Epilogue
Stephen
The boxes are already getting annoying and neither of us knows where anything is, but it’s worth it to be in a place of our own.
We got the keys yesterday and picked the worst possible weekend to move in, but here we are.
When an apartment in the same building as Beth and Diablo opened up, we jumped at the chance.
Theirs is a converted loft so it’s more open plan than ours, but Donovan preferred the cozy rooms of this one, and if he’s happy, I’m happy.
Having them as neighbors is ideal, though I’m guessing Beth and Donovan will be the ones practically living together, with Diablo and I fitting in where we can, there’s no getting between them, however hard Diablo might try.
But I like that they’re close, especially when I’ll be having to travel to away games a lot, I don’t want Donovan to be by himself.
I’ve played two more games with the Warriors, one win and one loss.
Donovan kept his promise regarding our new game day lingerie tradition.
Losing sucked, but he was right, getting to fuck him in pretty little panties definitely took the sting out of it.
I’m excited to see the team today, but it’s not for a game, it’s something that feels even scarier, which I didn’t think possible.
“I’m ready!” Donovan shouts, leaping through the doorway.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this excited, and it’s so freaking cute I almost can’t cope. He hasn’t stopped smiling in weeks and I want it to last as long as possible.
“You look gorgeous, baby,” I say, moving towards him.
“Uh uh, you can’t touch,” he says, wagging his finger.
I reach for him and he tries to dodge, but I’m too fast, grabbing him around the waist and lifting him off his feet, his back pressed against my chest.
“Did you just tell me I can’t touch you?”
“Just my face,” he squeals, “please, this glitter took me ages.”
He escapes from my grasp and faces me; a perfect glitter rainbow sits proudly on the outer edge of one eye, while the other is decorated in colorful stars.
“You did a great job,” I say, leaning in to kiss him, but sensing his hesitation I stop. “I won’t touch the glitter, I promise.”
He smiles and lifts onto his tiptoes, letting me kiss him, though not as intensely as I’d like.
“It’s nice to see you so excited,” I say.
“It’s my first ever Pride, of course I’m excited.”
“Are you annoyed that you’re there for work, or will that make it more fun?”
“I think it will make it more fun, it gives me something to focus on, instead of being overwhelmed by it all. And, I get to take photos of my insanely hot boyfriend all day, so, I’d hardly call it work.”
I laugh, “I don’t think Mindy will be happy if you return with a thousand photos of me, you need to take photos of the rest of the team too.”
“Oh,” he groans, “okay, I suppose I can take photos of the others too. How do they feel about joining the march?”
“They’re actually excited, oh, check this out…” I unlock my phone and show him the photo Marcus sent me earlier. It’s him, Tyler, and Jordan, all wearing the Warriors special edition Pride jersey that we’re selling to raise money for The Trevor Project.
“They look amazing!” he says. “You’d better go and put yours on, Beth and D will be here soon.”
“I was looking for it, but I can’t remember which box it’s in,” I say, letting him go to continue my search.
“Oh, I saw it, I think it’s in the bedroom, I’ll grab it.”
I strip off my shirt and throw it on one of the chairs, we don’t even have a place for laundry sorted.
“Or better yet,” Donovan says, returning with the shirt, “you could just go like that.”
“Yeah, I’m gonna march through Tynerston with my shirt off,” I chuckle, reaching for the jersey but he steps back. “Donovan, don’t make me chase you, you know I’ll win.”
“Mmm, but you just look so good…” He’s biting his lip and practically devouring me with his gaze.
“This is all for you when we get home; but you literally just said that Beth and Diablo are on their way over.”
“We have a few minutes though…” He closes the distance between us and runs his fingers over my stomach. “And I really do love your abs…”
He grins and drops to his knees, reaching for the button of my jeans.
“You look so pretty on your knees, baby,” I murmur, loving the color that flushes his cheeks. His newfound confidence is sexy as hell, but I still enjoy making him blush when I can. “What about your glitter?”
“I’m sure it will survive,” he says, pulling my boxers down and releasing my cock.
