Page 61 of As I Am

EPILOGUE

Ky wrapped his arm around Carson as he looked out over Trevor's huge yard. "Did you have fun?"

Carson was wiping sweat from his forehead as he nodded. "I haven't played like that in a long time. Thank you for surprising me with this." He kissed Ky softly.

Ky smiled as he watched the other men around them all find seats around the patio. "I could never forget you saying you wished you could just go and play soccer with friends like you used to do. When I mentioned it to Prince, he suggested his backyard. He said it was big and private, and he knew a group of guys who wouldn't treat you any different because you're famous. I guess he was right."

Not one person out of the ten or more men that showed up at Trevor's even mentioned Carson's singing. They welcomed him as Ky's boyfriend. Ky didn't even know all of the men, but he was grateful they never made a big deal out of who Carson was.

"I was talking to that guy, Austin. He does landscaping work. I'm thinking we could hire him to fix our yard." Carson took the bottle of water Ky handed him.

It had taken two months, but they'd finally found a house they loved and with the security needed to keep them safe. It was a lot more house than Ky ever dreamed of living in, but now that they'd been there a few months, he loved it. Bryan had adapted just as well, showing an interest in sports and learning everything he'd missed out on by growing up on the streets. Ky had objected to the way Carson spoiled them both, but in the end, watching Bryan with the newest gaming system and toys was more than he ever thought he'd be able to give his brother. While it was hard to get used to Carson having money to buy whatever they wanted, he welcomed the fact that his brother wasn't going without anymore. He still argued about a lot of the money they spent, but Carson just smiled and ignored him most of the time.

"I'd like to maybe put a small playground in for Bryan." Ky watched as his brother sat beside Jess across the yard. They were with Matt and Angel, eating hamburgers.

Ky smiled, thinking about how easily Carson had stepped into the role of parenting Bryan. His brother took to Carson just as well as Ky had. It took a little getting used to having Carson around and stepping into some of the roles that Ky had always filled, but after a few weeks, it all became normal.

Now, with Carson home, and not due to go away for a few months, they had a chance to feel what it was like to really be a family. Ky had never been happier in his life. So happy in fact, that it was almost possible to forget the past and all the horrible things he'd done to survive.

"I'll get his number and we can talk about what he thinks will work." Carson sat down, pulling Ky onto his lap. "You were right. I haven't felt out of place at all. Thank you for this."

"You're welcome. I'm glad you can finally relax." Now that the last leg of the tour was over, Ky was looking forward to having Carson home for a few months and finally being able to enjoy being together.

"Do you know all these people?" Carson placed his hand on Ky's stomach.

"Not all of them. I've met Chris and Charles and a few of the others, but most of them are new to me too."

"They're a great group. Maybe once we get our yard done, we can invite them to our place."

"I'd like that." Ky smiled as he watched over the group. Life was so different now than he'd ever imagined. He owed that all to Carson. He struggled sometimes, feeling like he wasn't deserving of Carson's love or the life that came with it, but Carson reminded him always that it wasn't about deserving, it was about needing. They needed each other, and that was all that mattered.

"Trevor has a nice place."

"He comes from money, I guess. I think his dad was some politician or something."

"From what you've told me, it sounds like he's done well for himself."

"He has. You'd never know he was rich though. He doesn't act like it."

Carson grinned. "And just how are us rich folks supposed to act?"

Ky blushed. "Yeah, sorry. I forget you've got more money than God."

"Not quite, but I do have enough to keep us happy."

"I'd be happy with you without money." Ky kissed him. It was the truth. He didn't need all the stuff they had. He'd learned a long time ago to get by with nothing. "You're all I need to be happy."

Carson smiled as he brushed Ky's hair back from his face. "And you are all I need. You've given me more than all the money in the world could. With you, not only did I find acceptance and the chance to be the real me, but I also found family, friendships, and most of all love." Carson stared into his eyes. "Those are gifts that I could never buy. They are the things that matter most."

"I love you." Ky kissed him hard, realizing that rich or poor it didn't matter. They connected and managed to find love even with their lives being so different. While they might not ever share the true story of how they met with many people, the fact that rich and poor could come together and find a way to make it work, gave him hope that the world wasn't as ugly as he once thought it was.

All the years on the streets, he'd been working to make a better life for Bryan and him, but it wasn't money that brought fulfillment. It was love, and as he wrapped his arms around Carson and held him close, he felt like he was the richest man in the world. Love changed everything.