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“If I ask what you’re doing next weekend, are you going to lie and make up plans or will you be open to my proposal?” Liam asks as he hitches his hip against Henry’s cubicle wall.
Henry turns slowly in his chair, eyes narrowed. “I feel as if the first option will be more prudent for me but you’ve tickled my intrigue. What would I be avoiding should I elect to lie about my plans?”
“My kinda best friend slash ex boyfriend’s sister is getting married and because we grew up together and she was, like, a babysitter, sort of, and because our moms are—” He cuts himself off. “I need a date to a wedding where my ex will be and I currently have no romantic partner so …” he trails off and gives Henry what he hopes is a winning smile.
“You want me to be your arm candy,” Henry (correctly) assumes flatly.
“Is there a candy more delicious than you?”
“Spare me the extended metaphor. Will I be required to wear a Stetson and some fancy boots?”
“I think June would murder me if I brought someone dressed like that.” He pauses. “But the belt buckle game is something to behold. You’re going to be obsessed.”
“I’ve never once in my life thought about belt buckles,” Henry tells him.
Liam shrugs. “That’ll change.” When Henry doesn’t respond, he fights back the urge to chew on the inside of his cheek. “So, yes?” he asks and if he sounds a little desperate it’s only because he absolutely is.
Henry leans back in his chair and if Liam was in any frame of mind to actually be interested in him, now would be the time for an inappropriate meltdown. He can see himself in his mind’s eye just climbing into Henry’s lap and—
“Yes, alright,” Henry says, interrupting Liam’s ill-timed fantasy.
“Yes?” Liam asks, just to be sure. Because Henry really has no reason to go to this wedding with him. Henry never goes anywhere , according to him.
“Yes,” Henry repeats, shrugging as if this isn’t some colossal thing that should be recorded in history. “I’ll go with you and make sure your ex is well aware that you’re not desperately and sadly alone.”
“He says as if he’s also not desperately sad and alone,” Liam retorts with an eye roll.
“While that may be true ,” Henry replies with a little smirk that, if Liam wasn’t immune, would definitely have his thighs quivering or something.
He needs a boyfriend. Or to get laid. One of the two.
Henry continues, “I’m not the one asking you to join me at my ex’s sister’s wedding.”
“If you weren’t so pretty, I wouldn’t have asked,” Liam lies and Henry’s answering grin lets him know that he knows it. “Tell me, how good do you look in a suit?”
Liam is going to be in a lot of trouble if Henry’s smirk is any indication.
…
When Liam opens the door to his apartment to find Henry standing there in a navy suit with this coppery/mustardy tie, he thinks that he’s going to win whatever silent battle of wills he and Alex have been having over the last couple of years. Because Henry looks like a wet dream brought to life. His hair is the perfect combination of controlled and soft, his suit has zero wrinkles in it and Liam can’t be sure exactly what he smells like but he kind of wants to drown in it.
“Why aren’t we dating?” Liam asks as he shoves his wallet in his pocket and closes the door behind him.
“Because you don’t like pretty men?” Henry suggests as he heads for the stairs.
“Maybe I changed my mind.”
“For one night only?” Henry snorts. “I can assure you I’ve had enough practice at playing the doting partner that I’ll be very convincing. Usually I’m on the arm of a woman , however, so do make sure to correct me if I attempt to look at your cleavage.”
“ This is why we’re not dating,” Liam decides.
“That’s fair,” Henry agrees before falling silent as he gracefully makes his way down from Liam’s fourth story apartment. “I thought we might take a Lyft,” he says, nodding to the silver Corolla idling at the curb.
“So we can get drunk and not have to crash at the hotel,” Liam nods approvingly. “Good because I didn’t want to pay for a room anyway.”
Henry rolls his eyes and motions for Liam to climb in, following once he’s settled. “So tell me more about these people so I’m not completely awkward around them.”
“You’re always awkward,” Liam points out helpfully, “but I get it. Bride: June Claremont-Diaz. She’s a humanities correspondent for the Sacramento Bee. About three years older than us, gorgeous and the best person in her whole family. Groom: Evan Lassiter. He does something with money that makes my head hurt.”
“Says the man who writes bloody computer code all day,” Henry interrupts with a laugh.
