To that, Trey smiles and says, “Well, I hate to break it to you, Hoyt, but you’ve had that key in your pocket all along. You just found the right time to turn it.”
Hoyt shrugs. “Or the right guy.”
Trey smirks at him, shoots me a happy look, then says, “Well, it seems like all your stars aligned, good man. I hope to see you two this Sunday!” Then, after taking Cody’s hand, the pair of them head off, leaving Hoyt strangely misty-eyed and happy.
Soon, the remainder of us make a little trek to the open field between the Tucker-Strong grove and the main house, out where every star in the universe is visible in the endless stretch of sky. As we spread out on the soft grass on an assortment of blankets and lawn chairs, Tanner and a firework-happy Joel get to work setting things off. Hoyt cuddles by my side as we lie on our backs, staring up at the sky as it bursts apart in colors, sparkles, and smoke. Just in time, Chad shows up in all of his rancher glory, scoops Lance up in his arms, and carries him to a nice spot near the trees, where they watch the show from a distance, slightly secluded.
Hoyt turns to me at one point, a wistful smile on his face. “It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?”
I gaze right back at him. “Yeah, it is. The way everyone just … accepted it instantly. No questions. No weirdness. It’s as if the two of us were already a couple in most of their eyes. As if we—”
“I meant the fireworks.”
I blink. “Oh, right. Those. Yeah, they’re fine.”
Whether it’s my dry reply, or Hoyt was joking, he bursts into laughter so loud, it competes with the crackle and explosion of fireworks in the sky, and I can’t help but join in. Soon, both of us are in tears, laughing as the heavens rain down on us in an array of colorful sparks and bright flashes.
I didn’t realize I could feel this happy.
I guess I never gave myself the permission.
Until Hoyt came into my life and turned it all upside-down.
When the fireworks show is over, it’s time for some to call it a night. Kirk and Bonnie leave first, since they have to relieve Kirk’s mother Clarice from looking after Kirkland. Joel and Mindy leave next for the very same reason, as their two-year-old twins are in the lovely care of a trusted babysitter who lives on their street. After that, the Kings take off, followed by Robby and Vanessa, and finally Lance and Chad. By the time midnight rolls around, it’s just us and the Tucker-Strongs cleaning up the mess left behind.
“Really, you don’t have to do this,” Billy insists as he picks up glasses and plates everywhere.
“It’s no prob,” I assure Billy with a smile.
A burst of laughter draws our attention. We glance across the room at Hoyt, Jimmy, and Bobby, who apparently have a hundred stories to share with Tanner about funny stuff that has happened at the gym over its first few weeks being open. They have Tanner in tears of laughter as he hangs on their every word. Marcus and Josh are in their pajamas playing video games on the living room TV together, now that everyone’s gone home and the house is back to being their kingdom.
Billy shakes his head. “Honestly, I never would’ve called it.”
I turn to him, a stack of paper plates in hand. “Called what?”
“You. Him.” He shrugs. “I mean, I’ll admit it, Hoyt is a cutie. And though there are parts of him that are … incorrigibly childish … he’s also very sensitive. Have you seen him with his little sister?”
I smile. “I had the privilege of attending her eleventh birthday party and seeing just how he is with her upclose.”
Everyone bursts into loud laughter again as Hoyt goes on with whatever story he’s got. “No, no, seriously!” he’s saying, as Tanner practically rolls on the couch, busting a gut.
Billy shakes his head. “Feels like just yesterday you and I were talking about Toby and the tough time he was having in school … and now to see Hoyt and how he’s turned around? Toby, moving on to live on the beach with his boyfriend …? It’s strange, to think how fast things turned around over this past year with everyone. I can remember last summer like it was yesterday.”
“I know. Time moves slowly and quickly here in Spruce.” I toss my stack of plates into a trash bag, then go for another.
Billy touches my hand.
I look up.
He smiles. “I’m happy for you, Harrison. I really am. If I had known you were keeping this secret inside you all of these years, I’d have reached out and been a friend. I was always a call away.”