Love Wins Anthology

Chapter 1

Chapter 1Josh Manning stopped short just inside Mitch’s Tavern and burst out laughing. Mitch had decorated the normally laid-back bar with a rainbow of streamers, pinwheels, and hanging glitter balls, all spinning in the breeze from the ceiling fans. “Adam, do you believe this?” Josh tugged his lover forward to see the display.

Adam looked around the room, his face glowing. “Wow. It’s really tacky, but I love it. I guess you don’t celebrate a Supreme Court decision with black robes and solemnity.”

Just then, Mitch, who was easily tall enough to see over the crowd, spotted them, and hollered, “Hey! About time, you two. I’ve been saving my big announcement.” Mitch wove his way through the merrymakers and pulled Josh and Adam into a big bear hug. “Welcome to the party. Now come with me, I’ve got a private celebration going on in the back room. You’ll—”

“It’s called the Hanover Room, if you please,” interrupted a prim, testy voice behind them.

Mitch snickered.

Josh turned to watch Bertram, Mitch’s longtime partner, squeeze around a kissing couple to join them. Bertram was forever nagging at Mitch to gentrify the bar in the hopes of attracting a more upscale clientele. Now and then Mitch tried to humor him, but mostly just needled him mercilessly.

Mitch grinned and executed a surprisingly graceful bow. “Then do let us adjourn to the ‘Hanover Room,’ Gentlemen, and partake of a libation.”

With a huff, Bertram led the way.

Josh and Adam were greeted with high spirits by a dozen or so of their friends gathered in the party room. Trays of elegant hors d’oeuvres were arranged on serving tables along the far wall. Bertram’s work, no doubt. Mitch would have served hot dogs. A small, very busy bar took up one corner.

Mitch signaled for quiet, and eventually everyone settled down. He cleared his throat. “First let me thank you all for coming. It’s a special night for the entire LGBT community.” A cheer went up. Talking over the noise, Mitch went on, “And it’s extra special for me. I want you all to know that finally, after twenty-two years together, I proposed to Bertram, and he’s consented to make an honest man of me.”

The crowd applauded, and someone shouted, “Does that mean you’ll stop watering the liquor?”

Mitch shook his head and pulled Bertram to him. “In your dreams. But in my dreams I’ve waited for this day far too long. Monday we’ll be picking up a marriage license and heading to city hall. They’re scrambling to set up special arrangements to handle the flood of couples wanting to get hitched.” Mitch raised his glass. “So who’s with me?”

More than a few hands shot up. “Excellent!” Mitch looked at Josh and Adam with an expectant gleam in his eye.

Josh squirmed like he’d been pinned by a spotlight. Adam’s smile was strained—obviously he was just as uncomfortable as Josh was being singled out that way. After all, Adam understood Josh’s feelings about marriage—and agreed with him. Didn’t he?

Neither of them said anything to Mitch, and finally the man turned away, wearing a look of keen disappointment. Conversation soon resumed around them, and the awkward moment passed.

The rest of the evening Josh spent eating a lot, drinking a little, and watching Adam’s smile get smaller and tighter. It was time to go.

Standing at the bar where he was making their excuses, Josh could see Adam across the room, cornered by Chaz and George. The two very tipsy councilmen were still standing only because they were propped up against one another. Josh had heard them regaling everyone with their wedding plans—hearts and unicorns. Unicorns? Really? Apparently, it was Adam’s turn to be bored into submission.

Josh shook his head, waved to Mitch and Bertram, and headed to the rescue. He just wasn’t quick enough.

Reggie Pendleton, Adam’s ex, slithered up to Adam, and, with an imperious wave of his hand, dismissed the two drunken councilmen.

Where the hell had Reggie come from? That arrogant asshole with his just-enough-to-be-interesting British accent didn’t frequent Mitch’s bar. No, the man hung out at Corrigan’s, a rougher watering hole a few miles north, just over the county line. Reggie had to be stalking Adam.

As Josh made his way toward them, he could see Adam’s face was pale. Probably in shock. Adam was murmuring words Josh couldn’t make out over the din of the party.

Reggie raised a hand and let his index finger drift down the edge of Adam’s cheek in a slow caress. Adam’s eyes closed at the touch.

A burst of anger ignited in Josh. He stopped being patient and elbowed his way past the last of the inebriated party-goers in front of him. He slid next to Adam and put his arm around him. Glaring at Reggie, Josh said, “Aren’t you in the wrong place?”

An infuriatingly smug smile spread on Reggie’s face. “Oh, I think I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. It’s a celebration, isn’t it?” Reggie angled his body toward Adam, pointedly excluding Josh. Dropping his voice to an intimate tone, he said, “We’re free to marry now, aren’t we, little one?”

Hearing the endearment from Reggie amped up Josh’s anger. “Yeah, it’s great—for everyone. But Adam and I were just about to leave, so you’ll have to continue the celebration without us.”

Ignoring Josh’s words, Reggie again spoke only to Adam. “If we were still together, I’d be down on one knee offering you a ring. And I’d never let you look so sad again.”

Adam stiffened. “Reggie, don’t—”

Josh couldn’t resist interrupting. “Adam would turn you down. We’re happy just the way we are.”

Reggie laughed and raised his eyebrows at Josh. “Can you really be that blind?” Shaking his head, the man patted Adam on the arm and said, “Little one, anytime you need me, I’m always here for you.”

Josh scowled at Reggie and tugged Adam toward the doorway. “What a jerk. I’m sorry I couldn’t head him off before he started bothering you. Are you okay?”

“Just tired. I’m ready to go home.”

“Good.” Josh paused and planted a kiss on the top of Adam’s head. “‘Cause when we get home, I’m gonna make you forget all about him, I promise.”

Adam didn’t answer, just started moving again through the crowd.

Josh frowned. That was strange. Adam must be more upset than he was letting on.

And it was all Reggie’s fault.

Damn him.