Loud Like Love

Epilogue: Life's What You Make It

'To The Oxymorons!' Dave raised his glass high. 'The most awesome band that ever played.'

Matt laughed. 'Dave, you're drunk.'

'Not drunk,' Dave corrected him. 'Happy.'

They sat in the living room of Nick, Mellie, and Dave's flat. The Oxymorons had played a fantastic gig at the Academy, and Dave couldn't be more proud. As ever, Nick had looked unbearably sexy up on that stage, and now Dave couldn't help but lean over to him and kiss him, deeply and thoroughly. Nick climbed up into his lap and gave a happy sigh.

It wasn't a large party. Matt had brought Alan up from Wolverhampton, where they were both attending uni. Mellie had invited a couple of friends, James and Tina, and also Brendan, who may or may not be her new boyfriend. She had yet to disclose this information. Alexandra, a fellow medical student, was also there, and Oliver, who was a recent acquaintance of Nick's. And then there was Stuart, of course, who lounged happily in a chair drinking a beer, mostly quiet.

'Oh, hey, you guys,' said Oliver. 'I talked to the Pride committee, and there's like a ninety-nine percent chance that you've got a gig during Pride week, we just have to work out logistics.'

'That's awesome!' Matt grinned.

'Yes, fantastic,' Stuart agreed. 'That'll be excellent exposure for us.'

'We're all volunteers,' Oliver continued, 'but we should be able to scrounge up some cash to pay you guys. Won't be much, mind, but . . .'

'No worries,' said Nick from Dave's lap. 'It's a good cause, and you need queer bands at Pride, anyway.'

Matt nodded his agreement. 'And we are super queer. One gay, one bi, one ace. That's three whole letters covered, right there.' He grinned.

'Ace and aro,' Stuart reminded him.

Matt rolled his eyes. 'Still the same letter, Stu.'

'Don't call me Stu.' Stuart grinned. The band and their friendship was going on four years now. These days, it seemed to Dave, their bickering was mostly for show. It bordered on flirting, except Stuart didn't flirt. Matt did, though. Relentlessly. He and Alan might be three years a couple, but there was no power in the universe that could stop Matt from flirting. Thankfully, Alan didn't seem to mind, and didn't seem averse to some flirtatious banter of his own these days.

Tina frowned. 'What's ace and aro?'

'Asexual and aromantic,' Mellie explained. 'Stuart isn't interested in anyone, sexually or romantically.'

'That seems . . . odd,' said Tina.

Before Stuart could launch into one of his complex analogies for explaining how asexuality and aromanticism worked, Nick raised his glass and said, loudly, 'To all you awesome people who came to our gig! You're all legends!'

Ever the diplomat, thought Dave, and smiled fondly at his boyfriend. He slid his hand into Nick's hair. He had the sides cropped close these days, longer on top. It suited him very well, and Dave couldn't help but tug at it a little bit. He was rewarded with a soft moan and another deep kiss. Okay, so maybe he was a little drunk to do that in front of nine other people.

'Get a room,' said Alexandra, but Matt responded by climbing into Alan's lap and sticking his tongue thoroughly down his throat.

'Sorry, sorry,' said Dave. 'Couldn't help myself. Matt, you can stop humping Alan's leg now.'

Both Matt and Alan were slightly pink in the face. 'Technically,' said Matt, 'since we're sleeping here tonight, you guys are in our bedroom.'

'Yours and mine,' Stuart corrected him. 'And I'd be grateful if you guys didn't shag loudly while I'm trying to sleep.'