Otherwise Engaged » [cake] √

Toasts

Toasts - 8:10pm 

He and Luke talked for a little while longer before Calum had to excuse himself to get ready for his toast.

Which he'd been terrified to do, 200 and something eyes boring through him, and he was sure he was as transparent as the day is long. People would be able to tell he was confused, conflicted and they'd judge him, someone would say something and Ashton and Michael would hear and he'd never be able to be friends with them again, they'd hate him.

This was an inescapable loop of thoughts that were plaguing him as he stood behind a column and tried to run his eyes over his speech one last time before he went out there and tried to play the role of best goddamn groomsman they'd ever seen.

He watched a server moved back toward the kitchen with a tray of champagne flutes and froze for a moment before deciding it would be worth it, "excuse me, could I have one of those please?"

The server turned, clearly caught off guard by being called to, so far from the concentration of guests, "Ah yeah, sorry there's only one left, I was going for refills," he explained, "I can come and give you one once I come back out," he offered, but was still walking toward Calum with the tray.

"Ah no that one will do, I have to give my toast in a few minutes," he explained, taking the room temperature glass in his hand and downing it quickly before placing it back on the tray, "thanks," he said, offering a small wave with his palm cards to the retreating server.

Then he heard the announcement that toasts were starting and made his way back to his seat at the front to wait his turn. First Ashton's father spoke on behalf of the family, and then Michael's mother on behalf of theirs and then all eyes fell to Calum who stood as confidently as he could and made his way to the lectern.

"Good evening everyone, for those of you who don't know me, I'm Calum the Best Man. and by the, I mean the Bestman." he laughed to himself, feeling the tension in his chest, "As cliche as it might seem it feels like Michael introduced me to this elusive new boyfriend just yesterday,"

He cleared his throat and started the next part, "Michael had been telling me for weeks and weeks that he'd met this really lovely guy and I wanted to believe him," Calum said smiling, and there were a few chuckles around the room, "but every time the three of us had plans to meet, something would happen to Ashton, a meeting, a train breaking down or an illness, and I was so sure that he already hated me." more laughter and Calum swallowed before continuing with a change of tone, "And with that came the fear that I was going to lose my best friend to someone else." he let that sit for a moment, "but thankfully I was wrong, and I now have another best friend, another brother who I feel as though I've known my whole life. And watching them grow and change together has been the greatest pleasure and privilege. To the people I love most, I wish you all the happiness there is to be had. May you both live as long as you like and have everything you like as long as you live, to the irwins!" he raised his glass, a grin across his lips until he received the raised glasses in return, and he left the little podium returning to his seat feeling eyes follow him.

From that moment, he was counting the minutes until it would be acceptable to head to the bathroom. Drinking his drink to have any excuse to not be watching the toasts so intently, time ticking by slowly but eventually after he'd waited through two more toasts, he excused himself as quietly as he could.

Once he made it behind the bathroom door he cast his eyes along the doors of the stalls seeing they were all open. Then he sighed, feeling finally, truly alone. He looked himself over in the mirror; he looked better than he felt. Swallowing thickly, he was fine; he wasn't going to cry; he was just tipsy and emotional that his best friends are happy.

He heard the door open and whipped around, afraid of who it might be.

It was just Luke.

They were quiet, staring at one another for a long moment; Calum felt like a deer in headlights, caught.

"I did follow you in here this time," Luke said, closing the distance as he spoke.

"Good," Calum pressed himself forward, making their lips meet; as they kissed, Calum grew hungrier, feeling as though he couldn't pull Luke close enough. He wasn't sure if it was because he was drunk or if Luke's lips just fit his better than anyone else's had. He was soft, pliable, wanting to please him; at first, his hands had been timid, holding him unsure, almost seeming inexperienced. Until Calum placed his hand on the back of Luke's neck, and the other reached down to grab a handful of perky ass. That seemed to trigger something in Luke; his timid hands grew more sure as they started to search the plains of Calum's body, exploring under his tux jacket to grip his waist firmly. Then he was beginning to finger the buttons of his shirt, and Calum finally came to his senses and pulled back.

"I'm sorry, I just can't- this is my ex's wedding, I can't hook up with a stranger in the bathroom- if someone sees, it'll look bad," he confessed, achingly aware of the performance required to get through this wedding.

Luke was catching his breath, "I really didn't mean for it to escalate to that," he confessed.

"I know- that was my fault. I'm sorry," he said again, rubbing a hand across his face, "I need to stop drinking,"

"The toast was good," Luke assured, seemingly unsure what to do or say in response to Calum's clear embarrassment.

"You think so?"

"I think it was nice that you made it about both of them when it would have been really easy to focus on one or the other, especially all things considered," he said quietly, and Calum nodded, not sure how to put his appreciation into words.

"I'm going to go get some water... thank you," he said and moved past Luke back out into the hustle and bustle of the ballroom and tried to forget the feeling of soft lips and firm hands as someone he knew approached him with a grin that had to be for show.