Right as the taxi pulls up to the rehearsal dinner restaurant, Steve grabs Dustin’s arm in a panic.
“Wait, Dust, what is Will’s fiance’s name?” He asks frantically. He’s completely forgotten.
Dustin is incredulous. “Really, Steve? You pick now of all times to ask me that? Right before we’re about to see him?” He clambers out as Steve pays the driver and stands impatiently on the sidewalk, tugging at his suit awkwardly. “How could you forget? You literally played basketball with him!”
“Fifteen years ago! And he was a freshman when I was a senior, okay?” Steve argues indignantly as they walk inside.
“That’s a terrible excuse when you were hanging out with an eighth grader at the same time!” Dustin shoots back.
“Hold on--you don’t know his name, either!” Steve realizes in a flash. Dustin hasn’t used the guy’s name once. “Dude! Why did we throw the invite away so quickly?”
Dustin splutters for a second, eyes widening as Will and what’s-his-name wave excitedly at them and begin to approach.
“C’mon, babe, you gotta have it in that big brain of yours somewhere!” Steve pleads out of the corner of his rictus grin.
“Shit, uh, I think it’s something like Chad?” Dustin mutters just as the couple approaches. Will folds Dustin up in a hug, but Steve throws out a hand to shake Chad’s, not interested in being more touchy-feely than that.
“Chad! Congratulations, man--It’s good to see you, it’s been forever.”
Chad’s brow furrows in confusion. He looks insulted, and Steve’s stomach drops, quickly realizing that he’s almost definitely gotten the name wrong. The guy seems too polite to say anything, just laughs awkwardly before his face twists into a tight smile that doesn’t reach his eyes when he turns to greet Dustin.
Steve’s eyes narrow, preemptively defensive. Clearly Charlie, or whatever the fuck his name is, hasn’t fully gotten over things from high school. Dustin is equally stiff beside him.
“Dustin--happy you can be here. Wow, you look---well, not everyone can be as bold as you,” he says, eyeing him up and down distastefully. Steve’s offended. Dustin looks great--especially because Steve had been able to convince Dustin out of his initial loud and inappropriate choice of outfit to one that fit the dress code while still retaining a pop of personality. Over the years, Steve had honed his ability to subtly shape Dustin’s wardrobe without his boyfriend noticing.
They’re saved from further conversation by the arrival of Mike, Lucas and Max a moment later, and the tension breaks. As they all turn to head to their table, Dustin tugs Steve to hang back a second.
“Okay, so clearly his name isn’t Chad, but it definitely starts with a ‘C,’” Dustin whispers behind his fingers.
“Actually, I don’t care anymore,” Steve says, glaring at Conrad’s back. “Chuck can go kick rocks. I hope it rains on the wedding day.”
Dustin looks at Steve out of the corner of his eye. “What’s your problem? It’s not like you had to go and say his name so confidently like that.”
“Clarence didn’t like your outfit,” Steve sniffs disdainfully, winding his arm through Dustin’s to head to the table.
Dustin smirks. “God, you’re so hot when you’re being a bitch.”
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