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This time, I mean it. I really am. I don’t think I’ve ever been better.

He smiles brightly, making my stomach flip when he nibbles on my ear. “I love you, doll. I’m so proud of you.”

His praise has me clenching my legs as I cough into my arm, fighting with my dick to stay soft. If I get hard in front of my parents, I’ll simply pass away. I swear.

“Well, anyway,” Dad grumbles, giving Mom an affectionately exasperated glance before returning to us. “Introduce me to your boyfriend, Shilo. Formally, this time.”

“We actually prefer the term partner,” I tell him, sliding off Ryann’s lap so they can shake hands. “Dad, Ryann. Ryann, Dad.”

“As long as you treat him right, we’ll have no issues,” Dad says, eyeing Ryann sternly, who smiles at me with a wink.

“Oh, I plan on it. For as long as he’ll have me.”

I’m pretty sure it’s the other way around—Ryann can have me for as long as he wants, and as many times, too. I don’t say that out loud, though.

As I bite back the urge to mumble something completely ridiculous, I catch Ryann’s eye and realize it doesn’t matter.

Even if I did, he’d still look at me like I’m the best damn thing that’s ever happened to him.

And I feel exactly the same way.

Epilogue

Shilo - One Year Later

“Stop fidgeting, you look fine.”

“I know that,” I mumble, running my free hand down the front of my soft pantsuit, the other warm and secure in Ryann’s grip. “I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about falling on my face.”

Ryann raises a brow, looking suave in a loose button-up as he tucks a strand of ash-brown hair behind my ear. “If anyone else but me pulls your pants down, they’ll get a lengthy hospital stay and permanent feeding tube.”

Snorting, I pull on my robe and graduation cap as I roll my eyes. Seriously, who decided it was a good idea to make us all look like wizards? Why is this robe so long? I’m definitely going to trip.

Husky Stadium buzzes with excitement, and after one last kiss on Ryann’s lips, I join my classmates in line, all of us bouncing on our feet to accept that degree. It’s been a wild year. Not only am I getting my Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, but I’m starting my first full-time job on Monday at CalTek. As a software developer. And not just because my partner is the joint CEO.

I spent the last twelve months proving myself to Liza, taking the lead on projects, helping wherever I could. I earned this position, and I’m honestly pretty proud of myself. I also get to work from mine and Ryann’s condo twice a week. She offered to make the position fully remote, but after spending so much time getting to know the other developers, I decided I didn’t need to. I actually wanted to hang out with them at work. I guess they’re not so bad.

As we take our places beside the stage, my gaze sweeps the crowd, finding my mom and Dad first. Paige and Declan, newly engaged, stand beside them, along with KC, Carpenter, and Tina. The three of them graduated last year, and they’d dragged me to Kintsugi to celebrate. We have a whole LAN party planned tonight since they know crowds aren’t my thing—just us, our computers, and League of Legends. I can’t wait.

Last, my eyes catch Ryann’s, and my stomach flutters as he smiles at me from across the stadium. Almost two years now, and he still makes me feel like I’m on a roller-coaster every time I look at him. We’ve got our own plans for later after I finish hanging out with my friends, and I can’t wait for that either. It’s going to involve lots of nakedness and lube. Massive amounts of lube.

The line starts moving, and UDub’s dean announces names alphabetically. Before I know it, my time is up.

“Shilo Reed.”

For a split second, I freeze. But then adrenaline kicks in, and I’m walking up to the stage, trying not to look weird as I avoid the hem of my robe. Mom’s joyous scream hits my ears over the audience, and I shake hands with the dean—who’s probably forgotten my name already—before grabbing my diploma quickly.

As I turn to face the crowd, I spot Ryann waving at me, and I try to be cool when I wave back, but fail miserably. I probably look like a five-year-old who just saw Santa.

Stepping carefully, and probably way too slowly, off the stage, I approach my seat, sighing in relief.

I didn’t even trip. Nothing embarrassing happened.

Honestly, with how much I worried about it, the whole thing feels anticlimactic.

Once all the names are announced, we stand and toss our caps, though I don’t toss mine very far. That shit was expensive as hell, and KC stitched my name on it with intricate patterns of computer code. I want to keep it forever.

And with that… it’s done. I’m a college graduate. Holy smokes.