Page 56 of Rhythm of Us
“That was a beautiful gift,” I told him once he finished singing and exited the stage. “I loved it and I love you.”
“I’m so glad you did. I was afraid it was too mushy for me to sing in front of our family and friends.”
“It was perfect, just like this party and your gifts.”
“I’m not done with your surprises yet,” Xavier said with a leering smile. “We have yet to properly anoint our new garage. I believe you mentioned something about fucking me over the hood of Mistress.”
“It’s time to go home,” I said in a rush, reaching for his hand. “I’m older now and I need to stop staying out so late. Let’s try not to be obvious that I’m about to make it less comfortable for you to walk tomorrow. Okay?”
“Too late,” Gray said from behind me before Xavier could answer my question. Xavier and I moaned in unison.
I turned to find Gray and Chase standing behind me wearing matching grins on their faces. Xavier told me what Van had said about Chase and Gray’s fated encounter leading to our relationship. I had never really thought about it quite like that, but Van was right. Their love brought Xavier into my life like some amazing ripple effect. I looked around the bar and wondered which one of our friends might be next. I shared my musing with Chase, Gray, and Xavier, who also began looking around in speculation.
I saw Jack leaning awfully close to Liam as they talked behind the bar. Of course, he could’ve been doing that to be heard over the music. JJ and Miller appeared to be having a good time playing pool against a couple of guys I didn’t recognize. It was hard to imagine those two ever settling down - especially with each other - but who knew?
“Oh, the possibilities,” Xavier said in delighted glee. “It’s sure as hell going to be fun to kick back and watch, now that we’ve found our happily-ever-after.”
Happily-ever-after. The three words you only read about in books or saw in movies or television shows. I thought they were fabled things that didn’t happen in real life, but I was wrong. So wrong. I would be taking my happily-ever-after home with me. I would spend that night and every night being appreciative of the blessing that was Xavier Cruz as we built our life together.
A FEW WEEKSlater, Jack Murphy called Chase and told him that he had a family emergency and asked if he could help out a few weeks in his absence. Jack wasn’t the kind of guy who asked anyone for anything, so Chase was both honored and happy to help him.
One Friday night while Jack was away, Ben and I went to keep Gray company while he stared down any man who even though about hitting on Chase while he tended bar. It was the funniest damn thing that Ben and I had ever seen.
I watched Chase and Liam working behind the bar and noticed how well they worked together, as if they worked together for years instead of just a few days. They laughed and seemed to be having a great time together. Once again, I was struck by a nagging feeling that there was something familiar about Liam. It wasn’t so much his looks, but his mannerisms. Then it hit me where I recognized those expressions and gestures.
I sat speechless on the stool for a long time, while Gray and Ben chatted about work. They eventually went to play pool or darts – they said, but I wasn’t listening – and I waived Liam over to get a refill on my Coke. I told myself to keep my mouth shut, but I didn’t listen to myself.
I leaned forward and crooked my finger for him to come closer. “When are you going to tell Chase that you’re his half-brother?” I saw all of the color leech from Liam’s face and I knew I had guessed correctly. The trouble was, what the hell was I going to do with the knowledge?
The End!