“Which one?” Benji asked, giving a deflated laugh. “I’m set for the quizzes next week, but I’ve got to study up on biochem tonight.”
“Once we get back to the hotel we can hit the flash cards.”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry, Rex.”
“Baby, I’m never worried about you.” I leaned in for another kiss. I put an arm around his shoulders and let his head fall on mine. “Besides, it helps keep my brain sharp, too. I’m learning all about chemical reactions and animal anatomy and how much coffee a human can conceivably drink before turning into a jittery tap dancer.”
Benji laughed, a sound I could never get tired of. “I don’t drink that much coffee.” He sat back up and shrugged. “Sometimes I switch it up with Red Bull.”
“Great,” I said, arching a brow, smiling. “Even better.”
“I’ll take the studying help,” he said, returning the smile with an even bigger one. The midday sun beamed bright, lighting his face up like a spotlight shining just for him.
God, I was so proud of him. He was a year into vet school and already kicking ass, and even though he was working harder than ever before, he also seemed happier than ever before. He not only took control of his depression, but he fucking owned it. He didn’t let his life get derailed, even though that would have been the easier option. He inspired me on the daily. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have run for local office, and I wouldn’t have been voted in. There had been a lot to worry about leading into my decision, but Benji reassured me with every step that it would all turn out okay.
And he was right. Always had been.
My life had gotten better and brighter since the day Benji and I reconnected, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
It helped that the sex tape scandal had been dead and buried for over a year now. It was a quick shift, changing from “Senator’s son leaked threesome” to “Senator’s son, victim of blackmail ring,” and it happened when Theo tracked the camera and email back to none other than…
Penelope and fucking Scott. Those two heartless fuckheads who I had trusted enough to explore my sexuality with. They used me, and they used plenty of other people, too.
Theo made the discovery about two days after the tape leaked, and the day after was when police escorted a cuffed Scott and Penelope into the jail. The local news picked up the developments, which quickly went viral through the internet. By then, anyone who hadn’t realized the tape was a massive violation of my privacy was quick to see the truth. The narrative shifted, and it was no longer about me being bisexual or having a sex tape, but instead focused on Penelope and Scott, who had made it their living to secretly record people who were in the closet, only to then blackmail them or their families.
It had been a whirlwind few weeks that I’d never forget. But Benji had been at my side through every moment of it.
It wasn’t long after that when the situation with the Dove exploded, and it was my turn to be there for Benji. The Gold family hired Theo, who took the case with as much enthusiasm as he had for mine. We were all confident that he could get to the bottom of things, ending this years-long nightmare for the family.
None of us ever could have imagined how it would actually end.
A raven-haired PA peeked her head in through the door, derailing my train of thought. “Ten minutes until we need you guys onstage.” She spoke something into her headset before disappearing again.
“All right,” I said, clapping my thighs before standing up. “Let’s do this.”
I started to get more and more nervous. We were here accepting a Leadership for Change award, my dad only the second person ever to have won it. Since coming out, my dad had more than earned it. Just recently, he fought tooth and nail against a law that would have allowed adoption agencies the right to deny gay parents. It was sobering to see him fight so hard against something that sounded so wrong to me. Such a basic concept—gay parents are just as equal and capable of loving and raising children as their straight counterparts. Yet, for some reason, it had become a polarized issue. Thankfully, my dad now stood on the right side of the fence, not only striking down the law but managing to flip it so that protections for queer parents were now in place across the state.
Now, whenever the time came, Benji and I could go to any adoption agency and not have to worry about being kicked out because we simply loved one another. That was a walk of shame no one should ever have to take, and I’d forever love my dad for making sure no one would ever walk it at all.
But getting up onstage to support my dad wasn’t the only reason I was getting a bucket of butterflies dumped in my stomach.
I put my hands in my deep pant pockets. My fingers instinctively shut around the soft velvet box that had been pressed against my leg all day, its presence a warm reassurance and a nerve-heightening reminder at the same time.
“You guys are going to be great up there,” Benji said, standing, one hand looping through my elbow. He looked into my eyes, smiling wide.
“I love you, Rex.”
“And I love you, baby.” I kissed him. “Forever.”
Rex and his dad walked onto the stage to a room full of clapping and cheering. Behind them, the blue-and-white screens shifted and shimmered as if someone waved a magic wand at them, a video of Gavin Madison waving a rainbow flag at a Pride parade taking up the screens as a pop song made us all dance in our seats.
They both seemed excited, beaming from ear to ear as Gavin received his award. Rex resembled a handsome prince up on that stage, taking the spot next to his dad behind the tall glass podium. I looked between them, the stage lights lighting them up like celebrities, seeing a lot of similarities reflected back at me. They both had the same happy-sounding laugh, with the same easygoing grin and bright sky-blue eyes. I remembered a time when I thought the two of them couldn’t be any more opposite, and I strongly disliked Gavin for that. I’d seen him as a man who fought against my rights to live a happy life, except that entire time, he was actually fighting against his own inner demons, his struggle manifesting in hurtful ways.
Over the last two years, though, Gavin had really turned himself around. It had been a week or two before he was supposed to win his Senate seat in a landslide. He made a moving speech at the Georgia capitol that caused enough waves to garner international media attention. He came out on a worldwide stage, announcing his divorce of his wife while also making clear his love and support for his son. That part tugged at everyone’s heartstrings, even the most ruthless. He had started to cry, and the pain in his voice was real and raw. It resonated. He apologized for hurting him, along with the rest of the queer community. He promised, right there on live TV, that he would work for the rest of his life, wherever it took him, to make life easier for queer kids and adults all around the world.
It was a risky but very much-needed move. To be honest, I didn’t think he’d win the votes he needed to hold on to his seat. Although things seemed to be moving in the right direction, it was hard to tell how far we’d actually gotten.
Until the votes came in. Then it was clear: we came a hell of a way from where we started.
And since getting re-elected, Gavin immediately put his words into action. He really proved to everyone watching that he meant what he said through his now famous confirmation speech: “Equality for all means for all, not for some. Not just for those who look or sound or pray like you. For all.”