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The music coming from Seb's club is a siren song to Mia. She tries to ignore the pull, to save herself the heartache of seeing him again and just go home to her husband and daughters. Her feet take her down the steps and into the bar anyway.
The lights are a mix of blue, fuchsia, and purple, bathing the lounge in the dim and moody light Sebastian loves so much. There are people everywhere; at their tables, the bar, and the dance floor. For the time being, there's just a saxophonist on the stage; her music smooth and clear over the sound of chatting patrons.
Mia finds herself at a table close to the dance floor with a good view of the stage. She claps when the soloist finishes her song along with everyone else and orders a glass of champagne when the waiter comes by.
A quartet takes the stage–a group of middle aged men all dressed in suits and carrying their own instruments, except for the pianist. There's a trumpeter, a bassist, and a trombonist besides; all visibly excited about something.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" The trumpeter shouts into the microphone. "Thank y'all for coming out tonight! We're the Blues Crew; and we've been given not just the privilege of playing for you, but Mr. Seb asked us to deliver exciting news!"
The crowd hushes. Mia sits on the edge of her seat, eyes glued to the stage and her heart in her throat. Several thoughts fly through her head, none of which she lets linger very long. He'd always been one for surprises, she thinks; it may even be something to do with the club itself.
"Alright, Jim and Marlon, go ahead and start the music." The trumpeter nods to the pianist and bassist, who begin to play an upbeat melody that stirs the urge to dance within Mia. The trumpeter's foot starts tapping along with a beat not kept by any drums.
"Aaaaalright everybody," the trumpeter throws his hands wide, "we are pleased to welcome to the stage someone y'all haven't heard from in a while and his very special someone. Put your hands together for Sebastian and Ryland Grace-Wilder!"
He leads the crowd in a round of applause and takes the microphone farther back onto the stage with him. He and the trombonist begin playing their instruments right as a spotlight illuminates the entrance to the stage.
Mia watches Sebastian emerge with a brilliant smile on his face. He's in a black three-piece suit that shimmers faintly in the light, a pair of well-shone tap shoes on his feet, and a gold band on his left hand. He turns back to the door and pulls someone out after him.
The man whose hand he holds so tenderly has a mess of blond hair on his head and the beginnings of a beard. His sky-blue eyes are hidden partially behind a pair of glasses. His suit is a deep midnight blue embroidered with sparkling stars. On his left hand is a similar gold band.
He's lanky, and when he stands to his full height, he's slightly taller than Sebastian is. That doesn't stop Sebastian from spinning him instead of the other way around.
Around Mia, the crowd erupts into cheers and whistles. Sebastian and Ryland dance to the music the Blues Crew plays, their feet flying across the stage. She sees the trust Ryland puts in Sebastian every time he's lifted or spun. Mostly, though, she sees the light in Sebastian's eyes. How he smiles and holds himself through their dance.
At the end of the song, Ryland swaps from following to leading so he can dip Sebastian and give him a kiss. The crowd—and the musicians—clap and cheer loudly. Many get up out of their seats as they do so. Mia remains seated, eyes glued to Sebastian and his husband.
The trumpeter hands the microphone to Sebastian, who takes it with a quiet thank you and pulls Ryland to his side by the waist.
"Thank you, Henry!" Sebastian pants a little bit. He pushes his hair back, but that one stubborn bit continues to lay on his forehead. He gives up. "Everyone give another round of applause for the Blues Crew!"
Cheers, clapping, and whistling swells up in the air again. Sebastian and Ryland both turn to clap as well as the musicians bow.
Once the noise comes to a manageable level, Sebastian speaks again. "Even if I was only gone for a week, it's good to be back. Thank you for the warm reception!
"It may come as a surprise to some of you who aren't here all that often that I've gotten married, but it's been a long time coming."
His right hand finds its way to Ryland's left and holds it tightly. His thumb rubs over the ring a few times. "I promised Ry I wouldn't go into all the sappy details, so I won't. That said, we'll be around the club tonight, so don't be afraid to come talk to us! With that, I'll give the stage back to Henry and his crew!"
