Page 91 of After Hours Lectures
The rest of dinner was filled with lighter conversations, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, even my father.
Later, while we all stood on the sidewalk and said our goodbyes, Jamie wrapped her arms around me and whispered, “I’m happy for you, sweetie.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I squeezed her tight. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” She smiled as she took a step back.
“We’ll be at your place bright and early.” Dad hugged me and then, much to my surprise, clapped Hayden on the shoulder and asked, “Will we see you tomorrow?”
“I’ll be there.”
After we parted ways with my family, I gripped the back of Hayden’s neck and pulled him in for a searing kiss right there on the sidewalk where anyone could see. His tongue traced my lips before slipping inside my mouth. Several seconds passed as we lost ourselves in a passionate embrace.
“I’ve wanted to do that for a long time,” I said breathlessly as we broke apart.
“Me too.” He trailed a finger down the side of my face. “And I can’t wait to do it every day.”
EPILOGUE
HAYDEN
One Month Later…
Charlotte was getting marriedon Narragansett Bay near Newport, Rhode Island. She’d wanted to go to the lighthouse in Maine where Mitch had proposed, but they could have only had the ceremony there and not the reception. Her guests would have had to travel thirty minutes to a golf club, so to avoid multiple locations, she found another lighthouse with a historic inn next to it that was perfect for her wedding.
After much debating, she’d hired a photographer despite me telling her I wouldn’t mind doing it.
“You’ll be with your boyfriend. Have a good time. I don’t want you working,”she’d stated.
I’d stopped arguing with her because the thought of walking hand in hand into the venue with Tyler was everything I ever wanted. Well, almost everything. I had a few questions for him I needed answers to, and the backdrop was hopefully the best place for them.
Since we’d gotten back together, everything had been perfect. There was no more hiding, no more feeling like I needed to look over my shoulder, and no more fear that someone would rat out our forbidden romance. We strolled farmers’ markets, ate out at restaurants, and we even went to a movie where we shared a bucket of popcorn and a large soda. I hadn’t realized how much joy the little things in life could bring, until I became free to be myself with the man I loved. I was truly the happiest I’d ever been.
Tyler was offered the internship atThe Hub. We didn’t hide the fact that we were a couple. Hell, my parents had met while working there many moons ago, so an in-office romance wasn’t frowned upon. Besides, Tyler wasn’t working in my department. While I was the section editor for the sports department, he was assisting the lifestyle section editor.
In the week he had been interning, he’d helped cover a story for Pride Month and he’d been tasked with coming up with a list of some of the best LGBTQ+ songs for the year. It wasn’t the same as covering a story for Flirting with Fire or another big name band just yet, but he’d get there. Maybe it wouldn’t happen while he was working atThe Hub, but for now, we were both satisfied with our relationship and being out in the open. Whatever the future held for us, I knew we’d conquer it together.
“Ready?” I asked him as I straightened the cuffs on my suit jacket. I’d just come back from the gift shop where I had to pick up a few items.
He walked over to me and gave me a little kiss. “Now I’m ready.”
Slipping my camera over my neck, I opened the door to our private cottage at the inn and grabbed Tyler’s hand. We walked down the path toward where the ceremony was being held and I took pictures to commemorate the occasion. Even though I wasn’t the official photographer, I was still going to give Charlotte the ones I took because she could never have too many of her special day.
It was a mild evening, one that would turn chilly once the sun set in a few hours, but I didn’t think we’d notice since we were going to be dancing the night away under a sailcloth tent. Would we get married one day too? The thought crossed my mind as we walked toward the grassy area where white chairs were set up and overlooking the bay. It was too soon for me to propose, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want to. However, seeing all the flowers and guests arriving in their formal attire made me want to drop to one knee and ask Tyler right there on Charlotte’s big day. But I would never do that to her, so I kept quiet as we took our seats and waited for the ceremony to begin.
Tyler slid his phone from his slacks and opened it to the camera. We leaned in and he snapped a selfie of us. A few seconds later, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my pocket to see that he had tagged me in a post on social media. Opening the notification, it went to the selfie and the caption read:The best is yet to come.
“I like your caption,” I told him.
“I didn’t really know what to say. Maybe I should have gone with, ‘I’m here for the cake’.”
“Nah, it’s perfect.”
“You think so?”
“I do, and you’ll see why later.”
Tyler opened his mouth to respond, but the music started to play, signaling us to stand because Charlotte was on her way. I put my face up to the viewfinder of my camera and snapped picture after picture of her.
