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“Holy shit, Luke, you’re kidding me right now!” Jake turned to Luke with a shocked expression on his face.
Rocco raced over to the cooler, looking to see what the matter was. Luke smiled and shrugged. Luke had secured six bottles of Samuel Adams Utopia, their most renowned and sought-after, extreme barrel-aged beer. They wouldn'tbe released until later in the year but he was able to get Jake this special gift in exchange for doing some commercial spots for the brewer. Luke had also promised to get a few shots of himself and Jake in their tuxedos holding the specialty beer bottle.
“Luke, this is too much. There are six bottles in here and two of the special Riedel glasses.”
Rocco turned back to Luke, seeming confused. “I don’t understand. What are these?”
“They’re Samuel Adams Utopias. And I can’t believe he got six. They’re only producing fifteen thousand this time around. I didn’t think they were available yet though,” Heath said.
Jake frowned at Luke and shook his head. “They’re only releasing thirteen thousand bottles, not fifteen. And they aren’t due out until later this year. This is too much, Luke.”
Rocco shrugged, not seeming to understand what the big deal was. “It’s just beer. There’s Boston Lager in the cooler too.”
Jake took out four bottles of the Boston Lager and closed the cooler lid. He handed everyone a bottle, keeping one for himself. “It’s not just beer, Roc. The Utopias are only produced every two years, this being the tenth release. And those bottles are two hundred dollars each.”
Rocco chocked on a sip of his beer. “What?”
Jake continued. “Yeah, two hundred bucks a bottle. The blending, brewing, and aging process of the Utopias is time consuming and complex. It’s sort of like a vintage Port, old Cognac, or fine Sherry. It has a twenty-eight percent alcohol content, and is illegal in twelve states.”
Rocco took another pull of his beer. “No shit.”
“Samuel Adams recommends only drinking an ounce or two at the most at one time since it’s so strong.” Jake took a long pull of his own beer. “This is twelve hundred dollars’ worth of beer plus the cost of the two Riedel glasses. Plus the honeymoon suite at the Fairchild Hotel for two nights, plus Darren paying for the event planner. It’s all too much.”
Luke didn’t see it that way. He wanted to share his good fortune with his friends. Some beer, a hotel room, and event planning fees were a drop in the bucket to Luke. He would have paid for Jake and Cassie’s honeymoon in Aruba but it hadn’t been worth the argument with Jake.“Look, Jake, I know it seems like a lot, but shit, did you expect me to go to Nordstrom’s and get you a pair of candle stick holders from your bridal registry? This was something special just for you and Cass. I would have done so much more if you had let me, so let me have this, all right?”
Heath put a hand on Jake’s shoulder. “I’m with Luke on this one. It’s something special no one else would have considered or been able to get for you and Cassie. Be gracious and enjoy it. I think Cassie will be touched by the gesture.”
Luke agreed. Jake and Cassie weren’t heavy drinkers, but they both enjoyed their Boston Lager and the six Utopia bottles would last them a long, long time. He hoped Jake would accept his gift without feeling bad about it. Everyone took a few more pulls from their beers, waiting on Jake to answer.
Jake went to his garment bag, pulled out his tuxedo, and began getting dressed. Heath and Luke looked at each other, shrugged, and got dressed too.
Cassie had wanted something old school and traditional for the men. Once they were all decked out in their black tails, Luke couldn’t take Jake’s silence any longer. “Jake, tell me you’re not that upset over some beer and a hotel room. Come on, man.” Luke couldn’t have Jake upset on his wedding day. He’d take the Utopias back if he had to.
Jake shook his head and stared at his feet. “You’re right. I think Cassie will be excited by the Utopias. It’s just she won’t even be able to enjoy them for a long time…”
“What? Why,” Luke pressed.
“I really shouldn’t say anything.” Jake looked at both doors to make sure they were still closed. He switched to ASL, or American Sign Language. After Heath’s injury in Afghanistan, the three of them learned to sign in case Heath’s hearing deteriorated to the point where even the most state-of-the-art hearing aids couldn’t provide him with adequate hearing. Rocco had picked up enough to converse pretty well in sign too.
Jake: Because Cass is eight weeks pregnant.
Luke: Couldn’t wait until the honeymoon, huh?
Jake: Well, she went off the pill three months ago and since then we haven’t been as careful as we should have been, I guess.
Heath: Even so, congratulations.
Rocco: Heath’s right, this is great news, a blessing.
Luke: You two can enjoy the Utopias after the baby’s born. It’s not a big deal. They’ll keep.
Jake: Oh, I know, just don’t say anything. We’re waiting until after she’s past the first trimester before we tell everyone.
Luke was thrilled but also couldn’t help but feel envious of his friend. If things had worked out how they should have ten years ago, he and Abbey would probably have a few kids by now. All boys, of course. Future Chicago Cobras. Just thinking of Abbey swollen with his baby had his cock hardening. Soon enough, he’d have his blonde-haired princess pregnant with their first child. He grinned, excited for the future.
Luke grabbed his beer bottle and held it up in salute. Heath, Jake, and Rocco did the same with their bottles. “The first toast of the day. To Jake and Cassie,” Luke began. Then he whispered, “And little baby Tyler.” All four men clinked their bottles and took long pulls.
“Hey Rocco, why don’t you go find the lovely Miss Hannah and she if she has any mints in that magic bag of hers? I don’t want us smelling like a distillery during the ceremony.” Jake waggled his eyebrows at Rocco and he frowned back at him, shaking his head.
