"I'm getting married today," Treston said. He couldn't stop smiling. "And I want it to be the most special day of my life."
The landlord looked him up and down and laughed. "That's exactly how I felt the first two times."
"Well, this is going to last forever," Treston said. He handed the key over and smoothed out his jacket. Why did people who'd had bad experiences have to say things like that the minute they saw someone who was actually happy?
The landlord made a face. "That's what I thought both times, too."
Treston wasn't going to let this guy get him down. "I left everything clean and the next tenant can just move right in," he said. The landlord may have had two bad experiences with marriage, but that wouldn't happen to Treston. He'd already been through enough bad men, devoid of all character, to know better. He knew he was safe with a decent, moral man like Cooper.
The landlord shrugged and said, "I wish you luck, kid. You've been a good tenant. Let me know where I should mail the security deposit." Then he closed the door in Treston's face without even thanking him for taking the time to leave the apartment in perfect shape. When Treston had moved in there, the stove had been so filthy he'd had to clean the burnt food stains at the bottom of the oven off with a straight-edged razor tipped sideways so he wouldn't scratch the enamel.
As he climbed into the rental van with everything he owned packed in the back, he was glad he'd never have to see this place again.
When he arrived at the club, he found Cooper waiting for him at the back door wearing his Park Ranger's uniform. He panicked at first because Cooper wasn't supposed to see him before the wedding. He wanted his wedding outfit to be a surprise. They'd planned it so Cooper would wait for him in front of the guests-all people Treston knew from the club-and Treston would walk down a short aisle as Lyon's wife sang, You Are My Sunshine.
But as he climbed out of the van, Cooper met him and said, "We have to talk about something."
Treston got out and smoothed out his linen slacks. He'd sat so carefully so they wouldn't wrinkle that he'd felt his right leg cramping up. "Let's go inside. We can talk there. Why aren't you dressed yet?" He wasn't even carrying his black wool.
Cooper didn't respond.
"How do I look?" Treston said. "I got this outfit just for you. I hope you like it."
"It has silver threads and leather trim," Cooper said. He glanced at Treston's wrists and made a face. "There are rhinestones on the buttons. I've never seen a suit like that, or a guy wear so much jewelry at one time unless he was on stage in one of the casinos." Then he gulped and pressed his palm to his stomach.
Treston hugged him and said, "I figured I'm only getting married once, so I may as well do it in style. In a way, I am on stage today."
"Ah well."
"C'mon," Treston said, reaching for Cooper's hand. "Let's go inside before anyone else sees us out here. I want to make a grand entrance when I walk down the aisle and you need to get dressed. Where's your black wool?" Treston knew J.D. would be so jealous of his wedding outfit he'd be seething in his seat.
"Wait," Cooper said. "I think we're making a mistake."
Treston felt a sharp pain in his stomach. His hands fell limp to his sides. "What are you talking about?"
With a pained expression, Cooper reached for both of his hands and said, "It's me. It's all my fault and it has nothing to do with you. When I saw the show last night and I saw the ping-pong ball act, I just stood there stunned. Then when I saw you with your friend rolling around in your underwear on the floor that way, laughing and crying at the same time, I knew it was wrong. The magnitude of it all hit me and I started thinking about all the other guys and what you have been doing for a living all your life. I realized we're worlds apart."
Treston felt a sting in his eyes. He opened them wider so he wouldn't start to cry. "You said all that didn't matter. You know all about my past. I've told you everything. I never lied to you once."
"I didn't think it mattered," Cooper said. "But when I saw you on stage last night, practically naked with that guy Lyon bumping and grinding into you, I almost threw a table across the room."
No matter how hard Treston tried, he couldn't keep the tears from streaming down his face. "But it's all over," he said. He figured if he made this point, Cooper could forget all about his past. "All that matters now is we love each other and we're going to spend the rest of our lives together."
"Your past is always going to be there," Cooper said. "It's not your fault. It's me, and you deserve someone better than me. I'm sorry. I just can't marry you."
