bodies buried after this party,” Erik called after him.
Daisy came over, curled her hand around Erik’s upper arm and kissed the edge of his sideburn. “I’m so happy,” she said.
“Me, too,” Erik said, looking at Daisy’s brother Michel, chatting with Joe and Francine around the fire pit. Michel’s wife Anya was deep in conversation with Lucky, while their daughter Kiki was chasing Jack all over the gardens.
Later, when the guests had left and the kids were tucked in, the four friends sat on the porch, drinking the last of the wine.
“We have presents for you,” Daisy said, putting a gift bag on the wicker table. Lucky opened hers first and held up a pair of gorgeous diamond-and-pearl earrings. Tucked beneath was a little note, which Lucky read silently. She smiled. Nodded. Laughed out loud. And then caught Daisy’s hand in hers, sniffing.
“You,” she said.
“You,” Daisy said.
Erik took another box out of the gift bag and gave it to Will. “This is for you as my best man,” he said.
“Your only man,” Will said.
“But it’s also a token and symbol of our friendship. Which has no price. Blah blah blah. I love you. Dude.”
“Don’t tax yourself preparing a statement, Fish,” Lucky said.
“Good thing he’s not making the toast,” Will said, grinning as he opened the box. He looked down and the grin faded.
A long staring moment.
“What is it?” Lucky finally said.
“It’s a cock ring.”
Lucky laughed. “No, really. What is it?”
“No, really,” Will said, turning the box toward her. “It’s a cock ring.”
“A sterling silver cock ring,” Erik said. “Doubles as a bottle opener. Only the best for my best man.”
The girls were shrieking with laughter. Lucky folded in half, Daisy collapsed on the arm of her chair. Through the cackling, Will just stared at Erik. Erik crossed an ankle over the other knee, laced his hands behind his head and stared back.
“Do you know why I love you, Fish?” Lucky said, gasping.
“My impeccable taste in gifts?”
“You are the only one who can render Will speechless.”
Will slowly shook his head. He looked about to say something, then shook his head again, laughing softly.
“Did you engrave it?” Daisy asked Erik, running her fingertips under her eyes.
“I was going to but… Really, you give a guy a cock ring, what more is there to say?”
Will closed the box and set it down on the table. “Thank you,” he said.
“You’re welcome.”
DAISY GOT READY IN her old bedroom. Erik used the carriage house to suit up, and it turned into an impromptu stag party. The photographer moved about on invisible feet, taking candid shots. Erik would frame one of the captured moments and keep it on top of his dresser at home. In it, Fred mixed gin and tonics while engaged in conversation with Miles Kelly. Mike, Joe, Pete and Will—all slicked out and looking sharp—stood around chatting while in the background, Kees Justi busied himself with Erik’s bowtie.
“I haven’t worn a tux since senior prom,” Erik said. “And it had a clip-on tie.”
“No protégé of mine shows up to his wedding in a clip-on.”
“Which is why I needed you here. Among other reasons.”
Kees’s eyes blinked as he folded and fussed and tied and made it perfect, pausing once to brush away tears.
“Knock it off,” Erik said.
“Sorry. You know me. The emotional hamburger. Hold still now.”
Erik held his head still and tugged at his cuffs. Will came over and brushed his hands out across Erik’s shoulders, picked off an infinitesimal piece of lint, then crossed his arms and looked the groom up and down.
“Look all right?” Erik asked.
Will nodded. “You’re hot.”
“Isn’t he?” Kees said. “Telling you, Fish, whoever fit your tux knew what he was doing. Makes your ass look fabulous.”
“Fred, can I get another of those G and Ts,” Erik called.
Pete brought it over, clinked his glass with his brother’s and they drank. “You all right?” Pete said.
Erik nodded. “Can you hear me?”
Pete lightly grazed his knuckles on Erik’s cheekbone. “I always hear you.”
Miles came over with the small boutonnière of two daisies and pinned it to Erik’s lapel.
“If it weren’t for you,” Erik said, “I wouldn’t be living this truth. I’d be wandering around somewhere, clutching my pearls.”
Miles smiled and smoothed down the lapel. Then he reached in his pants pocket and into Erik’s hand he pressed what felt like a coin, but was a simple silver disc with the letter F on it. Erik looked up with wrinkled eyebrows.
“It’s a fuck,” Miles said. “I give it.”
Will’s phone beeped and he reached in his