ᴅᴏɴᴏᴠᴀɴ'ꜱ ᴘᴏᴠ

"You're really... gay?" My oldest friend repeated, this time louder than the last.

"That's just impossible!" He sat back and laughed. "I thought you were just..."

"I've known you since we were ten Donovan, and you've never mentioned being attracted to men before."

"Perhaps not, but people change, I changed and I've asked him to marry me, we plan to tie the knot in four months, it's why I gathered you all here, to invite you to the wedding."

His eyes go wide as he chokes off his glass of whisky, banging his chest with his fist as he coughs out.

"Ma-Marriage!?" He paled. "He's a child Donovan! Have you finally hit your head and lost your mind? He has his whole life ahead of him, while you..."

I sighed heavily and drank the rest of my scotch, neat as my eyes hardened on Stephen, even if he was my oldest and closest friend, I disliked when age became the only factor for disapproving of something.

"He's 23, not a fucking child." I glare at him.

"Oh and let me guess, he's mature for his age? You are 35 Donovan, with a 15-year-old son!" He scoffed out, shaking his head angrily.

"What do you think the board members would say? Your partners? Fuck- the news tabloids will have a damn field day with this, given who you both are!"

Just then, my other two friends entered the garden and walked over to us, a fresh drink in their hands as Stephen's eyes never left mine, complete speechlessness written on his face.

"Well, looks like we missed something." Brodie said, sitting down.

"Looks like Steele stole your girlfriend, just like back in school, cheer up man, it's not the end of the world man." Rodrick joined in, laughing.

Stephen laughed out bitterly, some color returning to his face.

The table fell silent as both of our close friends stared between us, I didn't know why he would be against this, his own girlfriend was 15 years younger than him.

Unlike him, I wasn't ashamed of my love for Evan, and I wasn't going to hide it.

That's not why I called my closest friends here, I wanted to tell my side before Evan and I went public with our relationship and future plans of getting married.

"I'm dating a man and I've asked him to marry me." I came out with it. "He said yes, and you're all invited to the wedding."

I sat back and poured myself another drink, and the room grew tense, and quiet until Rodrick spoke first.

"That is... surprising news." He muttered.

"Is that why we're all here?" He asked and I shrugged.

"Well..." Brodie spoke. "I had no idea you were even interested in men, I've never seen you look at my junk, never mind another man."

Smirking I look at Brodie. "You're not my type."

Stephen scoffs. "No, just 23-year-old actors."

"23!?" Both Brodie and Rodrick said at the same time, shock on their faces.

"Donovan, I'm all for a little slice of a peach now and then, but marriage? Why not just indulge, and then wait for him to age, like a fine wine?" Rodrick jokes, making me scowl.

"Who is this kid? He must be something impressive if he's got you on your back, wiggling your tail like a dog in constant heat." Brodie said, lighting a cigar.

At this point, I was ready to leave and call it a day, their opinions of Evan never mattered, I did this for Evan, if I had my way we'd be married already, with just the two of us and a witness.

"Joke all you want, I've never been more serious about settling down with Evan." I chuckled, picturing his face smiling face, asleep in our bed.

"Evan whom?" Rodrick asked.

"Beckett." I smile.

The table fell silent once again, and I was starting to think they were not pleased with my choice, but nonetheless, he was my choice, and not even my closest friends could sway my love for Evan, and the desire of marrying him in four months' time.

"Jesus, Donny." Rodrick laughed. "I actually know who he is."

Of course, he did, I'd be surprised if he didn't, I knew Rodrick was far from a straight arrow, he's always been famously outspoken about his tastes in women, and men.

"Okay, I'll bite." Rodrick took a drink. "How'd you meet him?"

The ghost smile on my lips was threatening to escape as I recall the first time meeting him in my office, he had surprised me, enough to make me do something strange, like start a contract with him, a physical sexual one.

"He wanted to be represented, I gave him a shot, the rest is history."

"Bullshit." Stephen spoke up. "You're too busy to see a fresh face, and you've never taken on talent without passing them to your assistant, or an agent."

"You forget I'm a partner at the agency and I know you, or at least I thought I did, I should've known the moment I saw him at your place, you threw him a goddamn party and I missed it..."

"You've met?" Rodrick asked amused as Stephen nodded his head.

I glare at Stephen. "I don't need to explain myself to you, your girlfriend is what, 25?" I laugh bitterly.

"Do I need to remind you that she was 22 when you first told me about her?"

"I've tolerated your insults so far, but don't test me Stephen." I remind him.

