2017 Top Ten Gay Romance

Chapter 6-1

Chapter 6

With Mr. Peterson’s incredibly capable assistant Leo on the job, things went from disaster to smooth sailing with barely a blink. Leo handled everything, and all we had to do was show up. It was a burden lifted, and I actually found myself excited to attend. My own prom in high school had been a fiasco. I’d taken a girl I couldn’t stand because she didn’t have a date either. At the time, there was no way I could even admit I was gay out loud, let alone take a boy with me. We’d spent the entire time apart, me in the corner like a wall flower, her gossiping with her “mean girl” friends. I’d been miserable the whole time. Now, I was determined none of my kids would have that same experience. I’d already been looking forward to attending, just so I could get some semblance of what my prom should have been. But now that I had Chase as my date, a man I adored more than I should considering the short amount of time we’d known each other, I was downright giddy.

I went all out and rented a limo for the evening. I hadn’t planned on it when it had just been me, but the moment Chase said “yes,” I knew I wanted to show him off in style. I was on my way down the stairs to Chase’s apartment when I got the call from the front desk that the car had arrived. My excitement ratcheted up, and I would have run to Chase’s if I wasn’t worried about slipping in my dress shoes.

When Chase opened his door, my heart literally skipped a beat. He was so beautiful. While I’d chosen a plain cut, black tux with a dark red vest and bow tie that went well with my complexion, Chase had gone all out. White tie, white vest, and tailcoat. My stomach clenched and I wanted to throw him on the floor and impale myself on his c**k.

“Close your mouth, baby. You’re staring.” His voice was smug.

I knew I couldn’t drag him to the bedroom, so I settled for kissing the daylights out of him until neither of us could breathe.

We fixed our clothes and hair in the limo.

Since Leo had assured me he’d handled everything, Chase and I were arriving only about thirty minutes early. I just wanted to make sure everything was in place before the kids started arriving. The limo rolled up in front of the building and Chase and I got out and thanked the driver.

A young man impeccably dressed in a tuxedo rushed toward us. “Mr. Brenner? It’s a pleasure to meet you in person. I’m Leo.” He shook my hand, then turned a warm smile to Chase. “Good to see you, Mr. Prinsen.”

“I’ve told you to call me Chase, Leo.”

“Yes, I know.” Leo gave him an indulgent smile and motioned toward the front doors. “If you’ll come this way, gentlemen, I’m sure you’ll find everything to your satisfaction. We’ve locked down the elevators for the night, and closed off or roped off the few side rooms adjacent to the atrium. The bathrooms are, of course, fully accessible. We’ve brought in some additional seating, the DJ is set up in the corner, and the refreshments are unobtrusively tucked behind an arrangement of palms.”

“Sounds wonderful, Leo. Thank you for everything.”

Leo just nodded, then pulled open the door so we could step inside. I actually gasped when I took in the room. The balloon arrangements we’d ordered were artfully placed for maximum impact. But it went so much farther than that. White lights draped the trees, and more light strings cascaded down the walls. The overhead chandelier had been dimmed so the entire room seemed to glow. Gold and silver drapes covered parts of the walls and gave the whole place an elegant feel. But what really took my breath away was the fountain in the center of the space. Colored lights bounced around as the water cascaded, bringing a rainbow to life. It was a special and thoughtful touch.

I clutched Chase’s hand, overwhelmed. He lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of it, while I tried to speak past the lump in my throat.

“This is beyond amazing,” I finally managed after clearing my throat twice.

Leo beamed. “Wonderful. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.” He took a step away, then looked over his shoulder. “I’ll be present the entire evening, should you need anything at all. Don’t hesitate to ask. And Mr. Peterson has gone home to collect his wife, but they’ll be returning to enjoy the festivities, if you have no objection.”

“Of course not!” I couldn’t stop smiling. “They are more than welcome.”

“Excellent. Enjoy yourself before the rest of the guests arrive.”

As if on cue, the DJ started playing a soft ballad, and the entire place took on an even more magical feel. Chase pulled me into his arms. We started swaying to the music, and it was all I could do not to cry. I wasn’t usually so emotional, but I felt overly so tonight. I needed to get myself under control.

“You made this happen,” I murmured, looking into his eyes.

“Nah. I just made a phone call. It was you and Leo and Mr. Peterson. And the kids. Man, they are going to flip when they see this place.”

“They are.” I pushed closer, needing to really feel him. “But no matter what else, you’re the prince of the ball. You did make it happen, and it’s amazing. This will be a night we’ll all remember for the rest of our lives.”

“First I’m a knight, and now I’m a prince? Do I get a crown to go with my sword?”

I threw back my head and laughed just as he spun me around. Tonight already felt magical, and when the kids arrived, it would feel even more so. And I had the man to thank for it in my arms.

“Is it too soon to tell you I love you?”

The words spilled from my mouth before my brain even thought to censor them. It wasn’t until Chase stilled that I realized what I’d said. For a scant moment, I thought to backtrack or play it off like a joke. But the truth was, I did love him. And I knew he cared deeply for me. If he wasn’t quite to the “love stage” yet, then I was confident he was moving in that direction. And if he wasn’t? Well, it would be good to know that, too.

But I shouldn’t have worried. Chase’s entire face lit up in that huge, bright smile of his, and he hugged me to him. I could barely draw a breath, and that was kissed out of me so thoroughly and completely that my entire body reacted.

“I love you, too.”

My heart soared. We were still kissing in the middle of the dance floor when the other chaperones arrived.