“Yeah,” Chad said. “Can I take a look at that black-and-green helmet in the window?”
Chapter Fifteen
Owen placed his hands on his hips and looked around Charity Woods Park. He was sweaty and tired and really just wanted to take a shower and lie down, but the whole damn event hadn’t even started yet.
He glared at Austin, who had worked twice as hard as him getting everything set up and didn’t even look rumpled.
Hot, perfectionist bastard.
The entire park and stage were set up like the castle from Aric’s Revenge. The stage was the throne room, and the area in front of the stage was a court. There were magnificent props and real-looking dragons that swiveled their heads on remotes. Owen didn’t even want to know how much those things cost.
This small area of the park was transformed, and Owen truly did believe he was in the video game. It was all very epic, and Austin looked exactly like Aric. It was probably the most amazing proposal Owen had ever heard of.
His gaze kept straying to the stage, where he’d bent Chad over, where he’d worn that bow tie, where he’d had the best sex of his life…
Damn it. He should have told Austin this area wasn’t available to rent. Too many memories. Too many visions swarming in his head that made his tight leather pants even tighter.
Owen blew out a breath and straightened the harness he was wearing—the one Austin had told him to wear and the one Owen had refrained from telling him looked pretty gay.
Austin had a similar one on, and really, he looked straight out of a Leather Daddy of the Year calendar.
Again, Owen didn’t tell him that.
Grant looked pretty hot, too, in a bright blue shirt and with a pretty dark-haired woman whom he’d introduced earlier as his fiancée, Chloe, by his side.
Owen glanced around the park again, listening for the hum of a motorcycle and then kicking himself when he realized he was doing it.
He’d see him today. He hadn’t seen or heard from Chad in two weeks. It was nerve-racking to know he’d be around today.
Two weeks of distance from the situation had given Owen some more clarity. He didn’t think he’d get closure, but he sure wanted it. In his heart, he believed Chad had thought there was something special between them. So Owen wondered if his reaction at the strip club had been one of defense. Or maybe that was Owen’s wishful thinking.
He wasn’t sure, but all he knew was that he thought they needed to talk. When emotions weren’t so high, and Owen hadn’t just thrown up, and Chad wasn’t wearing next to nothing.
Owen wandered away from the stage, needing time to get himself together. He pulled out his phone, scrolling absentmindedly through Twitter, trying to pretend that he hadn’t moved so the parking lot was in his sight line so he could watch for the arrival of one particular person.
Austin walked up to him, not a hair out of place, and his chest glistening like he was oiled up for a photo shoot. Owen ran his hands through his sweaty hair and winced.
Austin’s eyes scanned the park. “I think we’re about ready now.”
“How’s Marley getting here again?” Owen asked.
Austin squinted at him. “That was in the email.”
That damn email had taken ten minutes to read. Excuse Owen for missing a detail. “Uh, sorry, but I might have missed that.”
Austin stared at him for a minute. “Sydney, Grant’s daughter, told her there was a LARP event in the park and she needed a ride. Marley, of course, jumped at the chance to dress up.”
Owen raised his eyebrows. “That was a good way to get her here without her suspecting anything.”
Austin didn’t preen at the compliment. “I know my woman.” He walked back to the staging area toward Grant.
Owen could imagine as stoic as Austin was in person, he was probably dynamite in the sack. And why was Owen thinking about that? God, Chad had turned him into a hornball.
A steady rumble in the distance drew closer, and Owen froze at the sound. It got louder and louder until a black motorcycle roared into the parking lot.
Owen shaded his eyes with his hands—sunglasses weren’t allowed because it wasn’t “historically accurate,” according to Austin—and frowned when he noticed the rider wore a helmet. That couldn’t be Chad.
But as the bike parked, and a man stepped off, something about the way he moved prevented Owen from looking away. The man wore a pair of leather breeches and boots, and as he took off his leather jacket, a harness similar to Owen’s.