Stephen stands up, his chair scraping the floor as he glares down at me, fists clenched..

"I'm your best friend and you were seeing him for months, that is what pisses me off Donovan, I told you about my relationship on day one!" He spoke loudly and passionately before walking off.

Rodrick puts his hand on my shoulder. "He just needs time, you know how he gets when you leave him out."

"We're happy for you Donovan, or at least I am, I'm a fan of your boy, my girls would love to meet him." Brodie says

"I'd even earn some dad points if they got his autograph and a selfie." He added, jokingly.

Sighing, I look back to where Stephen disappeared off to and stand up, despite his early comments, I knew he'd be disappointed by the fact I kept silent about Evan.

Truth be told, I wanted to keep him to myself, ever since I first met him, I wanted him to be mine, it only took a month to realize how much of an old fool I was.

"Thanks. I know Evan would love that." I say, before buttoning up my suit jacket.

"I'll go talk to him before he empties the bar." I told them both before walking back into the buying, the private golf club where I meet them for drinks, on rare occasions such as this.

I didn't need to look hard to find Stephen, he sat at the bar with his head in his hand, the bartender taking pity on his miserable face and pathetic sulking.

Going over to him and sitting down on the seat next to him, he raises his head and looks at me, a deep frown on his face.

"You were right." I start, as I order myself another drink.

"I should've told you, perhaps I could've gotten your advice a few times and avoided a fight or two."

He scoffed and downed the rest of his drink.

"An actor." He scoffed again. "You've turned into a walking cliche Don, something that not even I could predict."

"I thought you'd die a bachelor after Emily."

"Does she know about you both?" He asked, his face grim. "And your son?"

"Yes." I say. "They were the first to know."

Sighing, Stephen rubs his forehead. "I'm happy for you, but I'm still pissed you hid it from me, you are like a brother to me, I'd always support who you choose, you know that right?"

I nod my head as my phone buzzes in my pocket, getting it out I see that Evan had texted me, making me smile instantly as I read his message.

Evan: I told my friends, and they are dying to meet you!!!

How's it going on your end? Ps, don't take too long, I miss you...

"Your smiling." Stephen snorted, shaking his head with a small smile on his face

"I'm happy." I admit, putting my phone back in my pocket.

"I love him, more than I've loved anyone before, I want you by my side Stephen, when I marry him." I said, looking at him.

"I didn't come here to dwell on what I should or should not have done, I came because I wanted to ask you to be my best man."

His eyes widened as his mouth gaped, a tear in his eye as he put his hand on my left shoulder and squeezed.

"I never thought that boy was anything more than a pet project, I didn't know you were this serious." He groaned out before his face changed.

"You bastard." He tearly muttered. "First you get me drunk and then emotional and it's not even happy hour yet." He joked.

He sighed. "Of course, I'll be your best man, I wouldn't miss your wedding because you're a shit best friend."

I stand up and wrap my arm around him and use my other to pat him on the back, as he groaned out, the stench of alcohol on his breath hitting me in the process.

"A shit friend who really is sorry." I joked, and he laughed out.

Pulling back, Stephen composes himself, a small blush of embarrassment on his ear tips.

Clearing his throat with a cough, he sits back down and then looks at me.

"I'm sorry too, I owe Evan an apology too, today's been a crazy one, to say the least." He said, his words sluring slightly.

"She's pregnant." He muttered. "I'm going to be a dad."

Looking at my oldest friend I couldn't help but laugh, after so long I had always thought he'd be the first of us to have children, not the last.

"You'll be a great dad."

Smiling, he turns his head and looks at me, holding up his glass.

"To the future."

I raise my glass and click mine with his.

"The future."

Four months, and I'll be marrying Evan, with my friends by my side and Stephen as my best man.

The future was looking bright, I had not been as happy as I am now in a long time, and despite my family and I still on rocky terms, with the whisper of divorce in the air.

I was looking forward to settling down, to being content with my life, I didn't want to waste any more time, I was ready to go public with my family and friends, and I was ready to be out publically too when Evan was ready.

When Evan was ready, we'd make a public statement, hopefully, before we marry, I won't pressure him anymore about it, either way, he'll wear a ring on his finger soon enough.

Even if the world didn't know, I would, and so would those that mattered.

Evan was my future, and with each passing second, I counted down the days before I could slip that ring on his finger and show the world I was his, and he was mine.

Just four months, all I had to do now was wait, patiently, and that was something I was good at, especially when it came to Evan Beckett.