Sebastian takes a bow, brings Ryland's hand to his lips, kisses the ring, and spins him as he leaves the stage. The crowd cheers again as Ryland laughs and follows after him. Henry and the other musicians start up another song.
Mia watches the newlyweds make their way to the dance floor. She finishes off her champagne and stands, thinking she'll leave.
"Oh, Ry, there she is!"
She stops mid-step and turns to see Sebastian waving her over. Part of her wants to pretend she hadn't heard him, but then she makes eye contact with Ryland and decides she can't. She makes her way to where the pair stand.
"Hi, Sebastian," she smiles, ignoring the way the part of her that never got over Sebastian flares with jealousy at the closeness he exhibits with this man she's never met. "Congratulations."
"You too," Sebastian says easily, "even though it's a few years late."
He pauses and gestures to Mia, "Ry, this is Mia Dolan. Mia, this is Ryland."
"Nice to meet you, Mia," Ryland smiles and holds a hand out for Mia to shake. "I've seen some of your movies, and Seb's told me a lot about you. Only good things, I promise."
"It's good to meet you, too, Ryland," Mia takes his hand. He's warm, and his handshake reminds her of the way she saw her teachers shake hands with her parents as a kid. She suddenly wishes she had come around the bar more often. Maybe she would have had the chance to meet Ryland before this.
Ryland lets go first. He rubs his neck and juts a thumb towards the bar. "I'm going to go get us some water; you two catch up!"
"Okay, baby," Sebastian nods. He kisses Ryland on the cheek before the other begins to weave through the crowd. His gaze lingers on his husband's retreating form, affection glistening in his deep blue eyes.
Mia swallows her jealously. She focuses on how good her life is; how happy she is with her husband and children, and decides to be happy for Sebastian. No matter how the small piece of her that regretted the breakup felt on the situation.
"He's beautiful," she says and means it, "I hope you're happy."
Sebastian regards Mia for a second and fidgets with his wedding band. This close, Mia can see the shaped gems inlaid into the metal. She recognizes the blue music note as a sapphire, but the yellow star could be anything. It's beautiful, and she thinks it fits Sebastian well.
"I am," he says finally. His eyes flit over to where Ryland is talking to a waiter, not too far from the two of them. "He's a teacher. Science. When we met, he was living in San Francisco. I told him I'd move if he wanted me to; he told me that was the dumbest thing he'd ever heard."
Sebastian laughs, "I still can't believe he moved to L.A for me. He didn't even tell me until he asked if I wanted to help him decorate his classroom at the beginning of the school year!"
"That's sweet…" Mia smiles. "How long have you two been together?"
Sebastian pretends to think for a few seconds. "Ohh, about four years? We were long distance for the first two. The engagement was six months ago. He beat me to it."
"I beat you to what?" Ryland asks as he approaches and hands Sebastian a glass of water.
"Proposing," Sebastian laughs.
Ryland smiles, "You were so upset about it, too. Ranting about how you'd had plans and you couldn't believe I did that until I threatened to take it back."
"I was not!" Sebastian's cheeks and ears color with embarrassment, and Mia can't help but laugh. "Ryland, please."
"If you're allowed to bring up the UNESCO incident to everyone we meet, I feel like I'm allowed to tell people about your proposal freakout." Ryland looks smug as he takes a sip of his water. "Anyway, sorry to cut your conversation short, but Keith wants to talk to us in the back.
"It was so nice to meet you, Mia; good luck on your next project!"
"It was nice to meet you, too, Ryland. Congrats again, Sebastian."
"It was nice to see you again," Sebastian says, and he takes Ryland's hand as they walk away.
Mia watches them go, checks the time, and decides to go home. Somehow, as she's waiting for the Uber and texting her husband, she finds herself feeling both overwhelmingly sad and undeniably happy at the same time.