Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
“I’m feeling regret for treating you the way I had. Sad that I’ve been living only a half-truth. Upset that I wasted so much time being scared and running away when all I needed to do was come back home to be happy.” He reached for my hand. I didn’t move away this time. “So that I could do this.”
And before I could even realize what was happening, Sam’s lips were on mine. The suddenness—the rawness—of the kiss made it messy, my hat falling off my head. I stepped back for balance before I leaned in. I grabbed Sam’s hips as our tongues swirled. So many questions swirled with them, but I ignored that. Sam had initiated this kiss. He had wanted it, same way I wanted it. My body was a firework, one of those you only see at Disney World. Massive, multi-colored, magical. The explosions sizzled through me, the ground underneath my feet disappearing as we floated up toward the cloudless night sky.
We broke for air. The moment was heavy, silent. Sam rested his forehead against mine. His eyes were shut, his lips shining. “I’m sorry,” Sam said. “For everything. I was going to leave today. I had a ride coming to pick me up, but I cancelled it. I don’t want to run anymore. I want you. And I don’t care who knows it. I want to hold your hand at dinner, want to kiss you goodnight, want to skinny dip with you in the creek. I want to take you to the city, want you to take me to a race. I want to do it all with you.”
How could this not be a dream? This was too perfect. It was a moment I’d wanted ever since I’d fallen in love with Sam all those years ago. Except it had always felt like a fantasy I needed to let go of. Far too good to ever become true.
“I found this letter,” Sam said, reaching into his pocket, one hand still holding mine. “It’s from Frankie.”
He handed the folded paper to me. “Can I read it?”
Sam nodded, his eyes focused on my lips. There was a glow behind them that I don’t remember being there before. I unfolded the letter and read it. My jaw dropped once I reached the end.
“It was all fake?”
“Leave it to Frankie.”
I shook my head. The only thing I could do was laugh. “Leave it to Frankie.” I could hardly believe it. This had all been orchestrated from beyond the grave, by someone who had seen the real truth of who Sam was, and wanted Sam to see it too before it was too late.
“It’s something I was realizing over time, but his letter really kinda pushed me over the edge. I’m bi, Benny. I was happy with the women I was with, I find the female form beautiful and attractive. I also find men equally as attractive. You also showed me that the physical chemistry is there, and it’s powerful. Beyond that, though, I can see myself with a man. I can see myself with you, Benny.”
I blinked through the haze of shock. Sam had done it. He’d finally come out of the closet. The internalized fear and anger he harbored for himself was nowhere to be found.
I realized the glow he radiated was pure joy. His eyes crinkled at the corners, his smile beaming like the high beams on my F150.
“Wow,” he said. “I feel so free saying that.”
“That’s amazing, Sam. You deserve to feel free. Everyone does. Love is the most basic and purest emotion and, for reasons I can never fully understand, it also comes with societal conditions. You must be in love with someone of the opposite sex, or if not, you might make me uncomfortable. Or you may force me to have a five-minute conversation with my curious child. Or you may hold up a mirror in my direction, showing me a reflection I hate to see. All those reasons to step on someone else’s happiness, and what’s the common denominator there? The other person. It’s always the other person, never you.”
Sam nodded at that. Both my hands were in his now. My boots were planted firmly on the ground, and yet it felt like we floated on puffy white clouds.
“You forgive me, right, Benny?”
I looked up into those shining blue eyes. “I never blamed you, Sam.”
We kissed again, holding each other. For the first time ever, Sam and I embraced in public. Neither of us cared who saw. I pressed my body against his. We fit together perfectly. He smelled like he’d recently showered, like strawberries. I kissed him, feeling something twitch between us.
He was getting hard. I gave my hips a little wiggle, rubbing my own growing dick against his. He smiled as we kissed, the curve of his lips matching mine. Well, well, well. Maybe it was time to move this coming out party somewhere a little more private—preferably somewhere with a bed.