“Yes, but the only money I have to deal with is what goes into and out of my bank account,” Liam retorts. “He graduated a year before June and she followed him to California. Her dad lives there too, Oscar Diaz, but he’s in San Diego. He runs a non-profit for immigrant families.”
“Impressive,” Henry breathes and Liam grins a little. “And the mother of the bride?”
Liam blinks. “You don’t know?”
“I … don’t know any of these people,” Henry tells him slowly. “As we’ve discussed before.”
“Yeah but …” Liam frowns. Does Henry really not know? Did he not put two and two together with June’s last names? “Ellen Claremont?”
“I feel as if I’m supposed to know who you’re talking about based on the look on your face but I honestly have no idea. Is she an actress?”
Liam can’t help but bark out a very unattractive and frankly rude laugh. “Henry, she’s the Lieutenant Governor.”
His companion blinks. “What on earth is a Lieutenant Governor?”
“Don’t you vote ?” Liam laughs.
“I’m not a bloody American citizen you knob,” Henry huffs. “So, no. I’ve never voted in an American election and we don’t have Lieutenant bloody Governors in Britain.”
“What the– you’re not an American citizen?”
“Am I uninvited to the wedding now?” Henry asks with a knowing smirk. “And here I thought you’d enjoy introducing me as your …” He trails off with a frown. “How are you planning to introduce me?”
“ This is Henry ,” Liam deadpans. “Do you want me to make up some kind of label?”
“No, I just wasn’t certain what you’re going for aside from eat your heart out, ex boyfriend ,” Henry replies with an indignant sniff.
Liam runs a hair through his beard. “Right,” he sighs. “Sorry. I’m just … nervous? I don’t know why. Alex and I broke up a long time ago and we’ve seen each other since. I guess it’s just …” He sighs, frustrated with himself and his inability to put Alex behind him.
“You just want him to see that your breakup didn’t end you,” Henry supplies. “You’re not lonely and sad without him. If it helps, my best mate from back home has filled that role for me before. Though he’s generally the one lovingly dragging me to events I don’t wish to be at.”
Henry leans over and presses their shoulders together and Liam wishes, not for the first, second or fiftieth time that he could feel more than general attraction and strong friendship for Henry. He doesn’t know if Henry would ever be interested in him , doesn’t want to make it weird by asking, but he thinks falling for Henry would be so easy.
He fell for his best friend once before, though, and that’s how he finds himself in this situation. If Henry’s sister ever falls and bumps her head and somehow decides she wants to get married, Liam doesn’t want to have to scrounge up another friend date just to prove to Henry he’s fine.
Not that Henry wouldn’t see right through it because of today.
“You’re freaking out again,” Henry says as the car slows to a stop at the Catholic church June is getting married in. “It’s going to be fine. I’m a very good date.”
Liam forces a breath out. “With a face like that, how couldn’t you be?” he asks with a grin.
“Exactly,” Henry agrees with a wink that does nothing to Liam’s resolve to stay friends and only friends with this man. “Now, let’s go see if we immediately burst into flames upon entering this religious establishment based on our devious proclivities.”
“Nah, we’ll be fine,” Liam says as he climbs out of the car and straightens his jacket. “I’ve been coming here since I was a kid and once I figured out my, uh, devious proclivities , I didn’t burn to ash.”
Henry, now out of the car and buttoning his jacket, leans in and whispers into his ear, “Perhaps they’re not devious enough then.”
And then he smiles like a fucking angel and Liam thinks he might burst into flame.
Don’t flirt back , he tells himself. He shoves Henry, who laughs, and then nods to the stairs up to the front door. “We should head in.”
Henry hums in agreement and they make their way up the stairs side by side, shoulders almost touching but not. And Liam isn’t sad about that. He doesn’t feel one way or another about that.
He doesn’t .
“Hey, man!” Liam is snapped out of his internal panic by the sound of Alex’s voice. He hadn’t expected to see him so soon – Alex is pretty much glued to June’s side all the time when they’re in the same place – so he hadn’t worked himself up to the moment he would.
Fuck.
“Alex,” Liam says with a smile, hoping Henry figures out what’s going on. “They put you to work?”
