“Vincent and Nathan have asked me to keep this short because they’ve each been waiting for this moment for a very long time. I think it’s safe to say a lifetime, even,” Dom began.
Several of the men around us nodded.
“Will you join hands?” Dom asked the couple.
Nathan and Vincent faced one another and joined hands. I wanted to smile at how hard Vincent was hanging onto Nathan’s fingers, like he was afraid the man might make a run for it. I could tell from the expression on Nathan’s face that the hounds of hell couldn’t drag him away.
“Nathan and Vincent, you’re here because you both took chances. On yourselves and on each other. Your family is so very glad you did. I’m going to steal some of the words my older brother first spoke almost a decade ago and that still remain true today. We’re often taught that family are the people you share your blood with. But we’ve come to learn that family is so much more than that. It’s about the people who will be there when you come home, or will look for you when you’re lost. They’ll bring light to your darkness and comfort you in your sorrow. Nathan and Vincent, you’ve found family in each other and in those who stand behind you now both here and in spirit, to celebrate this moment with you. Our bond isn’t blood, but something so much stronger.” Both men nodded as Dom paused before saying, “Do either of you wish to say something before you speak your vows?”
“Yeah, do the really short version, okay, Dom?” Vincent said. His eyes were fastened on his husband-to-be and even from where I was standing, I could see him shaking. Nathan pulled their joined hands up to his lips and brushed a kiss across Vincent’s knuckles. The move calmed Vincent somewhat. Of course, it didn’t hurt when he tugged Nathan even closer to him so there were just mere inches separating their bodies.
“Can we have the rings, please?”
Everett and Brody stepped forward to hand the rings to each man.
“Vincent Dorfmeyer—”
“Seriously, Dom?” Vincent drawled as he glanced at Dom.
“Sorry, force of habit,” Dom said, completely failing to suppress his smile of amusement. Several of the guests chuckled.
“Uh-huh,” Vincent said doubtfully.
“Vincent, do you take Nathan—”
“Nate,” Vincent interjected. He tore his eyes from his fiancé and looked at Dom. “Nate,” he said softly with a nod of his head. His eyes were back on Nathan an instant later. The nickname clearly meant something between the two because Nathan began to cry. I heard Vincent whisper something softly to him that none of us could hear as he wiped at Nathan’s tears. Nathan managed a shaky smile and nodded in response to whatever Vincent had said to him.
“Vincent, do you take Nate to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, protect and cherish him in this life and the next? Do you promise to put his needs above your own and spend the rest of your days bringing him the same joy and happiness he will bring you?”
“I do,” Vincent said as he slid his ring onto Nathan’s finger.
“Nate, do you take Vincent to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, protect and cherish him in this life and the next? Do you promise to put his needs above your own and spend the rest of your days bringing him the same joy and happiness he will bring you?”
“I do,” Nathan managed to say as he secured his ring on Vincent’s finger.
“Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husbands. You may kiss your Nate, Vincent Wilder.”
Dom barely even finished talking before the men were kissing. The guests burst into applause. Everett wiped at his cheeks, then turned to seek us out. As I held his gaze, I pulled Gage’s hand up to my mouth and pressed a kiss into his palm. “We need to make this work,” I said. “I want this with both of you.”
I knew it wouldn’t be legal, but I didn’t care. It had nothing to do with a piece of paper. “Promise me, Gage. Make this happen for us.”
I knew it wasn’t fair to put that much pressure on Gage, but I knew if anyone could make it happen, it was him.
And I was that desperate.
But if he responded to me, I didn’t hear him because several guys broke out into wolf whistles and shouts of encouragement at that exact moment as Vincent dipped Nathan over his arm and kissed him deeply. I was afraid to ask Gage what his answer had been because I wasn’t sure what would happen if it wasn’t the answer I needed to hear.
Chapter 27
Everett
“Dad?”
I froze at the sound of Reese’s voice, then looked up from the flowers I’d been cutting so I could make a bouquet out of them to give to Charlie when she got home. The little girl was part of a recital at her school, which she’d been very nervous about because she was singing a small part of the song by herself. I’d so badly wanted to go with Phillipe and Gage to watch the show, but it would have been too big of a risk that I’d be recognized. But at least I could give the little girl the traditional bouquet given to stage performers. Fortunately, the weather hadn’t turned too cold yet, so there were still plenty of flowers left to pick from.