Page 16 of All We Are

Soon,I promise myself.

If there’s ever a time where I’ll be able to confidently claim Will as mine for everyone to see, it’s here. At Pride. In the City of Brotherly Love where love and acceptance far outweigh the hate and condemnation I grew up with.

It’s getting better,a voice reminds me.

And I have to believe it is.

Will and I might not beoutabout our relationshipback home—not yet, not really—but we're not exactly hiding it either. Especially at O’Leary’s and around those we consider family. And so far, we haven’t run into any assholes. Not since my dad, that is.

My eyes linger on Phoebe’s profile. Her head’s twisted enough for me to make out the big, goofy-ass grin stretched out across her face as she looks up at Shawn. He’s facing forward, shaking his head.

Sheishappy. That’s all that matters. Even back home, where very few people know the truth, she’s okay. More than okay. And if ever there comes a day where she wants to or feels the need to…I don’t know, come out? Be more vocal about it?...She’ll have us standing right by her side, supporting her and ready to throw down if anyone tries to give her shit.

No one will ever fuck with that girl, or so help me God.

Someone blows into a fog horn, followed by a loud cat-call, drawing me back to the here and now. Up on the float ahead, two drag queens dressed like slutty fairy godmothers sweep their wands over the crowd, spurring on the excitement. One starts singing into a microphone as the music kicks back on. It’s not a song I recognize, but when the beat drops, people go wild. Lights flash. Confetti guns explode on the crowd, raining multi-colored paper on our heads.

I feel more than see Will chuckle next to me. Cutting him a glance, I realize just how close we stand now, our arms brushing with each step forward. If I’m not mistaken the crowd pressing in on all sides has grown even denser.

“Come on,” he calls out, jerking his head toward a small break ahead. Following his lead, I trail him step for step.

Just when I start to wonder where the others are, a flash of black moves into the corner of my eye just as we reach Shawn and Phoebe, and I glance over to find Ivy smiling breathlessly. I didn’t see where she wandered off to, but by the flush to her cheeks and brightness to her green eyes, I’m assuming she found her way to one of the many vendors selling alcohol.

People make their way around us as our steps slow. I look around her, frowning when I see that she’s alone. Leaning toward her ear, I ask loudly, “Where’s Mase and Jer?”

She twists her head around so fast, she smacks me with her hair. I sputter and wave it away with my hand, taking a step back,

Her eyes are big and round as she cranes her neck and looks around. She shrugs. “They must’ve fallen back.”

“You’re here!” Phoebe yells out.

Turning, I find her tugging on Will’s hand. He shakes his head, crouches down, and gestures to his shoulders. Phoebe doesn’t waste a second. Shawn spots them as she climbs up on my boyfriend’s shoulders, her long legs hanging down his chest as he pushes to a stand. Next to them, Shawn holds his hands out, his dark brows knitted tightly over his eyes. His face grim.

He looks so fucking worried. It’s kind of hilarious.

I cut a sideways glance to Ivy. “How drunk are you?”

“I’m not.”

I shoot her a disbelieving look.

She rolls her eyes. “Jer and I dropped some Molly earlier. It’s just hitting now is all.”

I stare at her for a long beat.

She gives me a shrug, then grips my shoulder and all but shoves me to my knees.

“Jesus,” I mutter. “Easy.”

Once she’s situated around my head, her chunky black Docs slapping me in the ribs, I easily push to a stand. She’s shorter than Phoebe by a couple inches, despite having three years on her. I reckon she weighs less too. Where Phoebe’s tall and gangly, my cousin is like an angry little elf.

She slaps my head like she heard that, and I laugh under my breath.

Ahead of me, Will’s walking backward with Phoebe’s lanky body bobbing around his head. Shawn glowers, shaking his head. He mutters something I can’t make out, but Will must hear it because he rolls his eyes, turns toward Shawn and gestures at his chest.

Phoebe wraps one arm around Will’s forehead to steady herself, and uses her other arm to reach out toward Shawn. She wiggles her fingers.

Shawn’s harsh features soften and he steps forward, just for Phoebe to reach out and flick him on the forehead. I stifle a laugh at the shocked expression on Shawn’s face. I swear though, for a moment, his lips twitch when she pulls back, biting back a grin, amusement flashing through his dark gaze.

---