Bonus Chapter
Percy
Three Years Later
I rest my head on Chris’s lap, trying to ignore the nervous fluttering in my stomach. While Chris runs his fingers through my mop of brown hair, my eyes seek out the familiar framed pictures on the walls.
Each depicts a different landmark around Mackinac Island. This sitting room at the Royal Lilac Inn is a place of comfort for me, and I’ve long since memorized them all. So many of my happiest memories as a kid come from playing games here with Mom and Carol.
For a while after Mom died, such memories had turned bittersweet. But thinking about her no longer hurts quite as much as it once had. Time heals all wounds, and all that. These days, being here mostly reminds me of the good times we’d shared—moments I’ll always cherish.
Now, I get to make whole new moments with the guy beside me. Even as the thought conjures a jolt of excitement, it’s buried beneath another pulse of nerves.
As if he can sense my churning gut, Chris stills his fingers and glances down at me with a raised brow. “What’s up?”
“Nothing,” I hedge. My eyes latch onto a photograph of Arch Rock, and I manage a mostly sincere smile. “Just thinking about how much I love this place.”
Chris snorts. “Really? I couldn’t tell after the twentieth time you dragged me back here.”
I nudge his stomach with my head. “It hasn’t been that many times!” The flutter in my gut intensifies. “You’re not sick of it, are you? I know you said you were fine having the ceremony here, but if you’d rather postpone and do it somewhere else, I’m sure we can—”
Thankfully, Chris cuts me off before I can fall into any more of an anxiety spiral than I already have.
“Relax, Perce. I was kidding.” He smirks.
“Mostly.” His fingers resume threading through my hair, sending a pleasant tingle along my scalp.
Leaning down, he presses a gentle kiss to my forehead.
“Besides, regardless of how I feel about this place, I love how much Mackinac Island means to you. It’s the perfect spot for tomorrow. ”
Tomorrow.
My stomach heaves a somersault at the reminder of what would be happening in only a few more hours. No matter how much I’ve thought and planned and obsessed about this day, the reality of it finally being here still threatens to overwhelm me.
Swallowing down my own nerves as best I can, I ask, “Are you nervous?”
Chris shrugs, the motion shifting my head in his lap. “Obviously. But also…not?” His chuckle rumbles through me. “If that makes any damn sense. It’s like it’s inevitable, you know? Fate.” A loaded pause. “What about you?”
His tone makes it clear he already suspects the answer. Still, I hesitate before admitting, “Terrified.” I shift to burrow my head into his chest. My voice comes out muffled. “Part of me wants to run outside, race to the docks, and catch the first ferry in the morning back to the mainland.”
Chris doesn’t answer right away. Shit. Was that the wrong thing to say? I’d run away from him once before when things got too hard, and it nearly ruined us forever. Had I accidentally opened up old wounds?
“It’s okay to be nervous,” he says at last. His voice is soft and full of gentle understanding, soothing away my momentary panic. “Tomorrow is a big step.” He stroked his thumb lightly over the back of my hand. “Do you remember when you landed that developer gig?”
I nod. Avnel Studio had been so impressed with my summer internship that they’d offered me a job after graduation.
It had been my dream job working on my favorite game RuneWorld Online, but it required moving out to their headquarters in Seattle.
I’d spent weeks agonizing over the decision, worried about being so far from home and what it might mean for Chris and me.
We’d barely been together for a year. What if me moving tore us apart?
But when I’d finally worked up the courage to tell Chris, he’d kissed me, told me how proud he was, and followed me without a second thought.
He kisses me again now, his plush lips warm and inviting.
I lose myself in the taste of him until he pulls back a couple of inches and smiles down at me.
“Anything could have gone wrong…and plenty did! But we got through it, just like we’ll get through this.
” The corner of his lip quirks up. “All we have to do is survive tomorrow. Then, we’ll have the rest of our lives to spend together. ”
That thought eases some of my fear. I sigh and close my eyes. “Sorry. I’m overthinking things again, aren’t I? Thanks, by the way, for taking that leap of faith with me. It couldn’t have been easy uprooting your whole life like that.”
