Page 98 of Dr. Sexypants

I looked up at him and smiled. “Yeah, me too.”

The music started, and we all stood to watch the processional of people coming down the aisle. There was the teenager dressed in a white robe carrying the cross, followed by a younger girl and boy also in robes, who I assumed were altar servers. Then a woman dressed in street clothes carried the bible while taking methodical steps as she walked. The priest was next, and finally the family we’d all come here for.

Adam carried Conor while Lainey walked beside him. Behind them were Jade and Brian.

They’d been asked to be Conor’s godparents long before they’d become a couple. I couldn’t help but wonder if deep down, Lainey had known they’d end up together.

Apparently there only needed to be one Catholic godparent, so even though Jade wasn’t Catholic, she was allowed to be a “Christian witness,” since Brian was.

Ever since the two got engaged in August, we’ve been teasing her about converting.

“If it’s important to Brian, I will. But considering he doesn’t even go to Mass; I don’t see it happening any time soon. Maybe when we have kids.”

A thought occurred to me, and I turned to Justin to whisper, “Are you Catholic?”

He shook his head subtly, then leaned closer and replied, “Methodist.”

“What are their rules for godparents?”

“I don’t know. Why?”

“I’m just trying to figure out who could be our kids’ godparents.”

He slowly turned his head, so he was facing me. “Our kids?”

“Yeah, our kids. You want them right?”

He seemed surprised as he stared at me.

The priest told us to be seated, and as we did, he murmured, “As many as you want, baby.”

****

Justin

It was hard to pay attention to what was happening at the altar when it felt like my insides were a jumbled mess.

In the best possible way.

I hadn’t dared talk about kids with Kristy. Hell, I hadn’t even broached getting moving in together someday. I knew it was too soon. And even though her therapy was obviously working—case in point, I was now officially her boyfriend—I still wasn’t going to spook her.

But she brought it up. That was huge.

Angus and Shannon, Brian’s parents, were in the row behind us, and when it’d come to the part in the Mass where we exchanged blessings of peace, Shannon was all smiles when she took my hand between hers.

“Peace be with you,” she said, then whispered, “I’m so happy for you two.”

Angus just looked smug.

I found out why when he approached us at the party with his phone in his hand.

He glanced at the screen when he asked, “Remember on July first, at Justin’s birthday party, when you told me you were just friends?”

I couldn’t help but smile when I replied, “Yeah?”

“I knew you were lying.”

He flashed his phone at us.