“I don’t think I do.”
I tried to pull the blanket over my head, but he caught it and pulled it down to my chin. “You do, though. Trust me, you’re going to love it.”
“Why do I have to get dressed?”
“Because it’s really cold outside.”
“It’s outside? Then I definitely don’t need to see it,” I muttered. “It’s probably literally freezing out there.”
Devon kept gently insisting though, so I pulled on my sweats and stuck my feet in my sneakers, and he wrapped one of the blankets around me like a puffy shawl. Then he picked up the lantern and helped me climb out of the van.
I huddled into the blanket and complained, “I was right, it’s freezing! It feels like it might snow. Is that a thing, snow in the desert?”
He shut off the lantern, set it aside, and wrapped his arms around me. “Look up, Kit.”
When I tilted my head back, my breath caught. Above us were hundreds upon hundreds of stars, some brighter, some fainter, painting a huge swath across the night sky. I was completely stunned as I whispered, “I can’t believe I’m seeing the Milky Way. That’s what that is, right?”
“It is.”
“It doesn’t seem possible.” I was still whispering, as if this might actually be a dream, and I didn’t want to wake myself up.
“The night sky is full of wonders.” Devon’s arms were still around me, holding me securely and keeping me warm. “It’s wild when you think about it. There’s always all this incredible stuff right in front of us, but until we get out of our usual environment, it’s impossible to see any of it.”
I murmured, “A different perspective changes everything.”
“Exactly.”
I knew he was being literal. He was talking about the way the city lights where we’d grown up drowned out the stars, so we had to go someplace new to see them. But there was more to it, too.
An hour later when we were back in bed and he was snoring softly beside me, I got to thinking about how this trip was already changing me as a person, and changing my perspective on the world around me. It was huge, and amazing, and full of potential. I just hadn’t been able to see that from where I’d been.
That thought occurred to me again two days later, as tears of wonder streamed down my face. I clutched Devon’s hand as I looked out over the Grand Canyon for the first time and whispered, “There are no words.”
Everything was different now. Devon had opened up my world, and there was no going back. There were so many possibilities, so much to see and experience. I felt like I’d been asleep until he showed up. But now I was wide awake, and I had so much catching up to do.
I didn’t know what else this journey had in store for me, or who I’d be at the end of it. But I did know all of this was even more wondrous because Devon was experiencing it with me, and I knew I needed him by my side. Always.
10
Kit
About ten days into our road trip, we arrived at my friend’s house outside Austin, Texas. Hal Nakamura and I had met while we were both studying fashion design, and back then I never would have predicted he’d end up on a horse ranch out in the country. But he’d fallen in love with Ryder, a cowboy with big muscles and kind eyes, and the rest was history.
Hal had never looked better. He was a former model with long, dark hair, flawless skin, and a perfect body, so he’d always been gorgeous. But now he also looked happy and healthy. There was practically a glow about him. I didn’t know if that was because the slower pace of country life agreed with him, or if it was because he was in love. Actually, it was probably both.
I said something to that effect about an hour after we’d arrived. Hal laughed and said, “I don’t know about a glow, but I’m definitely happy.”
While Ryder showed Devon the horses, which he rescued and rehabilitated, Hal took me to see his design studio. It was located just a few yards from the main house. On the way, he threw his arm around me and squeezed my shoulders as he exclaimed, “I’m so glad you’re here, Kit! I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too. Sorry about the short notice, by the way. We’ve been playing it by ear with this road trip, so up until two days ago, I wasn’t entirely sure when we’d arrive.”
“That’s no problem at all. You’re welcome any time.”
He held the studio door for me, and when I stepped inside, I whispered, “Wow.” I’d seen it during some of our video calls, but I hadn’t realized how big it was. Ryder had it built for Hal after he’d moved to the ranch, and it was glorious—airy and open with high ceilings, walls of windows for natural light, and all the state-of-the-art equipment Hal needed to produce his incredible wedding dresses.
We’d both graduated this past June, and he’d ended up totally killing it at the year-end fashion show. Clips from his collection had gone viral online, which had helped him bring in a steady stream of clients. He only worked on one dress at a time, and each was a labor of love with gorgeous, often hand-sewn details. His dresses were so in demand that he had a long waiting list of clients.
Basically, he’d done exactly what I’d hoped to do, except with brides-to-be instead of drag queens. Not that I begrudged him his success. I was absolutely thrilled that my friend got to make a living doing exactly what he wanted to do. He was incredibly talented, not to mention kind and wonderful, and he deserved every good thing that came his way. He also gave me hope that I might find my own unconventional path to success one day.
