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CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

GARY

Even after the very public confrontation with my family, basically guaranteeing things couldn’t get any worse, I was still nervous to walk down that aisle.

Not because I didn't want to. I was happy to pretend with Easton for just a little while longer.

But I still felt nauseous about saying my vows.

“Deep breaths. You can do this. You already kicked someone’s ass today and told your parents to shove it. You can do anything,” Ben coached as he lint rolled my tux for any speck of dust or dirt he might have missed.

All that seemed vastly easier than facing that crowd. At least until the door opened and Easton turned, offering me his hand. Even Ben looked confused.

“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at the altar!” he hissed under his breath.

Easton shook his head. “I’m not letting him walk down that aisle alone. He’s not doing anything alone anymore. He’s got me.”

Swoon. Seriously. This guy couldn’t be more swoon worthy.

I was head over heels in love with him, and for a minute when he took my hand and kissed the back of it, I could’ve sworn he loved me, too.

He laced our fingers, squeezing supportively, and together we walked down the aisle.

And when we got to the altar, he never let go.

He made faces while the minister spoke, testing just how strong my self-control was. I heard a few snickers, because he was in no way subtle about it, and when it finally came time for me to say my vows, I wasn’t nervous anymore. I shook my head with a smile.

“Easton. I can’t tell you how many times I wrote and rewrote my vows, trying to think of the right thing to say.

I copied quotes from my favorite books, watched so many rom-coms my eyes crossed, and made Google my best friend.

But then I realized I was going about it all wrong.

Because Google isn’t my best friend. You are.

I’m not marrying just anyone. I’m marrying my best friend.

You make me laugh when I want to cry. You remind me to rest when I’m up to my ears in study notes and can’t focus anymore.

And when it feels like my life is turning upside down, you’re there to catch me.

You’re everything I need. I promise to do everything in my power to make sure our relationship is just as full of fun and adventure decades from now.

” It was what he wanted. For things to stay the same.

And since the same was damn near perfect, I wanted that to.

I shrugged, wrinkling my nose with a smile. “Tag, you’re it.”

He barked out a laugh, dragging me closer for a kiss, only to be interrupted by the minister, who coughed out a clear, “Not yet.”

Easton swung around to glare at him. “Hurry up.”

His impatience made everyone laugh. The minister chuckled and made a go ahead gesture. “You heard him. Your turn.”

Easton made a face, pointed at me, and raised his eyebrows. “What he said.”

“Easton!” I laughed, shoving his shoulder. He grinned like a mad man, tugging me into his arms again.

“What? You took all my ideas.”

I crossed my arms, giving him a mock scowl, though it was really hard not to laugh. He sighed like he was bent out of shape but ruined it with a wink.

“Alright, alright, fine. Gary. I promise to keep making people jealous with just how awesome we are together.”

The not so subtle dig at my sister had my shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. I could hear everyone else laughing, but my entire world was focused on Easton as he kept going, playful teasing in his eyes.

“I promise to cover your eyes whenever our friends sucker you into watching horror movies.” His tone softened, going from teasing to sweet.

“I promise to relinquish all rights to my hoodies. They look better on you anyway.” He drew me in closer, until we were wrapped around each other, his forehead pressed against mine.

“And I promise, no matter what, I’ll always have your back. ”

He pressed his lips against mine, ignoring the minister’s heavy sigh.

“Well, we’re doing things out of order, I guess. Guys? We’ve still got the rings, you know.”

Easton groaned, dropping his head onto my shoulder dramatically. I snickered, stepping back to grab the ring from Angel. Easton tipped his head curiously.

“I was going to get you a ring pop, but you’ve got no self control and it would be gone by the time the cake was served. So I got you this instead.”

He wasn’t a diamond ring kind of guy to me, so instead, I got Easton a ring that was pitch black and textured to look like lightning was coursing through it. Easton’s smile grew, and he pointed at it, raising his eyebrows at me.

“That’s fucking cool.”

“Easton!” Mrs. Warner chided with an exasperated screech.

He chuckled, taking my engagement ring from his brother.

I told him I didn’t want anything more than what he already gave me.

Adding anything to it would be too big on my finger anyway.

So I gave up my engagement ring for the day and he gave it back, slipping it on my finger and kissing my knuckles.

Then he shot another dirty look at the minister.

“Now?”

The minister barked out a laugh. “Now. I pronounce you both husbands. May your lives be filled with love and laughter for the rest of your days.”

Easton caught me easily as I threw myself at him, lifting me off my feet. I pressed my lips against his. And it was perfect. Just like he was.

After being practically pushed back down the aisle, because Easton wasn’t interested in ending the kiss before he absolutely had to, we were ushered away to Mr. Warner’s office, where the official paperwork was waiting to be signed.

We were supposed to skip this part, so I frowned when Easton led me around the desk and sat in the chair, pulling me into his lap.

“What are you doing?”

“Marrying you.” He said it so matter-of-factly, like he wasn’t giving me everything I ever dreamed of, everything I was too afraid to ask for.

“But–”

“This doesn’t change much, Gary. You said it yourself. Our relationship is going to stay the same, just as fun, just as crazy, for years. Except now, legally, you’ll belong to me, and no one, not even your fucked up family, can take you from me.”

It was such an Easton way of saying it. Full of possessiveness and teasing. And I absolutely loved it. But I couldn’t let him do this without telling him the truth.

“I love you. I’m in love with you. You’re right, I don’t want things to change. But I don’t want you doing this without knowing.”

He cupped my cheek, leaning his forehead against mine. “I’m not ever going to be the romance guy, and I will probably forget our anniversary, but I’m never going to stop wanting you beside me. Never going to want anyone else but you. Does that work for you?”

Tears slipped down my cheeks, and a huge grin spread across my face. “Yes. That’s enough for me. You’re enough for me. Forever.”

“Good. Then sign the damn papers, Gary. And don’t forget to sign the right name.”

With a wet laugh, I sat up, looking at the papers on the desk. I did a double take and frowned, confused. “Wait. Why is the last name different?”

“Smiley came up with it. We said we wanted to start fresh with a new name, right? I wanted something that was just for us. To show what we were to each other. There weren’t any good ones that meant best friend, so Smiley suggested this instead.

Something we both are to each other. Something that will keep us together for a long time. At least, that’s how he described it.”

He acted like it didn’t matter, but he wouldn’t have accepted it if it didn’t. And Smiley was right. It was exactly what Easton was to me, and what I strived to be for him. So, to show him I agreed, I scrawled my name next to his.

Gary and Easton Solace. It had a nice ring to it.