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It dawns on me that Oscar was there at the crash site. He saw us together on the highway, that private moment, and it rushes up in me.
Farrow told me that we didn’t have to write our own, but he deserves to hear my words from me. I’m not afraid.
“I’ll go first,” I tell Farrow. He nods, an amused grin spreading. “I’ll let you.” I still can’t help it, I smile. “Thanks for that.” “Anytime.”
“You didn’t write it down?” he asks under his breath. Another bolt flashes, and rain descends heavier again. I tell him, “I’ve learned a thing or two from some guy I know.”
“Some guy,” he repeats. “Yeah.” I nod. “Don’t overthink it. Just say what I feel, what comes to mind.”
“I’m going to quote a philosopher, just to warn you, man,” I say softly. Farrow’s gaze sinks into me. “I was hoping you would.” Goddamn.
—I never understood this quote until I met you. Until you filled the incomplete parts of me.”
“I was empty. So empty, and I didn’t even know it, Farrow.” That strikes me. How I could’ve gone my whole life without him. Without knowing what this feels like.
“You’re the person that my soul has been searching for because my head was ...
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He smiles, a wide breathtaking one. Emotion dig...
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“Farrow, I love you.” Lightning cracks the sky, and I’m not sure he heard me. So I scream it, “I love you!” His grin pract...
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Our knees knock together, foreheads almost touching, and I wh...
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“Wolf scout.” His reddened eyes stroke my features. “You said that you didn’t know how empty you felt until you met ...
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“Well, I’ve been searching for you my entire life, and if someone told me that we’d been together before, in another time or place, I wouldn’t question them. I’ve longed for you before I even knew you, and now that I’ve found you, there’s not a single day I want to live without you.”
I’m crying. He’s crying.
“Your love is the most precious, valuable thing to me on the face of this fucking world, and I’ll love you today, tomorrow, and decades longer. When we’re old men and smiling about yesterdays, I’ll s...
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I pull the black tungsten band off my finger, the one I’ve been safekeeping. The one I’ve worn for almost a whole year.
Farrow pulls the gray, grooved titanium band off his finger, the one he’s been safekeeping. The one he’s worn for almost a whole year.
He helps steady my hand. “This is yours, wolf scout.” His eyes are on me while I watch him slowly slide the warm band onto my fin...
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and I’m about to take his hand in mine. But he squeezes his left fin...
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Seeing him emotional just amplifies my fu...
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“Dum spiro, spero.” He wipes his eyes with his right hand, overcome. Dum spiro, spero. While I breathe, I hope.
“By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and husband.”
Farrow’s hand is on the back of my neck. Mine on his, and we unite in a soul-bearing kiss. All around us is clapping and lightning and thunder.
We found each other. And finally, together, we became whole again.
Maximoff, my husband, tries so hard to shove cake in my face, and he’s disappointed when I’m the one who smashes buttercream frosting at his lips.
I smile and lick frosting off my thumb. “Can’t be first at everything, wolf scout.”
Cameras are flashing around us. We’re the center of attention at the reception, and I’m okay with ignoring everyone right now. It’s just Maximoff and me.
I doubt I’ve stopped smiling since we kissed in the rain.
“He wants me closer,” I tease. “Come here, man.”
“Open your mouth.” I’m near-laughter as I comply. Maximoff brings the slice of cake up to my lips and feeds the dessert to me.
I’m mid-chew, sweet frosting destroying my taste buds, when he wipes his sticky fingers down my cheek.
Jane and Thatcher picked out the six-tier, towering cake, and honestly, it’s perfect. Every layer is a different flavor: banana nut, vanilla, chocolate, lemon, almond, and marble.
Something for every guest, and that’s how Maximoff would want it: for everyone to be happy tonight.
I wipe wolf scout’s jaw, making sure to get all the buttercream off. He’s only letting me do this because he has a napki...
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“Good?” I ask, crumpling the napkin. Maximoff smiles. “You have no idea.” Our eyes dive into...
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and while Maximoff dances with his sisters and brother, I run into Oscar lounging on a sundeck chair and eating cake. He grins. “There’s that married motherfucker.”
I give him a look. And then I see why Oscar just morphed into a high school boy. Jack Highland saunters onto the sundeck, a Canon slung around his neck. He snaps a few candid photos of Ben and Beckett Cobalt and then drifts further away.
“I fucked up.” “You fucked up,” I repeat, dumbfounded. “How badly are we talking about?” “I asked Highland if I could kiss him.” My brows spike. Shit. “Oscar,” I say with a slight laugh.
“He’s been flirting with me,” Oscar says heatedly. “And I’m not the only one who sees it.” “I’m guessing it went poorly.”
You know what, he stared at me for a full-second like I spoke fucking Thebulan from Luna’s tentacle smut.” Donnelly hops up on the balcony railing. “That’s my favorite smut.”
Donnelly slips a cigarette behind his ear and gives me a rising smile. “Dr. Hale.”
“Yeah.” Oscar expels a heavier breath. “He said, thanks, but I’m straight.” I cringe. “Don’t even say it,” Oscar tells me. I’m going to say it. “I told you not to fall for a straight boy.”
He lets out a rough sigh. “I had to give it a shot. He’s hot and he’s stolen three pieces of my wardrobe already.” “Yeah?” I frown. “Yeah, he’s got my bandana, my sweatshirt, and he borrowed my extra belt this morning.”
“You bet your ass when I can stare the guy in the eyes again, I’m collecting all that shit.” He touches his chest. “I could land just about anyone. I’m a ten, an...
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“I heard Tom Cobalt talking to Eliot about how you saved him in the bathroom at the bachelor party. And I don’t think he knew I came in, ‘cause he told his brother, Remember when I had a crush on Farrow growing up?” I choke on a laugh. “No.” “Yeah, Tom had a crush on you.”
The world will see us walk down the aisle and say our vows in the rain. No blurry drone images or shit sound quality. The public will have the full, real deal. Oscar is stunned silent. I smile.
It’s honestly made me more uncomfortable to shy away. Maximoff constantly runs towards his fears, and I’d rather Ripley see me racing into them at full-speed too. No skirting around or pulling into shadows.
The world already sees Maximoff and me as the “it” couple, and if people want us to be the “it” gay couple, needing to see me on magazine covers and our wedding on TV, then I’ll embrace that entirely. Underneath the brightest light in the world. With no fucking compromise.
“We should lay off Tom. If I was his age and didn’t know your personality flaws consisted of the inability to share food and assholishness, I might’ve had a partial crush on you too.” Donnelly laughs.
