Page 152 of Outcast
Allison scoffed. “Please, you’re still their favorite person ever.”
I hoped so, but it was nice to hear, anyway.
“Maybe Anarchy Ink will sponsor the next event Emory is involved in,” Gray said, nudging me. “Soon, he’ll be a crazy-talented tattoo artist.”
Sasha’s eyes lit up. “Can I get a friend discount? I’ve been wanting new ink.”
“Slow down, I’m just an apprentice. It’ll be like two years before I can do my own tats.”
“Bummer.” She shrugged. “It’ll probably be two years before I can afford it.”
We all laughed and continued to drink and chat. I realized—to my surprise—I was having a good time. Gray looked like he was tolerating the trip down memory lane relatively well too. I’d dragged him along to the last couple of reunion planning sessions so he’d get more comfortable with my friends and wouldn’t feel like a loner.
It must have worked because he seemed at ease as Allison and Sasha reminisced about their cheerleading days.
Marty leaned in toward me. “Dude, I can’t believe I’m dating a cheerleader.”
“Told you that you were selling yourself short,” I said.
He wrinkled his nose. “You also called me cute.”
Sasha overheard. “Youarecute. How do you think you won me over?”
“With my very masculine sexiness?” he suggested.
“Well, that too.” She batted her eyes playfully. “I found itverysexy when you carried my groceries for me.”
“Hell yeah,” Gray said, raising his hand for a high-five. “That’s a real man right there.”
Music poured out from the speaker system, a Maroon 5 hit from our senior year in high school.
“Ooh, this is a good one,” Allison said, shimmying in her seat.
Matteo looked at her with the kind of sappy, adoring gaze that was utterly embarrassing.
Probably the same look I was giving Gray right now.
“Want to dance?” I asked, unsure if he’d be the type to prefer sitting it out. We hadn’t ever gone clubbing, both of us preferring quiet dinners, movie nights, drinks with his brothers, and long rides through the countryside on his bike.
“Anytime, golden boy.” He held out his hand, and my gaze landed on his Bro Code tattoo. Maybe one day, he’d wear a tattoo that symbolized our bond too.
Maybe we both would.
I took his hand, and we crossed to the dance floor. Allison and Matteo followed close behind while Marty and Sasha lingered at the table, content to talk. I wasn’t surprised. Marty had sat out every dance at prom too. But Sasha didn’t look as if she minded.
I slid my arms around Gray’s neck, and he put his big hands on my waist. We weren’t the only same-sex couple at the reunion. Lacy Harding had brought her wife.
But Lacy had been openly gay in high school. She hadn’t surprised our whole class the way I had.
All eyes turned toward us as we began to sway to the music.
“Still the golden boy, drawing every eye in the room,” Gray murmured.
“I think that’s you,” I said. “They’re all jealous of me for landing such a gorgeous man.”
“Agree to disagree.”
I pressed my forehead against his. “I don’t really care why they’re looking. I don’t care what they’re saying.” My eyes locked on his. “As long as you’re with me, I know everything is right in my world. That’s all I’ll ever need.”
