"He's—" JP starts.
"Busy, I know." Sylas rolls his eyes. "That boy's gonna work himself to death. Gavin, darling, enjoy your first Pride! Make memories! Make mistakes! Make Sebastian buy you overpriced rainbow merchandise!"
Gavin blushes, and it's not difficult to think about what merch he is thinking about right now.
The crowd cheers as Sylas's music starts. His performance is magnetic, all sass and skill. Gavin claps and hollers so enthusiastically, I worry he'll sprain something.
"He's amazing," Gavin shouts over the music.
"Yeah." I try not to let their friendship bug me. Failing miserably.
Gavin must notice because his hand finds my back pocket, pulling me close. "Not as amazing as my boyfriend."
Boyfriend. In public. At Pride.
It's exactly what I said I didn't have time for, and now I need to eat those words because being here with Gavin feels amazing.
"Smooth talker." I lean into him. My cheeks are actually sore from smiling.
His hand squeezes my butt. "Learned from the best."
We wander the festival, Gavin marveling at everything. He stops at every booth, asks genuine questions about different pride flags, and gets into three separate conversations about pronoun pins.
"This is incredible," he keeps saying. "Like, everyone's just... themselves."
A couple of guys are leaning against a nearby concrete column, making out with a dirty intensity. One has his boyfriend pressed against the pillar, hands tangled in his hair, while the other grips his partner's festival t-shirt like he's afraid he might disappear.
Gavin watches them with obvious fascination, his eyes tracking their movements with the same focus he usually saves for watching game film.
"They look like they're trying to crawl inside each other," he murmurs, not looking away.
"Taking notes?" I tease.
"Maybe." His hand tightens in my pocket. "That allowed here? With you… And me?"
"Public displays of affection? Yeah, I think it's allowed."
"Good to know."
But he doesn't kiss me. Just stays close, hand possessively in my back pocket, thumb tracing patterns that are definitely not public-appropriate.
The Switzerland thoughts keep intruding.Tell him. You have to tell him.
But he's having such a perfect first Pride...
The ride home is Max and Gavin comparing notes like excited puppies. "Did you see the guy on stilts?"
"What about the leather pride booth?"
"Those drag queens doing Gaga!"
They're both talking over each other, hands flying, trying to describe everything at once. Leo's driving now, shooting me amused looks in the rearview mirror as the guys bond over their first Prides.
"The glitter cannons, though," Max sighs dreamily.
"I'm still finding glitter in places," Gavin agrees, scratching at his neck. "Worth it."
I lean against the window, watching Gavin's animated face as he describes seeing Sylas perform. The jealousy from earlier has faded. He's so genuinely happy, so amazed by everything he saw today.
