Chapter 3
Halfway through the DJ’s playlist, Reggie went outside for some air. The reception hall was across the street from an old playground, and Reggie missed playing there. He sat on a swing, kicking his legs off the ground, and as he moved higher and higher, he closed his eyes and let his head hang back.
“Whoa, that feels surreal.” He laughed, skidding himself to a stop as the blonde boy leaned into his space, grabbing the swing chains.
“I told you so. Don’t you trust me?” Nick grinned.
“Of course I do,” Without a second thought, Reggie leaned up from the swing, placing a quick kiss on Nick’s lips. Their first kiss.
Reggie shook his head as he skidded to a stop on the swing. “Being back here feels surreal.” He whispered into the wind.
“Shouldn’t you have expected that?” Reggie snapped his head up to see the same blonde standing in front of him. “You haven’t been here for three years, Reg. Things were bound to feel different when you came back. Even though some things stayed the same.”
“Yeah, I know. I don’t think I let myself think about missing home.” Reggie couldn’t look Nick in the eye. But Nick dropped into the swing next to him, so Reggie kept his gaze straight ahead.
“You remember our first date? It was here.” Nick’s voice was soft, and Reggie almost wanted to cry because he missed to so much.
“I remember.” He was thankful his voice didn’t crack. “Why are you bringing that up?”
Nick’s eyes stared up at the night sky, shining with unshed tears, “Because I still love you, Reggie. And I regret not going with you. I’ve lost count of how many times I wanted to buy a ticket to LA just so I could be with you.”
Reggie laughed sadly, “Wouldn’t your boyfriend have a problem with that?”
“Boyfriend?” Reggie turned to see the blonde’s face scrunched up in confusion, “I don’t have a boyfriend. I haven’t dated anyone since you.”
“But- Dylan-“
Understanding donned on Nick’s face, “You mean because I said we lived together?” Reggie nodded, “Reg, Dylan is in love with Kayla. They just haven’t gotten a place together yet. He’s straight, how did you not know that?” Nick started laughing, “He used to crush on Flynn back in high school.”
“Flynn?” Reggie laughed, “As in, my very gay sister?” Nick nodded, his smile making Reggie’s stomach fill with butterflies all over again. “I’ve really missed you, Nick.”
“I’ve missed you, too, Reg.” The dark haired boy reached over, so slowly, taking the blonde’s hand.
“Do you want to- maybe- try again?” Reggie’s voice cracked, afraid that maybe Nick didn’t miss him enough. Afraid of having his heart broken again. A pit opened in his stomach when the blonde pulled his hand away and his heart dropped into it. Reggie closed his eyes, willing himself not to cry. He pulled his hand back, gripping the chains, until he felt two hands close around his. He looked up into the hazel eyes that still made his heart skip a beat.
“Don’t you trust me?” Nick asked, smiling and teary eyed.
“Of course I do.” Reggie answered, and the blonde leaned down to kiss the love of his life.
“When is the band set to leave again?” Nick asked as he pulled away.
“We’ll be in town tomorrow, and then have to go to Boise tomorrow night for a show the day after.” Reggie answered, his brow furrowing.
“I need to pack then.” Nick grinned, stealing another kiss. “I’m not letting you go this time.”
“But- the gym, don’t you need-“ Nick shook his head, interrupting.
“Dylan can handle it. He’s basically been adopted into my family, and he’s been working with me for two years. They can handle it if I take off, at least for a little while. I’ll follow you on your tour, and when you go home we can sit down and talk about everything.” Nick squeezed Reggie’s hands, “I can’t lose you again, Reg.”
“You never lost me.” Reggie laughed wetly, “Every interview we’ve done, when they asked why I was the only one that wasn’t dating, I told them to listen to Blonde Beauty, because it was still my love story.” A song occurred to Reggie, and he grabbed Nick’s hand, pulling him back to the reception hall. Reggie quickly talked to the brides, getting permission before he sat on the stage with an acoustic guitar. “Hi, everybody. Uh, I wanted to sing a song I wrote for someone really special to me.” Julie ran up, her keyboard still set up on stage, after he whispered an answer to her, she got into position. Reggie cleared his throat, “This is for the only person that’s ever fallen in love with me exactly the way I am, and the only person I’ve ever loved with everything I have.”
“Friendly strangers on the phone
Tell me how to get through
Once upon we fell in love
Tell me how to talk to you
My world feels like it’s ending
Lost in a see of empty faces
I don’t know what to look for
Since you once filled my empty spaces
Neither of us will reach out again
Pained by the past we once knew
For once upon a time
I fell in love with you
Now those once loving looks
Have turned to longing glances
I wish I could pick up the phone
Press send and take my chances
If I could call out to you
Would answer my call
If I would come to you
Would you let me fall
Fall in love with you all over again
Give me your heart to hold
To say the words I’ve long ago meant
If I love you was what you were told
Would you take me all the same
Your pain is my pain
Your smile is my weakness
It’s still just as dangerous
As the day that we met
From kisses on swing sets
To the words playing in my headset
Just give me one chance
And let’s start anew
Once upon a time
I fell in love with you too”
Everyone was clapping, but Reggie couldn’t pay attention to anyone else, his eyes locked on Nick’s. Reggie set the guitar aside, walking back to the blonde he still loved. Dozens of eyes were set on them in the small hall, but they just stared at each other. “I love you, Nick. I never stopped. I never will stop. All I want in my life is you and my music. I can’t have one without the other, even with the success we’ve had, it’s hollow without you.”
Nick took Reggie’s hands in his, “I’m coming with you this time, Reg. I love you.”