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The manager of the lounge gave Christian a pat on the back. You re up, buddy.
Christian swallowed hard and nodded. He gathered all of the courage that he could muster up and
walked out onto the stage with his guitar. The crowd clapped and cheered. Christian spotted his
brothers and Shea at a table in the middle of the room, close to the stage. There were maybe forty to
fifty people in the room all together.
Shea was sitting with Sebastian on one side of him and Quinn on the other, and Henry sat on the
other side of Sebastian. Christian took a seat on the stool that was set up behind the microphone. He
glanced at the faces of his brothers to see that they were looking at him with pride, acceptance, and
love. Then Christian s eyes met Shea s surprised ones. He grinned and shook his head in awe, not
seeming to believe that Christian was up on stage in front of him. Good, Christian had wanted that
reaction.
What are you doing? Shea mouthed to him.
Christian just smiled slightly and adjusted his guitar and mic. Hi...my name is Christian
Beck...I...uh...I m going to be playing Lucky by Jason Mraz. This is for my boyfriend, Shea.
Christian blew out the breath he was holding. He could do this. He had to do this. For Shea. For
himself. He needed Shea to know that he would do anything for him and that he wanted to spend the
rest of his life with him. Christian started strumming his guitar, playing the opening chords for the
song. Then he leaned forward and started singing into the mic, his eyes locked on Shea s.
Do you hear me? I m talking to you across the water across the deep blue ocean, under the
open sky, oh my, baby I m trying. Boy I hear you in my dreams, I feel your whisper across
the sea, I keep you with me in my heart, you make it easier when life gets hard...
Christian sang his heart out. He poured everything he felt into the song. As the moments ticked by,
Christian s nervousness and apprehension faded. The only person in the room was Shea, who sat
there smiling, eyes brimming with tears. Christian smiled while singing, he couldn t help it, he was
so happy.
I m lucky I m in love with my best friend, lucky to have been where I have been, lucky to be
coming home again. I m lucky we re in love in every way, lucky to have stayed where we
have stayed, lucky to be coming home someday...
Christian finished the song and the last of the notes on the guitar.
The room erupted. Christian was stunned to find the whole room standing, cheering, and clapping.
Sebastian gave the guy in front of him a playful nudge and shouted, That s my brother!
Henry, Quinn, and Shea were also standing and clapping with bright smiles on their faces. Shea
put his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly.
Christian smiled, stood, and lifted a hand in thanks. He set his guitar down, leaning it against the
stool. A huge weight lifted off his shoulders and he felt like he could breathe again. He never
imagined he would ever get up on a stage and sing. But he wanted his proposal to be special and
something that Shea would never expect but always remember.
There is one more thing that I want to say, Christian said into the mic. The room quieted down
to listen to whatever Christian had to say. Shea, you know I love you, and I would do anything for
you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, so I need to know...Will you marry me? he asked,
staring at the man who held his heart and soul.
The crowd erupted again and started chanting Say Yes! Quinn and Sebastian started shoving
Shea toward the stage. Shea got the hint, made his way through the crowd, and hopped up on stage.
He grabbed the mic stand and tilted it toward his mouth so that he could talk into it. Consider this
my answer, he said.
Shea then grabbed Christian s face and kissed him hard. The crowd went wild. Christian wrapped
his arms around Shea s waist and yanked his body against his own. Shea pulled back from the kiss
and pressed his forehead against Christian s, a giant grin on his face.
I can t believe you did this, Shea whispered.
Neither can I. Christian chuckled.
Shea laughed, kissing him again. You were incredible, baby.
Thank you, don t ever expect it to happen again. Christian snickered.
Shea smiled against his lips. Once in a lifetime, I understand.
That s right.
The manager then walked on stage, smiling, and clapping. He went to the mic. Give it up for
Christian and his fiancé, Shea!
The crowd continued to give them a standing O as they walked off stage. Christian had his guitar
in one hand and held Shea s hand with the other. They made their way through the crowd to where
Christian s brothers were waiting. They got pats on the back and high fives as they went. As soon as
they made it to Henry, Sebastian, and Quinn, the three of them wrapped them both up in a group hug.
You know what time it is? Sebastian said, a mischievous smirk on his face.
Christian grinned and shook his head. Oh no. Really? In the middle of the lounge?
You know it! Sebastian exclaimed.
The crowd then got a show when the group of them started jumping around in a circle together like
a bunch of idiots. Henry, Sebastian, and Quinn sang, Christian s getting married& over and over
as they went. Christian laughed the whole time, his brothers were crazy. When they finally broke
apart, they made their way out of the lounge.
Let s go celebrate! Sebastian said excitedly.
Let me put my guitar in my car, Christian said.
They all waited while Christian put his guitar in the trunk of his car, which was parked only a
block away, before they all started down the sidewalk toward Philly s famous South Street, since
they were in walking distance. They decided to go to Paddy Whack s Irish Pub. The five of them
found a table and Henry bought the first round. They were about six rounds in when Sebastian leaned
over the table toward Christian and said.
Chris, I have a confession to make.
Christian smiled. Okay, he replied.
Remember at the kids birthday party when I said that Rae stuck her finger up my ass? Sebastian
said, his mouth twitching.
Christian gave him a bored look. Yeah, he said dryly.
I lied, she never did that. I was just trying to see how you would react. Sebastian grimaced.
You re such a dick. Shea chuckled before swigging his beer.
Christian shook his head. That was one of the worst panic attacks I ve ever had.
I m sorry. I feel really bad about it. Sebastian winced.
No you don t. Christian snorted.
Alright fine, I don t. You re face was fucking priceless. Sebastian laughed.
They all laughed.
So who is the woman in the relationship? Henry asked as he leaned back in his chair with a
shit-eatin grin on his face.
Christian, for sure. Shea laughed.
Henry, Sebastian, and Quinn started cracking up.
Hey! Christian cried and shoved at Shea.
I m joking! Shea said, still laughing.
Christian sent him a dirty look. Yeah, right.
I m curious, Chris, have you ever been with a woman? Sebastian asked.
Christian nodded. Yeah, twice when I was eighteen. I had to, to make sure that I was, in fact, gay.
I knew that I was attracted to guys sexually but I knew that I was supposed to be attracted woman, so
I tried, I really did, but I just couldn t continue to be with women. I felt like I was lying to myself.
So you lost your virginity to a girl then? Henry asked.
Yeah and then again to a guy. Christian smirked.
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