Like I did for him.
Like I know we’ll keep doing for each other.
We smile, and I can’t wait to share this pic.
Asher hands me back my phone, says goodbye, and takes off. As Declan and I walk through the grounds, we run into Jason, the high school quarterback.
“Hey Grant,” he says, then nods at Declan. “Is this your . . . ?”
Declan jumps in with the answer. “Yes, I’m his boyfriend.”
The smile on Jason’s face is another reason why I do what I do. He hangs with us, taking a pic, as we make our way to the pie toss.
And then my face becomes the recipient of key lime, lemon meringue, and cherry too as carnival goer after carnival goer steps right up. When it’s Jason’s turn, he lands a coconut cream pie right on my face.
I wipe the coconut cream off my nose, shaking a finger at him. “Your aim is way too good.”
“Let’s hope it’s good. That’s the job at QB. But . . . want me to throw another? I think there was a key lime pie somewhere.”
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary, but I appreciate the offer.”
“Anytime,” Jason says with a smile, then heads off to join some friends, while Declan strides over to me now that my time is done at the pie toss.
“You look so cute with coconut cream on your face,” he teases as I wipe off the pie as best I can.
“Why don’t you lick it off?” I ask.
He looks at the people milling around us. “I would, but there’s no way I could lick your face without everybody knowing just how dirty I want to get with you later.”
“Fair enough. Want to ride the Ferris wheel instead?”
“Is it your Suck-Me-Off-In-the-Sky Ferris Wheel?”
“Later, it can be.”
“I’m in,” he says.
We make our way over, and as we wait in line, I post the picture Asher took of the two of us, tagging the Alliance and the carnival.
Declan does the same.
But we aren’t the only ones. Topaz and Olive posted pics. So did Nico. Jason too.
Reminds me of the night I won Rookie of the Year.
Only, it’s even better because the picture is of us.
We get on the ride. As the Ferris wheel climbs, I wrap an arm around my guy, checking out the view—the ocean to the left, the Golden Gate Bridge standing tall over the Pacific, all the city at our feet.
When I first fell for Declan, we weren’t outside like this. We weren’t holding hands in public or riding high in the sky. We were sneaking into hotel rooms and parking on dark streets.
That was exhilarating. Intoxicating. And looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing.
We have two love stories. Our first was young, wild love—sexual love. We still have that last part down pat.
But we also have so much more. A love that runs deep, a love that steadies and centers us. In our second love story, we have this real life. This real love. This home we share.
When I look back on my five-year plan, this was the one thing missing—a plan for soul-deep, passionate, beautiful love.
But maybe you can’t plan for that. But when you find it, you keep a hold on it.
Grab your chances when they come.
I’ll take all my chances with Declan Steele.
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