Page 26 of Habibi: Always and Forever

Taylor’s smile softened. “Don’t be mad at him. This is going to be so perfect.”

He walked back toward the front door and knocked on it from the inside. It opened, and in walked Milo and Colby. And Jonah and Spencer. And Mickey and Ethan. The whole Bennett family crowded themselves into the living room and, among them, Taylor sparkled.

“I know you don’t want them to make a fuss over the two of you, but if anyone deserves to be celebrated, it’s the two of you. You’ve made me happier than I ever dreamed of.”

Colby shuffled through the crowd and took up a space at the front. He pulled a notebook from his pocket, and that’s when Damon noticed that the whole Bennett clan was wearing matching pink shirts in support of the three of them.

“Now, if the three of you will stand over there…” Colby pointed to the spot Nash and Damon had decorated with lights and tulle and more roses than was necessary. “We can get the three of you hitched.”

“We’re not actually getting married. You realize that, right?” Nash spoke finally, his voice cracking in places. Damon moved to his side and reached for Taylor, urging him to join them and complete the circle.

“You’re getting married in spirit. Stop being pedantic and stand there and look pretty.” Colby flipped his notebook open. “I have a few things to say before you begin.”

* * *

TAYLOR

Taylor’s boyfriends—no. Taylor’s husbands looked dashing in their suits and ties, and Taylor couldn’t wait for everyone to be gone so he could strip them both naked. Well, the ties could stay. But first he had to deal with Colby and whatever he planned to say.

Taylor stood facing his family, Nash on one side and Damon on the other.

They’d picked the perfect dress, but that was probably because he’d shown them the dress and said, “ This is the perfect dress. I would marry the fuck out of you in that dress.” And he would just as soon as Colby shut up and let him.

“Taylor, I was so pissed when Mom and Dad brought you home. I was used to being the baby of the family, and I was not ready to give that up yet. But then Dad showed me how small you were and told me how strong I had to be, how it was my job to protect you and look out for you.” Colby cleared his throat.

His eyes were glassy, and his voice was thick.

Was he… oh, God, was he about to cry? He couldn’t cry, because if he did, then Taylor would cry.

“Taylor, I think I did a pretty good job looking out for you, and you know I’ll always be here for you, but I think you picked two of the best people on the planet to have by your side. By the power vested in me, by no one whatsoever, I now pronounce you ready to exchange vows.”

Taylor’s chin trembled. “Remind me to hit you later.”

Laughter surrounded them as Taylor took a deep breath.

“I’d better go first because I think once either one of you starts to speak, I’m going to cry.

” Taylor moved so that he could look at both his men at the same time.

He was thankful for the little flower he’d chosen to have as his bouquet, otherwise he wouldn’t have known what to do with his hands.

“Nash and Damon,” Taylor’s voice steadied itself at the sight of them, the way they stood patiently, hanging on his every word.

Willing to stand there for forever if that’s how long he needed to compose himself.

“I don’t promise not to bring more plants into our home.

I’m going to continue to fill our home with life and love.

With plants and glitter and fairy lights.

I don’t promise to make myself smaller to make your lives easier.

I do promise to give you my all every day.

I do promise to love you both so much that I don’t know how to hold it all inside me sometimes.

I do promise to look after our love like it’s one of my plants.

I promise to nurture it and help it grow for as long as you’ll both have me. ”

Nash wiped a tear away and Damon looked like he was close to weeping. His sweet boyfriend was overcome with some pretty big emotions, it seemed, and he reached for Taylor’s hand. Taylor glanced around and found a spot to set his plant so he could give one hand to Damon as Nash took the other.

It was Damon who spoke next. “I had this whole speech prepared, but I think I’d rather keep it simple.

Taylor, Nash, I don’t promise not to worry myself sick about the two of you more often than necessary.

I do promise to spoil Taylor rotten, and I promise to be Nash’s biggest cheerleader. I promise to love you both forever.”

Nash slipped his other hand into Damon’s. “My turn.”

There were some suspicious sniffles in the crowd, and if Taylor had to guess, he’d guess Colby or Mickey. Mickey, who had a wedding of his own to plan.

“I don’t promise not to be a cover hog, and I don’t promise to come to bed at a reasonable hour. I do promise to make Colby behave to the best of my ability. I do promise to keep Bennett family traditions alive. I promise to love you both for as long as I live. And then some.”

Nash reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box. “What’s a wedding without rings?”

His question was rhetorical, not that Taylor could’ve answered it anyway considering his heart was in his throat fluttering fast like hummingbird wings.

Nash popped the ring box open, and there were two thick gold bands and a thinner ring with tiny pink gemstones that wrapped all the way around.

“Guys… it’s gorgeous.” Taylor barely got the words out before his emotions choked him up.

“It’s almost as pretty as you,” Damon said, plucking the ring from the box.

Taylor’s hand shook, and Nash held it while Damon slid the ring on. With still trembling fingers, Taylor managed to pull a ring from the box and slip it onto Nash’s finger who, in turn, slipped the final ring onto Damon’s finger.

“I think this is the part where we kiss,” Nash said, looking at Taylor, then Damon, like he couldn’t decide who to kiss first.

“You two go first.” Taylor cast a look back at his family. “I don’t mind watching.”

“Too much information,” Colby practically shouted, covering his ears. Milo yanked his hands away and told him to behave. When the laughter died down, Nash cupped the side of Damon’s face.

One of Taylor’s favorite things about being in a relationship with Nash and Damon was getting to witness the way they loved each other.

Sometimes it was soft. Sometimes it was fierce.

But it always had room for Taylor, who Nash kissed next.

His lips were soft and he kissed Taylor with a chaste kind of reverence.

Which was fine, with Taylor’s entire family three feet away.

They’d save the dirty kisses for after everyone left.

“We’re married,” Taylor whispered against Damon’s cheek. It might not be legal, and to other people their relationship might even be strange. But it was theirs, and it was perfect, and that’s all that mattered.

Taylor’s entire family had been blessed by love.

His older brother Jonah was happier and more settled than he’d ever been now that he and his best friend Spencer were so deeply in love.

Colby had Milo to keep him in line, and to dote on and obsess over.

Even Taylor’s dad had found love and he couldn’t wait for Mickey to officially become his step-dad.

Since they were the same age, Taylor had about a million step-dad jokes planned.

Taylor smiled at his husbands. If you asked him, he’d say he was the luckiest one of them all.