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This too shall last…
“I’m pretty sure I made this playlist private.” Gray snuck a hand up to Darius’s neck, where he played with the soft hairs.
Darius grinned faintly and rested his forehead to Gray’s. “You leave your iPad all over the place. What’s a guy to do but have a look for inspiration?”
Gray chuckled under his breath, feeling sappier and happier than ever.
“Now…” Darius drew a deep breath and closed his eyes. “Let me have this moment where I pretend it’s just you and me. Somewhere else.”
Gray was all too happy to join him there. “Our mountain?”
Darius nodded. “With Irish coffee and those truffles.”
Sounded perfect.
But he had to make sure. “Are you okay? Overwhelmed?”
Darius shook his head. “I got you to marry me today. I have no complaints.”
Gray exhaled in contentment and closed his eyes too. Right now, it was just the two of them up at the springs, dancing to this song in the glow of a fire. Their kids were asleep in the tent.
Even so, the sweet memories of their parents’ heartfelt speeches lingered in the back of Gray’s mind. Mom had cried, of course. Aiden had nearly made Gray cry when he’d said, “I may have missed your childhood, but I reserve front-row tickets for the rest of your life, son, for as long as I shall live.”
Mom had cried at that too.
“Just so you know,” Darius murmured. “Our bags are packed at home.”
Gray’s eyes flashed open, and a thrill bolted through him.
Darius smiled lazily. “We leave first thing on Monday. Ten days.”
“Are we going to Victoria?” Gray had to ask. Had to push. A little.
To no avail. Darius was done sharing. He kissed Gray instead, and nipped a little at his bottom lip.
Gray shivered and tuned out the sounds of children running between the tables and their parents chasing after. But then he heard the distinct sound of a guitar, and not one coming from the restaurant’s surround sound system, and it was followed by Case and Boone going, “Holy shit.” So Gray blinked drowsily and glanced toward the stage.
Oh. Oh wow. Lincoln and Jesse were obviously going to play. Two incredibly skilled guitar players, two mics, two chairs, two guitars. Lincoln had once been a lead guitarist—and a good singer—but Jesse’s voice put him at the center of his own band in LA.
Gray looked questioningly at Darius. “Did you plan this?”
Darius shook his head. “I knew they were playing, but this is Abel and your ma’s doing. I would’ve asked Lincoln myself if I’d believed he would play Destruction songs, but that’s clearly not happening at a wedding.”
Gray laughed. Yeah, no. No hard rock or metal on this fine day, thank you very much.
They slowed to a stop as what would forever be their song faded, and then Jesse looked to Lincoln.
“Oh no, this is your show, son. No, wait. I can say a thing or two.” Lincoln cleared his throat and strummed absently on his guitar. “Gray, I’ve known you since Abel brought you home from hockey practice and introduced his new best friend in the world. I’ve picked you boys up after you went on double dates with punks who didn’t deserve you, I’ve watched in wonderment at how much you can eat, I’ve seen you read bedtime stories to Lyn, and you called it practice for when you have kids of your own one day.”
Gray could only offer a stupid grin.
“I feel like my family’s given you a lotta practice,” Lincoln chuckled. “And maybe you’ll remember when Jayden’s that age what shitty liars two drunk teenagers are when they swear up and down that they didn’t raid your liquor cabinet.”
“Oh God.” Gray groaned and buried his face against Darius’s neck. And that bastard was no support at all. He was having too much fun at Gray’s expense.
Lincoln spoke again as the chuckles died down. “I don’t really know where I’m goin’ with this, other than…I’m stoked I’ve gotten to be there to watch you grow up, kid. To see you marry Darius today. I wish you a lifetime of happiness. And that you’ll keep calling me Mr. H and gorgeous.”
Gray laughed, and that was an easy promise to make. “Always, Mr. H. Thank you.”
“You forgot gorgeous, but whatever,” Lincoln muttered into the mic. His humor was popular with the guests, but he was done now. He slid his gaze to Jesse and nodded.
Jesse smirked and shook his head. “My old man, always a crowd-pleaser.” He peered over at Gray. “When Abel asked us to play, he said it had to be this song. Not just because you went through a Lifehouse phase that was painful for those of us around you—”
“Excruciating,” Lincoln agreed.
Gray fucking beamed. They were gonna play “You and Me,” weren’t they?
“It was more painful for me,” Jesse said, “because Gray told me once I sounded like their singer. Talk about fuckin’ insulting.”
