“Are you serious?” Jeremy wondered why everyone disappeared as soon as they entered the suite and why Brandon and Cam didn’t invite Maggie for a walk with Brandy. “Alan’s got a surprise planned? Is he crazy? He’s done enough.”
Travis shrugged. “Don’t complain.”
Jeremy would have felt worse if he didn’t have his own little surprise for Alan. Two tickets to Bora Bora where they’d ring in the new year in one of those bungalows that floated in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. Just the two of them. “Wait. I got Something for Alan too.” He opened his carry-on bag and found the envelope that contained the airline tickets. He snapped Maggie’s leash onto her collar and let Travis lead the way.
Whatever Alan had planned was taking place in the other penthouse suite that occupied the top floor of the Four Seasons. Extra security was called in and were lined up against the walls in the hallway. “What the hell is going on?”
Travis wore a grin the size of the Cheshire cat. “You’re about to find out.” He stopped in front of the double wooden doors and paused before he turned the knob in order to take Maggie’s leash from Jeremy, then he swung open the doors.
The lights were dim, and the glow of candles filled the room. The furniture had been cleared out of the suite, so it looked like a ballroom. Balloons floated up to the ceiling as if this was some kind of New Year’s Eve celebration. Jeremy took a few steps inside and his feet landed on a long white runner. His eyes followed it across the room to where Alan stood, wearing a tuxedo. Jeremy thought he was dreaming and shook his head to clear it. He looked around the room and saw the guys standing with Brandy and Felix. His eyes shifted to another small group of people, and his jaw fell open. It was his parents, standing with Alan’s parents. “What is this?” he asked, shock punctuating his words.
Alan held his hand out to Jeremy and started walking toward him. A curtain parted to reveal a full orchestra where the dining room table should have been, and they started playing I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing by Aerosmith.
Jeremy was flabbergasted, and he smiled with disbelief. Still shaking his head, he started toward Alan, and they met somewhere in the middle of the white runner. “What the hell is this?”
Alan took both of Jeremy’s hands in his. “I love you, Jeremy. More than anything. It’s always been you and me. Since we were kids. And I wanted to show you just how much you mean to me, in front of our best friends and family.”
The grand gesture and declaration of love made Jeremy tear up, and he regretted giving Alan a hard time for the last few days. “I love you too. I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting.” Jeremy glanced around the magnificent room once more before he rested his eyes on his lover again. “You’re too good to me. I can’t express how much all of this means to me. How much you mean to me.” He ran his hand over the lapel of Alan’s jacket. “You look really nice.” He leaned in for a kiss, but Alan pulled back and stared at Jeremy with a crazy smile on his face.
While Jeremy’s brows pinched together with a quizzical expression, Alan dropped to one knee, pulled a small box from his breast pocket, and opened it. “Jeremy Kagan, will you marry me?”
Jeremy’s eyes opened so wide he thought they were going to pop from their sockets. He blinked rapidly, as if he were hallucinating. “What?”
“Marry me.” Alan got to his feet. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot since the other day, and I realized that I really do want to marry you. I don’t know why I never thought about it before. I’m an idiot, Jeremy. I’m sorry. I love you, and I want to make it legal.”
An officiant suddenly walked out from the door that led to the kitchen and stood at the end of the runner. Jeremy’s jaw dropped open. Alan wanted to get married—right now! His head snapped back toward Alan. “Are you serious?”
“Yes.” Alan nodded and held the little ring box higher. “Will you marry me?”
“No.”
The smile fell off Alan’s face in an instant, and his arm dropped to his side. “What?”
“This is crazy. A few days ago marriage was off the table, and now you want to get married right here? Right now?” Jeremy swept his hand across the room. “This is amazing. I love it. I’m totally floored. It’s super romantic, and the last thing I expected. I want to marry you. I really, really do. But not like this. I want a crazy big wedding, with all of our friends and all of our families there. And the media. I want the world to watch us exchange vows.” Jeremy smiled warmly and motioned to the box in Alan’s hand. “Let me see that ring again.”
