Love Is... (3.5) (12 page)

Rafe

Un-fucking believable! My twat of a sister has fucking outdone herself. Matthew and I had our engagement party a couple of nights ago and the stupid little shit went home with fucking Michael. I cannot believe it.

I know I need to sort myself out. I’ve been stomping and slamming around the café all morning and Sophie has told me off three times already. It would seem that she’s the boss today.

Rosie won’t answer her phone to any of us; I just can’t believe she’d be so stupid. I’m fuming!

The door of the café opens and I look up to see Rosie walk sheepishly into Rafael’s. I shake my head and continue to serve my customer. I can’t help grinding my teeth. I am so angry with her. Rosie sits at her usual window seat and Sophie gives me the nod to tell me to go over to her.

“Decided to show your face then?”  I snap.  “You better start talking Rosie. Not only did you leave my engagement party early, you left with him. How are you planning on explaining that?” Rosie flushes red and looks around the café, I realise how unprofessional I’m being.  “Come with me.”

I lead Rosie into the catering kitchen and shut the door.

“What the fuck Rosetta? Mam has been in tears, Dad is beside himself, what did you do?”

“Rafe I, I don’t know. I’m sorry. I’m going to be alone Rafael, don’t you get it? They all leave me in the end so why not get back with Michael. We don’t all get the happily ever after you know!”

I glare at my sister, totally baffled by what she’s saying and at her behaviour. My attention is drawn to a glint on her hand, a ring on her finger. I can’t help but laugh.

“You’re so fucking stupid Rosetta if you think he won’t do it again, I’m not going to back you up this time little sis. You’re on your own!”

My tone is clipped and cold but I need to get the point across. Tears fall from Rosie’s eyes and she starts to shout at me through her sobs.

“Fuck you Rafe, I didn’t ask you for anything, least not your opinion. You’re just jealous that you’re not the only one in the limelight now, how dare I steal you fucking thunder hey?”

I can see that she already regrets what she just said, but she still said it.

“Rosie get out! Sort your head out before you talk to me again.”

It was almost two weeks before I spoke to Rosie again. Matthew tried not to get involved given that it was his brother that had caused the problems, but he was as shocked as I was by Rosie’s behaviour, and her words.

When she finally came to her senses and kicked him out, I couldn’t get over to her flat quick enough.

Since then a hell of a lot has changed. She’s been dating Jackson and seems really happy. He’s actually a good bloke but I made it clear to him that I will take great pleasure in ripping him limb from limb if he hurts her again. He’s nothing like the weasel and I know he’d put up a good fight if it came to it, but she’s my sister, I’d do time for her!

I don’t think there’s anything to worry about though. Jackson has asked us all to meet him at my parents’ house on Christmas Eve. It’s really sudden, but I’m pretty sure he’s going to propose. I honestly don’t know how I feel about it but he loves her and she loves him. I’m not risking my relationship with my sister by getting involved any more.

“Did you know about this?” Rosie asks, clutching a glass of champagne in one hand and looking at the emerald ring on the other.

“What, your second engagement in a month? No!”  Rosie frowns at me and I laugh,

“Sorry sis. No, I didn’t know but I had an inkling.”

“I do love him Rafe. I know it’s fast, but I’ve never felt anything like it. You know that day when you told me about you and Matthew waiting thirty days?” I nod, “Well you said that day that I deserve that kind of love, that chemistry with someone, I have that with him. In bucket loads!”

I hugged my sister. I had nothing to say, she did deserve that and I was happy that she had it. I just hoped to god that it would last.

We celebrated Christmas with the family and went home for New Year’s Eve. Matthew and I didn’t want to wait too long before we got married so we started planning straight away. We decided to get married in March, giving us three months to plan our wedding. We might appear straight to the untrained eye, but we’re as gay as gay can be and if there’s one thing that a gay man can do with his eyes closed, it’s throw an awesome party.

We booked a venue, sorted out suits, picked Rosie’s dress, booked hotels, cars and food and before we knew it, it was time for me to head to Buxton with my sister. Pip is travelling with us and Matthew will come up with Jackson in a few days. The two of them have been getting quite close recently, which I guess is nice really, especially for Rosie.

Matthew and Jackson have come along to the station to say goodbye to us, I hate leaving my man, but I know that by the time I see him again, we’ll be days away from getting married.

“I’ll see you in a few days then Mr Alvez-English.”

“You will indeed, I can’t wait Rafe.” Matthew takes my face in his hands and kisses me deeply “I cannot wait!”

We say our goodbyes as the train leaves the station and I waste no time pulling out a bottle of wine and three plastic cups from my bag,

“Classy Alvez, real classy!” Rosie laughs as I pour and I just wink, always prepared!

As the next few days at Mam and Dad’s pass, Matthew and I are ridiculous. We laugh about it but can’t seem to stop. We play fight, hold hands, kiss and cuddle constantly and just generally embarrass ourselves, but we don’t care.

Matthew is going to the pub with Jackson tonight and I’m going to catch up with my sis and Tom Hardy over a bottle of wine and a pizza. I’m on top of the world, nothing can bring me down.

Matthew

Oh my god! I can’t believe after the last few days that it’s finally here. This is my wedding day, and that’s Rafe walking towards me looking fucking drop dead gorgeous. I thought a few days ago that today might not ever get here but Rosie is ok and smiling from ear to ear. Hers, mine and Jackson’s bruises have all faded more than we could have hoped for in this short space of time and I’m about to get married.

Rafe and I meet in the middle of the room and the registrar starts to speak, I can’t hear her, I can only see him.

I take a deep breath and smile; it’s been a crazy week.

A Few Nights Ago

“Hey Ben, thought you were having dinner with the in laws tonight?”

