Keefe tried to gulp down the butterflies in his stomach. It was now or never. They were watching a true crime documentary on Netflix, just wearing pajama bottoms, cans of grape soda on the coffee table. Kelvin's tongue was blue. The least romantic moment imaginable, unless you counted the time he got food poisoning and was throwing up all night. They weren't even cuddling. But the lack of romance was the only thing that kept him from losing his nerve.
When the show ended, Kelvin turned off the tv, then noticed Keefe looking at him. "Oh, sorry, did you want to watch something else?"
"No. Just leave it off. I need to talk to you for a minute."
Kelvin turned to face him. "What's up ?"
Keefe stared. The words he wanted to say wouldn't come out. Instead he found himself sayings something else. "You are so beautiful. I've seen you every day for three years, but it never goes away. I'll tell you a secret. Remember how I used to get tongue-tied and say things that didn't make much sense? People thought I was a little impaired because of the drugs, but actually I was trying to talk while looking at you. Even now I sometimes forget what I want to say, because all I can think of is how incredibly beautiful you are, and how I want to be kissing you, and now I'm rambling and you think I'm a complete idiot."
"No, of course not. What guy doesn't want to hear that he's hot?" Kelvin leaned over and kissed him, then turned around and pressed his back against Keefe's chest, so Keefe could hold him in his arms with their hands touching: their favorite position for watching tv or listening to music, but the wrong position for saying what he wanted to say.
He moved away. Kelvin looked at him in surprise. "Something wrong, Brother?"
This was the moment. " I wanted...I want....Kelvin, I want to marry you." He retrieved the box with the matching rings from his pocket.
Three Months Later
Kelvin came into the dressing room and hugged Keefe from behind. "Wow, you look amazing. So incredibly hot."
Keefe turned around and hugged him. "You, too. I still can't believe that this day is finally here."
"Are you ready?"
"No. But I'm going anyway." Keefe didn't let go. Why wasn't he letting go?
"Everybody gets nervous," Kelvin murmured, hugging him tighter. Keefe felt himself getting aroused. "Not appropriate!" he told himself. "The ceremony starts in a few minutes." But then they were kissing. Hard, deep, as if their lives depended on it.
"We shouldn't be doing this," Keefe said. "We have to stop." But he didn't stop. He felt Kelvin's cock pressing against him. He had been with a lot of guys, but no one ever got that hard, like an iron shaft. He reached down, unzipped Kelvin's pants, and pulled it out Kelvin moaned. Should he drop to his knees? Of course not. But he was going to, anyway...
"Wait, this is wrong." Keefe broke away.
"I know. I'm sorry. I just got carried away, seeing you in my dressing room and all. I'm honestly happy to be your best man. That was my biggest fear, losing your friendship."
Keefe laughed to break the tension. "You're not getting rid of me that easy, Brother. Remember, Daddy Eli is giving us a house on the estate for a wedding present. I'll probably see you more often than I did when...um." No, not the look that made him melt! Kelvin knew exactly what he was doing. "You have no right to use that look on me!" he thought. "And it's not accidental -- you know exactly what you are doing! You rejected me -- let it go!" And they were kissing again. Why couldn't he let Kelvin go?
"Hey, Dummy, they're starting the wedding march...you having trouble tying Keefe's boutonniere?" It was Kelvin's older sister, Judy. They immediately moved apart and tried to hide their arousal. She stared for a moment, then started yelling. "God dam it, Kelvin, I don't know what kind of sick game you are playing, but you will not ruin this for Keefe." She jabbed him in the chest. You had your chance, and you blew it, and BJ and I had to listen to the poor boy crying every night for a month!"
"I didn't cry every night for a month," Keefe said. "Just the first week or two."
"So you just back off and let our boy be happy!" She took Keefe's arm. "Do you need a new best man, darlin'?"
"No, no, it's fine. We just got carried away."
"Ok, then. But I'll be in the first row, Chambers side, if you need me to kick this one in the nuts." She performed the "keeping an eye on you" gesture and vanished.
Without another word, Kelvin took his arm and led him down the stairs, through the foyer, and out into the yard. Thirty chairs, draped in white, a white stage, and a canopy covered with white flowers. All of his friends. His Mama and sister. Daddy Eli and the other Gemstones. Kelvin's older brother Jesse standing on the stage in the front, welcoming him.