I run my fingers through his hair, loving the sight before me. He licks a line up the underside of my cock, before swirling his tongue around the tip, keeping eye contact the entire time.
“Fuck, Donovan, how did I get so lucky?”
He whimpers and moans as he takes my cock in his mouth, using his hands on my ass to hold me as he moves his head. We’re in the middle of the room and I’ve got nothing to steady myself against, so I grip his hair even tighter, drawing more moans from him.
“This feels amazing,” I murmur, “you’re incredible.”
He pulls against my ass, wanting me to take over, so I thrust into him, starting slow before building my pace.
“Look at you, so pretty in your glitter, taking my cock so well.”
He hollows his cheeks and sucks, moaning around me.
“Fuck, baby, I’m gonna come.”
He holds me against him, not letting me withdraw, so I spill into his mouth, loving the sensation as he swallows everything.
“I love you so fucking much,” I say, hauling him to his feet so I can claim his mouth in a kiss, tasting myself on his tongue.
“I love you too,” he says.
Our kiss is interrupted by a loud knock on the door.
“Come in, it’s open,” Donovan shouts.
“Jesus, baby, give me a minute,” I say, tucking myself back into my jeans.
“Happy Pride,” Diablo says, before bursting into laughter. “Shit, it looks like you’ve already been celebrating.”
“Oh my god, do you have to comment?” Donovan groans.
“Do you wanna wait until your boyfriend is dressed before you tell us to come in?” Diablo laughs.
“Yeah,” Beth chuckles, “I know he’s got an incredible body, but do you really need to flaunt him in our faces.”
“I’m standing right here!” I say. “And for the record, I was going to wait before telling you to come in.”
“Alright, alright,” Donovan says, “I got excited okay, I didn’t think.”
“I know, baby,” I chuckle, collaring his throat gently and kissing him, I wouldn’t want to mess up his glitter…
I grab the jersey and put it on; it’s white with a diagonal progress pride rainbow across the body.
Working with our marketing team to create the design was so much fun, and with all the proceeds going to such an amazing cause, I hope they’re popular.
With the team wearing them during the march today it should get the word out.
My eyes start to water, and I look away from the others.
I never in a million years thought I’d be wearing a jersey for the pro-football team I play for, and it being covered by a pride rainbow.
My sexuality is no longer a secret, my team knows, our fans know, and I’m still here, they’re behind me one hundred percent.
“You okay?” Donovan whispers, running his hand along my arm.
“All good, just taking a moment.”
“It’s a big day for both of us,” he says.
“Yeah,” I nod, “and I’m glad I get to share it with you.”
“Me too.” He lifts onto his tiptoes and gives me a chaste kiss. “Are you ready?”
“Absolutely, let’s do this.”
Donovan
There’s color everywhere, and people, so many people.
When I think back to a year ago, I felt so alone, like nobody would ever truly know me or understand me, but all of these people existed.
And even though we’re strangers, we’re connected by this sense of community, connected by our experience.
We’re all individuals, and even though our journeys have been different, there’s this understanding we share that we’ve all been through something, and the knowledge that there’s still so far for our community to go, and so much still to fight for.
“Donovan! Beth!” Jamie shouts, as he runs towards me with Max trailing behind him.
“Hey,” I say, throwing my arms around him, before hugging Max.
“Where’s Stephen?” Max asks.
“He’s looking for his parents,” I say. “They said they were coming and wanted to find a good spot to watch from.”
“Amazing,” Jamie says, “and I’m loving the glitter.”
“Thanks, it took me forever, I don’t know how you do your make up all the time.”
“Practice,” he chuckles, “lots and lots of practice. Are you excited for today?”
“I am, but a bit overwhelmed, maybe a bit emotional too?”
“That’s natural,” Max says, “I cried during my first Pride meet up, happy tears, but still.”
“Yeah, it’s a lot to take in, be kind to yourself, sweetie,” Jamie says.
“Thanks. Are you still joining the motorcycle club for the march?”
