The Boyfriend Rivalry by Milana Spencer

Epilogue: The Winter Holidays

TWO MONTHS LATER

Curtis

"I was gobsmacked when Kennedy first told me, but now, I'm used to it," Bonnie says, waving a hand at Liam and me from across the coffee table.

The five of us — Liam, Kennedy, Bonnie, Erin and I — sit on a rug in Kennedy's living room with pillows as seats. In the middle of us is a coffee table holding our abandoned Uno cards. We've just finished an intense game, and Bonnie won for the third time today.

"That only took you two hours," Erin says. She sits between Kennedy and Bonnie, wearing a hoodie emblazoned with her university's logo.

It's the middle of the winter holidays, halfway through the school year. Last night, Bonnie and Erin arrived at Kennedy's, planning to stay in Easton for a couple of days. This is the first time we've met up since Lonsdale Bay, almost three months ago.

"I mean, it was a little weird when I first arrived," Bonnie says, glancing at where Liam and my hands are joined. "That's not mean for me to say. Right?"

Liam laughs. "No, of course, not," he says. "It was weird for me too, realising I liked this idiot."

I turn to Liam and give him a look. He's wearing his usual attire — a tight black long sleeve shirt and black jeans, and I still haven't gotten used to how gorgeous he is.

"I'm kidding," he chuckles, shooting me a smile, a disarming smile that always results in me doing what he wants. I think he's abused the power of that smile in the months we've been dating. "Or am I?" he adds, raising a brow.

"Liam, stop bullying your boyfriend," Kennedy says, but she's smiling. She leans over the coffee table to shuffle the Uno cards. "But Curtis, you forgot to say 'Uno' and had to pick up seven cards both times twice."

"Big rookie mistake," Erin says.

Everyone chuckles while Kennedy deals the cards. Liam and I share a smile.

After that Friday night, when Liam showed up on my doorstep, we saw each other again both days of the weekend, mostly making out, but also forcing ourselves to do a little studying — we are in Year 12, after all. We talked about whether we'd keep our relationship on the down low, as Liam wasn't sure how open I wanted to be with the fact I was dating a guy, but I said I didn't care if people knew. I wouldn't pretend to be strangers or even just friends with Liam. Not when I had waited a painful month to be with him. At school, we didn't announce anything, but people found out until everyone knew we were a couple. It wasn't a big deal. There are three or four other gay and lesbian couples at Easton Grammar, including two popular jock-type guys in the year below who recently came out as dating.

Of course, there was speculation and rumours about Kennedy, Liam and me because everyone also knew that Kennedy was my ex. None of us fed the rumour mill, and if anyone tried to make fun of Kennedy, she put them in their place. Once everyone saw how supportive Kennedy was of Liam and me, people lost interest in searching for a juicy backstory.

Kennedy and I aren't as close as we used to be, but we're still good friends. The three of us hang out sometimes, and this time Liam and I don't argue the whole time.

Liam and I hang out a lot by ourselves, too. We have lunch together at school, and he visits me when I'm volunteering at the shire, and I study at his house. He comes with me when I buy groceries for my family, and we read in bed together and watch anime with his head on my chest. I never get sick of spending time with him, even if we bicker or annoy each other. When I'm with him, it feels like my heart is too big for my chest. That sounds cheesy, but it's true.

We haven't said those three words to each other yet. I'm not sure when you're meant to. I dated Kennedy for a longer amount of time, and those three words weren't even on my radar at the three-month mark. With Liam though…

"Alright, let's get started," Kennedy announces, finished dealing. Everyone picks up their cards. I look at mine and bite back a sigh. My hand is awful.

We play, though we often get distracted by our conversations. Erin updates us about her university course and her boyfriend. Bonnie tells us that her parents have finally forgiven her for sneaking out at Lonsdale Bay. Kennedy tells us gossip from school and makes sarcastic jokes.

It's great to be here all together, hanging out. This is like a better ending to the beach holiday, repairing all the chaos that happened.

*

Liam

It's five o'clock when Curtis and I leave Kennedy's. After Uno, we had a late lunch and sat around the dining table, chatting about nothing in particular. I'm grateful Bonnie and Erin adjusted to the news Curtis and I were dating so quickly. There have been some people upset by our relationship and I didn't want the cousins to be one of them. The fact that they were happy for us means a lot to me.

Curtis and I get into the car. Outside, the sun is already setting. That's the way it is during the middle of winter, I suppose, but I don't mind. Purple and pink light bleeds in the sky, and it's beautiful.

I glance at Curtis. Sometimes I have to remind myself of my reality. He's mine.

It feels like it's been days since that we started dating. We've met each other's parents (my parents think he's perfect, of course). I've babysat his siblings with him a few times, and I think they like me. My study sessions with Curtis are surprisingly productive. Probably because I always have something to look forward to once I've finished my work.

"Your parents are out tonight, aren't they?" Curtis asks, strong hands on the steering wheel.

I smile at him, even though his eyes are on the wall. "You know they are."

"I wanted to make sure," he says. I smile like a madman at him, and he can sense it, even with his eyes on the road. "What?" he adds.

"Nothing." I turn away to look through the window and stretch my legs out.

"Liam."

"I think I have a pavlovian response to certain things," I say.

"Like what?" Curtis says, glancing at my legs.

"Like you asking me if my parents are home. Or this car." I look around it and even months later, my body gets a little hot when I remember that first make-out session we had here. And all the ones after that.

Curtis clenches his jaw. I bite back a smile. "I know what your pavlovian conditioned stimulus is," I say.

"It's not you using psychology jargon," he says.

"You're clever, you know what I mean," I say.

He nods. "What is it?"

I raise a hand and wave my fingers with my painted fingernails.

Curtis glances at my hand before returning his focus on the road. "Fuck, Liam," he groans. "You're so fucking annoying."

"Don't bully your boyfriend," I say.

"I don't care," he says.

I laugh. I've learned Curtis has an obsession with my hands. He kisses them, sucks them… begs me to touch him everywhere with them.

Curtis turns onto a new street. We're less than two minutes from my house, and the anticipation is killing me.

"Sometimes I wonder if you want me to speed," he continues.

"I know you'd never. You being a careful driver is one of the things I love about you."

I've said something wrong. Curtis's smile fades, and he doesn't reply. Shit, did I say something offensive?

It takes until Curtis parks at the front of my house — which is a full 60 seconds — when I figure it out.

"Fuuuuuuuucccckkkkk," I groan, leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees, head down.

Beside me, I hear Curtis unbuckle his seatbelt and turn to face me.

"Look, it's fine," he says. "I know you didn't mean it that w—"

I speak at the same time. "I can't believe I said I loved you in a context related to driving. That's the most unromantic thing ever. I'd be disappointed too."

I raise my head and look at him, and my brain comprehends what he said. We stare at each other.

"Technically, you didn't say the words 'I love you' in that exact order," Curtis says.

"Did you think I didn't mean it?" I ask after a beat. My heart is hammering because I know the answer. I've always thought couples were overdramatic when having the "I love you" talk, but now I feel raw and vulnerable, even though I know I can trust Curtis with anything. "We don't have to discuss this now," I say, but my voice isn't certain.

"No, wait," he says, reaching out and holding my hand as if I was going to disappear. He takes a breath and meets my eyes with those ocean-blue eyes of his. I must look as earnest and scared and naked as he does now. "I love you. I love you, Liam."

I smile and then he smiles and I'm kissing him. Then I lean back so I can look at him. "I love you too."

He laughs as he pulls me into a kiss. Against his mouth, I whisper again that I love him.

THE END