And it wasn’t just Kai who had grown. I’d grown, too. We’d happily sink back out of the spotlight once the night was over, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I enjoyed a little of this attention, too. With my insecurities and shyness pushed away, I liked knowing everyone was looking at us and seeing that we were having fun.
I liked being Kai’s boyfriend and having everyone know we belonged to each other.
“Hey Izzy,” Kai said, pushing his face up as close to my ear as he could get with the bulky costumes on. “You know, ketchup and mustard really should be kept together all the time.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”
“Same fridge. Maybe even the same condiment shelf. What do you think?”
I thought about it for a second, not sure what he meant; then it dawned on me. “Are you asking me to move in?”
“Yeah, if you want to. I’ve got all that space, and I could use a few more houseplants.”
I threw my arms around him and pulled him into a kiss. “Yes, absolutely,” I said. “I’d love to.”
“Love you, cutie,” he whispered to my ear. “And I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Epilogue
Izzy
One year later…
Kaiand I lay in our bed, naked and sweaty from the quick sex we’d fit in that afternoon. It was time to get ready for the event that evening, but I was having trouble tearing myself away from him.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, stroking his fingers through my hair. “Ready for the big night?”
I laughed, my voice shaky. “Kind of. I guess so. How about you?”
“All the boxes are checked, and I sent confirmations this morning, so I’m feeling pretty good.”
I kissed him softly, dragging my lips across his. “We just need a shower. Can’t show up for Conservation Now smelling like sex, especially not with your moms in town.”
I grabbed his hand, then pulled him to the shower with me. His condo was filled with houseplants, even more than I had in the studio, and the combination of my stuff and his stuff gave a full, warm feeling to the place.
Like home. Before, I would have been surprised about how easy it was to feel so comfortable in the condo, except that Kai had always felt like home to me.
For years I thought I didn’t deserve a home like that. Somewhere safe and fun and loving. I thought I was supposed to spend my life hanging around on the outside. But with the love and care Kai showed me, I’d finally accepted that this was my life, too, and that I deserved the love I wanted.
In the shower, we got only a little distracted washing each other and kissing under the twin jets of water. Kai washed my back and ran his fingers through my wet hair, nipping my neck from behind, then dried me off with a big white towel.
It didn’t take long to slip into our suits and head to the art gallery. Considering the plan that evening, we both selected the suits we’d worn on the day of the double wedding, more than a year earlier. Kai’s burgundy suit fit him perfectly, complimented by my vintage olive suit, and I only made us linger for a minute by the mirror, admiring how handsome we looked together.
“Jo texted. The caterers have arrived on time,” Kai mumbled, playing with his phone.
I took his chin and pulled him up to meet my eyes. “All the boxes are already checked, remember?”
“Right,” he nodded. “Let’s go.”
By the time we got to the gallery and found parking, the crowd was already filing in. Friends of mine from the Allegheny Conservation Project strolled the walls, looking at the framed photographs, while a little crew from Jo’s work huddled at the bar. The space was large, and my stomach twisted a little as I saw how quickly it filled up.
“I didn’t expect everyone to actually come.”
“That’s what happens when you throw a successful event,” Kai said, taking my hand. “Everyone comes and has a good time.”
We greeted our friends, who poured the compliments on, and when Kai’s parents showed up, they each took me in a big hug.
“We’re so proud of you!” May said, her hand on my cheek.