Alan slowly held up the box containing the solid silver band, almost in a daze.
Jeremy stared at it, then peeked up at Alan with raised brows. “It could be my engagement ring. We could get married next year and plan a huge wedding and celebration. What do you think about that?”
Alan just stared at Jeremy with wide eyes. Then he slowly chuckled. “Thank God.”
“What?” Jeremy blinked rapidly again.
“I’m not having second thoughts. I want to marry you. But, as I was standing here waiting for you to come into the room, I started to regret that everything was so rushed. I realized that Brandon’s family isn’t here. We can’t get married without Mr. and Mrs. B. We practically grew up in that house. None of our brothers and sisters are here either. Or Derek’s family. I want the big wedding too. I don’t want to do it all over again for our families. Don’t get me wrong, I’d marry you a hundred times over, but I want one wedding. I want to experience the fun of being engaged and the anticipation leading up to our perfect wedding day.”
Everything Alan just said mimicked everything in Jeremy’s heart, and his smile quivered. “Me too.”
Alan took the silver ring from the box. “Wear this on your right hand until the day I place it on your left.” He slipped the ring onto the third finger on Jeremy’s right hand. “We’re engaged.”
Tears filled Jeremy’s eyes. “We’re engaged.” Their lips pressed together in a long tender kiss that set Jeremy’s heart and soul on fire. They stayed in a tight embrace, until they were bombarded with shouts of congratulations and hugs from their best friends and family.
“Oh my God!” Derek exclaimed. “That was intense. I can’t believe you guys aren’t getting married in this kickass room, though.” A huge smile spread across Derek’s face. He took Travis’ hand and suddenly dropped to one knee. “Will you marry me? Our friends are here, and we have an officiant. We can have another wedding when we get back home with our family. Whattaya say, Trav? Will you marry me?”
Travis looked stunned, but in a good way. “Fuck yeah!”
To be continued . . .
Turn the page to find out what happens next in Change of Plans!
“Fuck yeah!” Derek shouted in reply. He shared an obscene kiss with Travis that probably made at least a few people in the room uncomfortable, but he couldn’t help himself. Too much time away from the man he loved filled him with intense want for this man who completed his soul. And by the way Travis was responding, the guy felt the exact same way. When they broke the kiss, their friends stared at them with a mixture of surprise and confusion.
“Are you two seriously getting married?” Felix asked, skeptically. “Or is this just your off-the-wall sense of humor?”
“We’re getting married,” Derek assured. A flash of doubt briefly crossed his mind because Travis was a prankster, but Travis couldn’t be joking. Not about this. He quickly grabbed Travis’ hand, pulled it to his chest, and pointed a finger at his lover. “You already said yes. I have witnesses. You can’t back out now.”
“I have no intention of backing out,” Travis replied, sincerity reflecting in his warm brown eyes. “I’ve been waiting for you to put a ring on it. Derek MacAlister, you’re my one and only.”
“Rings!” Derek pushed his fingers through the roots of his hair. His heart sank at the realization that they weren’t ready to have a legal ceremony today. “We don’t have rings. Or a marriage license.”
Tr
avis’ shoulders fell and his mouth bowed into a frown. They stared at one another, sadness where joy resided only a moment ago, then turned toward Felix for help at the same time.
“Good grief. You boys are helpless sometimes. We’re in Vegas. The officiant has the necessary paperwork to fill out, and you can run to the jewelry store in the lobby and pick up rings. Did you also forget that Bulletproof has a private jet? Your families can be here in under two hours to join the ceremony, if you like.”
“I love you, Felix!” Derek smashed Felix’s face between his palms and gave him a loud, exaggerated kiss on the cheek.
“That’s very nice.” Felix squirmed out of Derek’s embrace. “Would you like to wear tuxedos?” He glanced at the jeans and T-shirts Derek and Travis wore. “Or do these outfits double as formalwear?”
Derek didn’t care about clothes and was about to say that he’d get married in his underwear, until he saw the look on Travis’ face. “You want to wear a tux?” he asked.
