Page 137 of Hits Different

“Sighing wistfully as the steel band plays one of your favourite songs…”

“The band are on a break, actually. They’re not due to start up again until nine”, I break off, as the band begins to play. I recognise the chords immediately. That’s a coincidence.

“You mean to tell me the hottest guy there doesn’t have a date?”

“I’m flying solo”.

“Good. I’d hate to think a date would stand by and let you shiver without a jacket”.

“It’s not that bad… wait”, I glance around. “How did you know what I was wearing?”

“Or not wearing, as the case may be”.

He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Could he? “Are you...Parker, are you here?” Excitement rises in my chest.

“That would be very See You at the Altar of me, wouldn’t it?” Parker says, conversationally, “Best friend comes swooping in to save the day at the last minute for a boogie through life. Terrible movie, by the way. I watched it on the plane”.

“The plane where?” I stand up.

“Here”, he says, but suddenly he’s not on the other end of the phone. He’s standing in-front of me.

He’s in a classic black tuxedo, crisp white shirt and loose black bow tie. He’s still holding the phone to his ear. His strong voice carries a playful undertone that reaches straight into my soul.

I’m hit with a wave of emotions, but the loudest is one I’ve become real familiar with over the last year.

I’m really, truly, happy.

“What are you doing here?”I can’t control the smile spreading across my face.

Parker begins to stride towards me, “You once told me that you loved that god-awful film because there was something amazing about dancing through your life with your best friend, even if you couldn’t have him in the way you wanted to”.

“I can’t believe you remembered that”. He’s in-front of me now. Handsome as hell. He smoothly slides around me.

“I remember everything, Brandon”, he murmurs in my ear. “I’m here to show you what it’s like if you can have him the way you want to. The way I want you”.

I can’t speak. But I don’t need to. He knows exactly how I feel.

“Dancing with your best friend sounds like a great way to spend an evening”, Parker continues, holding out his hand. “But dancing with the love of your goddamn life? That sounds pretty fucking perfect to me. Shall we?”

I take his hand, and he leads us to the dancefloor. The band is playing our song.

I’m overcome with a feeling that I’ve never had before.

That in this moment, for the first time in my life, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Dancing with Parker, with him telling me that he loves me, and me saying it right back.

Because it is.

The End

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