We walk into the pub to see Pippa’s boyfriend Ben behind the bar and Jackson greets him. He was supposed to be getting to know Pippa’s parents but after her Dad walked in on them having sex a few nights ago his plans seem to have changed.

“I was supposed to be mate but Eduardo got called in to work so Pip’s spending the evening with her mum.” Ben blows out a breath that screams relief and Jackson and I laugh before ordering two pints and heading to a table.

“So, how are you feeling then Matty boy?” Jackson sips his pint and waits, smiling, for my answer.

“Good. Really good. I’m nervous about the speech and stuff but not about getting married. I’ve been around a bit and so has Rafe, but I’ve never known anything like what we have. It’s just so easy with him.” I can’t stop smiling. I’m so excited.

As the night goes on we talk about rugby and music and what it’s like being with an Alvez. Rafe and Rosie are a lot more similar than I realised and we crack up as we talk about how frustrating they can be. 

There’s a few pricks sitting not far from us that are just being generally fucking insulting to anyone and everyone. I can’t help but raise my voice a little as I talk about the options for gay weddings and the fact that I’m marrying a bloke. I know just by looking at them that it’ll wind them up and I can’t help myself.

“Fucking Fags!” We stop speaking and turn to look at the little shit that thinks he’s a big man. “Yeah you two fuck off! We don’t want queers round here!”

“Say it again!” Jackson looks him in the eyes as the pissed up idiot tried to stand.

“I said, get the fuck out, benders! You’re not welcome!”

I lurch towards him, pinning him to the wall by his throat and smiling up at him.

“That’s enough! Matthew sit down, you lot get out!” Ben comes over to calm the situation down and out of respect for him I slowly release my prey, but stay standing over him. “Matthew, Jackson…Sit down!”

I back step and we return to our table to watch the group of low lives leave the pub. I can see in Jackson’s eyes that he wants to follow as much as I do but Ben puts down a fresh pint for each of us with a warning in his eyes to stay out of trouble.

“Trust me, that twat is not worth it. Sup up.”

“How are you so calm?” Jackson asks me, surprise evident in his voice.

“I’m used to it Jackson, people aren’t as accepting as they like to pretend they are. I think maybe Rafe and I are threatening to blokes. We aren’t camp or easily identifiable as gay, so men feel comfortable and then when they find out, they are convinced we’re going to want to jump them and it freaks them out!” I shrug my shoulders and sip my beer.

The mood eventually lifts and we move to the bar to chat with Ben while he works. We talk and laugh together until Ben calls last orders and we head home.

“OI…Fucking stop right now or I’m calling the police!”  I stop kicking the bloke at my feet and turn around to see Ben with a cricket bat in his hand and Jackson on top of the little shit from the pub, punching the living shit out of him. “What the fuck lads?” Ben is pissed!

“They jumped us mate, what are we meant to do?” I respond to Ben as I wipe blood from my eyebrow and look at my fingers. Shit! Rafe is going to kill me! “I’m going to look a right twat on my wedding photos!”

“They’re scum! Sorry guys I should have expected they’d do something like this, shall I call the police?” Ben gets his phone out and I shake my head,

“No Ben, it’s done, don’t worry about it! Come on, let’s get home and face the music!”

When we got back to the house, Rosie hit the roof. She looked kind of crazy and at the time I didn’t really understand why but when she disappeared the following day and was saved by Rafe and Jackson from being beaten and almost raped, it all came out.

The little fucker from the pub was Rosie’s ex from when she was sixteen, he beat her up and raped her and then dumped her on her parents doorstep. When he and his mates jumped Jackson and me, she lost it and went after him and he tried to do it again. Needless to say that he’s eating through a straw until his court date.

So here we are, healed inside and out and ready to commit our lives to one another.

“Hi,” I whisper to Rafe as he smiles and looks me up and down,

“Hi yourself,” He whispers back, “You look hot!” We both laugh and the registrar starts the proceedings.

“We are here today to witness the joining in civil partnership of Rafael and Matthew, who would like to thank you all for coming to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in their life together as they become civil partners. Family and friends have travelled a long way to be with them today, and it means a great deal to both Rafe and Matthew that you can be here to share in their happiness and witness their civil partnership vows.”

“Rafe and Matthew, the purpose of a civil partnership is that you may always love, care for and support each other through all the joys of your life and cope with the sorrows. Entering a civil partnership means making a commitment to life and loving each other, to developing and maintaining co-operation, friendship and mutual respect. It calls for trust, understanding and encouragement. Matthew
and Rafe have found in each other happiness, fulfilment and love. They now wish to affirm their relationship and to offer to each other the security which comes from vows, sincerely made and faithfully kept. If any person here present knows of any lawful impediment to this civil partnership then he or she should declare it now.”

We hold our breath and smile, after the week that we’ve had anything could happen. Jackson clears his throat and I look at him as he smiles. The registrar laughs,

“There’s always one!” She winks, “Matthew, repeat after me…Rafael, I pledge to share my life openly with you.” I repeat, “I promise to cherish and tenderly care for you, to honour and encourage you.” I repeat, this time fighting a lump in my throat. “I will respect you as an individual and be true to you through all the good times and bad.” I repeat, a tear falling from Rafe’s eyes and they well in mine.

Rafe says his vows as I have. Swearing when he finds himself tearing up and being told by Bernie to watch his language. Everyone laughed and I couldn’t help but think it was just ‘so us’ to curse on the most important day of our lives!

“We now come to the exchange of rings, which is the traditional way of sealing the vows that you have just made. A ring is an unbroken circle symbolising unending and everlasting love and is the outward sign of the lifelong promise you have just made to each other. Rosie, I believe you have the rings?”

Rosie steps forward and starts to sob when she makes eye contact with Rafe.