“So you’re saying that I can’t do it. The clerk’s office isn’t open on a Saturday.” James hung his head a little lower. “Not that it would have made a difference, but I should have checked all that yesterday. I might…” He seemed so defeated. “What am I going to do? I promised Holly I would see that this worked out for her. I want this wedding to be the best possible, and instead I wrecked everything.” He hiccupped and groaned softly. “I should call her and see what she wants to do.”
“No,” Daniel said, taking a play from James’s book. He shifted on the bed. “We need to talk and we need to do it privately.”
James stood, reaching for the door. “I think you made yourself perfectly clear.”
Daniel smacked James on the ass, harder than he’d intended, but it got his attention. “Gran was on a farm when she was a girl. She told me once that the way to get a mule’s attention was to kick it. So, consider yourself kicked in the ass.”
“Excuse me? I heard what you said.”
“No, you heard what you thought I said.” He stood once again, hands on his hips. “I heard what you told your mother, and I know you believe it. And by the way, I will always, always remember hearing those words from you until the day I die.” He tapped his foot, growing agitated. “I don’t know what is going to happen once we’re back in Chicago. You said the same thing to your mother. Are you angry that I didn’t say that I loved you in return, so you and I could have one of those television commercial moments where we run across a field in flowing clothes and into each other’s arms?”
“I don’t want you to say anything that you don’t feel,” James countered.
Daniel sighed. “James, I don’t know what I feel right now. Everything has been so up and down. I love the time we spent alone together, and the person you’ve shown me is pretty awesome.” He closed the distance between them. “I think you’ve been through damned near hell in the last twenty-four hours.” Daniel wound his arms around James’s neck, glad he didn’t pull away. “Let’s just give this some time. That way you and I can have some distance.”
Daniel really wanted to tell James that he loved him too, but he couldn’t. Not right now. Daniel was pretty sure that the cop he had fooled in the theater with a dress and a figure had somehow wormed his way into his heart. The thought of going home and not seeing James again made his blood run cold. But he knew enough about James to know that if he told him how he felt, then James would feel obligated to him, even if all of this was just some emotional roller coaster that led to nowhere.
“I know my own mind,” James told him.
“But do you know your own emotions?” He pressed closer to James, resting his head on his shoulder. “We have to listen to our hearts. So rather than getting worked up right now, let’s give each other some time. That’s all I’m asking for.” He caught James’s gaze. “If you got anything from last night, it should have told you pretty clearly how I feel about you.”
“Okay. I think that’s fair,” James whispered, and Daniel held him close once again.
“Right now, we have to figure out how we’re going to get your sister married.”
The bedroom door burst open, with Holly standing in the doorway, glaring at both of them. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded, stepping inside and kicking the door closed. “I’m so angry at both of you I could spit quarters.”
“Oh, for god’s sake, knock it off, Holly. I’ve already had a talk with Mom and Dad last night, and another one with Mom this morning.” James sighed, but didn’t step away. Daniel liked that he wasn’t ashamed. “Suffice it to say that I’m gay, and this is Daniel.”
“But…”
James rolled his eyes, which was adorable. “Fine, you get the quick version. I’ve known since I was fifteen. I didn’t tell anyone here because you know how Mom can be and I thought it would be easier. I thought about saying something before the wedding, but didn’t want the drama. And yeah, I see how that worked out. I told Mom that I loved Daniel, and he heard it. The two of us are trying to figure shit out, and when we know, I’ll tell you. I promise.” James took a deep breath. “Right now, we have to figure out who is going to officiate at your wedding, because I can’t. There isn’t time for me to become legal. You’re all up-to-date now, so let’s move forward.”