Page 73 of Mitch

“How did this become so fucking complicated?” I asked, running a hand over my face.

Dawson piped in, his tone serious. “Don’t tell me to fuck off, but I want your honest answer.”

I shot him a glare, and he continued.

“Did you give him achanceto talk about it?”

Dawson giving me relationship advice was the equivalent of hell freezing over. The man was notorious for his lack of commitment.

At least, he was until he met Nolan.

I’d replayed the moment over and over in my mind, but suddenly I saw it with startling clarity.

I’davoidedPenn becauseIwas afraid he was going to clam up and avoid me because of what I’d said.

So I beat him to the punch.

I left before he could hurt me.

I didn’t give him a chance, because I couldn’t even give myself the chance to be vulnerable for once in my life.

I’dreallyfucked up.

“No,” I said, my shoulders sinking.

“When’s your next event?” Cade asked.

I looked at my phone, noting the Pride kickoff was our last event.

Tonight, that was my shot.

My chance to make things right.

To set the record straight.

Once and for all.

CHAPTER 28

Penn

“All right,I think that’s everything,” Archie said as we loaded the empty boxes into the dumpster out back behind the firehouse.

The annual Jasper Springs Pride Show was always one of our biggest events. Most of the businesses took part in it, each with a table that boasted their wares or business brochures.

The firehouse always sold their calendars, the pet hospital usually had animals that were up for adoption out to meet, and all the restaurantsand food services usually donated food or sold snacks.

I’d always loved the event, because I loved making the cookies and desserts in bright colors, something different than our usual bear claws and croissants or wedding cakes.

Although this year, I felt like it was an entirely new experience.

I surveyed the crowd, searching for Mitchell. I knew he would be here as we’d discussed all my events ahead of time, and both had agreed this event would be the last, and the biggest, and since the Show usually happened the Friday before the Pride Parade, Mitchell had promised to have something ready for the social media page that we could use.

But that wasn’t why I was looking for him.

I needed to tell him the truth.

I wanted to be with him, and while I knew the road of a relationship would be full of uncertainty, I knew that was what I wanted because I loved him, and that was enough for me.

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