gone. Tony raised his other hand to Dane's face as Dane's hands ran up the bigger man's ribs. They looked into each other's eyes and Tony studied Dane's beautiful, trusting face. Desire was clear in Dane's eyes and equally matched in Tony's. Tony touched Dane's face with gentle fingers and ran his thumb across the smaller man's chin. Tony parted his lips and lowered his face slowly, making his intentions clear and wanting to give Dane every opportunity to stop if he was not ready for this. It was a caution he did not need to take. Both men were ready and wanting, and both men could see it. Dane's lips parted as well. He was weak in the knees just from the anticipation of Tony's kiss.
Tony and Dane both closed their eyes as their lips brushed together. The rest of the world melted away. Tony first captured Dane's upper lip with both of his. He slowly ran his tongue along Dane's lip. It was easy for Dane to reach his tongue out to Tony's bottom lip and could not resist doing so. This little taste of Tony was better than he had imagined and Dane very much wanted more. And more is what Tony gave him. Tony parted his lips wider and dipped his tongue into Dane's mouth.
"Mmm!" Dane could not help the near whimper that escaped his throat as Tony's tongue came into contact with his. Tony took that very much to be a sign that his kiss was more than welcome. He moved one arm around to Dane's back to pull the smaller man flush against him as he deepened their kiss further. Dane needed no encouragement to mould himself to Tony's body. He reached around and held fast to the muscular back as he welcomed the stronger man's tongue with his own.
Tony moved the hand yet on Dane's face to the back of Dane's neck as he probed the depths of the smaller man's mouth. Tony felt himself grow down his pantleg. The fact that his thick Italian meat was trapped in the snug jeans was the only thing that kept him from reaching full erection. Dane felt it too and did not hesitate to press his own hardness, not nearly as encumbered by his loose denim shorts, into Tony's solid thigh. That both men could feel the other's hard cock was fully evident by the way they clung to each other and intensified their kiss. Dane's hunger for the man who kissed him fully matched Tony's. Tony was thrilled that Dane kissed him back with equal passion as their lips and tongues moved together. Dane didn't care if it seemed too forward. Their mutual desire was beyond plain as he moved his hands inside Tony's tank to run his hands across the solid back, skin on skin. Tony moved his hand down Dane's back. He knew it was too soon to grab Dane's hot little bubble butt. He knew it. But he could not help himself as his hand sank lower. When his fingertips encountered the waistband of Dane's shorts, Tony especially knew that he should not slip his hand inside and run his hand down onto Dane's bare ass.
It was the applause that stopped him. The cheer from the crowd was what broke through into Tony and Dane's awareness. They broke their kiss at last and both turned their heads to see a hundred people clapping, whistling and whooping. The song had run out and neither of them noticed it. The dancing throng turned to see what was the matter when silence descended only to discover their DJ was otherwise occupied. Dane gasped and buried his face in Tony's chest.
"Oh my God," Tony held Dane protectively for a moment. He realized what he needed to do and finally let go of Dane to put on another song as quickly as he could.
Dane looked. He couldn't help it. He didn't want to help it. Dane gasped again as he saw the huge bulge down Tony's left pant leg. This made him remember his own erection and he stuck a hand in his pocket to hold himself. Tony made no move to cover himself as he worked, and only Dane could see him behind the console anyway. In just a moment Katy Perry's California Gurls blared out of Tony's speakers and he gave the crowd a wave and a smile.
"There. That'll get 'em dancing again," Tony turned back to Dane and put a hand over his bulge that could not cover the length of it. "Sorry. You made me hard," he gave a sheepish grin and a shrug.
"You made me hard," Dane confessed, still a little breathless. "You're a really good kisser, Tony."
"So are you," Tony stated. "Sorry."
"You're sorry you kissed me?" Dane was horrified.
"Oh, no! Good God, no!" Tony took hold of Dane's shoulders. "I am not sorry I kissed you. I've been wanting so badly to do that for two days. I just feel like I got carried away."
"If you did, I did too," Dane agreed. "I've really been wanting to kiss you too. In fact," Dane grew more bold. No longer caring how obvious his erection was in his shorts, he pulled his hands out of his pockets and ran them up over Tony's big pecs. "I'd like to do a lot more with you."
"Okay, good," Tony smiled. "I thought maybe I was rushing you."
"You're not rushing me," Dane assured.
