Perfect Alignment (Thorne and Dash 3)

Butterflies began to dance in his stomach as soon as he realized it was his wedding day. His wedding day! In just three and a half hours, he and Thorne were getting married in actual Central Park.

“Riley? Was that your alarm?” Thorne called from the dining area.

“Yeah, I’m getting up.”

“Breakfast just arrived if you’re ready.”

Riley rose and stumbled over to the table. Normally the smell of bacon, eggs, and toast made him sigh. This morning it made his stomach warn him not to dare put anything in it. “I’m not sure I can eat.”

Thorne raised a brow. “Riley Dashwood not eat breakfast?”

“How are you so fucking calm?”

“I’m not really, but I’m marrying you today, so how can I not feel fantastic?”

Thorne truly looked ecstatic. “Okay, maybe just a piece or two of bacon.”

“That’s my man.” Thorne checked his phone. “We have just enough time to eat and dress before the walk-through. When we’re finished, we’ll come back here and get dressed. Then we’ll be all set.”

The butterflies were dive-bombing now. “Will we?”

“Yes. Now eat some breakfast.”

Riley grinned. “Yes, sir.”

***

The walk-through went as smoothly as it could have. When they’d had their first Skype meeting with Haley, their Central Park Weddings coordinator, Thorne had told her he wanted the ceremony to take place on the lawn in front of the Dairy. When Riley saw a picture of the charming nineteenth-century building, he agreed immediately, but when he saw it in person, he knew Thorne had chosen perfectly. They could see people ice-skating on Wollman Rink and hear their laughter. What a perfect background.

A few hours later Riley stood in front of the mirror in the plush bathroom of their suite, arguing with his tie.

“Wow!” Thorne said from the doorway.

“So I look okay?”

“You look way more than okay. How much time do we have?”

Riley narrowed his eyes at Thorne. “Don’t even think about it. I’m not risking this tux getting ruined, and I’m not getting ready all over again.”

Thorne reached around him and fixed his tie. Their eyes met in the mirror. “You really do look amazing,” he said.

“Thanks. I’m more jittery than I thought I’d be. I’m glad it’s just our friends out there. I’m not sure I could do this in front of a crowd: say what I need to say, have everyone watching.”

“You wow people everywhere we go, Riley. But I have to admit that seeing you all flustery is giving me very impure thoughts.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

Thorne spun him around and kissed him, a soft, gentle press of lips. Then he bit Riley’s lower lip, and Riley yelped.

“What was that for?”

“To remind you that we don’t have to be sweet or proper or anything else today.” Thorne grabbed his ass and hauled Riley against him. “This is for us. Enjoy the magic of it.”

Riley relaxed for the first time that day. “I’ll try.”

“You’ll do it. Now fix your hair or whatever else you need to do, and we’ll get going.”

“Is it time?”

“Close enough. I’d rather be early than late. Kathryn just texted and she’s there already, working with our coordinator.”

Riley reached for his brush but then turned to look at Thorne once more. “I love you. I may forget to say that or anything before we’re up there for the ceremony.”

“I love you too, and remember, after the ceremony we’re having lunch with our closest friends, and then we get to come back here alone. Just me and you remembering exactly why we want to be together forever.”

Riley smiled. “That will be the best part.”

***

As they walked along the path in the park, Thorne moved so quickly Riley could barely keep up. A year ago Thorne would never have believed he’d be practically running through the park to his wedding ceremony. He’d been so uptight and unwilling to bend when he met Riley. When they reached the Dairy, everyone else was there: Marc and Darius, Susan, Lauren, Kathryn, and wait… Was he seeing things? Thorne’s parents stood with his brother-in-law, Derek.

“Thorne.” Riley laid a hand on his arm.

“I see them.” He’d never thought they’d actually come. If he had, he’d have arranged for them to meet Riley first. If they caused trouble here… If they messed up this moment for him, or worse, for Riley… Surely Kathryn wouldn’t have let them come if they were going to do anything but support him.

Kathryn broke away from her conversation with Marc, the coordinator, and the Justice of the Peace who was serving as their officiant.

“I told you they were coming,” she said when she reached Thorne.

“I didn’t believe you,” Thorne said.

“That’s obvious.”

“I don’t want any issues. This is supposed to be a beautiful moment for us.”

She smiled. “It will be. I promise. Come talk to them. We’ll introduce Riley in a few moments.”

“Riley, is that okay?”

He nodded. “I need to talk to Marc anyway. It’s fine.”