This is the last part. Sorry for dropping this on you guys. God...

I love you. Forgive me for the triggers.

You were going to get into his car without a word, but as soon as he parked and spotted you walking to the car, he got out and wrapped his arms tightly around you. You sighed, exhausted from your earlier tears. Your head was pounding and your eyes aching, but you couldn't possibly go to sleep with all of the thoughts swarming through your head. Avi's familiar scent and warmth were tempting you to the land of dreams, but you couldn't. There was too much you needed to get off of your chest and out of your mind.

He led you to the car, making sure you were comfortably in the passenger's seat before getting back into the driver's. He pulled out of the apartment complex's lot and started down the highway. "Anywhere in particular you want to go?"

"Could we stop by Starbucks?" you asked sheepishly.

He nodded. "Anything is fine, baby. This is for you."

"You're too good to me, Avi," you stated quietly.

"Hey, none of that," he reprimanded softly. "Now, go ahead and talk. Tell me what you're thinking. I know that brain of yours is going a hundred miles an hour."

You curled up into a ball and basked in the warm arm being blown from the vents. "I've kind of known he was gay for a while. I mean, I had a suspicion. I never confronted him about it, at least not in a straightforward manner, but I did let him know I will always be there for him. And I will!" You paused to take a breath. "I also told him it would be hard, you know? It's getting better. People are slowly becoming more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community, but it's still difficult. There's a lot of hate and discrimination out there. And I don't want him to have to experience that. I want him to be happy and not worry about what people will think."

"You're not going to have every single person agree with what you do, babe," Avi said.

You went silent as he placed your orders at Starbucks. You smiled when he ordered a chocolate chip muffin as well. He paid the employee and handed you your favorite drink, setting the bag that contained the muffin in the seat beside you.

When he pulled back onto the road, you started to talk again. "Pull into the parking lot at Food Lion, hun. That way you won't waste gas."

He did as you said, and you both sat quietly for a little while, enjoying the coffees and sharing the muffin. "Well, he finally told our parents. I told you their reactions already." You frowned. "They actually blamed me because I had introduced them to you guys and therein Mitch."

Avi's eyes darkened. "What about Mitch?"

"You know he's proud of who he is, and while I completely support that, they're...well, they aren't homophobic, but they don't agree with flaunting such preferences on social media where young, impressionable children can access it. They feel like the media is encouraging kids to become gay because it's being advertised, like a trend that's popular."

"He's old enough that he can make his own decisions," Avi countered. "There's no way that social media forced him to like guys."

You exhaled, defeated. "Yeah, I know. Anyway, none of that matters I guess. They're coming to terms with it as best as they can, and they ordered me to continue to be loving and supportive."

Avi turned to face you at your tone of voice. "Is that what's got you upset, (Y/N)?"

You nodded. "Partly. I'm always going to care for him. We're too close to let anything come between us. It's just..." You bit your lip. Avi's finger smoothed across it, encouraging you to release it. "A part of me resents him because of the pain he's going to bring the family. There's enough drama going on as it is, and this is only going to add to the heartbreak. You've met my grandparents, Avi. You know they're not as accepting of today's views as we are. It's going to hurt them terribly, and while I love my brother, I love my grandparents too. I just don't know what to do."

You took a deep breath. "Because more than likely, I'll be looked at to be the 'good' child. That means that I'll be even more pressured to settle down and succeed even more at my job. I can't deal with that, Avi. I spent so much of my life living under pressure that it made me miserable. I can't go back to trying to make everyone else so happy that I end up utterly despondent and depressed as a consequence."

Avi leaned over and kissed you. Instantly, as if by magic, your worries were forgotten. You were focused only on the man in front of you. He pulled away shortly after the loving kiss and spoke. "You are one of the most selfless beings I know, honey, but you're right. You can't make everyone happy. It's just not possible. You can, however, talk to them and be as open as you can be. Let your grandparents know that they need to continue loving him, no matter what his preferences are." He grasped your hands. "It is going to be hard for him. The world is cruel and cold. But he has you and your folks. As long as his family has his back, as long as someone loves him, he'll be okay."

You leaned over and kissed Avi, burying your face into his chest as much as possible. "Can we go back to mine?" you questioned after a few moments of silence.

Avi nodded. "Sure. Why?"

You attempted to smile cheekily. "I need a good cuddle, and I love you. You mean so much to me, Avi. I know I keep saying it, but it's true. There's no one I'd rather be with."

He smiled brilliantly. "I love you too, (Y/N), and you matter to me just as much if not more. Of course we can cuddle. What else is a boyfriend good for?" He pecked your lips before starting the car.

"Coffee," you said nonchalantly. "And sex. That's good too."

Avi's laughter made the emotional cloud that had been clinging to you all night disappear. You were with the man you loved, and maybe, just maybe, things would turn out to be pretty okay in the end. You'd have to wait and see.