Dustin splashes water from the sink in the bathroom onto his face, hoping it will sober him up just enough to puzzle through what just happened with Steve.
What did he mean that it wasn't a pity offer? He must have meant that he wanted Dustin to come dance with him and Robin as friends. Of course that was it. But then, why had he stormed off in such a huff?
Dustin tracks back through the day, trying to gather evidence. There isn't much to go on because he hasn't been able to spend that much time with him, between assigned seats at dinner and speeches, wedding party photographs and getting ready well in advance of the ceremony. They'd managed to find time during the cocktail hour when Steve dragged him away from talking with a group of Max's college friends to complain about Lucas's extended family, sounding so huffy that Dustin couldn't keep a straight face and burst into laughter. Steve pretended to be offended, but Dustin caught the way his eyes twinkled with affection as tears rolled down Dustin's face.
And before that, Steve had been busy serving as an usher for the ceremony but found a second to greet Dustin after the party had finished getting ready and were milling around waiting to be told when to stand at the front of the church. Steve had caught him by the wrist in between passing out pamphlets.
"Nervous about your best man duties?" He'd asked with a smile.
"Nah, it'll be fine," Dustin said, even though the nerves were starting to percolate in his stomach.
"You're great with speeches. You know how to work a crowd, if your valedictorian speech was anything to go by," Steve said earnestly, still holding Dustin's wrist. "Hey, you look really good, by the way. You're really--"
But then it was show time and he was being told to get moving and Dustin wasn't sure if Steve had said "handsome" or if his mind was just playing tricks on him. Dustin wasn't even able to toss out a thanks as he headed to the front of the church because Steve had already returned to his duties.
As Dustin pats his face down with paper towels, he looks at himself in the mirror again, noticing his boutonniere is gone. He'd taken it off in a fit of irritation during dinner, and Steve had snatched it up, fiddling with it in his fingers. It had been pinned sloppily to his lapel jacket when he came to talk to Dustin and somehow Dustin had missed that.
It suddenly hits him like a volt of electricity. Steve has been paying attention to him all day. Every time Dustin has found Steve's face in the crowd, whether standing up during the ceremony, or giving his speech at dinner, Steve's eyes were on him, filled with warmth. He's noticed Dustin's nerves, his irritation, and his misery.
Maybe Dustin is reading too much into things. Maybe Dustin is letting his heart run away with his head. Maybe Dustin just wants to believe that the man he's watched for ten years is finally looking back. Or maybe, Dustin is seeing things clearly for the very first time.
Dustin strides out of the bathroom, scans the dance floor to confirm that Steve hasn't returned, and then heads for the patio. When he gets to the doorway, he sees Robin talking quietly with him, their backs to the reception hall. Dustin takes a deep breath, tightens his tie, smooths down his jacket, and plants a confident expression on his face before he steps outside.
To be continued...