You. Me. Us.
Sammy: Meet me on the roof.
Mike: You’re picking up bad habits.
Sammy: You think that’s a bad habit?
Sammy: This thong is killing me.
I opened the door onto the roof and shut off the light on my phone.
The sun had all but set, but high above the town, its fading orange rays cast a warm glow.
Pride continued on the green as people set up camp for the evening.
The Glitterati had promised a performance for the kids, and they prepared to show I Am the First.
Sammy leaned over the wall, watching the people below.
“Pretty magical, huh?”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Do you mean Pride? Or my butt?”
I slowed my approach, staring at the curve of his shorts. I had stolen glances before, but I never noticed that he had enough of a curve not to need a belt. Leaning, there was a gap between his t-shirt and waistband, and I had to resist the urge to slide my hand under the fabric.
“Can’t it be both?” I gave his butt a playful slap. “Mostly your butt.”
When he turned around, he had a red rose pressed against his chest. I had watched as Marigold handed them out at the parade, giving the same instruction she had given me. She claimed the world needed more romance and more flowers.
Sammy extended his hand, offering me his rose. “I’ve been saving it.”
I took it and inhaled the sweet perfume. It wasn’t my first time receiving a flower from a boy, but it was my first from this boy. I’d remember it with fondness. I cracked a smile.
“Such a sweetheart.”
He returned to his perch overlooking the town. “Today has been—”
“Crazy? Insane?”
“Refreshing,” he said. “I put on a brave face—”
I laughed. “Brave?” I leaned my back against the wall, staring him in the eye. He had gotten most of the makeup off, but the mascara had fought valiantly and won. “Dorothy put down that flier, and you all but ran for the door.”
“I forgot about that,” he chuckled.
“And Spectrum? If I didn’t think you’d piss your pants, I’d have climbed over that table and given you a lap dance.”
“Really?”
I shrugged. “I guess we’ll never know.”
Today had been therapeutic for both of us.
I completed my apology tour and, most importantly, accepted the apology to myself.
Sammy had been hugged and welcomed by the bears, the queens, and the residents.
If ever he felt uncomfortable in his own skin, they made it clear they loved him regardless.
It seemed we had traveled different paths and reached the same conclusion.
“My dad said the town would die without major industry.” He rolled his eyes. “I can’t wait until he hears about this. I’ll save it for next time he wants to corner me.”
Sammy filing away snappy retorts for his father meant he had overcome one major obstacle in his life.
For all the madness of Firefly’s first Pride, it had been a success.
It proved his father wrong, and after seeing the way he behaved in the bistro, I wished I could be a fly on the wall for their next exchange.
I let the magic sweep me up and push away my worries. High above the tourists’ laughter, one specific worry came creeping back. Despite my personal victories, there remained an unspoken question between us. I took a long breath, the scent of the rose filling my nostrils.
“I’ve been scared to ask,” I blurted it out like a child. “Are you gay?”
Sammy shook his head. “No.”
My heart sank. I would always appreciate our time together. He’d become a legend when I told the story of Mabel and Firefly. Still, it was bittersweet as the imaginary life I had built for us crumbled.
Sammy took my hand, pressing it against his chest.
“Does it matter…” Deep breath. “…when I love a man?”
A shiver ran along my arm, down my spine, and I swore my toes curled.
My heart thumped louder as tears formed.
I tried to think of a joke to break through the sobs.
I had a feeling things between us would defy labels.
His sexuality didn’t need to fit neatly into a box, especially when he used the word love.
Love…
“Heading home tomorrow?”
His eyes softened. “Unfortunately.”
Part of me hoped he’d throw away his life and come running to Firefly.
We’d get a little cabin on a lake and grow old.
Even as I pictured us on the front porch, my expression soured.
No, I loved this town, but I’d always be an interloper.
We’d still host our drag training retreat at Valhalla.
I’d visit Rose and Edward more frequently, but my life required the city.
“I’ll miss you,” I said, ready to label him as the one that got away.
He gave me a playful punch on the shoulder. “Haven’t you been working while you’ve been here?”
Odd question. “Yeah. Here or there.” Probably should have worked more and fallen in love less, but what’s a guy to do?
“Me too.”
I had no idea what he was getting at. Were we both bad employees? I’m sure I had a mountain of work waiting for me. “I’m not following.”
“Work is where the laptop lives,” he said.
Between his use of the L-word and now his flexible work situation, I realized I wasn’t the only one thinking about what came next.
“Speaking of.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “I wanted to show you something.” He was almost nervous as he handed it to me.
Spark Moment.
A wonderful human brought to light a group of people who might benefit from Exhale’s mission. We’ll lead by example. Next year we’ll officially support Pride as a company. Until then, I want to support you, amazing, unique individuals in any way I can. We’ll be having a reflection on Monday.
“A wonderful human?” I smirked as I returned his phone. “Not a sexy man?”
“Gender is a social construct,” he said.
I gasped, placing a hand over my heart. “The boy is learning!”
“I’ve got a ways to go.”
His words trailed off, and I couldn’t help but be enamored by him.
I wanted to ask if his world had been flipped upside down or if something had clicked into place.
There were so many questions, and up to this point, I thought we needed to race against the clock.
It had stopped ticking, and I’d steal as much time as I could if it meant spending it with him.
“Us?” I asked.
He nodded. “Us.”
He was about to go in for a kiss when a loud whistling filled the air.
Sammy spun around just in time to see the red explosion.
The sparks sizzled, turning white as they fell toward the green.
Two more explosions followed, blue and purple.
I thought hearing him say the word love out loud had been fireworks enough.
“Did you plan this?”
His hand reached around my waist, pulling me tight. “I had help.”
Leaning over the edge of the roof, I could see thousands of people covering Firefly’s downtown. With each burst, their faces lit up with shock and awe. I couldn’t believe it. My flatlander had gone native.
“It’s perfect,” I said.
He held me tight, watching me take in the show. “Yes. It is.”