Owen couldn’t see the jacket from this distance but it looked a lot like…
And then the man raised his hands to the helmet, shoved it off, and set it on the back of his bike. He lifted his head and met Owen’s gaze.
It was Chad.
Even from this distance, that face and the way the man walked as he made his way toward the stage was unmistakably Chad.
He looked amazing—tight pants, broad chest. Owen swallowed, but all he could picture was Chad in those damn briefs, saying ugly words to him in the bathroom of that stupid strip club.
So Owen did the mature thing. He slipped his phone in his pocket—Austin would yell at him later if he saw it—and walked back to disappear in the crowd of family and friends gathered by the stage. Yes, he wanted to talk to Chad, but not now. He didn’t want to make a scene before the whole proposal even got started.
He watched, though, as Chad walked up to Austin and they shook hands, talking quietly. Chad smiled, and looked as gorgeous as always with his dark hair and hazel eyes.
He didn’t look at Owen. Not even a glance. And Owen’s heart ached.
But this day wasn’t about him.
It was about Marley. And Austin. And Owen needed to suck it up.
Marley wore a skirt with a slit up the thigh, leather boots, and a corset. Her hair was a mass of waves over her shoulders and down her back. She looked magnificent. Regal. Perfect for the part. She was smiling at the crowd, and then her eyes were huge as Austin emerged from the crowd and walked toward her.
She blinked, hands flying up to cover her mouth as she seemed to sense that what was happening wasn’t as she’d originally thought. Austin took her hand and tugged, but she didn’t move. He smiled, a smile Owen had never seen, a smile he hadn’t realized Austin was capable of, then Austin whispered some words in Marley’s ear.
She nodded and took his hand, following him slowly, her gaze taking in everyone in front of the stage, and then the stage itself, complete with moving dragons and two large thrones.
She spotted Chad and gave him a wave, along with a couple of other people. Her gaze fell on Owen, and she blew him a kiss. He blew one back.
When Owen looked away, he met Chad’s eyes. They stared at each other for a moment. Owen couldn’t read Chad’s face, and seconds later, Chad looked away.
Owen wished he was there, right beside Chad, his arms around him, Chad’s ass snugged right into Owen’s crotch. He’d whisper dirty things in Chad’s ear, and Chad would answer back with a smirk. And then when this was all over, they’d shower together and spend the rest of the day in bed, eating pizza naked.
What a fantasy.
Owen shook his head and watched as Austin directed Marley to sit on one of the thrones. He knelt in front of her. Marley made a small, choked, sobbing sound and cell phone cameras began to click from everyone watching.
“Marley,” Austin began, his deep voice reverberating around the clearing in the park without the aid of a microphone. “Despite the mistakes I made when we first met, I knew from the beginning that you were who I wanted by my side. You are my better half, my best friend, my love, and my queen. And I’d be honored if you’d accept this ring and give me the honor of bowing at your feet for the rest of my life.”
Owen raised his hand to his chest, placing it over his heart.
“Will you marry me?” Austin asked, and Marley threw herself into his arms, kneeling in front of him as they kissed and everyone cheered, and did a dragon just breathe fire?
&nb
sp; Marley was nodding and shouting yes, yes! And Owen stuck his fingers in his mouth to whistle. Marley was happy and beautiful. Austin was grinning like he won the lottery.
And Owen was happy for them, truly happy, but that didn’t stop the ache in his heart, the knowledge that he wanted a king by his side.
He wanted Chad.
…
Chad had never seen his sister so happy. Not when she graduated from Penn State with honors, not when she scored the job at Gamers, and not when she earned the promotion last year. Not even when they went to visit the Land of Little Horses in Gettysburg and she got to frolic with ponies.
Nope, he’d never seen her as happy as she was today, in this park, clutching Austin’s bicep, grinning and looking like a queen.
Chad cried during the proposal, and he was still on the verge of tears. His favorite person in the world was happy, and he loved it, even as his own broken heart poked him savagely with its ragged edges.