“Yeah.” Travis shrugged one shoulder and tugged on the length of Derek’s hair. “I never owned anything nice. I wore secondhand clothes my whole life. I’d love to get all decked out for our wedding.”
“Hot damn!” The idea of Travis in formalwear sent Derek’s hormones spinning, and he rubbed the palms of his hands together enthusiastically. “Can we start the honeymoon early?”
Alan and Jeremy approached, arms slung over each other’s shoulders. “We have a wedding present for you two. It seems me and Jeremy both booked vacations for next week, so we have an extra set of tickets. We’re going to Bora Bora.” Alan held out an envelope. “Do you guys want to go to the French Riviera for your honeymoon?”
“The French Riviera?” Travis practically exclaimed. “Do you mean Monte Carlo?”
“Exactly,” Alan replied. “It’s awesome, especially around the holidays.”
Travis rocked both Alan and Jeremy in a three-person hug. “That’s incredible. Thank you, guys!”
Derek placed his hand over his heart, touched at the sentiment and over the moon at seeing Travis so happy. “That’s really nice. I love Monte Carlo.” After giving both his friends a big bear hug, he wrapped his arms around Travis. “Have you ever been there?”
“Are you kidding?” Travis asked. “No way. I’ve never been anywhere before I started touring. This is nuts.” His brows furrowed slightly. “Isn’t it really fancy? Do you think I’ll fit in? The last thing I want to do is get thrown out of some fancy casino on our honeymoon.”
Derek smiled and shook his head. “If they haven’t thrown all of us out, they sure as shit ain’t going to throw you out. It’s really chill over there.”
“The jet is on standby,” Felix interrupted, stuffing his phone into his pocket. “A tailor will be in your suite in 30 minutes to fit you both for tuxedos. Should I round up a security team to escort you to the jeweler to pick out wedding bands, or do you want me to do it?”
Travis looked as if his face was melting. “Wedding bands.” He grabbed Derek’s hand. “I can’t believe we’re really getting married.”
“Believe it, baby.” Derek kissed Travis’ hand, and then told Felix, “We’ll pick out our own rings.”
“Are you sure? You know this is going to be all over the media in a matter of minutes,” Felix warned.
“We’re sure,” Travis answered, for the both of them. “I don’t want anything fancy,” he told Derek. “I just want us to pick them out together.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Derek agreed. Choosing wedding bands was too personal to leave up to someone else. They needed to pick the rings.
“Very well.” Felix clapped his hands together. “Let’s get moving, people. We have a wedding to coordinate. Shall we say six o’clock? So it gives us time for your families to get settled and the two of you to get ready.”
Derek and Travis both nodded.
A dozen bodyguards showed up a few minutes later to accompany Derek and Travis to the jeweler. It created a scene, even if the people in the hotel couldn’t see who necessitated an escort of this magnitude.
“Do you know where we’re going?” Travis whispered to Derek. “I can’t see anything.”
“No. But security seems to know exactly where we’re headed.”
A scream suddenly echoed through the lobby. “Oh my God! It’s Derek MacAlister and Travis Fontana!”
Now that they were spotted, security tightened the circle around them and picked up the pace. More screams followed, and Derek and Travis were practically pushed into a store while security blocked the doorway so no one else could enter. The only other people in the jewelry store were the salespeople, who eagerly eyed Derek and Travis with recognition.
A man approached, presumably the manager, while the others stayed behind the glass counters. “It’s a pleasure to be of service,” the man said. “Right this way.” He fanned his hand toward a glass case and walked over to it. “I understand you’re looking for wedding bands.” The salesperson behind the counter immediately unlocked the case and retrieved two trays filled with rings. One contained plain bands, some in silver and some in gold. The other case had diamonds encrusted across the tops of the rings. “Would you prefer something simple or perhaps something with a little more flair?” the salesman asked.
“I just want something simple,” Travis said, picking up a shiny silver ring.
