He passed one ring to Hazard and held the other. Taking Hazard’s hand, he slid the band into place—they had picked designs that would complement the engagement rings and could be worn comfortably together. Hazard’s heart was in his throat as he took Somers’s hand, feeling the warmth, the fine bones, the texture of his skin, and slid the band onto Somers’s finger.

“By the power vested in me by the state of Missouri,” Wesley said, “I pronounce you married. You may now kiss.”

For a moment, Hazard couldn’t move. Then Somers’s hand was at the small of his back again, drawing him forward, and everything in Hazard seemed to turn liquid and flow: his hand cupping the back of Somers’s head, his other hand on Somers’s waist, the way they met, the way they kissed.

“I love you,” Hazard whispered when they broke.

“Good,” Somers said. “Because you’re stuck with me.” Then he smiled and said, “Oh, and in case I haven’t mentioned it, I love you too.”

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

OCTOBER 24

THURSDAY

6:57 PM

SOMERS DROVE THE MUSTANG toward the Astoria, the grand old hotel near the heart of Wahredua. The sun was almost finished setting; autumn leaves skittered across the road. The city was settling into the soft glow of twilight.

“It was a perfect wedding,” Hazard said, shifting on the seat and plucking at his blazer. “Why did you have to ruin it?”

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

“Why did you have to—”

“No, the other part.”

“It was perfect,” Hazard bit out. “I will happily tell you that for the rest of our lives if you will just turn this car around and drive us, I don’t know, into a bridge abutment or something.”

“That is a very tempting offer,” Somers said, “but I would like to see some of our friends, now that you’ve made an honest man of me, before I die.”

“I will buy you season tickets to the Tigers.”

Somers hemmed.

“I will go to every game with you.”

“I don’t know.”

Yanking on the seatbelt, Hazard said, “I will tailgate with you. I will stand there with all those assholes who think getting blasted on cheap beer and grilling hot dogs is the best way to spend a Saturday, and I will smile, and I will make sure you have a fantastic time.”

“This is very tempting.”

“John!”

Somers glanced at him. “I think I deserve this. I managed to trick the great Emery Hazard.”

“You didn’t trick me.”

“You had no idea we were going to get married today.”

“You lied to me.”

“Call it what you want—”

“I want to call it lying.”

“—but I put one over on you, so I get to have a reception.”

“John, I don’t think you’re considering—”

“Be a big boy. You’ll be fine.”

The reception had already been going for half an hour when they arrived. The events coordinator for the hotel, Maria, was waiting for them, and she led them along the Astoria’s marble hallways. They took the elevator up to the ballroom, and when they got to the double doors, Maria waved for them to hold position and then darted inside. A moment later, the music stopped, and her voice came over the speakers.