He steps in front of the DJ booth, leaning close and exchanging some words with the man. Everyone turns in their seats as the video is cued up, projecting on one of the walls. Soft music begins playing and I glance over at Reese who is watching intently, completely focused. And then I see a baffled expression set into his profile and look up at the wall, following his gaze.
Pictures of Joey and Billy begin filtering onto the wall. Selfie shots of the two of them together, and others of just Joey when he isn’t looking at the camera. I glance over at the DJ booth and see the puzzled expression on my Man of Honor’s face.
“Uh, this isn’t… what the hell?” He turns around and begins talking to the DJ, motioning over his shoulder at the wall. “Where’s the video I gave you? Where did you get this?”
I turn to look back at the strange collage when Billy begins walking off the platform and over toward Joey. I squeeze Reese’s hand as tightly as I can, remembering Billy’s words to me before my rehearsal last night. “This is the grandest gesture I can think of.”
Oh, shit.
Billy steps up next to Joey and takes the microphone, moving into the center of the dance floor. Joey remains glued to his spot, mouth gaped open and eyes full of panic and curiosity.
Billy brings the microphone up to his mouth while his eyes scan the room. “Umm, so this obviously isn’t the video Joey put together for Reese and Dylan. I watched him put that video together and it’s really sweet, and I guess he kind of inspired me. I don’t know. I’m not really good at this sort of thing. I’m really private, and I’m kind of freaking out right now.” He rubs the back of his neck with his free hand before looking up at the wall. “Reese isn’t the only guy who met the love of his life at a wedding. I did, too. But unlike Reese, I’m not the kind of guy who sends deliveries or writes his own wedding vows.” He looks up at the platform, connecting with my husband. “Seriously. You kind of make us all look bad.” He ignores the laughs he’s just earned and turns around, focusing on Joey. “I know I’ve been a complete shit today, and I’m sorry. I’ve just been really nervous about this, but not because I’m not sure about what I want. I am. I’m very sure.” He pauses in thought briefly before continuing. “I’m sorry I’m not the kind of guy who does these romantic, grand gestures like Reese. I might not ever be. But I am the kind of guy who will risk a major rejection in front of hundreds of people if you don’t agree to marry me.”
My free hand slaps over my mouth as I gasp, hearing Juls’ dramatic reaction next to me. I glance down at movement on my lap and see Reese’s other hand, holding out a bunch of tissues for the two of us.
I look at him. “Did you know about this?”
He simply smiles his response as Juls and I both take the tissues, readying them for use.
“Joey,” Billy says, his voice much softer now but somehow steadier. “Can you come over here, please?”
Everyone’s eyes are on my dear assistant as he falls apart, head down, shoulders shaking with his cries. I want to get up and console him, but I know these are happy tears. So I stay put next to my severely emotional, pregnant, best friend, and my husband who apparently knew about this all along.
Joey makes it to the center of the dance floor, slowly, but he gets there. And when he does, Billy drops to his knee in front of him. I’m a mess. Makeup be damned; there is no stopping my tears right now. Billy holds the microphone to his mouth, ready to ask the most important question of his life. Until suddenly, he brings it down and sets it next to him on the floor. He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a ring box, holding it open for Joey as his lips begin to move. Juls and I lean in, wanting to hear Billy’s words, until we both realize this moment is for the two of them. His words are only for Joey. And we must sense it at the same time because we both sit back together.
Billy’s face breaks into the biggest smile I’ve ever seen him have before he stands up and grabs Joey’s face, kissing him passionately in front of everyone. I stand, along with everyone else, and cheer for them at the top of my lungs. Once they break away from each other, which seriously takes a good several minutes, we all join them on the dance floor to congratulate them.
“Oh, my God! I’m so happy for you!” I scream, wrapping my arms around Joey. Juls does the same and when she pulls back, he holds his left hand out for us to see.
“Look how good my baby did!” he squeals. A platinum band with diamonds set into it adorns his finger, and we marvel over the beauty of it. “God, I’m so fucking happy right now. I’m engaged!”
“And now we can plan your bachelorette party. Naked men galore!” I yell, earning a curious expression from Ian who is congratulating Billy. Juls and Joey both laugh as the man who surprised us all walks over to us.
“Thank you for giving me that moment, Dylan. I can stop the slideshow and play your video now,” Billy says into my hair as I hug him.