"Oh," Tony gave a sigh and looked up at the giant steel monster above them. "You shouldn't have told me that."
"When do you want me to make you dinner?" Dane asked with a smile.
"Well, I've already eaten tonight," Tony considered.
"So have I!" Dane laughed.
"You even have a beautiful laugh," Tony observed as he rubbed Dane's bare shoulders.
"I do?" Dane was not used to such compliments from a guy like this.
"I love to hear you laugh," Tony smiled.
"What's your schedule like this week? Any night is good for me. I mean, I don't want to rush you," Dane was sincere.
"I DJ on the weekends, so Friday, Saturday and Sunday are out," Tony stated.
"Well, when does that start? Not 'till late, right?" Dane reasoned. "You have to eat before you go to work."
"Dane," Tony grew serious, "when I spend the evening with you, I don't want to have to watch the clock. I'm not gonna want to leave."
"Well, good. Me too," Dane agreed.
"So, if we can't make during the week work..." Tony began.
"How's Thursday?" Dane quickly suggested with a smile.
"Thursday is great, but," Tony pretended to consider.
"But?" Dane bit.
"How am I gonna wait that long to see you?" Tony smiled.
"Oh," Dane, in truth, thought the same thing. Tony turned to his console, held his headset to one ear, cued up another song and switched over to it just in time.
"I'm gonna have to have another kiss," Tony took Dane's hand and led him to the nearby slab of concrete where they had their picture taken earlier. Dane positively loved it when Tony took charge and led him by the hand like this. Tony turned to Dane and lifted him to sit on the slab again and stepped between Dane's legs. Tony put his hands on Dane's knees and Dane grabbed Tony's head in both hands as the standing man leaned in. There was no hesitation this time as both men opened their mouths to each other. His equal vantage and their conversation emboldened Dane and Tony's tongue met his head on.
"Hmm!" Tony tightened his grip on Dane's knees as this time he welcomed Dane's tongue into his mouth. Dane ran his hands up into the thick, rich Italian hair. Tony liked Dane getting aggressive with him and when Dane took fistfuls of his hair, he loved it. Tony took the liberty of sliding his hands up Dane's thighs and into his shorts. Dane decided, as he explored Tony's mouth with his tongue, that if the bigger man were attempting to grab his cock, he would let him. And be thrilled. But Tony did nothing inappropriate.
"Holy fuck, was that a kiss!" Tony expressed when they finally broke it. Dane held Tony's head still and they leaned their foreheads together, panting in each other's faces.
"Cole musta been the stupidest shit, ever," Tony added.
"I was just thinking that about Scott," Dane echoed.
"Everything happens for a reason, right?" Tony smiled.
"Promise you'll kiss me like that again when you come over on Thursday," Dane requested.
"Oh, that's a promise. Though, I should warn you, I very much doubt I'll be able to stop there," Tony pulled his head back a little to look into Dane's eyes.
"You say that like I would want you to," Dane ran the fingers of one hand down the side of Tony's face.
"Oh, the things I wanna do to you," Tony gave a sigh. "Hold that thought," he squeezed Dane's thighs. "I gotta put another mother fucking song on," he leaned in and gave Dane a soft, sweet kiss on his lips. "And this time I'm going to put on an extended mix, which I should have done a long fucking time ago," Tony gave Dane a second gentle kiss on his lips before he stepped back, pulled his hands out of Dane's shorts legs, and turned to head back to his console. Seeing Tony adjust his sizeable and uncomfortable erection in his pants as he walked the few feet back to his table, gave Dane enormous satisfaction.
Emmett sat in the dark in his living room. He held a beer, his first this evening, and took occasional swigs from it. He heard the knock on his door and completely ignored it. There was only one person Emmett wanted to see just now, apart from his husband that is, and that one person had his own key. And after the knock went unanswered, that one person used his key.
"Emmy?" Seth called as he walked into the dark condo.
"In here," Emmett answered entirely without enthusiasm and without looking up as Seth entered his home. The little Native American was barefoot and shirtless. Only his leather pants remained. Seth saw his big friend sitting on his sofa and walked up behind him. He hugged Emmett from behind with his arms around Emmett's neck. Seth pressed the side of his head to Emmett's.
"I knew you weren't okay," Seth spoke softly.
"I've just been sitting here crying, actually," Emmett wiped his face yet again.
