“So…it feels like we ditched class early.” Delaney brushed his lips against mine. “What do you want to do?”
I knotted our fingers together. “You don’t need to get back to Grant?”
“I’ve got a little time.” He looked toward the parking lot. “Besides, he has a friend over. Jeremy. And they’re working on a school project.”
“Uh-huh.” I kissed the side of his mouth. “Look at you being all chill.”
He shrugged. “He knows the rules. The bedroom door needs to stay open.”
When our eyes met, I barked out a laugh, and it was contagious.
Delaney arched a brow. “I deserve some sort of reward for my restraint.”
“We can always head back to my house and make out a lot more?” I suggested.
“That’s what I’m talking about.” Delaney yanked on my hand. “Let’s go before I change back to anxious-parent mode.”
We practically ran to the parking lot and to our separate cars so he could follow me home.
Fuck, I love you, I quickly texted before getting on the road.
His response was immediate: I love you too. So much.
I couldn’t stop smiling all the way there.
Epilogue
Delaney
April
“Here it is, the historic Stonewall Inn,” I said, pointing out the famous gay bar known for the Stonewall riots after a police raid in 1969.
Earlier in the day, we’d checked into our hotel in Chelsea—which was Grant’s suggestion, not only because the Manhattan neighborhood was known for its art galleries and restaurants but also for its large LGBTQIA population. Then the four of us—Jeremy had joined us in NY—decided to hit the pavement. The first thing we did was walk around the NYU campus, which was poignant for Grant. He’d bought a T-shirt and a few other memorabilia in remembrance of Rebecca. I couldn’t help getting choked up as well, recalling my visits there at the beginning of our relationship.
Marc was fantastic in his support, staying in the background and allowing me and Grant to experience it together as Grant asked a hundred questions about his mom. Marc and Jeremy had eventually parted ways with us to wait on a bench in Washington Square Park near the famous arch. It’d been my idea to invite Grant’s boyfriend on our spring break trip, which was the perfect opportunity for Marc and me to take time off work. Grant and Jeremy were sweet together and practically tied at the hip, even at school, where they were accepted by peers, for the most part. Apparently, Ellie was very protective if they ever caught any flak.
A year from now, we’d already be planning for college, and both boys had decided to stay local, Jeremy pretty set on Cleveland State. But after a campus tour, Grant had decided to apply to the more academically rigorous Case Western Reserve University. His scores were undoubtedly good enough to be accepted. The school was located on the east side, not far from our neighborhood, but to my utter surprise, he’d decided to try and live on campus anyway. Especially since his teacher had encouraged him to apply for a coveted history-program scholarship, which would help defray the cost. Of course, he could still change his mind, but it was obvious he was feeling more confident in his own skin, and I was so proud. Rebecca would be too.
We walked across the street to stand in front of the Stonewall Inn and take in its history as well as the plethora of rainbow flags everywhere we looked.
“It’s how the Pride parade began,” Jeremy pointed out.
“And the gay rights movement,” Grant added.
I found myself marveling again at the openness and activism of this generation of kids. There was so much I’d missed…and maybe even ignored. So seeing the world from my gay child’s perspective was something I cherished and benefited from in my own navigation of a relationship with another man.
Marc and I had been taking it slow, which meant going on dates, spending lots of time at each other’s houses, having weekend sleepovers, and running together in the Metroparks. Marc had decided he was ready to leave group after January’s session, but I’d chosen to stay on through spring, mostly to support others, even though I was feeling healthy enough as well.
Marc and Grant had become thick as thieves. Marc had essentially taken over teaching Grant to drive, no doubt because of his calmer demeanor, and even tagged along with us to Grant’s driving exam, which he’d passed with flying colors. The plan was to buy him a used car for his birthday that he could eventually use for college. For now, he’d been saving money from his part-time job at Worthy’s Salvage Shop on the weekends. It’d been Marc’s suggestion since Grant seemed to love it so much, and he’d jumped at the chance rather than applying at the movie theater.
Thankfully, both our families had been pretty accepting of our relationship. There’d only been a few awkward moments in the beginning—and mostly from Howard, who seemed much more accepting of his grandson identifying as gay than of my being bisexual and wanting a relationship with Marc. My heart-to-heart with Donna had definitely helped, and she’d become one of our biggest cheerleaders, together with Arlene, which was pretty heartwarming. Donna had even encouraged Grant to invite Marc to Scholastic Challenge, where they’d finished in third place.