Self Preservation (17 page)

Davis opened the door and walked into the hall.

“I just wanted to spend some time alone with you!” Alex screamed, as the door slammed shut. “Alex, you stupid, stupid prat!” he yelled, sitting down on the stairs and dropping the keys on the floor. “Bollocks!”

Davis and Deseree sat in the back of a cab on their way to the church. Davis was antsy and couldn't sit still in the seat.

“Will you please settle down?” Deseree asked, shaking her head.

Davis was still fuming as he clinched his fists. “I can't help it…that whole big act, going to all that trouble just to get me into bed.”

“I'd be flattered,” Deseree said, looking up with a smile.

“I think it's disgusting. He probably worked the whole thing out with Tadd just to keep me away from Jack. I'm sure they laughed, thinking if I slept with Alex, Jack would never forgive me. Well, it's not going to work!”

Deseree pulled a compact out of her purse. “Davis, really, you're such a conspiracy queen. Did it ever occur to you he might actually like you?”

“Please,” Davis said, looking out the window, “that walking boner doesn't think about anything but himself, with his stupid British accent trying to come off all Cary Grant-ish.” He looked at Deseree and added, in a mocking tone and exaggerated accent, “Hello. I'm Alex. I'm charming and sexy.”

“You think he's charming and sexy,” Deseree said in a singsong voice as she checked her makeup.

“He's a cad.” Davis huffed, rolling his eyes at her. “A trickster!”

“I think you're giving Alex too much credit. Maybe it was the only way he could think of to get you alone. I like Alex, and I think he likes you.”

“Oh sure,” Davis said, reaching over and patting Deseree's stomach. “And your taste in men is apparently impeccable.”

“Screw you,” she said, swatting his hand away. “Besides, I knew what I was getting into. I knew up front the guy was a jerk, but he was so hot and I was horny. And he was really good in bed.” Deseree closed her eyes for a moment and sighed before adding, “How was I supposed to know he had bionic sperm…able to rip through condoms in a single bound?”

“Sorry.” Davis gave her a half smile as he let out a sigh. “Give me your phone. I want to try Jack's cell again.”

“You've been trying all morning. He's obviously got the damn thing turned off. There's nothing you can do till we get to the church, so settle down.”

Davis scowled, wiggling back into the seat and folding his arms in a bit of body language that spoke volumes about his state of mind. He bit his lip and turned to peek over at Deseree. “What will Jack do?”

“I don't know, Davis,” she said, placing her hand on his knee. “Either way, though, at least you'll know.”

* * *

The cab pulled up in front of the church, and Davis threw some money over the seat. He flung the door open and jumped out, then helped Deseree up and out. She shut the door to the car and they made their way up the walk, stopping when they reached the heavy wooden doors so Deseree could pull on her shoes. She ran her hands over Davis's khaki-colored suit, smoothing it out. He buttoned the top of his white linen shirt and she straightened the pink silk tie.

“Do I look okay?” she asked, twirling around in her deep cream-colored dress with an empire waist. The bottom was cut just above her knees and flared out as she spun. When she stopped, he reached over, smoothing out the spaghetti straps.

“Beautiful,” he answered with a wink.

They looked at one another as Davis yanked the heavy door open. They walked into the vestibule, stopping when they saw Candace in a pale yellow Jackie O-style suit.

Candace looked up at them. “You two are early.”

“We wanted to make sure we got good seats,” Deseree said with an innocent smile.

“Not to worry, you're sitting with me.”

“Right,” Deseree said, as Davis stared at her with a panic-stricken face.

“Davis, are you okay?” Candace asked, turning toward him.

“He really needs to pee,” Deseree said, pushing Davis toward the doors to the auditorium.

“I'll just go look for the bathroom.”

“Oh, well, it's right…” Candace began, then shook her head. “It'll be easier if I just show you.”

“He's a big boy,” Deseree said, opening the door and shoving Davis through it. Looking back at Candace, she added, “Besides, I've been meaning to ask you about that dress you wore last night. Was it vintage?”

Davis was momentarily caught up in the beautiful architecture as he gazed down the long aisle running through the center of the church. The dark wood pews lined up on each side of the aisle, gleamed in the light from the large, beautiful craftsman-style fixtures that hung from the dark wood beams running throughout the cathedral ceilings. Large rectangular windows lined each side of the room, each with multipaned stained glass in rich amber, red, and brown earth tones, surrounded by wood millwork with a dark stain.

Davis saw the minister at the other end of the church. He hastened down the aisle and came to a stop behind the elderly man. He tapped him on the shoulder.

“Have you seen Jack?” Manners were a luxury that Davis couldn't afford.

“Yes,” the minister said, looking at Davis and turning back around.

Davis threw his clenched fists in the air in frustration and tapped the old man on the shoulder again. The minister turned back around and smiled at Davis.

“Might I ask where he is?” Apparently manners were all he could afford.

“I suppose you might,” the minister answered, nodding his head as he started to turn away.

Davis grabbed the man by the arm, spinning him around. He took him by the shoulders, slightly shaking him. “Where is he, old man? The clock is ticking!”

The minister looked at Davis wide-eyed and pointed to a door on the left. “They're both back in the church together.”

“Shit!” Davis yelled. He noticed the minister looking back as if Davis might be insane. “Sorry, father, or pastor…whatever you are.” Davis smoothed out the minister's shirt. “The…the…rings… I have the rings.”

