#hsb2024

The persistently loud purr of a lawnmower outside the open window made Billy stir. He pressed his face into his pillow before grabbing the other one and shoving it over his head, groaning in displeasure. He liked the smell of freshly cut grass as much as anyone else, but why the fuck did people think it was okay to mow their fucking lawns at ass o’clock in the morning? 

He was almost asleep again, trying to dive back into the nice dream he’d been having—involving Steve and a can of whipped cream—when someone started banging on the door. The knocking was persistent and not showing any sign of stopping.

“Fuck off!” Billy yelled out before wrapping his arms around the pillow over his head to block out the noise.

“Billy! Wake up!”

Billy couldn’t make up who it was from under the pillow but they weren’t going away. With a sigh, he removed the pillow and threw it across the bed, before rolling onto his back.

“William Hudson Hargrove, I swear to God, if you don’t get up in the next two minutes, I’m coming in and I don’t care if you’re decent or not!”

“Jesus, Maxine! Enough!” Billy sat up, making sure the sheet was up to his waist. “You may enter.”

Max stormed in, Will and Jane a step behind her. At least, the latter had the decency to look sheepish. They waved at Billy behind Max’s back and he smiled at them before staring at his sister who had stopped at the foot of the bed.

“We’re on a really tight schedule, and you slept in, so you need to get your ass in the shower in the next twelve seconds.”

“Seriously?”

“I know how long your hair routine takes, Billy. And I know you want to look your best for Steve today.”

“Billy, I know we’ve only been seeing each other for a couple of months, but I like you. A lot. And I mean that as in formally-introducing-you-to-Rosie-as-my-boyfriend-and-giving-you-a-spare-key-to-my-house-so-you-can-visit-whenever-you-like kinda like you.” 

“I… I don’t know what to say,” Billy said, trying to wrap his head around the bombshell Steve had just dropped. After his slip up earlier, he’d expected Steve to tell him their arrangement was over, or that Billy was expecting too much. But now…

Steve slid his hand up to cup Billy’s jaw. “When I saw you at Max’s the day of the party, I knew I had to talk to you, I just didn’t know how to. You hid in the coat closet in the hallway and I had to follow you in. I couldn’t let you go, that’s why I texted you the next day. Then we went on that date…”

Billy chuckled, the shock receding as the memories of that first night he’d spent with Steve resurfaced. “That first date that somehow turned into a third date? I remember…”

“What can I say? I’m a weak man for hot guys in tight pants, with golden skin and equally golden curls.”

In a well-practiced move, Billy put his hands on Steve’s waist and pulled him until Steve was straddling him. “I think it shows you have taste,” Billy whispered against Steve’s lips before he licked into his mouth, pouring everything he was feeling for this man in the kiss.

“You look gorgeous, honey,” Joyce said with a huge smile as she put the finishing touches to his boutonnière. 

“Thanks, Mom.” Billy looked at himself in the mirror and had to agree with his adoptive mother.

The off-white linen shirt he was wearing was contrasting with his tan in a way he knew from experience would make Steve weak at the knees. The fact that he was keeping it mostly unbuttoned was just par for the course at this point, though he enjoyed getting under Max’s skin. 

The matching dress pants weren’t his usual but Joyce had insisted they suited him. The jacket lay unused on the king size bed. Billy had got it as well because it looked really nice on, but the weather was way too warm still, even though the sun was not far from setting.

Billy turned when he heard a knock on the door and he was not surprised to see his sister walk in, Roscoe by her side. Joyce went straight to her and closed the door before helping Max onto the couch. Roscoe came to stand next to Billy.

“Hey, Peanut.” Billy smiled at her in the mirror.

“Hey, Uncle Billy.” She took the hand he offered and looked up at him. “You look pretty.”

“Thank you, my love. So do you.” Billy made her do spins, enjoying her laughter when the skirt of her dress twirled with her.

“If she pukes, it’s on you,” Max said in a huff from her seat, sipping on the water Joyce had handed her. “You scrub up well.”

“And you look ready to pop. Are you sure you’re okay to be here?”

“I got the all clear from the midwife, and I’ve been working on my best woman speech for too long. Nothing short of an act of God will stop me today.”

“Are you trying to jinx me on my freaking wedding day, Maxine?”

“Shut up, William.”

“Thanks for all your help today, Billy,” Steve said, collapsing next to Billy on the couch after he put Rosie to bed.

“Of course, Stevie,” Billy threaded his fingers with Steve and brought his hand up to kiss the back of it. “If one can’t help throw his boyfriend’s daughter the best birthday party ever, what’s the point?” 

“I couldn’t have done it without you.” Steve let out a sigh and rubbed his eyes with his free hand.

“Tired, baby?” Billy asked, feeling rather exhausted himself. Who knew it was that tiring to corral a bunch of seven-year-olds for an afternoon?

“Uh huh. Stay?”

“If you want me to, I will. As long as you’re sure.”

“I have something to show you,” Steve said, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a piece of paper that he proceeded to unfold before he passed it to Billy.

Billy sat up to look at it properly, his eyes filling with tears. With a shaky finger, he traced the three characters on the paper he was holding. Two men with crowns holding hands with a little girl in a purple dress, standing in front of a castle by the sea.

“I want you to stay forever, Billy. I love you. Rosie loves you. Will you please marry me?”

Steve was down on one knee in front of him, holding out a silver band with some kind of engraving on it.

“And by the powers vested in me by the state of California, it is my honor and privilege to pronounce you husband, and husband,” Jane said, her next words allowing them to kiss drowned out by loud cheers.

Billy hadn’t looked away from Steve since he’d walked up to him. The sunset over the ocean, their guests, the two littles girls throwing bird friendly biodegradable confetti, his stepsister Jane officiating… they all disappeared the second he’d glanced up the makeshift aisle and taken in Steve, looking so fucking good in his tuxedo.

Steve stepped in close, his eyes dipping to Billy’s mouth before moving back up and winking once. “I love you, husband,” Steve said, his breath fanning Billy’s lips.

“I love you , husband,” Billy whispered, jumping when he felt Steve’s hands on his ass, and wrapping his legs around his husband as they kissed.

The kiss didn’t last long—there were, after all, children present—but they had the rest of their lives.