Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

Penn

“All right, I think that’s everything,” Archie said as we loaded the empty boxes into the dumpster out back behind the firehouse.

The annual Jasper Springs Pride Show was always one of our biggest events. Most of the businesses took part in it, each with a table that boasted their wares or business brochures.

The firehouse always sold their calendars, the pet hospital usually had animals that were up for adoption out to meet, and all the restaurants and food services usually donated food or sold snacks.

I’d always loved the event, because I loved making the cookies and desserts in bright colors, something different than our usual bear claws and croissants or wedding cakes.

Although this year, I felt like it was an entirely new experience.

I surveyed the crowd, searching for Mitchell. I knew he would be here as we’d discussed all my events ahead of time, and both had agreed this event would be the last, and the biggest, and since the Show usually happened the Friday before the Pride Parade, Mitchell had promised to have something ready for the social media page that we could use.

But that wasn’t why I was looking for him.

I needed to tell him the truth.

I wanted to be with him, and while I knew the road of a relationship would be full of uncertainty, I knew that was what I wanted because I loved him, and that was enough for me.

I only hoped it would be enough for him .

“I’m going to grab some grub from the taco truck. You want anything?” Archie asked as I adjusted the plate of cookies at the bakery table.

“No, I’m good,” I said.

Archie nodded. “Your mom said she and your dad would be here around four to relieve us.”

I nodded. I was nervous, still unsure of how my dad would take the news his son had turned a new gay leaf, but I supposed there were harder things to deal with.

Like saying out loud, “I love you, and I want to be your boyfriend.”

Archie sped off, leaving me to man the ship myself.

I still hadn’t seen Mitchell, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t there. Being the most popular photographer in town, I was sure he was snapping more than just my cakes and cookies today.

“Hey, Penn!” Amy’s voice broke my train of thought, and I tensed immediately.

I turned to see her, standing there in a bright pink mini dress, her gold curls bouncing against her shoulders. She looked like the epitome of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.

She smiled brightly, standing next to a woman who was adorned in a white tank top, jean jacket with an array of pins, and a rainbow belt.

The woman’s dark hair was braided with glitter, her green eyes standing out against all the bright colors. She was beautiful.

“Amy...” I said, feeling my blood freeze.

“Fancy meeting you here,” she said.

I shrugged. “My family’s bakery works this every year,” I said, hoping to dodge any invitations.

“That’s cool. I’ve never been. This is my first Pride, like, in general since...”

I watched as her cheeks blushed, and her friend smiled softly.

The world slowed to a standstill.

“Oh, Jesus, I totally spaced, uh... Molly, this is Penn. My ex-boyfriend,” she said the words sweetly, almost endearingly.

Molly smiled, nodding as she looked me up and down. “I see,” she said.

I never felt so judged in all my life. Seriously.

“Hi,” I said awkwardly .

Amy giggled. “Penn, this is Molly. My girlfriend.”

Girlfriend.

The bubble popped as understanding dawned on me.

Amy reached down, grabbing her girlfriend ’s hand, smiling from ear to ear.

“You’re...”

“Bi,” she said with a smile. “Though, I’m still kind of new to the whole... dating girls part.”

“Huh,” I said, at a loss for words, blinking furiously.

“That’s why I wanted to talk...” she said softly. “I know we weren’t, like, end game or anything, but I didn’t want you to hear it from someone else. I?—”

My shoulders loosened as her words hit me.

“I know we had our ups and downs, but I always felt like we were good friends, you know?”

I did know. Throughout our relationship, talking to Amy was one of the easier parts. The sex wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either, and felt like it was just part of what we were supposed to do.

Which made a lot of sense as I looked at her ease with her girlfriend. I never made her smile like that.

The sight made me think about Mitchell.

“How did you know?” I asked.

Amy blinked. “Know what? That I was bi?”

I shook my head. “No. How did you know it was going to work out... with... your girlfriend?”

Molly shrugged, her green eyes lit up with amusement. “Because I’m a total catch, obviously.”

Amy rolled her eyes, shoving her playfully. “And humble too.”

I watched as Amy smiled, flipping some hair over her shoulder. “Honestly, the thought of being without her was worse than the thought of what could have been.”

I smiled genuinely. I understood her words one hundred percent.

The thought of being without Mitchell made my entire body tense.

Wondering what we could be if I was open to a real relationship . The possibilities made me want to try.

Maybe I could be happy too, like Amy and Molly .

I didn’t want to live a lie anymore. I wanted to be genuine, and that started with my feelings.

That started with Mitchell.

The rest of it, I’d figure out.

“I’m happy for you. Both of you,” I said, grabbing a tray of sugar cookie rainbows, offering it to them.

“Thanks, Penn,” Amy said, and she bit into the cookie, her eyes rolling back with satisfaction. Molly and I both laughed.

“It was really nice meeting you,” Molly said as she pulled her girlfriend along.

“We should totally get together sometime!” Amy said through a mouthful of cookie as I waved at her.

“Absolutely,” I said with a smile, just as Archie came back with a container full of tacos.

“Who was that?” he asked.

“My ex-girlfriend,” I said, with a smirk. “Who apparently likes pussy way more than I do.”

Archie laughed, popping open his container. “Mitchell’s over at the Jasper Springs Pet Hospital table hanging out with his friends.”

Archie’s words settled on me .

He was here.

Just across the road.

“Go,” Archie said, waving me off. “Go get your man and all that,” he said, biting into his taco, crunching away.

I didn’t have to be told twice.