altar. Just remember, don’t lock your knees, and if anyone offers you a pale white cookie, don’t get it stuck to the roof of your mouth or you’ll be digging at with your tongue through the ceremony.”
“Wait, no. There’s wafers?” Forest’s panic rose again, and he struggled to recall that part of the rehearsal. “We weren’t doing anything like that. Were we? Don’t say shit like that unless someone’s changed something. Suppose they bring out the wafers?”
“He’s being an asshole.” Miki shoved the last of his M&Ms in his mouth, chewed furiously, then swallowed. “We’ll be downstairs. I’ve got the ring. It’ll be fast. Just… don’t puke.”
“You’re not helping,” Forest ground out, suffering through Damie adjusting the buttons on his tuxedo to show more of Forest’s deep blue brocade waistcoat. “I’m so going to puke.”
“Well if you do, there’s mints on the table someplace. Swallow a handful after you hurl or that first kiss is going to really suck for Connor.” Miki stood at the top of the back stairs leading down to the main ballroom. “Hurry up, D. Priest wanted us there before they opened the doors to let people in. Brigid’s going to skin us if we fuck this up.”
“You can do this,” Damie whispered, pulling Forest into a quick hug. “’Sides, your guy’s here to keep you company. Why don’t the two of you just kick back here while everyone goes to find a seat, then come down when you’re ready.”
“Come down when the fucking music starts like they want you to or Brigid’s going to yank you two down there by your ears,” Miki shot back, nodding at Connor coming up the stairs. “Yeah, we’re going. D, come on.”
If Forest’s heart was skipping from nerves before, it went into overdrive at the sight of his husband striding across the carpet dressed in his crisp dark blue formal uniform. There were flashes of gold, medals, and a hat Connor had tucked under his arm, but beneath the gilded navy and embossed star lay the man he’d fallen in love with.
“Hey, babe. You look good.” Con gently tossed his hat onto the settee, then gathered Forest up into a tight embrace. Angling his head, he stole a soft kiss from Forest’s open mouth, deepening it as the music swelled below and the sounds of people moving into the ballroom reached them. “God, you taste good too.”
He leaned into Connor’s chest, hooking his hands behind his husband’s back, and exhaled, forcing all the tension out of his body. From the chatter and clinking of glasses, it sounded as if their guests were slow to trickle in through the doors, but at that moment, Forest wouldn’t have cared if it took them forever to find a place to sit. He was wrapped up in a hug with his favorite person tucked against his heart while the world waited for them to speak their vows.
Again.
“You know, we can slip out while they’re all busy and just elope,” Connor suggested, snuggling his face into the crook of Forest’s neck.
“That’s what got us into trouble the last time.” He laughed under his breath. “Now we’re standing in front of a million and a half people—”
“Three hundred.”
“Three million—and my stomach’s eating itself.” Connor’s chuckle rumbled through his chest. Its deep roll lightened the pressure building up behind Forest’s temples and he exhaled again, grumbling at having to let go of his anger. “Miki’s right. We should have just said no.”
“Miki’s fearless and can stare down a T-Rex, a ghra,” Con reminded him. “You and I are mere mortals, and that’s my mum we’re talking about. I’m man enough to admit I’ll never say no to her.”
“Yeah,” Forest admitted softly. “I wouldn’t either. She just wants to be there to see us happy. I get that. This is… we can get through this, then go stuff ourselves with cake. Guys were right. It’s not like we haven’t done this before.”
“Last time Elvis married us. This time we’ve got a rogue Catholic priest, a rock band, and my Irish clan behind us. I think we’re doing better this time around. At the very least, we’ve got better whiskey and music.” The music shifted once again, cycling into a classic Irish love song, warning the couple they had five minutes to get to the now closed double doors. “Ah, they’re almost playing our song, love.”
“Almost.” He tightened his arms around Connor’s waist, holding still for a moment longer. “I love you. I can’t imagine loving anyone else