Which Way the Wind Blows

Chapter 35

The ceremony went off pretty well, Chris thought. Except for that one part where Kee looked like he wanted to shoot Lauren’s father as he helped the older man untangle himself from the bride’s lacy veil. He and Elaine shared a quiet laugh as the long-suffering best man retook his place beside the groom and rolled his eyes. Lauren’s dress was as amazing as Vic had described it, and she looked like a petite fairy-tale princess. Despite Kee’s quips, Chris noted that Tom looked pretty hot in his formal tux. If he didn’t already have a boyfriend, he might have lamented the unfairness of it all, he thought with a smirk.

“Vic looks incredible,” Elaine whispered as the vows were exchanged.

“She always does in a gown.”

“I knew she’d look good, but she looks …” Her voice broke off in awe.

“She still skittish about you two being an actual couple?”

He didn’t want to pry but he got very few opportunities to speak to Elaine alone. Victoria was neurotic about leaving them to their own devices – probably because she knew Chris shared Elaine’s point of view on the matter and would tell her that the problem wasn’t what it seemed like. But while she stood up at the altar as part of Lauren’s bridal party, he knew she couldn’t interfere.

“Yeah. I think maybe I’m pushing too hard.”

“You’re not pushing hard enough,” he replied.

Elaine looked perplexed as she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

“Look, if anyone knows her, it’s me,” he sighed.

“Um … yeah, I know.”

“I’m not talking about the biblical sense. I mean I know how she thinks. Especially after everything that happened with my ex.”

“Warren, the stoically shy stud-muffin?” At least she was smiling again. “She was pretty open about all of that and her role in it. Says a lot of it was her fault.”

“All of it, at least in Seattle, was my fault,” he said ashamed. “It doesn’t matter that she knew about my relationship with him. I initiated the one with her, and I was the one who pushed things further.”

“I’m not holding what happened against her,” Elaine said earnestly. “It had nothing to do with me, or my relationship with her.”

“But she holds it against herself. Sort of like …” He paused and sighed.

“Sort of like you did?” she filled in for him.

The blonde shrugged, suddenly not so sure he should have started the conversation. What right did he have to interfere in Vic and Elaine’s relationship? Especially since, now that the wedding had taken place and Chris and Sam were dating, Kee would be looking for a new project.

“What you did was pretty crappy,” Elaine said stoically. “But it in no way excused what Warren did to you.”

Chris shrugged again and looked away. Glancing around the church, he was relieved to see Warren hadn’t arrived yet, and, as the ceremony was nearly complete, likely wouldn’t show at least until the reception.

“Did you tell Sam about it?”

Chris nodded mutely, not trusting his voice to stay steady.

“I bet he told you the same thing I just did.”

Elaine was perceptive as hell sometimes – at least about other people’s relationships.

“He did say something to that effect.”

“See?”

He looked at her finally and gave her a small smile.

“Now, explain about this not pushing hard enough stuff.”

“You just need to be patient with her,” he explained. “She doesn’t think she deserves a good relationship yet. Like she hasn’t done enough penance.”

“Not enough? Do you know how much volunteer work she signs on for?”

“I’m sure a lot,” he laughed. “She was always heavily involved in charity work at home. In fact, I think the only thing she misses about being rich is having more time on her hands to take things on.”

Elaine’s expression softened and shook her head in amusement. “Don’t worry about us,” she patted Chris’ forearm. “I’m willing to wait for her to get past whatever she needs to.”

“It might take a while.”

“We’re young and foolish,” she grinned. “We have the time.”

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“This place is phenomenal!” Joe exclaimed as he, Chris and Elaine arrived at Gotham Hall for the reception.

Kee and Victoria were busy outside taking more wedding shots and Sam was expected any time so Chris wanted to be sure he would be easily found.

“Kee told me he did a photo shoot here a couple of years ago and knew the manager,” Chris said offhandedly.

“You two are, like, best friends now, aren’t you?” Elaine teased in a high-pitched voice.

“Someone has to keep an eye on me,” the blonde smirked playfully.

“But I thought that was my job now,” Sam pouted dramatically as he sauntered over from the bar area.

“You’re here early.” Chris kissed him briefly on the lips. “Waiting long?”

“Nah.”

Elaine and Joe smiled as they watched. “They’re so freaking cute, aren’t they?” she said over her shoulder.

