My pulse increases.
This is it.
The pinnacle of all those long hours of sacrifice.
“Marco Adams, graduating with honours. Bachelor of Business, majoring in Event Management.”
The second I shake the professor's hand, Olsen sprints back toward the podium without permission.
Sweeping me into his arms, our kiss is tender.
“I adore you,” he says. “I'm so proud to call you mine.”
The crowd goes wild, cheering and whistling.
And yeah… that's how Beth discovers that I’m gay.
Wish I’d told her years ago.
Silly that I ever thought I couldn’t or shouldn’t.
Because she’s elated, naturally.
???
Just after midnight, we lay naked in each other's arms.
I hear a buzz on the carpet below me.
One new message from a number I’ve tried to forget.
Happy graduation from someone who doesn't deserve a reply.
I was damn proud of you today. Too shy to say hello though.
Wait, Porter was there?
I hold up my phone to show him.
“Would you feel weird if I replied?”
“Only if you send him a dick pic,” he teases.
Tracing his lips along my neck, Olsen speaks softly in my ear.
“I trust you. As long as you're honest with me, say whatever you need to say.”
It takes me a while to form the words.
I almost feel… neutral toward Porter.
Now that I know how love is supposed to feel, I’ve stopped settling for less.
He barely holds a candle to the sun that I orbit.
And more importantly, the boy I was back then has grown up.
I no longer need or chase.
