Page 39 of Unscripted Love
“I did,” I agreed.
“Why?” Kyle questioned. I guess it was only fair that he put me on the spot too.
“I knew that I’d regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t,” I said simply. “I’ve dated the dime-a-dozen guys, but you’re a one-in-a-billion man.”
Kyle shook his head. “I put my pant legs on one at a time like everyone else.”
I knew that we would just have to agree to disagree on that one. I didn’t want to waste any of our precious time debating the awesomeness of Kyle Vaughn. We both tucked into our food instead of talking. Afterward, Kyle insisted on driving me back to the salon. I didn’t bother pointing out it was only a few blocks because I saw the heat in his eyes and knew he wanted to kiss me in private.
His long lingering kisses fueled me for the rest of the day and evening. The knowledge that I would soon have his lips on mine again added to the happy buzz inside me when I saw my roses again the next day.
“Make sure you take them home so you can enjoy them over the weekend,” Mere said when she joined me, snapping me out of my little happy trance. “You ready to stand beside our best friend as he marries the man of his dreams?”
“I am. Have you seen Josh yet?” I asked Mere.
“Yes,” she said smiling broadly. “Josh is smiling, happy, and calm. It’s going to be a beautiful ceremony. I’m going to cry a lot so will you tuck an extra handkerchief in your tuxedo jacket for me? I think it would be poor taste to pull one out of the bodice of my dress.”
“You bet.”
Meredith wasn’t the only one who needed a handkerchief to wipe away tears as Josh and Gabe exchanged their vows. I had never been as happy for another living soul as I was for Josh that day. He’d found a man who loved him the way he was—bold, beautiful, and flamboyant as fuck. I glanced at Kyle a few times during the ceremony and caught him watching me instead of the grooms. The connection was so intense it was hard for me to look away, but I did because I couldn’t miss Josh’s big day.
Kyle waited for me by the large marquee while the photographer snapped at least two thousand photos of the wedding party. I noticed that Kyle was seated next to me at the main table, which meant Josh hadn’t given up playing matchmaker after all. If anyone thought it was odd that Gabe’s ex-boyfriend was sitting at the same table with him, they didn’t say anything. Gabe’s parents and Kyle seemed genuinely happy to see one another.
Everything about the night was perfect, but nothing made me happier than dancing with Kyle. It didn’t matter if the dance was fast or slow, it gave me an excuse to put my hands on the man. It felt like we danced for hours before the grooms said goodbye and headed to their hotel in Cincinnati. The music continued to thump on even after they left and we danced some more.
“It’s probably getting close to midnight,” Kyle said once we stopped dancing long enough for a drink.
“Are you going to turn into a pumpkin or something?” I asked playfully.
“Cute,” Kyle replied. “I was thinking more along the lines of taking you back to my place, stripping you out of your tuxedo, and having my wicked way with you.”
“Okay then,” I said. “Just let me say goodbye to a few people.”
I found Meredith slow dancing with Harley and tapped her on the shoulder. “I’m not cutting in,” I assured Harley. “I’m heading out and wanted to say goodbye.”
Mere stopped dancing anyway to hug me goodbye. “I’m so glad you told Kyle the truth,” she whispered in my ear.
I was too stunned to say anything once she pulled back. Mere saw that Kyle and I had grown closer and assumed the conversation had taken place already. She thought I was a much better man than I truly was and I didn’t want to shatter her impression of me.
“Have a good weekend,” I finally said once I could speak again.
Mere noticed my reaction, but Harley pulled her back into his arms and spun her around before she could say another word. Holy shit, what the fuck have I done? I had carried things way too fucking far and didn’t know what to do.
I found Kyle waiting for me outside the marquee. He was looking up at the twinkling stars in the sky with a goofy grin on his face.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Thanking my lucky stars,” Kyle said softly then looked at me. “You know, Chaz. I was thinking earlier that we’ve never had a real date. I was hoping to change that next weekend if you’re free.” It was one of the classic romance book moments where you yelled at the main character not to blow it.
I didn’t have the luxury of playing along with the madness I’d started because Kyle wasn’t a fictional book boyfriend; he was a living, breathing, beautiful human being who deserved a chance at happiness. I had fooled myself into believing that I was good enough for him, but I knew better. It was time to pull a Gideon and yank that Band-Aid off.
“I’m sorry, Kyle. I can’t.”
I walked away and left him standing beneath the stars again, but not before I saw the hurt in his eyes. I knew that wounded look would follow me around for the rest of my life. I kept my shit together until I got home and saw the beautiful flowers he sent me sitting on my bedside table. I touched the petals gently while I cried over my stupidity for ruining the best thing to ever happen to me.
Once in fifth grade, our gym class was divided into two teams to play a rousing game of kickball. Gym teachers had a penchant for being purveyors of bullies with their bright idea of picking the two most popular kids as team captains and asking them to choose their teams. Of course, I was the fat, uncoordinated kid they always chose last. Of course, the captain saddled with me on his team would say things like, “just stay out of our way” instead of “welcome to the team.”
Well, I’d had enough of people telling me to stay out of their way that day and took action. The other downside I faced was the other team constantly targeting me. They’d kick the ball as hard as they could in my direction because they knew I wouldn’t catch or field it cleanly. “No more,” I had said softly to myself.