Page 116 of Love Unlimited

So he maybe wanted a ring to prove it.

Landon had already privately decided to give up the lease on his apartment. He was keeping it as a surprise, but he didn’t want to live anywhere without his Daddy. Especially if Ash and Zhong were there, too.

But what would marriage mean for the four of them? Would it be strange if he and Dustin got married and the other couple didn’t? Could they have some sort of four-way commitment ceremony? Would the others even want that?

Ash pestered him about the obstacle course the whole time that they waited for Zhong in the backyard. Since they couldn’t converse easily with any of the other guests, they’d taken over a cluster of patio chairs. It was a fun diversion, seeing Ash so excited, and as they kept coming up with increasingly fantastical ideas, Landon started taking mental notes.

Was building Ash an obstacle course in the backyard the same as a marriage? It seemed pretty permanent, especially if he and Zhong built them solid wooden structures. Landon kind of wanted to build a treehouse, too. He’d say it was for Ash, but he liked the idea of escaping to it himself.

Zhong wasn’t gone long. He’d disappeared upstairs for a tea ceremony, which was just being attended by close family. It was yet another tradition that was equally fascinating and unexpected. Then they drove over to the banquet hall.

Guests streamed in, claiming tables as they chose, and Landon was mostly glad that Zhong got to stay with them. Zhong didn’t know anyone else who sat at the table—or even how they were related to his family—which relieved them of any responsibility to try to make oral conversation in a crowded room with people they’d never meet again.

There were already plenty of snacks out, but Zhong warned them not to fill up, and to take tiny servings of everything.

When the wedding finally started, or at least the part that Landon thought of as a wedding, it went by so quickly that he almost missed it. Everyone walked down the “aisle” that was just a pathway between the dozens of circular tables, though Zhong explained that the custom of “giving the bride away” and being escorted by one’s parents was American. Mei Lin had changed from the traditional red Chinese dress she had on earlier to a white American one with a long train. The bride and groom both looked radiant.

Dave’s mother made a short speech while Chu Hua interpreted, and then there were a couple of lines of commitment spoken by an officiant. They both said “I do’s,” there was a kiss, and then everyone wandered off to eat. Landon got the sense that from a Chinese perspective, the vows were the least important part of the wedding.

Landon was still thinking about marriage, though he had a lot of mixed views on the institution as a whole. The idea of belonging to Dustin… and maybe belonging to Zhong and Ash in the same way, seemed like something important.

When Ash left to find the bathroom and Zhong was talking with his older brother, Dustin caught Landon’s eye. We’ve never talked about marriage. What are your thoughts? Is it something you want?

Maybe. He shrugged. It’s not a big deal.

Dustin stroked a hand down his cheek, making him feel shivery and very seen. If it’s important to you, we’ll do it. Or we’ll figure something out. For the second sentence, he switched the sign from just the two of them to a larger group.

Do you want to get married? Landon had to ask.

Dustin paused. If it were just you, I would say yes in an instant, at least when the time is right. Those words were all Landon needed to feel warm inside. But now… I don’t think the legal system is set up to accommodate what I want.

That makes sense but… Landon was feeling small and vulnerable even asking. Do you think we could do something like that?

Other than an obstacle course? Dustin teased.

Yeah.

I’d like some sort of ceremony, too.

Something finally relaxed inside of Landon’s chest. He knew he didn’t need a ceremony but… he could admit it was something he wanted. It was good to know that Dustin wanted it too.

Do you think they would want it as well? he asked even more timidly. The four of them weren’t anything yet. Just three linked couples. Just friends.

Daddy grinned. I think they would have fun with a ceremony. But that’s not what you’re asking, is it?

Landon shrugged. Maybe it was?

We’ll have to ask them.

Just that idea stole his breath away. Was Daddy going to ask? Finally? It felt like everything was shifting and changing, invisible cords pulling them all together. So was now the time for another conversation?

Ash returned, breaking off that line of thought just as the banquet started. They were tickled by the golden pig necklace that they’d managed to catch sight of when Mei Lin changed into her third outfit for the day. Both of them were even more impressed by the entire suckling pig that was brought out to eat. Landon didn’t even know people made whole roast pigs outside of movies. But this was glazed and garnished with an apple in its mouth.

Zhong was amused to tell them all that the pig represented purity of the bride—which was the least likely description for Mei Lin that he could think of.

After that, it was a constant stream of food, with servers piling more and more on to the lazy Susan in the middle of the table. Landon was glad that Zhong had warned him in advance not to take much of anything. There were nine courses—because the word for nine sounded like the word for long, supporting a long marriage, and that was only the beginning.

Landon was beginning to better understand Zhong’s focus on symbolism, though. Landon had assumed Zhong meant the symbols as something abstract and removed. But seeing how they were each brought to life in the wedding banquet, he realized there were layers beneath it.