"I'm sorry, Emmy. I'm here," Seth kissed Emmett just below his ear.
"I know you are, Sweetie," Emmett put one arm up around Seth with his big hand on Seth's head. Fresh tears ran down Emmett's face. "I don't know why it's so hard this time."
"I do," Seth climbed over the back of the sofa, not wanting to let go of Emmett even for as long as it would have taken to walk around. "You just married him. It was the happiest day of your life."
"It was. It really was. I love him so much," Emmett stressed.
"I know you do, Emmy," Seth slid over. "Lay down here," he patted his thigh. Emmett was only too ready to lay his head in Seth's lap and did so without hesitation.
"He's my husband, Seth. I want to hold him in my arms at night. I need to hold him in my arms," Emmett put a hand over his forehead and eyes as he cried in Seth's lap.
"I know, Emmy," Seth ran his hand over Emmett's hair to soothe him.
"I need to wake up next to him," Emmett continued.
"It's because you got to do that for a week, before you married the man of your dreams, that makes it so hard now," Seth explained. "Nothing has changed, but coming down off that tremendous high makes this seem worse."
"Do you suppose Nasi feels the same way?" Emmett asked.
"I know he does," Seth spoke truth. "You know it too. You saw the look on his face when he got in the car."
"But he's all alone, Seth! He doesn't have anybody. My baby's all alone there!" Emmett was more upset about the prospect of his husband being in New York with no one to console him.
"Not for long. The man he loves is flying out to join him in less than a week," Seth pointed out the bright side.
"Yeah, yeah I am," Emmett wiped his his eyes again. "I'm gonna grab him and never let him go."
"I'll bet you money Nasir'll say the exact same thing to Garrett when my hubby calls him tomorrow," Seth was confident.
"Only an idiot would bet against you," Emmett almost made himself smile.
"Got that right, Mary," Seth gave himself a firm nod.
"How come you don't have a shirt on?" Emmett turned his head to look up at Seth. "Were you getting ready for bed?"
"I couldn't go to bed knowing you were hurting, Emmy," Seth continued to smooth Emmett's hair.
"God, what would I do without you?" Emmett grabbed and held Seth's arm.
"You'll only find out if I die of old age first," Seth smiled down on his best friend.
"In that case, I hope I do," Emmett sighed.
"Oh sure, and leave me to mourn you, ya selfish fuck!" Seth smacked Emmett's big shoulder.
"Sweetie, I'm sorry. I don't want to keep you from Garrett," Emmett sat up and wiped his face yet again.
"Garrett understands, Emmy," Seth climbed onto his knees beside Emmett, put his arms around his neck and leaned his head on Emmett's shoulder. Emmett immediately leaned his head against Seth's and closed his eyes. He drank in strength from Seth.
"You should go back up to your husband, Sweetie," Emmett said after several quiet minutes. "At least one of us should get to sleep in the arms of the man we love."
"I will," Seth affirmed. "When I know you're okay," he amended.
"I should get in bed too. Huh," Emmett shook his head.
"That bed seems cold and empty right now," Seth understood completely.
"I don't even want to go in there and look at it," Emmett shook his head.
"Wanna come upstairs with us? You can lay right in the middle and we can both snuggle on you," Seth offered.
"I couldn't do that, Sweetie," Emmett knew Seth's offer was not really on the table.
"Go get in bed and hold his pillow," Seth directed.
"Yeah, I will. You go get in bed with Garrett and hold him," Emmett put a hand on Seth's leg. "The last thing I want to do is become a burden to you guys."
"You never could, Emmy," Seth assured. "I will always be here for you. Like I know you are for me."
Emmett stood up and Seth did as well. Seth wrapped his arms around Emmett and held him tightly for a long moment. Emmett was always grateful for Seth's hugs, never more so than now.
"Okay," Seth stepped back and looked up. "You need help getting into bed, or can you manage?"
"I can manage, Sweetie," Emmett assured.
"Because if I come back down here and find you sleeping on this sofa, there's gonna be hell to pay," Seth threatened with an upward pointed finger.
"If you come back down here when you should be sleeping beside Garrett, I'll kick your narrow ass all the way back upstairs!" Emmett threatened back.
"Oh, as if," Seth gave a dismissive wave. He turned to walk out. "Gym in the morning?"
"See you there," Emmett headed for his bedroom while Seth headed for the door.