Page 125 of Escape Velocity
Callum stops.
“Are you okay?” Callum asks, his tone soft and full of worry.
Mason nods. “Yes. I’m—I’m more than okay, Cal.”
Mason sniffs and wipes away at a tear.
“Mase,” Callum nearly chokes out.
“No—it’s okay. Callum. You—you haven’t done anything wrong, I—Just wanted to say that I—I love you.”
Callum rubs his thumb along Mason’s cheek, appearing like a divine beauty in front of him, his eyes warm and body bewitching in the dull, amber light of the fire.
“I love you too, Mason Fanning.”
Mason nods. He knows. He thinks he’s always known that, deep down.
“I’m glad that we finally…”
Mason stops, wondering if he should say what he’s thinking.
Callum stares down at him, his eyes eager and expecting.
“We finally got to rule our own kingdom. It’s ours, Callum. This place.”
Callum bends down and kisses Mason’s forehead.
Callum takes Mason’s face in his hands, and he smiles bigger than he’s ever seen Callum smile, like he’s the happiest he’s ever been.
“Not just this place, Mason… We made our own kingdom. In each other.”
And after one final kiss, Callum helps Mason take off his shirt.
In what passes like seemingly hours, the carpeted floor of the cabin becomes littered with socks, shirts, sweaters, and pants.
Seemingly effortlessly, the couch becomes their throne, and they both ruled together.
And in one fell swoop, they didn’t have to bow down toany other powers looming over their heads, threatening to dethrone them.
Mason kneeled to Callum and Callum alone.
And as they bare themselves of the armor they’ve been wearing for so long, they become the sovereigns of their own kingdom.
EPILOGUE
A seaof maroon and gold lines the stadium.
Hornets versus Ravens.
The air is electric. One single spark and the entire stadium would be galvanized. That’s all it takes.
Mason knows who can be the one to do it, and he’s sure that he will.
His hands thrum with excitement and anxiety.
His hands tremble for Callum.
He wants him to win. He desperately hopes that he gets drafted.
