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Ryan took my hand and tugged until we huddled with the masses. “I thought it would be the perfect place for you to realize being gay doesn’t always mean brutal beatings and being exiled.”

“But what if I’m not?”

Ryan cocked his head, confused. “What do you mean?”

“What if I’m bisexual? Like you said before.”

Smiling, he rolled his eyes. “And like I said before, there’s a ‘B’ for a reason. Even if you’re not, there are so many terms out there, but you don’t have to have a label.” Ryan fisted my shirt, hauling himself up for a passionate kiss on my lips. “You can relax. No one here is judging you. No one is going to hurt you. We’re all queer here!”

Unprepared, I stumbled when he let go. “God, you put your arms around me, and I can literally feel my knees buckle. It’s fucking pathetic.”

Ryan’s face softened. “No, it’s not. It’s sweet.”

It may have been the environment, or simply Ryan making me feel secure, but I felt bold. Raising my hand, I brushed the hair away from his face for a better view.

Ryan squinted in the sun, but those intoxicating honey-chocolate eyes sparkled in the bright light. Silky soft skin caressed my fingertips. He took a step closer, resting his hands on my waist. This time, I remembered to breathe.

“God, you’re stunning…”

When Ryan blushed and looked at his feet, I realized I hadn’t thought that like I’d intended. “I just said that out loud, didn’t I?”

“You did,” Ryan said, offering me a bashful smile. “But it’s okay. Do you need a minute?”

“I… I think so.”

Pressing a kiss to my palm, Ryan took a step backward. “I’m getting ice cream. Do you want anything?”

“I’m okay.” With the nerves fluttering in my stomach, I was cautious about food.

I followed Ryan, finding a place to sit nearby to watch the scene in front of me unfold. Everyone seemed so… free. Sitting there, I realized how little I’d seen in my life. I’d never witnessed happiness like that. Couples walked hand in hand, arms around each other’s waists, and even a group of three snuggled close under a shady tree, offering each other tastes of their drinks.

Colors blurred together; rainbows and blues and greens and pinks. I couldn’t even begin to comprehend what they all meant, but… one of them had to be mine, right? I hadn’t found a term that fit, but one thing was for certain: I wanted Ryan.

Arms fell around my shoulders and I tensed.

“Hey cutie, are you single?” Ryan whispered into my ear.

I let out the breath I’d been holding, laughing it off. “You scared me.”

He apologized and sat down next to me with his ice cream. “Relax, Jason. The parade’s about to start.”

Sure enough, the crowd parted down the middle. Ryan leaned in close. Putting my arm around him was starting to feel natural. Being able to do so without looking over our shoulders was a breath of fresh air.

Toward the end of the parade, a group carrying a large teal flag walked arm in arm down the road.

PFLAG.

The closer they got, the more the writing on their shirts came into view:

“I support my gay son.”

“I support my trans daughter.”

“I support my queer child.”

My eyes stung. Clearing my throat, I banished the tears forming. Ryan, following my line of sight, immediately understood. “Have you thought about talking to your dad?”

I scoffed. “Not one bit.”