“You’re worth it.” The way he says it, like it’s the most matter-of-fact thing in the world, makes me blush. “Besides, I can write anywhere.”
Since our Junior year, Chris has completed three separate novels. And while they’ve all died on submission without securing an agent, Book #4 is nearly complete. He picks up hours at a local bookstore in the meantime to help us meet rent. There’s no one I believe in as much as him.
“I suppose it’s not like we haven’t endured worse,” I add. “I mean, no matter how rough tomorrow is, at least we’ll only have to experience it once.”
I’d meant it as a joke, but I feel Chris go rigid beneath me. I crack an eye open to see him staring down at me with mock horror. “Why the hell would you even bring that up here of all places? Are you trying to jinx us?” He jabs a finger toward the closed door. “Go knock on wood—now!”
A surprised laugh bursts out of me as Chris practically flings me out of his lap. “You’re being ridiculous!” I say when he beckons insistingly at the door.
“Do you really want to take that chance?” he shoots back, his tone teasing.
Shaking my head, I move toward the door and raise my knuckles to knock on the wood paneling. Half to humor Chris…and half just in case. Living through a time loop gives you a new perspective on what is and isn’t possible.
Just as I bring my knuckles down, Owen careens through the door from the other side. I barely stop myself from smacking him in the face.
Owen’s changed a lot since that infinite Saturday.
Though he still favors black and has even added a few piercings to round out his goth aesthetic, he’s let his hair grow back out into the tight curls I remember.
The sunken, haunted look is gone from his eyes, leaving him genuinely happy.
Whether it had been intentional or some divine fluke, I’m eternally grateful to the universe for helping us get him the help he needed.
Owen pauses in the doorway, eyeing my closed fist. “Are we about to fight? Cause if we are, I should warn you that I’ll probably kick your ass.”
I quickly lower my hand, my cheeks reddening. “Sorry. I wasn’t expecting anyone to walk through the door. It’s, um, good to see you, though. We haven’t had much of a chance to catch up since you got in. How are classes?”
Owen shrugs, following me into the room. “Fine. Still trying to decide on my major, so my schedule for next year is a bit of a mess.”
It’s hard to believe Owen is about to be a college Junior—the same year Chris and I were when we reconciled. And, you know, got trapped repeating the same day over and over again. But I prefer to focus on the former.
The couch creaks as Chris rises and walks over to stand with us. He takes my hand in his. “Eh, there’s no rush,” he tells Owen. “It’s good to be curious and open to new things. You’ve still got time to figure things out.”
I bite back my retort. Summer before Junior year doesn’t seem like a lot of time to me.
I can’t imagine still being undecided on a major so late into my coursework.
Then again, this is around the time Chris had changed his own major from Business to English, so I suppose he’s speaking from experience.
Owen glances at our linked hands and smiles. “Congrats, by the way. I’m glad you two found each other.”
“Me, too.” Chris leans over and kisses my cheek, then raises a brow at Owen. “Speaking of finding someone, any luck on that front?”
A fierce blush colors Owen’s palely freckled skin. “Well, actually…”
I gasp, breaking out in a delighted grin. “Wait, really? How have I not heard anything about this mystery guy yet?”
“Probably because they’re a serial killer,” Chris says solemnly.
I nod. “That must be it. It’s the only possible explanation.”
Owen rolls his eyes. “His name is Kevin, and he’s great. We’ve only been dating for a couple weeks. I thought about inviting him as my plus one, but it seemed like a lot to throw at him all at once. Maybe I’ll bring him to visit next summer if we make it that long.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” I say.
Chris adopts a wicked grin. “So will I. If this Kevin wants to date our little Owen, he’ll have to prove himself worthy.”
Owen groans even as he returns Chris’s grin. “You’re so extra.” His eyes widen. “Oh, crap, I almost forgot. Mom sent me to tell you that they’re ready for you outside.”
Another anxious rumble twists my belly into knots, though all I have to do is glance at Chris to remind myself that any amount of temporary stress is worth it if it means I get to spend the rest of forever with him.
As Chris and I follow Owen out of the sitting room, Chris leans in and whispers, “You never actually knocked.”
I give the door a solid thunk with my knuckles as we pass. You can never be too careful when it comes to karma, fate, and time loops.