The band began to play the wedding march. They walked step by step down the aisle, just as they had practiced at the rehearsal.
Suddenly Kelvin whispered "Marry me."
"What?"
"At the canopy we turn right and keep walking. We get into my car, drive into Charleston, and get married. What's stopping us?"
"Are you kidding? Everything is stopping us! You said no, remember?"
"I'm sorry. I...I got scared."
"Everything scares you, Brother! It took a whole year to talk you into sucking my cock!" Whoops, he said that so loud that everyone in the front row heard! He glanced over at his Mama and sister. They didn't react.
"Go straight or turn right, Brother?"
Suddenly Keefe felt dizzy. "Don't faint at your own wedding!" he told himself savagely. He felt Kelvin pulling on him, nearly dragging him onto the stage. They took their places on the right side, facing Daedalus and his brother Steve.
Daedalus, the man of his dreams! No, that wasn't right. A comforting presence. Someone to talk to, someone have fun with, but not the man he was dreaming of. He gulped. Thats why you got married, right? For comfort?
"I've performed many weddings," Jesse was saying, "But none has brought me so much joy as the wedding of a man who I've come to respect as a Christian counselor and love as a brother. Keefe, Daedalus, please step forward with your best men. They have written their own vows.
They stepped forward. Kelvin was still holding his arm -- not what they rehearsed. Daedalus looked confused for a moment, then grabbed his best man's arm, too. He began: "Keefe, when you knocked on my door three months ago, and gave me this ring, I knew that it was really for Kelvin Gemstone."
Huh? These weren't the vows they wrote. There was a murmur in the audience as people asked each other "What did he say?"
Kelvin kept their arms linked. Daedalus continued. "We dated for five years, and never once did we have an argument, not even a disagreement more serious than what kind of pizza to order. Then we broke up, and you started dating Kelvin, who disagreed with you about everything. At first he wouldn't even admit that you were together. Let's face it, he can be a bit of a jerk sometimes. But he challenges you, in a way I never could."
The murmuring in the audience grew so loud that Jesse had to hold his hands up and say "Quiet, please. This is a holy moment. Daedalus, please continue your...um...vow."
He continued: "Loving Kelvin forced you to become a better person. You've changed a lot -- everybody can tell. You're sweeter, kinder, more godly than the guy who broke up with me, and dealing with Kelvin Gemstone made you that way. You belong together."
"No, Daedalus," Keefe said in a weak, numb voice. "I want us to be together. You and me."
"And I'll always be there for you. I'll always be your brother. But whether you know it or not, Kelvin is your lover." He pressed the wedding ring into Kelvin's hand. "Kelv, baby, he's all yours. Take care of him. Oh, and one more thing -- you broke my heart twice, Asshole!" He slapped Keefe's face and ran from the stage.
His brother addressed the audience. "After party at Club Sinister. The glory holes will be open, and drinks are on us!" Half of Daedalus' side and a surprising number of Keefe's side walked out, but most stayed, curious to see what would happen next.
Kelvin let go of Keefe's arm. "I didn't...I'm sorry..." he began, then trailed off.
Jesse was grinning. "I've performed over 100 weddings, and this is the first time that the groom left the...um, groom...at the altar. So, Keefe it's up to you. Do you want to go after Daedalus and try to work this out, or is it Kelvin for life?"
Judy stood. "Keefe, I saw one of the caterers giving you the eye. Maybe you need some fresh blood."
Daddy Eli stood, leaning heavily on his cane. "I'm not taking back my wedding present, Keefe. You still get the house. There's no shame in being single for awhile, if that's what you want."
So many voices advising him, pulling him in so many different direction! "Enough!" he yelled. "I have made my decision."
Six Months Later
"Don't forget that Jesse and Amber are having us over for dinner tonight," Keefe said as he got dressed. "I thought we could bring something festive, like make-your-own tapas. It will take awhile to prepare, but...hey are you still in bed?" He walked from his dressing room to the master bedroom. "Oh, I see you're ready for more."
"No, not really. Twice this morning was my limit. I just get like this a lot when I'm looking at you."
"Hey, that's my line." Keefe leaned over and kissed ____.