So, when the judge tells Jet to place the ring on my finger, it’s like the last piece clicks into place.
Getting married doesn’t change anything between us. It doesn’t change how I feel or how I see Jet. I understand Maddox and Damon’s and Ollie and Lennon’s decision not to take this step, but for me and Jet, that wasn’t an option.
Jet has lived a lonely existence, and the ring on my finger is a promise he never has to do that again.
With Damon planning appearances for me and being part of Lennon’s podcast, there will be times when we’re apart, but with our marriage vows, I promise Jet will always know I’m his.
“I now pronounce you husbands,” the judge says.
When we kiss, I can hear my mother blubbering and can’t help but laugh into Jet’s mouth.
“First kiss as a married couple, and you’re laughing? That doesn’t bode well.”
“I’m sorry, but my mother is ridiculous.”
“First kiss as a married couple, and you’re thinking of your mother? That’s even worse.”
Our small group snickers.
“I’m sorry.” Mom sniffs. “I’m just so happy my Caleb has found a loving family to be a part of when he’s not with us.”
When I stare around the room at the gay brigade and their warm smiles, I realize I really am a part of them.
I have been in some way for the past four years, but not being with Jet made me hold them at arm’s length.
“He’s one of our brothers,” Matt says. “And not just because he married JJ.”
We reach the steps of the courthouse when Noah says, “I booked us a table at Sky. It’ll be the last time we’re all together in one city for a long time.”
With Matt and Noah now living in Chicago permanently, Talon and Miller only coming to New York to see Miller’s family during the off-season, and Jet and me on the road for at least the next four months, it will be a while before we’re all together like this again.
We’re all moving on, all finding our own lives, but we know that no matter what, if any of us needed something, we’d all be there in a heartbeat.
Not because we have to out of some sort of obligation, but because it’s what chosen families do for each other.
I squeeze Jet’s hand. “I’ve been thinking. After the Europe leg of the tour, maybe we should go on a honeymoon.”
“Where’d you have in mind?”
I want to take Jet somewhere that changed both our lives. It gave us our defining moment. It was the first time I’d heard Jet’s song the way it was supposed to be heard, the first time I saw how much we had truly affected each other’s lives, and the whole place means so much to me and to us. “How about Fiji?”
Jet answers in the most perfectly Jet way.
His lips curve up into his trademark smirk—the one I always want to take away by covering his mouth with my own. And now that we’re together, and I’m his husband, I can. Always. I will never get enough of kissing him.
Jet’s head rests on my shoulder at the dinner table. The restaurant is in the highest building in Chicago and overlooks the entire city.
The views are amazing, and it’s perfect for our wedding dinner.
Low-key but beautiful.
Jet’s lips hit my cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
I watch as he walks away, but my sister’s hand on my arm brings my attention to her.
“We really do love him.”
The only other time my family has met Jet was when Radioactive played in Toronto not that long ago. They came to the show, and I knew they’d fall for him, just like I had, without even properly meeting him. Even Dad was vocal in approving of Jet, which is more than he’s ever been when it’s come to my sexuality, so I’m taking it all as a very big win.
Jet’s on the shy and awkward side around them, which is weird for him, but he says it’s because he doesn’t know how to act around real parental figures seeing as how he never had any growing up.
I’m sure it won’t take long for him to show his true self, and now that we’re married, my family has to love him no matter what.
Too late, suckers.
I’m assuming Jet’s gone to the bathroom, but then his voice cuts through the noise of the restaurant.
“Geez, does he carry microphones around with him?” Talon asks.
I laugh. It wouldn’t surprise me if Jet did.
We turn and find him sitting at a grand piano on a tiny stage in the corner of the restaurant.
“Does someone want to get out their phone and record this for me?” His eyes lock on mine. “We’re about to go viral again, babe.”
Damon moves his chair to the side of the group and gets out his phone. When he nods to Jet, my husband starts playing a melody on the piano.