Page 192 of Headstrong Like Us

“Guys look up to you,” Oscar tells me. “You can’t be that surprised.”

I cross my arm loosely, his words reminding me of something, and I fall more serious. “I got another offer to be on the cover forOut LoudMagazine.”

He licks icing off his thumb. “How’d you turn them down this time?”

“I didn’t,” I say easily. “I’m taking the offer.”

Surprise parts his lips. “Really?”

Donnelly grins beside me.

“Yeah.” I nod strongly. “And I told Maximoff that I want to air the wedding on the docuseries.”

He was already ready and willing. I was the only one holding back.

The world will see us walk down the aisle and say our vows in the rain. No blurry drone images or shit sound quality. The public will have the full, real deal.

Oscar is stunned silent.

I smile.

The mostfreeingfeeling is being able to live my life authentically and proudly. With no fucking compromise.

Stepping into this bright spotlight has been gradual.Starting from the moment I became a bodyguard, to dating Maximoff and being doxxed, to then joining the docuseries, and now all of a sudden, I wanted to step out of the light.

It’s honestly made me more uncomfortable to shy away. Maximoff constantly runs towards his fears, and I’d rather Ripley see me racing into them at full-speed too. No skirting around or pulling into shadows.

“You’re not joking?” Oscar asks, just to be sure.

My smile stretches. “I’m going to be proudly, uncompromisinglymeno matter what the hell I do or where the fuck I go, so I might as well do it in the spotlight. All-in.”

The only thing that was stopping me was fear. And that’s not a good enough reason to slam on the brakes.

The world already sees Maximoff and me as the “it” couple, and if people want us to be the “it” gay couple, needing to see me on magazine covers and our wedding on TV, then I’ll embrace that entirely. Underneath the brightest light in the world.

With no fucking compromise.

Oscar nods to me, pride in his eyes.

I nod back.

Seriousness recedes, and he tells me, “We should lay off Tom. If I was his age and didn’t know your personality flaws consisted of the inability to share food and assholishness, I might’ve had a partial crush on you too.”

Donnelly laughs.

I smile. “I’ve, for sure, given you granola bars that I’ve packed for myself, Oliveira. Remind me not to next time.”

Oscar grins. “Already forgotten to remind you.” His gaze veers. “Husband’s coming over.”

Sure enough, Maximoff ambles his way to us, carrying our sleeping baby in his arms. Ripley snores against his chest. “Hey, I don’t mean to interrupt—”

“You’re not,” I tell him.

He nods, then looks down. “Rip is out, and my parents are headed back to the villas. They’re going to take him so he can get some sleep.”

It’s time to say goodbye to our son, and it’s still never that easy. Not even when I know I’ll see the little man again tomorrow.

But tonight, it’s just going to be Maximoff and me.