So many things rushed through Treston's head he almost passed out. He'd quit his job, moved out of his apartment, and planned the rest of his life around this man. Now the prick wanted to back out? The wedding outfit alone had been a month's rent. So Treston did the only thing he thought he could do. "Please, Cooper. Don't do this." He put his arms around him and held him as tightly as he could. While Cooper's arms remained at his sides, Treston started to beg. "Please, please give me a chance. I love you and I want to be your husband. I promise all the stuff in my past is over and I'll never give you reason to doubt me. Oh please, don't do this to me. Don't do this to us."
Cooper pushed him away and turned his back. "I'm sorry. I've made up my mind. I have to go now. Please understand I didn't do this to hurt you. I'm doing it for your own good. I don't think I would ever get used to the fact you were an escort. Even though I'm embarrassed to admit it now, and I thought I could get used to it, I have to be honest with you for your own good. You'll see this is the right thing in time. I promise."
Treston felt such an overwhelming sense of panic he dropped to his knees. He forgot all about the linen slacks and he reached out with both arms. As Cooper continued walking away from him, he continued to beg. "Please don't leave this way. We can work it out. I promise we can. You're my hero. You can't do this to me."
But Cooper didn't stop. He climbed into his truck, started the engine, and pulled away without looking back. Cooper remained on his knees until Lyon pulled into the parking lot and found him there crying. Lyon didn't even park his car. He stopped in the middle of the parking lot, jumped out without bothering to turn off the engine or shut the door, and raced to his side. He reached down to pick Treston up and cradled him in his arms.
Treston was sobbing so hard by then he couldn't even speak. He fell into Lyon's arms while Lyon tried to find out what had happened. When another car pulled into the parking lot, Treston said, "Please help me get into the van. I don't want anyone else to see me this way."
Lyon lifted him into the passenger seat, then climbed in and sat next to him. He put his arms around Treston and cradled him again until he calmed down enough to speak clearly. It took all the strength Treston had to tell Lyon what had happened and that Cooper was not coming back and there would be no wedding. In between sobs, Lyon kept saying, "It's going to be okay, man. I'm here. Just tell me what to do."
After he told Lyon everything, he wiped his eyes on the sleeve of his new wedding jacket and said, "Please go inside and tell everyone the wedding is off. I can't face them like this. I don't think I can ever face them again."
"They're your friends," Lyon said. "They'll understand. Come inside with me. I don't want to leave you alone like this, buddy."
"I'm okay," Treston said. "I want to be alone right now. I just can't face anyone."
Lyon clenched his fists. "I'm not leaving you alone. I'm going to make it right. I'll find that fucking park ranger and I'll kick the shit out of him for doing this to you. I'll break every fucking bone in his body."
Treston rested his palm on Lyon's stomach and said, "No, please don't. I don't want you getting into trouble and I hate violence of any kind."
"But he deserves it," Lyon said. "If I'd been here a few minutes earlier I would have kicked his ass right here in the parking lot."
"Please promise me you won't do anything," Treston said. "I'm already embarrassed enough. It would only make things worse. If you really love me, you'll go inside, tell everyone what happened, apologize to them all, and let me have some time alone."
Lyon punched the center console, and it took Treston a few more minutes to calm him down. But he finally convinced him the only thing he wanted was to be left alone so he could think.
Before Lyon opened the door to get out, he hugged him one last time and said, "You sure you're okay?"
Treston nodded. "I'm sure."
"If you need me, I want you to call me at any time," Lyon said.
"I will."
Lyon opened the door and jumped out. He reached for Treston's hand and said, "I love you, buddy. Anything you want, anything you need."
Treston squeezed his hand and said, "Me, too. And thanks for always being there. Hell, who needs a husband with a friend like you around?" It took a lot, but he forced himself to smile so Lyon would think he was okay. He didn't want Lyon to know what he was really thinking: thoughts between ramming the van into a tree and jumping off a cliff at Lake Mead.