Marley caught his eye. She whispered something in Austin’s ear. He pressed a kiss to her temple and then watched as she made her way toward Chad. Marley walked right into his open arms. They hugged, one of their really tight, fuck-I-love-you-so-much hugs. “Happy for you, Mars.”
She pulled back and wiped at his leaking eyes. “I’m happy for me, too.”
“He loves you so much.”
She smiled. “I love him, too. He said you helped with all of this.”
He nodded.
“You and Owen.”
He blinked at the name of his former lover, masking the wince as his heart jabbed him. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, me and Owen.”
She didn’t say anything for a minute, her gaze on his face. “It was him, wasn’t it?”
Oh, man, this was when he hated her, when she was able to read him like no one else. “Uh, what?”
“You fell for Owen.” Her voice was soft, but the words still hurt. Like a concrete pillow.
“Mars, this day is about you—”
“Oh, stop,” she said. “I don’t own this day. You’re my brother. Just tell me the truth. Was it him?”
He was angry about answering, but he did it anyway, with a jerky nod.
“He’s been making eyes at you all day,” she said. “I don’t think he realizes how obvious he’s being.”
Chad looked away, staring sightlessly at a tree. “No, he hasn’t.”
“Yeah, he has. There’s unfinished business. Don’t pack him into the past just yet, okay? I know how you get. You just move on and—”
“I haven’t moved on this time,” Chad said fiercely. “Not one bit. I wish I could, like every other time, but that fucker is like…in me. All over me.”
Marley sighed. “Maybe don’t call him a fucker.”
“I’m mad at him,” Chad muttered. “Mad at him for making me care so much about him.”
“You two need to talk.”
“I know.” He did, more than anything. He knew that. He wasn’t leaving here till he did, even if Owen told him to fuck off.
Marley leaned in and pressed a kiss to Chad’s cheek. “Let me know if I can do anything.”
Chad chewed on his lip. “Can I make a toast? At dinner?”
She smiled a little wicked smile. “Of course you can, little brother.”
Chad rubbed his palms on his pants, cursing leather for being so fucking nonabsorbent. Everyone was seated at the picnic tables, glasses in front of them, catered food on their plates, staring at him with eyes that told him to hurry the fuck up so they could eat.
Yeah, yeah, he was hurrying. As soon as he was able to fucking breathe.
He held up his champagne glass and looked over at Marley. “So, I’ll probably make a toast at the wedding, too, but I’ll be considerably drunk then, I’m guessing. So this will be my sober toast. Which means probably a lot more boring, but oh, well.” He took a deep breath. “Mars, you’re my best friend. You’re the better Lake by far, and I’m okay with coming in second if I get to follow you. I’ve never seen you as happy as you are today. And I know that happiness is because of that fine-ass, harnessed nerd sitting beside you.”
Marley laughed, and Austin looked mildly irritated.
Chad smiled. “Austin, you are one grumpy bastard, but when Marley is around, you’re like a different person. Man, I didn’t even know your face did that thing, like, where your lips part and your teeth show? A smile? On Austin’s face? Who knew?”
The crowd laughed, and Austin even sort of smiled. Just a little bit. It was good enough.
Chad wasn’t done. “I was there when you guys met and when you went through some tough times, and I admire you both so much for realizing what you had and working to keep it. I…” He swallowed, knowing this was where he’d have to choose his words carefully. “It’s hard to know who’s worth it. Who’s that one person worth putting your heart on the line for, who’s worth all your time and effort, who’s worth getting down on your knees and apologizing to when you fuck up.” He glanced at Grant, who sat beside Sydney. “Uh, sorry for swearing.”
“Heard it all already!” Sydney cried out.
The crowd laughed, which helped to ease Chad’s nerves. He risked a glanced at Owen, whose head was bent, staring at the table. But the man’s whole body was tense. He was listening. Chad knew it.
He licked his lips. “But there is always that one person who’s worth it. That person you’ll lay your pride on the line for. That person who makes you want to be the best you can be, and you can’t imagine your life without them. And when you find that person, you gotta do all you can to keep them.” He turned to Austin and Marley and raised his glass. “I’m glad you both found that person in each other. I love you, and wish you many, many years of wedded bliss.”
