The wedding hall was a vision of soft whites and gold—tasteful, elegant, and exactly the kind of place Ryan would never choose for himself. It smelled like roses and rich people’s expectations.
He stood in front of the mirror, fidgeting with his tie for the seventh time.
“This is stupid,” he muttered. “I barely know the guy. Okay, I do know him. I just don’t like him. And he hates me. Probably. ”
He tugged the tie loose again.
His brother poked his head in. “They’re ready for you. Quit stalling.”
Ryan gave a dramatic sigh. “Tell them the groom fell into a well. Tragic accident.”
“Nope. Walk or I’ll drag you.”
Minutes later, Ryan was standing at the altar. The hall was filled with murmurs and flashes from phones. Ryan stood stiffly , teeth clenched behind a smile that could cut glass.
Everyone kept telling him he looked good.
He didn’t care.
He didn’t want to look good. He wanted to not be here. He wanted to be on a plane to literally anywhere else that didn’t involve vows, rings, and Theo.
God, Theo.
The doors opened, and in walked his future husband—tall, elegant, devastatingly calm in a black suit with silver details that matched the damn wedding theme perfectly. Of course he’d look like a walking magazine cover.
Ryan muttered under his breath, “Here comes my favorite mistake.”
Theo caught his eye as he walked down the aisle. He didn’t smile. He didn’t need to. His entire existence was smug.
He took his place beside Ryan and gave him a sideways glance.
“You’re scowling,” Theo murmured.
“I’m at my wedding,” Ryan snapped.
“To me,” Theo added, lips twitching like he found this hilarious.
“Exactly.”
The ceremony began. Ryan tuned out the officiant’s voice, the overly sentimental readings, and the collective family expectations suffocating him. All he could focus on was Theo—standing there like he was perfectly fine with marrying someone who hated his guts.
When it was time for vows, they hadn’t written any. No way Ryan was pouring his soul out for a man he used to argue with in the school library over whose pen was better.
So Ryan just said, “Let’s get this over with.”
Theo raised a brow. “Charming.”
He held out his hand anyway.
Ryan shoved the ring on.
Theo didn’t flinch.
If anything, he seemed amused.
---
Later, At the Reception
“Smile, Ryan!”
“Get closer to Theo!”
“Hold hands!”
Ryan was gritting his teeth in every photo. Theo? Effortlessly photogenic. Effortlessly calm.
They cut the cake. Theo fed him a bite.
Ryan shoved the fork into Theo’s mouth like he was jabbing a sword into a dragon.
Theo chewed slowly and said, “You always were dramatic.”
“And you always were infuriating.”
“Good thing we’re stuck with each other now.”
Ryan stared at him.
Theo just took a sip of champagne and walked away like nothing happened.
---
Later That Night
They entered their shared hotel suite in silence.
Ryan flung his jacket on the floor. “Don’t expect cuddles.”
Theo undid his cufflinks. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
Ryan rolled his eyes. “I hate this.”
“You’ve made that very clear,” Theo said, brushing past him to the bathroom.
Ryan stood there, fuming.
Theo returned moments later, shirtless now, towel drying his face. “But hate takes energy. You’ll run out eventually.”
“God, you’re annoying.”
Theo gave him a look—calm, unreadable, but with a spark of something Ryan couldn’t place.
“I know,” Theo said. “You’ve been telling me since high school.”
Ryan hated how he remembered that.
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