Extravagance never impressed Travis, but Derek wanted to give him everything. Even though Travis had money, fame, and success now, and could afford almost anything he wanted, the guy still lived a modest life. But Derek wanted to spoil his man. “Come on, Trav. Pick something a little more flashy. I want my guy to wave some bling at the camera when we announce our marriage.”
“But I’m just a simple guy.”
“I know, but some things call for a little more pizzazz.” Derek picked up a ring with a trio of large diamonds across the top.
“No way.” Travis laughed a little. “I’m not wearing that thing. It’s too much.”
The store manager selected a ring and held it up to the light. “May I suggest something like this? It has both simplicity and elegance. The platinum band is edged with delicate pavé diamonds around its circumference. They’re small stones, so they don’t appear as pronounced, but they total two carats.
Derek thought it was beautiful and understated. Not in your face like the other band with the huge diamonds. “I think it’s you, Trav. Do you like it?”
Travis took the ring and a small smile spread across his lips as he stared at the band. “Yeah. I like it. What about you? Do you want the same one?”
“Hell no.” Derek snatched the ring with the baubles. “I want rocks.”
Travis laughed. “Do I have to pay for that?”
“Damn right you do.”
“I’ll just have these polished for you,” the manager said. “Would you like inscriptions?”
“Yeah,” Travis answered, before Derek even had a chance to think about it. The salesperson behind the counter produced a pad and pen, and Travis quickly scribbled something down. He ripped the paper off the pad, folded it so Derek couldn’t see it, and handed it to the manager.
They both looked at Derek, waiting for him to write his inscription on the pad, but Derek was dumbstruck. Travis was the poet, not him, and he knew that whatever Travis penned would far outweigh anything he could think of in both sentiment and sweetness. So, he just wrote the only words that seemed fitting – you’re the love of my life – and handed the paper to the manager. With that task done, they returned to the suite, shrouded by the same band of bodyguards.
“Felix was right,” Cam stated, looking up from his phone the moment they passed through the door. “It’s already all over social media that you guys bought wedding bands.”
Derek’s jaw dropped. “I didn’t even tell my mother yet.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and quickly called her. “I got news!” he exclaimed, the second she answered. “Pack a bag and round up the fam.
Me and Travis are getting hitched in Vegas in a couple of hours. I’m sending a car to take everyone to the airport.” There was a moment of silence, then he heard his mom sniffle.
“I can’t believe my baby boy is getting married,” she said. “I’m so happy for you.”
The emotion in her voice made his eyes water, and it was hard for him to talk. He was such a mama’s boy, but he couldn’t help it. She’d always been there for him, through everything, and supported him a thousand percent in everything he did.
“I used to worry about you so much,” she began. “You were so young when Bulletproof first got signed. You were just a teenager. So wild and out of control. Practically overnight, you had money and fame and the world at your fingertips. You pushed limits. My only consolation was that you had Felix looking after you, but I still worried that you’d go too far. I prayed every night for your safety.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Then you met Travis. I have to admit, he’s just as crazy as you are, but he brought out your responsible side. You take care of him, Derek. He needs you. And you’re there for him in a way I didn’t think you would be. You put him first, above everyone else. Even yourself. You’re a good son. And a good man. Your father and I are very proud of the man you’ve become. We love you very much.”
Choked up by his mother’s words, Derek was barely able to reply with an, “I love you too,” before his mom was overcome with excitement.
“I have to get ready! I’m the mother of the groom! Do you need me to bring anything?”
“Just the family.”
“OK. Have Felix text me the details so we’re all ready when the car gets here.”
“I will. See you soon.”
Derek ended the call with a ball of emotion lodged in his throat, and he needed to step out of the room to compose himself. Alone in the bathroom, he splashed water on his face and stared at his reflection. He thought about what his mom said about how he took care of Travis, and his mind drifted back to their early days together and the emotional wreck that had been Travis Fontana. A prickling sensation ran down his spine, and he shuddered. Travis had been emotionally unstable and an insecure mess, so different from the man Travis is today.
A Bulletproof New Year (The Holiday Collection Book 2) Page 5