Then he gulped his entire glass of champagne.
Chapter Sixteen
Owen didn’t know what to do. He ate his food robotically, listening to coworkers talk about the amazing engagement and how they should take pictures for a Gamers article and a zillion things that went in one ear and out the other.
But there is always that one person who’s worth it. And when you find that person, you gotta do all you can to keep them.
Chad’s words played over and over again in his head. Was he imagining the glances Chad had sent his way? Was there any meaning to them beyond wanting to wish Austin and Marley well?
He dared to hope. Because he didn’t know how not to.
Owen took a gulp of his tea and glanced up. Chad was staring at him. Owen watched as Chad stood up and whispered something in Marley’s ear. She nodded, patted his arm, and said something back. Then Chad glanced at Owen one more time and began walking on a path around the back of the stage.
Someone was talking to Owen, but he didn’t even know who or what it was about. He mumbled, “Excuse me,” and got up, wishing he’d had more than one glass of champagne.
He took off on the path after Chad, darting glances left and right as the trail meandered in a densely forested area of the park. He stopped walking as he spotted Chad about ten yards ahead of him, leaning casually against a tree.
They stared at each other for a full minute before Chad straightened up from the tree and stuck his hands in the pockets of his pants. He toed a loose rock on the ground, head bent, and when he lifted it to look at Owen again, his expression was somber. “You look good.”
Owen blinked. “You do, too.”
Chad gnawed on his lip. “I got a helmet.”
This wasn’t how Owen had thought the conversation would go if they talked again. “I noticed. That’s…good.”
“I do care. About my well-being,” Chad said.
“Okay.”
Chad took a step forward, hesitantly. Owen didn’t move as Chad ran a hand through his hair. “I care about yours, too. Your well-being, I mean.”
“Chad—”
“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could do a lot of things over, but I can’t. I wish I’d told you where I was w
orking. And why. I wish I hadn’t said those things to you in the bathroom. I wish I’d handled a lot of things differently.”
“It’s not all your fault,” Owen said. “I smothered you. And some of it was altruistic, because I wanted to encourage you to follow your dream. But it was selfish, too. I thought if I made myself useful to you that you’d consider staying with me.”
Chad cocked his head. “What?”
“Chad, you’re…” Owen waved his hand, searching for words. “You’re light and fun and spontaneous. Shiny things distract you.” Owen took a step forward. “I wanted to stay shiny for you.”
“O,” Chad groaned. “I don’t need you to be shiny. I just need you not to give up on me.”
Owen took another step forward at the same time Chad did. They stood within touching distance. “Does that mean you’re giving me another shot not to give up on you?”
Chad nodded. “I know we still have some stuff to talk about, and I need to explain about that night but…yeah. Yeah, O, I want to give this another shot.” His gaze shifted down Owen’s chest and then back to his face, then Chad’s lips quirked. “Plus, you look really hot in that harness.”
Owen grinned. “You look pretty hot yourself.” He reached out and ran the back of his fingers along the stubble on Chad’s jaw. Chad’s eyelashes fluttered as he leaned into the touch. “You wanna blow this joint and head to my place?” Owen asked.
Chad brushed his chest along Owen’s then leaned in to run his nose along Owen’s neck. “I know something I wanna blow.”
Owen groaned and palmed Chad’s ass, pressing their hips together. “I’m not messing around in this damn park again.” Chad’s mouth was open on Owen’s neck now, and he was sucking on the skin. Owen shifted. “My place. Now.”
Chad lifted his head, his lips wet and swollen. “Bet I can beat you there.”
Owen narrowed his eyes. “If you don’t obey the speed limit and all traffic laws, you won’t be blowing anything.”
Chad wrinkled his nose. “You’re no fun.”
Owen held Chad’s head in both hands. “I care, Chad. I care a lot. Now drive safely, okay?”
Tied to Trouble (Gamers) Page 15