“Gotta give out the programs,” he says with an eye roll before pulling Liam into a hug that’s both foreign and familiar at the same time. “I’m glad you came.”
“Me too,” Liam says and it really isn’t a lie. He feels Henry shift next to him and shakes his head. “Shoot, sorry. Alex, this is Henry. Henry, this is Alex. We grew up together.”
“Henry,” Alex says with a tilt to his lips and an extended hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“You as well,” Henry replies, something a little thick in his voice. It’s hesitant in a way Liam didn’t expect and he’s not sure what to make of it.
“We can catch up later, yeah? I’ve gotta get you to your seats and then head back with Evan or whatever. June kicked me out like an hour ago and Nora is guarding the door so I’m not stupid enough to try to bust in or anything. I’ll put you up by the family,” Alex adds in what sounds like one breath before he turns on his heel and starts walking into the sanctuary.
Liam just watches him go for a second before he feels the press of two of Henry’s fingers on his elbow. “Right,” he breathes. “Sorry.” Henry gives him and soft smile and Liam almost tells him to fuck off with that look but it’s church so he doesn’t. He’ll just file it away until they’re not in God’s house anymore.
“It’s perfectly natural for old feelings to surface when seeing an ex,” Henry tells him quietly and he kind of wants to die right there. He’s already in a church so they’d just need the casket. Convenient, really.
“It’s not romantic feelings,” Liam whispers as they slide into the second row of pews.
Henry smirks and leans in to murmur in his ear, “I can create a distraction if you want to drag him into a cupboard for some non-romantic catching up.”
“I regret every moment of my life that led me to this moment with you,” he replies flatly.
“That’s fair,” Henry agrees with this little shit eating grin that makes Liam feel nothing at all.
It’s just because it’s a wedding , he tells himself. It’s perfectly natural to have weird feelings at a wedding . Sure, he’s thought about what it might be like to date Henry before but it’s never really been something he wanted to pursue.
Liam decides to see what happens today and how he feels next week. He’s got a lot of complicated emotions about weddings and dates and a man who is something close to his current best friend and he doesn’t want to do something he’s going to regret.
Again.
The wedding passes by in the slowest possible fashion. It’s hot - and Henry’s smirk as he tugs discreetly at his collar is not charming at all - and Catholic services are long. He can smell the hairspray of all of the older women around him as it evaporates into the muggy air.
June and Evan don’t seem to notice though, so Liam decides to ignore his discomfort and focus on them.
He’s one of the first on his feet to applaud as they make their way back down the aisle as husband and wife. Alex and Nora follow behind and Liam kind of freezes when their eyes cut over to him and Nora gives him this look that he doesn’t really understand.
He decides not to think too hard on it.
“They have a party bus to the reception if you want to take it,” Liam tells Henry as they slowly process out of the church. “But it’s only a few blocks away and it’s somehow less humid out here than it was in there.”
“I’m fine walking,” Henry says with a shrug. “We didn’t grow up with an air con so while I find the weather here extremely offensive, the heat doesn’t bother me as much as it might.”
“Stop being perfect,” Liam grumbles.
“No,” Henry answers with a smile.
They settle into their normal banter as they walk the four blocks to the hotel where the reception is being held. The bus passes them on the way so Liam feels good knowing that they won’t be standing awkwardly outside the ballroom waiting for others to arrive.
“You know, you never told me why things ended with Alex,” Henry says conversationally when the Four Seasons comes into view. “Was it bad?”
“No?” Liam says but he knows it sounds more like a question. “Things were good, I thought, but I guess he didn’t. I could tell that he wasn’t as invested as I was but I thought it was because of this huge project he’d taken on at work. He’s … let’s just say he gets hyper focused on his work and it can be kind of hard to bring him out of it. He’s an architect and he’d started working on a new office building and there was something about land surveys and structural limitations that I didn’t understand and … yeah. I guess he got more into that than he was into me.” He pauses and laughs to himself. “In more ways than one.”
Henry gives him a little pity chuckle - he knows the joke was unfair because it’s something Henry would usually laugh at but is too considerate to do so at the end of Liam’s sob story - and wraps an arm around his shoulders. “I think it worked out just fine for you though,” he says. “I mean, think of it this way. If you were dating Alex right now, you’d have a lot more wedding responsibilities. And you wouldn’t have been able to have that fling with Preston Williams when he came in to consult on the bug fixes to the island game he helped create.”