“Hell yeah,” Jamie says, “leather daddies on parade.”
“Oh my god, please don’t call them that,” I chuckle. “There are real leather daddies here, I’ve seen them.”
“True, I can’t wait for them all to meet,” Jamie laughs.
“What about you, Beth?” Max asks. “Who are you joining?”
“I was supposed to be marching with our group from college, but you know what Diablo is like,” she chuckles, “wants me on the back of his bike, so I’ll be with you.”
“Sorry I can’t be with you too,” I say. “I’ll try and come to take some photos though, otherwise I’m glued to the Warriors.”
“That’s okay, we’ll see you at the end,” Jamie says. “Speaking of, there’s a group of rather muscular men in rainbow jersey’s heading this way, I’m guessing they’re looking for you?”
Marcus, Tyler, Jordan, and about thirty other guys whose names I haven’t memorized yet are parting the crowd with their numbers.
“Hey,” I say when they reach us.
“Hey, Donovan,” Marcus says, “we were told to report to you, that you’re in charge.”
“In charge? Who told you that?”
“Mindy,” Tyler says.
“I guess this is my cue to get to work then,” I chuckle.
I say a quick goodbye to Jamie, Max, and Beth, before heading off with the guys, but I don’t get far before I feel a tug on my hand.
“Hey,” Beth says, “sorry, just one thing.”
“What?”
“Do you remember that conversation we had in the library, when you came out to me?”
“Of course,” I say, “I think about it all the time.”
“Me too, I’m grateful every day that I wore that T-shirt because it brought me my best friend.”
“I’m grateful too, and I’m so happy that I told you who I was.”
“And look at you now,” she says. “I’m so proud of you, Donovan. I just wanted to tell you that, and to say that I hope you enjoy today, you deserve it.”
“I love you so fucking much,” I say, my eyes welling up with tears. “Oh no, I’m going to ruin my rainbow.”
“You won’t, and like Max said, it’s okay to have some happy tears today.”
“Yeah, but I need to look my best, I’ll be walking behind my ridiculously hot boyfriend, and I need to look the part.”
“You’ll be walking alongside each other, together; and you do look the part, you’re being yourself, and that’s beautiful.”
I managed to keep it together for nearly the entire march, not a single tear shed, until we got to the end.
Alongside the road I saw my mom and Miguel standing with Vanessa and Nathan, cheering and waving a giant Pride flag.
I didn’t even know they were planning to come today, and seeing them here supporting me is what tipped me over the edge.
I absolutely broke away from the team to run and give my mom the biggest hug.
Now we’re all sitting in a shaded spot in the park, where a stage has been set up for performances and speakers. There are food stalls, and merch stands, even fairground rides. It’s pure joy, and color, and life, and it’s wonderful.
My mom and Vanessa are wearing matching pride T-shirts, deep in conversation with Beth about something, while Diablo is talking to Miguel and Nathan. Jamie and Max are laughing with Tank and Pretty Boy, while Slim is off exploring with Daisy and Jake.
Mindy arrived to take over social media duty and she’s currently on a stall with some of the Warriors, raising more money for The Trevor Project by giving people the chance to throw and catch with some of the players.
Except for Stephen, he’s lying next to me, his arm around me with my head nestled against his chest.
“Have you had fun today, baby?” he asks, kissing the top of my head.
“I’ve had the best day, you?”
“The best,” he says, “and it’s only going to get better.”
“It is?”
“Of course, after this we get to go for a meal with our parents, and then home to our apartment.”
“Oh yeah, I keep forgetting that we have our own place,” I chuckle.
“Don’t worry, you’ll soon remember when we can be naked whenever we want.”
“We don’t want another repeat of this morning though.”
“No,” he laughs, “so maybe give me a minute before you shout for people to come in.”
“Well I will if you’re naked… or otherwise occupied.”
“Otherwise occupied, huh? I can think of plenty of things I’d like to occupy myself with tonight,” he murmurs.
“Insatiable jock,” I mutter.
“Only for you, baby.”
The End.