Page 11 of Ice & Sweet

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Luke

“Is there anywhere in particular we’re supposed to cut it?” Austin asked as he took the large cake knife Natalia handed him, his other hand linked with Kane’s as they stood beside my pride and joy. It wasn’t the fanciest or most complicated cake I’d ever made, but it was one of the ones I was most proud of. I just really hoped they liked the inside as much as the outside.

“Anywhere,” I said. “You’ve got three different flavours, so maybe pick the one you want to try most?”

“Definitely the chocolate,” Kane said, putting his hand on top of Austin’s and steering the knife towards the bottom tier. “Wait, remind me what we chose again?”

“Can you seriously not remember?” I asked with a laugh and around me a few people chuckled.

“It was like two months ago and I’ve had wine!”

“There’s chocolate and raspberry, vanilla and blackcurrant, and gingerbread.” I pointed at each tier as I spoke. None of the tiers was huge since there were only fifty guests, but I’d still decided to make three because I always thought it looked right for a wedding. Initially when I’d first been designing the cake, I’d been tempted to add extra height with faux tiers made of cake foam or Perspex ones filled with flowers or fairy lights, but Kane and Austin had vetoed the idea because they hadn’t wanted to make more work for me.

I’d tried to argue it really wasn’t much extra, but they’d just wanted something simple, so we’d settled on the three tiers with white buttercream, gold ganache drip, berries, cinnamon sticks, and little strands of greenery. And now I was glad we hadn’t gone for anything more because the simple glamour of what I’d created was perfect.

“Still want chocolate?” Austin asked.

“Absolutely. And then I want to try all the others.”

The pair of them held the knife tightly and slowly pushed it into the cake, eliciting cheers from the surrounding guests. They carefully cut a small slice and for a second I wondered if one of them was going to try and smash cake into the other’s face, but then Austin reached down to pick up a little bit and demurely held it up to Kane’s mouth. I wasn’t sure if watching Kane eat cake out of Austin’s hand was sweet or bordering on pornographic, since I was pretty sure Kane had sucked the tip of Austin’s fingers into his mouth too, but I tried not to focus on that.

“Holy fuck, Luke,” Kane said, turning to look at me with crumbs of cake clinging to his lips. “The cake is amazing. Austin, you have to try it.” He scooped up some of the cake for his husband, who I was pretty sure groaned.

“Damn, that’s good! I almost wish we didn’t have to give it away.”

“You’d be eating it for weeks,” I said with a laugh, happiness and relief washing over me. I’d been to so many weddings where the cake looked incredible but was dry as a bone or denser than brick inside, and while my friends could just be being polite, it did sound like I’d done a good job.

“Don’t underestimate me,” Austin said, cake knife still in hand. He glanced at the nearby staff. “Can I cut another piece before you take it away and slice it up?”

The staff nodded and Austin cut another piece, sharing it with Kanan while one of the photographers took more photos.

“It really does look amazing,” André said as he slid in beside me, wearing the charming smile that made me weak at the knees. We’d ended up spending most of the day together and had found ourselves sitting next to each other at dinner, sharing a table with the rest of Underground Dreaming. “I can’t wait to try it.”

“You might have to fight Austin for it,” I said, shooting him a grin as the staff began to carry the cake away.

“Not sure I fancy my chances. Maybe I’ll have to come and find you in London instead. Get something straight from the source.”

“You know I don’t have a shop, right?”

“I know. I’m just going to wander around London until I find your secret bakery and hope you feel enough pity to give a poor, starving actor some cake.”

“Poor? Starving?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. “I’ll give you starving, I suppose, especially if you’ve been wandering aimlessly around London. If you’re lucky, I might give you a starting point and see how far you get.”

André chuckled. “I’m horrible with directions, so I don’t think giving me a starting point will be much help, but I appreciate the sentiment.” Around us, everyone was moving towards the dance floor where Austin and Kane were preparing for their first dance. “Do you know what they’ve picked?”

“Not a clue,” I said as we followed the small crowd, finding a spot at the front on one side so we could watch. “Kane said he wanted it to be a surprise and every time I tried to ask Austin, he said the same, only…” There was something about the way Austin had said it that made me think he was plotting.

I’d tried to imagine what sort of song they’d go for, but nothing fit. My assumption was that it would be slow and romantic, probably not Christmassy despite the time of year, with either ridiculously sappy or sexy lyrics. Maybe both. But to my surprise, the bouncing strains of ‘Paper Rings’ by Taylor Swift burst from the speakers.

Kane and Austin grabbed each other and started to dance, Austin spinning Kane out and back in and Kane dipping his husband in return, the pair of them laughing and snatching kisses from each other whenever they got close. It was adorable as fuck and I loved seeing how lost in each other they were.

It really had been the perfect day and I couldn’t have been happier for them.

“Come on,” Austin called, seeing André and me stood alongside Theo and Laurie. “Everyone get your fucking asses on the floor. I’ve had enough of you staring at me.”

“Want to dance?” André asked as he extended his hand. I swallowed, butterflies rising inside me as my stomach churned. Behind him, I saw multiple couples taking to the floor, spinning each other around as love and laughter filled the room.

“Yeah, sure.”