“Fuck,” Liam breathes. “Those were the days. Just me and another hot tech nerd eating Thai on the floor of my apartment with—”
“Liam.”
“Sorry,” he lies, unrepentant. “It was a good three weeks.”
“See? And you wouldn’t have had that if you were still with Alex.” Henry pauses. “But I stand by my earlier statement. If you need me to create a distraction so you and Alex can, erm, scratch an itch …”
“Nah,” Liam says, waving off Henry’s offer. “I don’t need to fall down that rabbit hole tonight. He’s sexy as fuck but I don’t want to go through that again. The inevitable breakup.” I’m
“Because you’re a needy wanker who wants all of the attention to be on you?” Henry jokes.
“Exactly,” Liam confirms, smiling at the doorman who holds open the door for he and Henry to enter the lobby. There are big easels with blown up invites on them outside the closed doors to the left, so he directs Henry that way. “I’m serious, though. Don’t let me hook up with Alex tonight.”
Henry laughs and shakes his head. “Only Alex?”
Liam considers this for a moment. “I mean, maybe? I didn’t come here trolling for a hookup. I’m here with you .” He grins and scratches at his beard. “But if the opportunity arises and it’s not Alex , I’d say let it ride.”
Henry throws his head back and laughs again and Liam doesn’t look at the column of his throat.
He doesn’t.
He and Henry head straight to the open bar once they’re inside, standing in line behind people he vaguely remembers from his childhood. He doesn’t engage and neither do they, so he counts it as a win and an escape from possible embarrassment. There are waiters with trays of food he doesn’t even want to guess at what they are and when Henry offers him a shrimp, Liam shakes his head. “Allergic to shellfish. Unless that was your plan: off me and ride the dead date sympathy into a handsome stranger’s bed.”
Henry eats the shrimp and shrugs. “Wasn’t my plan going into the evening but we’ll see how the night unfolds.”
“You’re kind of a dick,” Liam tells him with no heat.
“You’re the one who brought me here,” Henry retorts.
“I never said you weren’t hot .”
“Ah, yes, thank you for the clarification.”
…
Once the bride and groom join the party and have their first dance, the DJ opens the floor and he drags a very reluctant Henry out onto it. “We’re here to have fun!” he shouts over the music.
“We’re here to prove to your ex that you’re not still hung up on him and can get a good looking foreigner to go out with you,” Henry corrects and, yeah, that’s fair, all things considered.
“So then help me prove it , Fox.”
Henry laughs and lets loose and, yeah, here’s another reason why Liam could never date Henry: he’s a terrible dancer .
“Stop making that face!” Henry shouts through a laugh. “This was your idea!”
“I can admit when I’m wrong,” Liam grins but doesn’t stop dancing. “Actually, keep going. You’re making me look better.”
“I hate you,” Henry lies. “And I’m going to get a drink.”
“Don’t step on any unsuspecting toes on your way off the dance floor!” he calls after his friend.
This feels good. Yes, he’s been on some weird emotional roller coaster in trying to figure out if he actually wants to be with Henry or if he just wants someone .
In the end, he knows he doesn’t want to sacrifice what he has for something that could very well be fleeting. Besides, Henry can’t dance and he’s always been told that people who can’t dance aren’t that good in bed.
He’s had enough bad dancers that he doesn’t want to risk finding out that he and Henry aren’t compatible in that way.
When Henry doesn’t come back immediately, Liam decides to vacate the dance floor as well. He’s not really paying attention when he walks straight into someone’s back.
“My god,” he says quickly, “I’m so sorry.”
“No, no,” the person says and Liam looks directly into the greenest eyes he’s ever seen. “I’m sorry. I got in the way.”
“You didn’t,” Liam breathes and he’s suddenly very, very glad that Henry isn’t by his side. It would definitely put a damper on this moment. “You were …” he trails off with a smile. “You didn’t.”
“Thank you,” Green Eyes says. “Can I get you anything?”
“Huh?” Liam asks. And that’s when he realizes Green Eyes is a waiter. And he’s not going to flirt with him because he’s working and has to be nice to all of the guests. Fuck. “Oh. Uh, no, thanks.”
