Page 31 of Broken Halos
“Not if I can avoid it,” Archie told the man without tearing his eyes away from mine. “I can’t believe you thought I was fucking around in the prop closet with another guy after what we shared the past twenty-four hours. Do you think so little of me then? Trust is a two-way street, Ollie.”
I briefly closed my eyes because his hurt expression and the disappointment in his voice hurt me worse than thinking about him in the closet with another guy. I had wanted to be different than all the other guys he’d known, but I was already letting him down a day after he gave me—us—a chance. “I’m sorry, Archie.” I reached up and cupped his cheek. “You’re not the only one afraid to believe sometimes.” His eyes widened at my admission.
“We have so much to talk about, Ollie.” His voice and eyes softened. “What did you come back to see me about?”
“Oh, I can’t believe I nearly forgot.” I lightly gripped Archie’s arm and pulled him away from the queens. “Andy needs a place to get into costume.” Archie let out a whoop and did a little dance when I told him about Andy’s plans.
“The prop closet is about as good as I can do without much notice,” he told me.
“We’ll take it. Let me go get Andy and Faith. I’ll be right back.”
“Hold it,” Archie said firmly, crooking his finger at me. “Kiss me, Ollie. I need to know we’re okay.”
Cupping his face with both hands, I pressed my mouth to his. I wanted to let my lips linger and deepen the kiss so I could show him how he made me feel, but we were surrounded by catcalling queens, his dick was tucked and taped, and Andy was waiting on us to help him make his and Milo’s dreams come true. When I pulled back, I saw the dazed and lusty look in his eyes that made my toes curl inside my shoes. “Hold that thought, Trix.”
Andy and Faith were waiting anxiously for me to return. “What the heck took so long?” Andy asked. “Or do I really need to ask?”
“Nothing like that,” I said, motioning for them to follow me. “I had to wait for him to finish talking to someone before I could ask him to help.”
“The hot blond guy who just came through the door like his ass was on fire?” Faith asked.
“Sounds like the same guy,” I said, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.
“Everything okay, Ollie?” Andy asked. Apparently, I needed to try harder.
“It’s fine, Andy. I promise.”
Archie greeted Andy with a blinding, brilliant smile and threw his arms around his broad shoulders. “I’m so excited for you. Congratulations.”
“He hasn’t said yes yet,” Andy told him.
“He will,” the three of us responded.
“I’m going to leave them in your capable hands, Arch. I’ll see you later, okay?”
Archie studied my face to see if any of the doubt from moments before still lingered in my brain. Of course, they did, but not the way he might think. He would think I doubted him, but it was my abilities I questioned. To quiet the unrest I felt in both of us, I pulled him to me once more and pressed my forehead against his.
“We’re okay, Archie,” I whispered. “I’m not running.” Then I pulled back and kissed his forehead before leaving him to help Andy and Faith get ready.
I felt the curious glances from my friends, but I kept my eyes on the stage rather than address their concerns. Things with Archie were too new and still felt too volatile. It reminded me of my first trip to the ocean as a kid. I was fascinated by the miles of sandy, white beaches stretching before my eyes. I scooped up a big handful of the fine sand, and no matter how tightly I fisted my hand, the sand still slid through my fingers until nothing remained. Is that what loving Archie would be like?
I heard Trix’s jubilant voice as she returned to the stage to introduce the next act which happened to be Madame O-Feel-Ya-Peach dressed as a splendid Dolly Parton. I set aside my insecurities and cheered and clapped as Peach performed a rousing version of “Nine to Five.” Just as the song ended, the curtains parted and out walked Andy dressed as…
“I thought he was supposed to be Kenny Rogers,” Adam said. “He looks more like the crazy guy who did all those dirt bike stunts while wearing a leisure suit.”
“He’s just missing the cape,” Brent added.
I grinned because he did look more like Evel Knievel than Kenny Rogers. All that mattered was how happy Peach looked when the music for “Islands in the Stream” started playing. Andy’s voice was shaky when he started singing the first verse, but it got stronger as he gained confidence. How could he not when Peach was smiling and swaying to the music and looking at him like he was the best thing ever put on earth? The crowd went wild when Andy started swaying and dancing too. I looked over and saw a large group of people wearing various expressions of awe and love. I’d met several of them either here or at our annual NA chapter picnic for our families.
When the song ended, Andy dropped to his knee and asked Milo to marry him. It came as no surprise to any of us when Milo joyfully and tearfully accepted his proposal. Andy and Milo didn’t join the crowd of us waiting to congratulate them for quite some time after they left the stage, but it was understandable they wanted a few minutes to celebrate alone. Knowing Milo, he didn’t want to take away attention from the queens performing on the stage either, so it made sense when they didn’t appear until after intermission.
They were swallowed up in a sea of love and happiness which was how it should be for every couple who found the person they wanted to spend their lives with. I found myself feeling more choked up and emotional than usual, but this one was personal. These were two people I cared greatly for. It took them several minutes to hug their way over to our table. When they arrived, Milo hooked his arm around Andy’s waist and leaned into him.
“Ollie, we’d like to ask you a favor,” Milo said.
“Sure.”
“We’d like for you to officiate our wedding.”