“Almost as cute as me and Kee?” he asked in reply.

“Never!”

Chris was about to retort when he looked over Joe’s shoulder and froze. Warren and Jake were just entering the lobby area when the brunette caught Chris’ gaze and froze as well. Joe looked behind him then back at Chris questioningly.

“Um … hey,” Warren said weakly as Jake glared from beside him.

“Yeah,” Chris said flatly before turning back to Sam, who was giving Warren cryptic looks. “Let’s get a drink before the crowds get here.”

Sam’s eyes darted back to Chris and he smiled and nodded, leading the blonde away. Elaine moved to follow but stopped when she noted Joe hadn’t moved yet.

“Warren,” he said tightly. “Jake.”

Warren looked a bit nervous but the blonde beside him sourly stood his ground.

“Joe,” Jake returned.

“There won’t be any trouble here tonight, I trust,” Joe said icily, still staring Warren down.

“Not unless Chris causes it,” Jake answered for him.

“Chris doesn’t cause trouble,” Elaine chimed in. “Not anymore.”

“How long have you known him, lady?” Jake demanded. “A few months? Did he even tell you anything about what he was like back west? You don’t know him like Warren does.”

“Stop, Jake.”

“You don’t know him like we do,” Joe replied undaunted. “And I will not stand by and watch you reduce him to what you did that night.”

There really was no need to elaborate on just what night he was referring to. Even Elaine was painfully aware of it by now and all Warren could do was look away in mortification.

“How do you know he didn’t ask for it?” Jake taunted.

“No one asks to be humiliated like that.” Joe moved in close to his face and glared ominously. “Not that you would know what that’s like.”

Jake opened his mouth but Warren put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. “Enough,” he said looking at Jake sternly before turning back to Joe and Elaine. “I’m not going to do anything to him.”

“Or talk to him,” Elaine added.

“But I wanted to apologize …”

“You can make amends by leaving him alone,” she said with crossed arms and her chin held high.

“And besides, it looks like he’s moved on quite nicely, doesn’t it?” Jake sneered.

“Leave his boyfriend alone, too,” she added with narrowed eyes.

“B-boyfriend?” Warren asked.

“See?” Jake seethed to Warren. “I told you he would get over it. You don’t owe him anything.”

“Oh, he does,” Elaine said quietly. “But the apology isn’t worth Chris’ discomfort.”

“He has a boyfriend?” Warren asked again. “Not a friend or a casual thing? A real boyfriend?”

“That’s what we just said,” Joe nodded.

Warren didn’t expect to hear that. He told himself he shouldn’t have been surprised that Chris would find someone, but he was. A small part of him was angry and deeply hurt that Chris had decided to have an openly gay relationship … and he chose someone else.

But I thought you didn’t want him, another part of him sneered in his head. Remember what he did to you for all those years. Remember that pain.

And he tried to. But all he could see was the sad, forlorn look Chris had on his face the night Warren screwed him in his apartment after Tom’s bachelor party. The realization that Warren was doing to him what he’d done for years – except without having a girlfriend waiting in the wings. Jake was right, wasn’t he? Chris deserved it. But Warren didn’t feel he did. Not this Chris, anyway.

“If you were hoping to get back together with him, you should have thought about it before,” Elaine said unsympathetically. She touched Joe’s hand and nodded toward the lounge area where Sam and Chris had gone.

“I’m watching you two tonight,” Joe muttered before stalking away.

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When the two left, Warren ran a hand through his dark hair and sighed. What the hell had happened to him lately? All he’d wanted to do was build a new life in New York … and now he’d turned into Chris – or the old Chris anyway. The new one had a boyfriend ... and, judging by the look in the man’s eyes, a protective one, too. He wondered momentarily if he knew the whole story. Would Chris have risked it.

“You okay?” Jake asked worriedly.

And that’s another thing, the brunette mused. Jake’s feelings for him were now strikingly obvious after that scene in the cab. He hadn’t brought it up, and neither did the blonde. Warren suspected that Jake had been too drunk that night to remember the kiss on the way home. He’d called Warren the next morning to ask how he’d made it to bed the previous night and if he should be worried about whoever it was he brought home with him. When he’d assured him that he’d helped him home, Jake laughed in relief, leaving Warren with the uncomfortable knowledge that his best friend/mentor had more than friendly feelings for him.

'Oh yeah. Tonight would be filled with good times.'