“Dinner will be served shortly, Mr. …”
“Liam. Well, Mr. Brewster but Liam. Please,” he adds.
Green Eyes gives him a half smile that he pretty much wants to taste. “Liam,” he says and oh my god the way his name sounds … “If you need anything, just let me know.”
Liam needs something, alright, but he’s pretty sure they’d both get in trouble if he asked for it here. “I will. Who should I ask for? If I need something, that is.”
Green Eyes’ smile gets wider, a little more playful, and Liam is already obsessed. “Any member of the wait staff,” he says, his eyes traveling over Liam’s body.
“And if I specifically need your help?” he asks.
Green Eyes shrugs and steps back. “Guess you’ll just have to find me.”
And then he walks away.
He walks the fuck away and Liam has to physically stop himself from following.
He needs a drink.
When he gets to the bar he finds a flushed Henry leaning against the wall a few feet away. Once he has his Jack and Coke in hand, he moves over to join him. “Hey. Lost you for a few minutes. You good?”
“Hmm?” Henry asks, then smiles. “Yes, perfectly fine. Just taking a moment.”
Liam nods and sips from his glass. “There’s a really hot waiter walking around here who wouldn’t give me his name in some kind of weird flex of being dressed like literally everyone but also totally wanting me.”
Henry blinks at him. “Is this a real thing that happened or are you trying to get me jealous that you’ve already managed to find someone you want to go home with tonight?” he asks, the corner of his lips tipping up.
“It’s real ,” Liam insists on a laugh. “He’s got green eyes.”
Henry grins and nods, looks down at his feet. “Good for you,” he says and Liam can tell it’s honest. And maybe it’s a bit cliche to be at a wedding with his gay friend while he tries to find someone else to take him home but … he thinks Henry gets it.
And honestly, the flush still evident on Henry’s cheeks says he might have found someone of interest too.
…
June and Evan approach their table in between the salad and main courses. He stands and wraps her in a tight hug. “You’re stunning,” he tells her honestly and he knows the bright smile on her face is genuine and will last for hours. “Congratulations, June.”
She pulls him into another tight hug and kisses his cheeks. “I’m so glad you were able to make it. I wasn’t sure if the knowledge that I had to include my idiot brother in the festivities would scare you away.”
Liam laughs and shakes Evan’s hand. “Nah. Plus he’s been too busy to bother me at all. It’s mildly disappointing.” June laughs and Liam turns slightly to introduce Henry.
“Congratulations,” Henry tells her in his warm accent. “It was a lovely ceremony.”
“It was a long ceremony,” Evan cuts in, laughing and shaking Henry’s hand. “But I got to be her husband at the end of it so I guess it was worth it.”
“Watch it,” June teases. “I’m the one with the honeymoon tickets.”
Liam so desperately wants what they have. He feels the ache deep into his bones.
Before he can say anything else, a familiar voice says, “Excuse me, sir,” and Liam turns to see Green Eyes putting his plate down. Liam swallows and Green Eyes watches him and yeah, this is gonna be a whole thing.
He hears Henry chuckle and June hugs him once more before they move on to the next guests.
“You most certainly have a type,” Henry whispers in his ear as they take their seats again.
Liam absolutely hates that he’s almost definitely right.
…
It’s much later in the evening when Liam finds Green Eyes again. Henry had stepped outside for some air and Liam had taken that opportunity to seek out the man he’s been thinking about nearly all night.
“Hi,” he says as he approaches the man from behind. “Looks like I found you again.”
Green Eyes looks over to him and tries not to smile. “So you did.”
“Does this mean I get to learn your name now?”
“Depends on what you’re going to do with it. Not sure your boyfriend would be too—”
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” he’s quick to correct. Green Eyes arches a brow. “Just a very good friend who is very good at looking like he could be my boyfriend so that my ex doesn’t think I couldn’t get a date.”
“Good friend,” Green Eyes says with a breathless little chuckle that Liam practically feels down to his toes.
“One of the best. But definitely not a boyfriend. My boyfriend,” he stutters out like an idiot. “I don’t have one. A boyfriend, I mean. I have friends.”
