25 years
I’ve been sitting up here since ten o’clock this morning. On our bench. Since I pressed send and shouted to the world that I’m in love with Louis. For eight years. That I’m into men.
I hoped he’d see it; but I didn’t expect so many people to share and repost the video in such a short time. Now it’s almost nine p.m. and I feel incredibly stupid. I was too late; I took too long.
The sun is setting, painting the vines and the Rhine valley in orange, yellow, and red. How many hours have we spent up here? Secretly, because I was too scared. I worried too much aboutwhat others thought of me and lost the best thing that ever happened to me. My hope that Louis will come is fading with every minute.
Wait... is that a car? I hear an engine and look for the teal-colored Polo that I know Louis loves so much. But this car is dark and not a VW. Disappointed and on the edge of devastation, I sink down onto the bench and stare into the distance. My lower lip trembles and I fight back the tears that want to burst out with such force that I won’t be able hold them back any longer. Too late. I’m too late.
Rapid footsteps on the gravel path pull me out of my thoughts. When I turn in that direction, my breath catches for a second. Three very different young men run up the path, wild curls the only thing the Delfosse brothers seem to have in common. The smallest one is in the middle, flanked by his two younger but significantly taller brothers. His dark curls stick out in all directions, and his deep brown eyes look at me questioningly from a distance.
“You’re here.” My voice breaks, my tears run freely now and without inhibition.
“Hey... um... sorry I’m so late, but I didn’t see the video earlier. Did you... did you mean it?”
Completely incapable of any coordinated action, I just stand there. In line with his friendly and selfless nature, Luca pushes Louis forward a little in my direction. Reflexively I jump up, stumble, and come to a stop just in front of him. I can’t hold back, can’t make myself stop and my hands cup his face.
Where everything was smooth and soft at sixteen, there is light stubble now. Louis’s breath catches and he closes his eyes.
“I missed you so much.” He breathes more than he speaks, and anuninhibited sob finds its way out of my chest and into the open.
“Me too. I hoped so badly you would come, I...” Gently he places his fingertip on my mouth.
“No more hiding. Or I’m gone.”
“I promise. Never again.”
“But your father, the company...”
“I told him. No more hiding. I swear.” My thumbs gently caress his cheeks. “Can I kiss you now?”
He struggles with himself, still unsure, and I get it. I wouldn’t trust me anymore either. With a deep breath, he nods, and I can’t believe we’re really doing this. Here, in public.
Hesitantly, I lean in and close the distance between us. Finally.
He feels like he used to, and yet so new, so familiar, so exciting. So... mine. So forever.
His lips are soft and tender, his tongue is challenging mine. He takes what he wants, and I give it to him, everything. It’s always been that way, nothing has changed.
“Ooookay, lovebirds, we’re going to head out. You’ll be fine, right?” We both grin at Luca’s words. Then we nod. “We’ll be fine.”
Chapter 47
David
25 years
“Your place or mine?” Louis grins cheekily at me because he thinks he knows the answer. That used to be our joke because, of course, we couldn’t be at my place. But when he asks me like that, this is going to change today.
“My place.” My voice is soft and calm, and I don’t even have to try hard. I want this. I want my parents to meet the man I plan to spend my life with.
“Really?” His eyebrows shoot up in surprise and I just nod.
“Okay, let’s go.” He holds out his hand to me, as he has so many times here in this place. As if six years hadn’t passed, as if nothing hadhappened between us. As if I hadn’t hurt him so deeply. I take his hand, hold it tight, and I’ll never let him go again.
Louis’s lips are on mine. I feel like back at eighteen. He sets the pace and I follow. Always, without hesitation.
“Are you sure we’re going to your place?”
