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“I’ll bring them in now.”Brandon turned away.
I grabbed his arm.“Later.We just need the piano and guitar.”I sat on the bench and pulled him next to me.“You both remember this.”I played the opening notes from the Cinderella song.
Brandon picked up the top half of the music and Danny joined in on the acoustic guitar.As we played through, I told the story again, to refresh it in my mind and help set the mood.When we reached the end, I kept going.There was one more stanza to add.
The handsome prince realizes he can’t live without his confidant or his Cinderella, so he joins them.
Danny had only been dabbling with lyrics last time we talked about this, but as we reached the chorus, he had words.
As he sang, I knew this would be a chorus that would shift as the song went on.I sang along with him when he repeated it, and Brandon accompanied us.
I leaned into Brandon for the next repeat, and moved to stand next to Danny for the last.
This was so perfect.Maybe fame came next—probably but possibly not—but it didn’t matter.This moment, what Danny, Brandon, and I had, was a better future than I ever could’ve written for myself.My best friend and childhood love, his prince, and the three of us living happily ever after.
Epilogue
One yearlater
Brandon
It was strange to have an early Christmas planned with Adam.In past years, we would’ve just skipped it, but after last Christmas, after all the healing we’d done since, I didn’t want to miss out on another holiday with him.
But he had plans over the holiday and so did I.The compromise was Christmas morning, but three weeks early.Danny and Reese insisted this was time for just the two of us.
It was easy to fall into the old tradition of making breakfast together, and swapping banter while we ate, and then moved to presents.
I was excited to see if Adam liked what I got him, but I’d save that for last.He handed me a small box wrapped in shiny metallic paper.I didn’t have the patience to open the package slowly, and ripped off the paper instead.
When I opened the box inside, I swore I stopped breathing for a moment.
It was a flatcar—an open bed train car with no sides or top—with a grand piano in one corner.A tiny bench sat next to it, with a little person painted like me.The floor of the car was hand painted with a few bars of the first piece of video game music I’d ever composed.
“There’s no way a piano would travel like that.”I knew without question that would’ve been Dad’s argument against making the train car.
“And yet, this was his idea.He just never got to…”
I didn’t need Adam to finish the thought.The two of us had gone through a lot of therapy in the last year, some together and most separately, but some topics were still tough to navigate.I couldn’t talk past the lump in my throat, so I gave him a tight hug.
When we broke apart, I cleared my throat.“I’m feeling a little reciprocal gift inadequate, now.”
“Well, hand it over and let me judge for myself.”His voice was thick.
I grabbed my phone from my pocket and scrolled through the images.
“So…” Adam sucked on his teeth.“If you got me a picture, thatmightbe a little… Yeah.”
I looked at him, eyebrows raised.“Thanks, smart ass.”I meant it with nothing but love.“It was too big to wrap, but it’s waiting at your shop.”I showed him the photo of the sign I’d had made, for said new shop.
He grinned.“It’s perfect.I assume it is anyway.”
“It’s even better in person.I promise.”
Adam gave me another hug.“Thank you.”
I squeezed back, then stepped away.“Go.Check out the sign.Do your thing.Call me when you land.”
“I will.”