Davis spun around and took off toward the door. He opened it and found himself in a long hallway. He made his way quickly down the hall, stopping to listen at each door. When he got almost to the end of the hall, he stopped, hearing voices behind a door. He stood, fidgeting for a moment, unsure of what to do. He needed to talk to Jack alone. He paced back and forth, stopping a few times, raising his hand as if he was going to knock on the door.

He backed away from the door and turned to leave, cursing under his breath, then glanced briefly up at the ceiling as if to apologize for the bad language. He slapped himself, turning back around and walking back up to the door. As he reached up to knock, the door started to open. He backed up, hiding behind the door, pressing his body into the wall.

Through the crack, he watched Jack and Tadd as they walked out of the room and disappeared down the hall. He rested his head against the wall and let out a deep breath. He slowly came out from behind the door. He let his glance wander into the room. He went inside.

Davis surveyed the room, but his eyes started to burn as fear really set in. The dark wood paneled walls made the room feel small and the brown carpet seemed a little the worse for wear. He could smell that musty scent rooms get due to a lack of everyday use. He noticed a boutonniere sitting on a table and picked it up. He placed it up to his nose and inhaled the subtle scent deeply as tears began to roll down his cheeks.

From behind him, Davis heard Jack's voice.

“Davis?”

Davis opened his eyes and turned around. “You came back?”

“I forgot my boutonniere,” he said, pointing to the flower in Davis's hand. “Are you okay?”

Davis wiped his eyes, then ran over to the door and pulled it shut. He whirled, leaning against the door as if to block Jack from leaving.

* * *

Guests were filing into the church, filling the pews. Tadd was sitting on a small pew against the wall just outside the door that led to the hallway. He smiled and waved at people as they found seats. Alex strolled easily down the aisle and spotted Tadd. He walked over to him and smiled, taking a seat next to him.

“Nervous?”

“No, I'm not. Someday you'll get past your commitment issues.”

“Yes,” Alex said, looking away. “Possibly.”

Tadd watched Alex for a moment, surprised by the concession in his reply. They both turned as the minister came through the hall door. The minister stopped.

“Did he get the rings to you?” the minister asked.

“I'm sorry?”

“The young man that came running in earlier. He asked for Jack…said you forgot the rings. Did you get them?”

Tadd looked over at Alex, confused. Squinting his eyes and smiling, he looked back up at the minister. “Yes, sir. We got them.”

The minister turned away, nodding as he mumbled something. He walked toward the pulpit and Tadd turned to look over the sanctuary. He saw Candace and Deseree talking in the back of the church.

“That little shit,” Tadd said, getting up and walking toward the door to the hall. Alex grabbed his arm as Tadd got hold of the doorknob.

“Don't,” Alex said, breathing steadily.

“Are you nuts?”

“If it's meant to be,” Alex said, pulling Tadd's hand off the doorknob, “then Jack will come walking out that door any minute.”

“Well, I don't particularly feel like leaving it to chance,” Tadd said, yanking his arm free and grabbing the doorknob.

“Do you really want to marry Jack if he's still in love with Davis?”

* * *

Davis moved away from the door and walked up to Jack, then took his hands.

“Jack,” Davis said, looking into his eyes. “Would it have been so awful…getting swallowed up again by us?”

“Davis, what are you doing?”

Davis squeezed Jack's hands. “Telling you I love you, saying it out loud. I need you, Jack. I'll do anything you want, go anywhere you want, just please…call this thing off.”

Jack closed his eyes for a moment before looking at him again. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

“We can have it all back, Jack,” Davis said, his eyes pleading the case as well. “Let me love you again. I can make you happy.”

“You can't do this, Davis.” Jack shook his hands free and stepped back. “It's not fair.”

Davis took a step forward. “Tell me you don't still love me. Tell me you don't miss us.”

“Of course I still love you, damn it,” Jack said, shaking his head. “Christ, we were everything to one another, and I can't imagine going back to my everyday life without you in it.”

Davis smiled, throwing his arms around Jack. He locked his lips onto Jack's and slid his tongue into Jack's mouth. He wanted to cry it felt so perfect, like he'd come home. He felt Jack's arms slide around his waist as he began to kiss Davis back.

* * *

Tadd and Alex stood at the doorway to the hall. Tadd had his hand on the doorknob. His eyes were flitting from one thing to another nervously as he tried to regulate his breathing. “I know he loves me, Alex.”

“You may be right, but let it go.” Alex motioned toward the doorknob. “At least this way, you'll know. There will never be any doubts.”

Tadd dropped his hand away from the door and backed away, looking at it. “Shit, now I'm nervous.”

“All we can do is wait,” Alex said, putting a hand on Tadd's shoulder. He looked at the door as nervously as Tadd did.

Tadd got a confused look on his face as he slowly turned his head, looking at Alex. “What do you mean,
we
?”

Alex turned and sat back down on the pew. “Just that I'm…right here with you…doing my duty as your best mate…support and all that.”

Alex slid back to his seat and Tadd followed, intently examining Alex's face as he went over and took a seat next to him. “Oh…my…God!”

“What?” Alex asked, rearing his head back trying to pull away from Tadd's gaze. “That's creepy, stop that.”

“You like him,” Tadd accused.