Page 43 of Footlights and Forever

A few days later I sat inside a small coffee shop that bordered Washington Square Park. The sound of a bell had my eyes snapping up to see Dylan pushing through the doors. Just like always he took my breath away as his gaze met mine. Today he wore a pair of faded blue denim jeans, with a powder blue Oxford shirt, unbuttoned, with a white t-shirt underneath. His hair was longer and pushed back across his head, with small tufts in it as if he had been running his fingers through it.

I quickly stood and reached for the black leather backpack on his shoulder, and slid it underneath the table. I wanted to kiss him so badly. Even though we had managed to set aside what had happened at the frat party, there was still a level of unease at meeting again for the first time in a couple of weeks.

I moved slowly towards him, my arms coming up. “Can I?” My voice sounded breathy, almost like I was begging.

Dylan rolled his eyes and nodded. “Of course, moron.” He stepped into my arms and pressed his face where my collar bone met my neck. Muscles in my neck and back that I had not realized were tense, suddenly released. For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, I took an easy breath.

I pulled back slightly, gripping him by the biceps as if at any moment he might bolt. His stare met mine. “I love you.” I stated simply. It was my only truth and the only thing I needed him to know in that moment.

“I love you too.” He smiled. “But right now I love coffee more, so I’m heading up to the counter. Want anything?”

I smiled, shaking my head and waving him off towards the counter. I watched as he meandered through the tables towards the smiling waitress behind the glass display cabinet. I watched as a blush spread across her cheeks, as he peered through the glass at the array of cookies and cakes. I saw as she noticed his sweetness and sexiness, without him ever having to mutter a word. In that moment I knew that he was so far out of my league that I was lucky to have him love me back.

His kindness was clear in the way he’d simply accepted Garrett’s apology. Even after everything Garrett had put him through, Dylan had swept it all aside and told Garrett to follow his heart. He’d told him that if he was any type of decent person, then the best way to earn his redemption was to show his boyfriend each and every day just how special he was and that he was loved, cared for and respected.

Garrett and Dylan would not be best friends any time soon, but the mere fact that Dylan was able to see past his own history to the scared, insecure and confused guy that Garrett seemingly was all along, astounded me.

“I know you said you didn’t want anything,” Dylan sucked air through his teeth, “but they all looked so good, and I couldn’t decide.”

My eyes bulged as he placed down an array of sweet treats on the table between us. I reached across the table and snagged his hand, pulling it towards me and pressing my lips against his knuckles.

I’d been having some thoughts over the last few days about our first year at college and where our relationship had been going. I’d come to the conclusion in the week away from the man in front of me that more time apart really wasn’t an idea I wanted to entertain for very much longer.

“Listen, before we go any further, I need to get something off my chest.” I placed his hand on the table in front of him.

“Okay?”

“Well, I think it was a good idea for us to live separately when we moved to New York. I mean, our relationship was still really new and although we both knew we wanted to be together, we both knew that anything could happen.”

“Okay so you’re happy we are living apart. Got it.” A frown etched his brow.

“What I mean to say is that I think we have done this long enough.” I smiled, expecting the same smile to be reflected back at me.

“You want to break up?” His frown deepened.

“What? No!” I laughed. “I mean next year I want us to live together.”

His face fell and my heart cracked.

“Austin, that’s really sweet but I really don’t want to live with your friends.” I tried to interject but he held a hand up to stop me. “I know that they are your friends, and I would never dream of telling you who you can be friends with, but I don’t want to live with the Four Horse-Douches.”

“Ah a name variation,” I smiled, “but no, I was thinking that maybe we could get somewhere together off campus, and I mean way, way, way off campus. I mean likely a small box for us both to live in, given New York prices.”

“But our box, right?” His smile returned. “Just you and me.”

“Yeah, just you and me.” I reached across to grab his hand once more.

“I think I love that idea.”

Act Three

Chapter 15

“Eventually, the nerds and the geeks will have their day.” ? Judd Apatow

Dylan

Three Years Later

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