Owen leads us through the familiar downstairs of the Royal Lilac Inn and out the glass doors onto the back patio.
Strung up fairy lights cast an ethereal glow over the late afternoon gathering.
The air’s not too warm for mid-June, and the lilac bushes are in full bloom, filling the air with their sweet scent.
A long table that’s really several smaller tables jammed together dominates the space.
Most of the seats are already occupied. I spy Carol near one end, an open spot beside her for Owen.
My father is there, too, laughing and chatting with her.
Across from him sit Chris’s parents, looking stiff and out of place.
I feel Chris tense when he spots them, and I give his hand a reassuring squeeze.
Things between them are still far from perfect, but they’ve gotten better.
His mother’s resigned herself to her son being a ‘starving artist’, and while they still avoid talking about his sexuality and look away from any open displays of affection between us, they seem to approve of me otherwise.
“You okay?” I murmur to Chris.
He sighs and nods, relaxing as he turns away from them and leads us toward the two open seats left for us at the center of the table. “At least they’re trying. I suppose for now, that’s enough.”
Quinn is seated beside me while Devon sits beside Chris.
A smattering of our other friends from college and Seattle round out the other center spaces, while relatives from both of our families fill in the remaining gaps at the table.
Still more people will be here tomorrow for the actual ceremony.
Between all the expected guests, the Royal Lilac Inn is booked tight.
Cheers and called greetings rise from the table as we take our seats.
I dislike being the center of attention and can tell Chris isn’t enjoying being the guests of honor much more than I am.
Still, we manage to smile our way through the rounds of congratulations until everyone gets too distracted with the platters of food Carol has prepared to worry about us anymore.
Devon nudges Chris’s shoulder with a playful grin. “Good of you to finally stop making out long enough to grace us with your presence, bro.”
“Oh, so sorry,” Chris shoots back. “I didn’t know you’d be so jealous. Next time, I’ll make sure I invite you to watch.”
Shaking my head as they devolve into their usual banter, I turn to Quinn. “Thanks for making the trip. It means a lot having you here.”
She gives me a genuinely puzzled look. “Where else would I be? My two favorite gays are finally settling down.” She wipes away what looks like a genuine tear. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
I glance over at Chris, who’s still ribbing Devon, and smile softly. “I used to think I’d never see it either. Thank God the universe gave me a friendly push.”
Quinn nods seriously. “Yep, thank fuck for time loops.”
It still boggles my mind how readily Quinn accepted our explanation of what happened during our school trip despite claiming to have zero memories beyond that single final Saturday. But that’s Quinn for you. I’ve long since given up trying to understand exactly what goes on in her head.
Glancing around the table, my heart warms at the sight of so many of our friends and family gathered together.
No matter the nerves still lurking in the pit of my stomach, it’s hard not to feel like the luckiest guy in the world.
And to think, only a few short years ago, I’d been ready to deny myself all of this.
After dinner and another round of good nights and well wishes, Chris drags me off alone down the beach.
“Isn’t this bad luck or something?” I joke as he guides me up the narrow stone steps leading to Sunset Rock. “Like seeing the bride before the ceremony?”
He levels me with an unimpressed look. “There better not be any brides involved tomorrow.” Taking my hand, he leads me to the end of the outcropping where it overlooks the water below.
“Besides, I figured seeing it again first with just the two of us might make it less scary tomorrow. Now if you get nervous during the ceremony, you can just remember this moment.”
Raw emotion clogs my throat at the gesture. “That’s perfect.” I tug him into an embrace, relishing the feel of him pressed against me. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.”
The kiss we share there beneath the dying sun is as perfect as every other part of that moment. Turning back to the view, I let the warm summer breeze bask my face while the sun dips below the horizon. Fading bursts of pink and orange unfurl over Lake Huron like blooming flowers across the sky.
Tomorrow, Chris and I will say the words tying us together in the very spot where I’d once stumbled upon another gay couple doing the same right when I’d needed to see it most. But standing there now, holding Chris’s hand and snuggled against his side, I know I’m already as much his as I possibly can be.
Our infinity has already begun—no time loops needed.