Green Eyes watches him for a few beats before smiling. “Good to know, Liam.” He takes a step away and Liam nearly follows him but freezes when he turns back. “Spencer,” he tells him. “And I’m done thirty minutes after the reception ends.”
Liam doesn’t set an alarm on his phone but he seriously considers it.
He allows himself a minute to revel in the fact that he’s not going home alone tonight before he decides to seek out Henry and share his good fortune. He’s not on the dance floor - Liam doesn’t even bother to look there - or back at their table so he assumes he’s still outside. He weighs the option of just waiting for Henry to come back but he’s kind of too excited to wait.
When he gets out front, his eyes scan the area and finally land on Henry’s tall form. As he gets closer, he can tell he’s speaking. Liam wonders if he’s on the phone with his sister or something when he hears another voice.
A familiar voice.
Now that he’s closer he notices another set of feet close to Henry’s. Notices the arc of his back as he bends closer to the person he’s with. Notices how he seems to be both tense and relaxed at the same time.
He makes a split second decision that, given any thought, he probably wouldn’t make in a million years. “You know, Hen,” he says loudly and he sees Henry’s entire body jolt. “I didn’t bring you here so you could hook up with my ex.”
“Hey,” Alex says as he steps around Henry. “Don’t be a dick.”
“I was just stating a fact,” Liam drawls lazily. “I didn’t say I’m against it.”
Henry turns slowly and Liam can read his contrition in his body language. “I …” he begins but doesn’t continue.
“I was actually coming to tell you that I know Green Eyes’ name and we’re going to meet up after the wedding,” he says, hoping Henry reads his tone for what it is. “Had no idea you were making your own plans.”
“What’s his name?” Henry asks and his tone is so hesitant that it actually makes Liam’s heart twist.
“Spencer,” he answers. “And I bet he’s a much better dancer than you.”
Henry snorts. “Maybe I was just trying to embarrass you in front of your—” He cuts himself off and in the glow of the fluorescent lights, Liam can see the exaggerated blush on his cheeks.
Alex barks out a laugh so true to himself that Liam can’t help but chuckling a little as well. “You brought the literal son of a movie star here to make me jealous?”
“No,” Liam denies. “I brought the literal son of a movie star here because he’s my friend and I wanted you to recognize that I’m a lot cooler than you’ll ever be.”
Alex snorts. “Yeah, okay.”
“Plus, he’s super hot,” Liam adds with a shrug.
“That’s a fact,” Alex agrees.
“Alright,” Henry cuts in. “That’s enough of that.”
“Don’t be so modest, sweetheart,” Alex says with a familiar drawl, which makes the pink on Henry’s cheeks intensify.
“Anyway,” Liam says after a moment, “we should get back inside. I think June’s gonna throw her bouquet soon and I wanna catch it.”
“Not if I catch it first!” Alex shouts and books it for the door.
Liam watches him go with a grin and then turn to Henry. “Really?”
Henry shrugs. “Let’s just say I see the appeal and be done with it,” he suggests. Liam wants to fight him on it but he’s still giddy about the promise of what the night will lead to with Spencer so he doesn’t.
“Glad you came with me?” he asks Henry with a grin.
Henry slings an arm over his shoulders and starts walking them back towards the entrance. “I am. Glad you didn’t hold out hope for a drunken romp with me?”
Liam chokes and Henry laughs and honestly, he’s glad his crisis of whatever about Henry is over. They’re friends and they work like this. Liam is free to think Henry’s super hot and Henry’s free to – “Would you have?” Liam asks curiously. “Gotten drunk and taken me to bed?”
Henry shrugs. “I don’t think either of us are really a one night stand kind of—”
“Hot tech guy,” Liam interrupts.
“You shagged him for nearly a month. Not a one night stand.” He pauses and gets a thoughtful look on his face. “But I suppose if things were to work out in such a way, I wouldn’t be opposed to one night and then a return to friendship. I mean, how else am I to prove you wrong about my dancing?”
“You’re the worst person I’ve ever met and I hate you.”
Henry grins and pulls him into a hug. Liam closes his eyes and squeezes back before exhaling and taking a step away. “Okay, I only mildly dislike you on occasion.”
Henry laughs and the doors open and Liam’s eyes find Spencer and … yeah. This is exactly how today was supposed to go.