Josh had the most interesting group of friends. Hunter was mingling with a lawyer, a carpenter, and a professional gamer. Him being the groom’s boss felt less strange when a man started explaining gaming tournaments and celebrity endorsements. The four of them sipped on champagne glasses, exchanging small talk and awkwardly waiting for Josh to come back.
“How do I look?”
The groomsmen turned and there stood the husband to be. Josh was literally glowing in red shoes, a red tie, and a bright red suit jacket.
“What is that?” Coby, the lawyer, laughed. He tried to cover it up with a whistle, shoving large arms into his pants’ pockets, but Josh was already scowling in his direction.
“Kellie wants a Christmas-themed wedding,” Josh said instead of answering, dropping his arms from his tie, defeated. “I was trying to match.”
“Match what? Santa Claus?”
Hunter’s champagne went the wrong way after Coby’s startling comment. He coughed to free up his airway while the gamer, Kyland, smacked his back. The other men were laughing, Mirek high-fiving Coby for a job well done. What was supposed to have been an encouraging reaction was turning into his groomsmen making fun of him, so Josh hightailed it back to the changing room.
The next choice was a more muted red–or burgundy, Hunter didn’t know colors–and wasn’t so offensive on the eyes. Hunter liked the fit but some of the other groomsmen weren’t so excited. After some lukewarm comments, Josh gave up on convincing his friends and went to change.
Then, he found it. A deep green jacket, matching pants, and a blood red tie. Josh re-entered the room, sporting a bright grin, and his carpenter friend, Mirek, whistled.
“That looks nice,” Hunter gushed, dusting off invisible lint from Josh’s shoulder. The shorter man couldn’t stay still. He adjusted the cuffs, popped and refolded the collar, and did everything but stand still. That was dude code for ‘I love it.’
“Kellie’s going to like it,” Kyland spoke up.
“I hope so.” Josh paused his movements, staring at the tie with a thoughtful expression. “Kellie’s given me so much. This wedding needs to be special.”
“It will be.”
Josh looked up at Hunter’s words, smiling at the other man’s encouragement.
“Okay, this is getting way too mushy,” Coby interjected, re-buttoning his jacket over a rounded stomach. A moment later, he was snapping in the air. “Can we get some more champagne?”
The men laughed then cheered when moments later, a bottle was brought over. Hunter realized that he didn’t feel out of place anymore when hearing Josh talk about marriage. It made sense now. He understood how a person could be confident in wanting to spend the rest of their life with someone else.
Discussion had switched over to the inner jacket lining and Hunter joined them by the swatches. Josh needed someone else who understood the power of pattern giving him advice.
—————
Hunter walked into Adonis at 8 pm on a Friday and felt strange. It had been months since he’d come at night. Most days he showed up during the slow, welcoming lunch hour. He’d forgotten how crowded the place could be on weekends. His favorite spot was taken and Hunter frowned as took a seat two chairs down. River didn’t see him at first. He was moving back and forth through customers, taking care of their needs with that sweet, customer service smile of his.
Then, he spotted Hunter at the far end of the bar, and his fake smile turned real. Hunter’s heart swelled at the sight.
“Hey stranger,” River teased, a tiny smirk on his face as he walked over to Hunter. He placed his forearms on the bar counter, leaning into Hunter’s space boldly. Hunter leaned in too, watching River’s eyes drop from his eyes to his mouth.
“Hey yourself,” Hunter muttered, beginning to smile when River’s eyes darkened. Hunter so badly wanted to kiss that smirk right off of his face. Instead he pulled back, grabbing one of the plaques littering the counter with their drink options.
“Huh, I can’t decide what to order.”
Hunter dropped the plaque, grinning as he crossed his arms. The bartender raised a brow, curious.
“Do you have a suggestion?”
Hunter liked going through the old song and dance as if things hadn’t changed. He liked the trip down memory lane to a time where a drink suggestion was the best way to keep River within arms reach. River seemed to like doing that too because he promised Hunter he’d treat him right then went to make the mystery drink.
But the mystery drink was more familiar than he expected.
A gin and tonic, fashioned with two slices of lime and a mint for garnish. It was the fanciest one River had ever made him. The man in question watched him with a soft smile, wringing the towel he usually wore over his shoulder between his hands. He didn’t say a word until Hunter took a slow sip, savoring the flavor on his tongue.
“Do you like it?”
Hunter gave River a deadpan stare and the man’s smile grew even wider.
“Okay, dumb question,” he laughed, throwing the towel back over his shoulder. “I can be nervous too sometimes.”
“I know,” Hunter agreed. “But this should not be one of those times.”
River pulled away to take care of a customer and Hunter used the moment to scan the crowd. He liked the dimmed lights Adonis used in the late hour. He liked watching couples form in the dark corners of the bar. He liked seeing all of the time River invested into this place be worth it. But he didn’t miss it. Because he liked the slow lunch rush a lot more. He liked that it kept him close to River. He liked that most of all.
River slid back in front of him, leaning against the bar counter like he wouldn’t be going for a while. Hunter perked up.
“How was your day?” The bar owner asked. For such a mundane question, he was bouncing like a kid, excitedly waiting for Hunter’s response.
“It was good. I went to Josh’s suit fitting.”
“For the wedding, right?” he clarified, getting a nod from the younger man. “Must have been fun.”
“It was,” Hunter agreed. His eyes left his glass, peering up at River through dark lashes. “But, I wanted to see you. So, I came.”
“To the bar?”
River’s confused expression made Hunter a little shy. Still, he nodded, subtly trying to avoid the older man’s stare. He’d been watching Melodie for so long and visiting River during his lunches for longer. It was easy to forget that if not for those things, he wouldn’t have a good reason to see him.
River dragged a hand down his face, laughing softly to himself.
“You know you don’t need to come to the bar whenever you want to see me, right?” he asked, tilting his head in a sympathetic way. Hunter was still avoiding his eyes, making River laugh again. “You don’t need to use Melodie as an excuse either. You can just . . . come over.”
Hunter’s cheeks burned because he felt exposed beyond belief. He cleared his throat, bashful when he met River’s gaze.
“Yeah?”
River nodded ‘yes,’ encouraging, and Hunter sighed.
“I don’t know. I guess I wasn’t sure since we’re not dating, dating.”
The choice of words was distinctly middle school-like but it was the best Hunter could come up with. He waited for River to agree. Maybe clarify that impromptu meetings could fall into the parameters of their relationship.
River glanced around the bar, finding patrons immersed in their own worlds and conversations. Then, without warning, River surged forward, and kissed him. River kissed Hunter. The peck was a far cry from their usual kisses, but he’d done it. Right in the middle of his bar on their busiest day of the week.
Hunter was stunned. His mouth hung open in shock and River just smiled at the reaction.
“I like you, okay?” he said, poking his boyfriend in the chest. “So, yeah, we’re dating. Is that clear enough?”
Hunter’s cheek’s started to hurt from smiling so hard.
“Crystal.”
———————————
Boyfriends! Took them 29 chapters to become official but I’m still excited about it!
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