André’s hand was warm, his grip firm as he pulled me towards him and into a space. I didn’t think there was much of the song left but all I could focus on was the feel of his hands in mine, the strength of his grip as he spun me around, and the way he stole my breath in less than ten seconds.

I was completely lost in the moment, knowing that it was one of those small things I’d remember forever, so it took me a while to notice the music change. It only registered when André groaned. “Seriously? What the hell, Austin?”

“What is… holy shit, no? Is it?”

“Yeah,” André said with a resigned sigh and wry smile. “It’s fucking ‘Only For You’. That rat bastard.”

I wanted to know how André knew Kane hadn’t been involved in the inclusion, but the look on his face made it clear he’d been just as blindsided as the rest of the band. ‘Only For You’ was one of Underground Dreaming’s biggest hits and was widely considered one of their most romantic songs, and it had apparently become a staple on a lot of wedding playlists according to half the wedding accounts I followed.

“You bastard,” Kane said, doubling over with laughter in the middle of the dance floor. “You absolute bastard.”

“Do we get a rendition?” Austin asked as the singing started, Haru’s soft voice filling the speakers. “Maybe a little dance?”

“If I do, you’re joining in.” Kane reached for his husband with one hand and for André with the other. “Everyone can join in since I’m pretty sure you all know the words.”

“You know it, right?” André asked, pulling me towards Kane and Austin as Toby, Haru, and Dai joined us.

“I could probably sing it in my sleep.”

“Good.” André smiled, eyes twinkling, and it felt like I’d been punched in the stomach. His fingers were interlaced with mine and all I could think was that I never wanted him to let me go. I knew this whole weekend existed in a bubble which would burst as soon as we got in our cars to head home. But just for tonight, I wanted to pretend this was real.

It was the only chance I’d get.

André’s eyes were still fixed on mine as he began to sing and even though I’d sung this song a thousand times from the side of the stage or dancing around my kitchen, I found myself stumbling over the words. My mouth was still moving, but the wrong sounds were coming out and my brain couldn’t seem to remember what came next. I was sure I looked like a right prat, especially because I’d “dated” Kane for long enough to know all the lyrics, but the way André was still smiling made my embarrassment melt away.

Around us, everyone was singing and Dai had even dragged Toby and Haru forward to dance, the three of them laughing as they attempted to make their way through the routine.

“André,” Toby called, waving his hand. “Come on, you too.”

“No, I’m not getting involved!”

“Tough shit,” Dai said without missing a beat. “Get your ass over here.”

I nudged André with my other hand, gently pressing into the small of his lower back. “Go on, please? For me.”

“Fine. But you owe me.” He shot me a wink as he stepped away and into formation with the others as the chorus kicked in again. I cheered and whooped, pulling my phone out of my jacket pocket to record a couple of clips.

And if I happened to make André the focus, well, it wasn’t like I had to share them with anyone else. Kane and Austin had asked us not to post anything about their wedding on social media until they were ready to announce it themselves, and I wasn’t about to be a dick and break their trust.

The music surged as the song reached its final chorus and Kane slipped into place with the rest of the band, the five of them striking a final pose before pulling each other in for a huge hug.

Austin walked over and Kane rolled his eyes before grabbing his husband and dragging him in for a kiss. “You’re such an asshole,” Kane muttered. “I can’t believe you did that.” The music changed and they kept kissing as they danced and before I knew it, André was standing in front of me again.

“Hey, want to get some fresh air? It’s a little stuffy in here.”

“Sure.” My fingers itched to take his again but I settled for letting my arm hang by my side. Every now and then my little finger brushed against the side of his hand, making little sparks shoot through my muscles.

As we walked towards the door, I noticed the slices of cake had been served on several large trays. I paused to scoop up a piece of each flavour, wrapping them in paper napkins and putting them in one of the outside pockets of my jacket before following André towards the gardens.

I felt the freezing air before we reached the doors and a shiver ran through me.

“We don’t have to go outside,” André said. “It’s just so warm in there I needed five minutes.”

“I get it.” I smiled softly. “I went and grabbed my coat after dinner when we had a few minutes spare. It’s in the little cloakroom.” I hadn’t known if I’d want, or need, to go outside again but I’d thought it was best to be prepared. And I wasn’t going to freeze my cute little butt off when I didn’t have to.

“Let’s get your coat then.”

“Do you need one?”

He shrugged. “I’ll manage for a few minutes.”

“You can always go and grab it while I find mine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course,” I said as we reached the small cloakroom where I’d hung my coat. “And when you come back, I have a surprise for you.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“I have cake.”

André closed the gap between us, making my heart race. “You know, since you owe me for making me dance, we could skip the walk…”

“I mean, it is very cold outside.” I grinned, tilting my head up to look at him. “It would be better to stay in.”

“But that doesn’t mean we have to go back to the party.”

“I could definitely do with a breather.”

“Maybe we could do that together?” We were so close now and fuck, I was so tempted to kiss him. There was nobody around. It would be so easy to close those last few inches and taste him. And even if someone did see, would it matter? André and I were both consenting adults, so who cared if we wanted to hook up.

“I like the sound of that,” I said as André grabbed my face and pulled me in for the kiss I’d been desperate for.