I got into another graduate program. This time, it was one in Wyoming. The university was in the middle of nowhere, but it had one of the best English programs. I hadn't told Gyan yet, choosing to focus on meeting up with my father and Angelica.

After my father found out that I was staying in America, he had decided that it was time to meet his daughter. 

I smiled as I sat in the car with my father. He picked me up, and we were on our way to Angelica's flat.

He released a deep breath as his grip remained firm on the steering wheel. "Relax," I told him, and he glanced my way. "It's just Angelica."

"What if she's disappointed?" he asked. "What if I'm not what she expected?"

"She just wants to meet you," I reassured him. "She wants to meet her dad. You don't have to be perfect or larger than life."

"I'm not."

"She's old enough to know that," I reminded him.

He nodded. "I just hope she doesn't feel some type of way about me taking so long to find her."

I smirked. "You took twenty-four years to reach out to me."

He chuckled. "Es verdad. I can't disagree with that."

I rubbed his shoulder. "You got this."

"I got the job," he said, getting my attention. "The one at Italia Beauty. Your friend Enrique interviewed me, and I got the email that I got hired this morning."

I grinned. "That's great."

Even though Enrique and I didn't end up together, there was a reason we entered each other's lives to begin with, whether that was to enjoy the time we spent together. For us to learn a thing or two from each other. Enrique helping my father get a job was just an extra perk but not the main reason for our time together meaning something.

"I'll have to find a second job, too," my father said, "but it's a start. I want you to be proud of me like I am of you."

I smiled. "I am." He returned it. "Thanks for coming back."

"Even though I took over twenty years?"

"Even though you took more than twenty years," I said. "I know how hard it is to come back sometimes."

I couldn't believe I was saying this, but I was glad I got fired from Barkley's. If I wouldn't have lost my job, who knew how long it would have taken me to return. Gyan probably would have been married to Anushka with some kids by then. I didn't even want to think about things turning out that way.

My father and I continued talking until we arrived at Angelica's flat. When we got out of the car, I kept my hand on his shoulder, letting him know that I was there, and it was going to be okay.

A couple hours later, I walked into my and Gyan's flat, spotting him sitting on the couch with his chess board in from of him.

"Why am I not surprised?" I placed my things down before moving to sit beside him.

"Wanna play with me?" His eyes remained on his game.

"I actually wanna talk."

He froze, and I had his attention. "About what?"

"I got into another grad program." His eyes expanded with his smile. "In Wyoming."

He furrowed his brows. "People actually live in Wyoming?"

"I know right."

We chuckled. "I almost forgot about that," he said. "You applied to universities out of state. Just because you got into Shirley Heights University doesn't mean you're going there."

"I could."

"Don't feel like you have to," he said. "Go to the school that has the best program. The most affordable, convenient one. The one with the best location. Go where you want to go. Don't just go to SHU because you want to stay here."

"Weren't you the one who told me to not go to Australia?"

"Deep down you didn't want to go," he went on. "You weren't leaving for the right reasons. If Shirley Heights University is the place for you, go there. If it's not, go somewhere else." He reached for my hand. "I'll follow you wherever you go."

My eyes widened. "Gyan."

He rubbed his thumb along the back of my hand. "Before, I thought I had to be here. I had to stay in Shirley Heights to take over the company. If it wasn't for that, I would have gone with you to Australia. I'm amazed you didn't ask me to."

I would be lying if I said a part of me didn't want him to go with me to Australia over five years ago. I wanted to, but I knew it was a lot to ask, so I didn't even bother.

"Don't feel like you have to follow me, Gyan," I said. "You can follow your dreams, too."

"I want to," he said. "I can make my dreams come true anywhere. As long as you're beside me, that's all that matters. I can build a career here. Australia. Wyoming. Anywhere." He cradled my cheek, looking into my eyes. "So many things are uncertain. My future. My career. But the way I feel about you isn't."

His hands came down, but I held onto his wrists. "You'll really be okay with me leaving Shirley Heights? After everything?"

"I'm not going to be selfish anymore," he said. "This is a relationship. It's not just about me. I want you to do what's best for you, not what you think is best for us, because if there's something I've learned, if two people are meant to be together, they'll find their way to each other."

Like we found our way back to each other after all those years.

I raked my hand through his hair. "You've grown so much. You're not that bloke from college anymore."

Gyan wasn't as carefree as he used to be. He was bigger now. He didn't smoke anymore. He didn't swim like he used to. He wasn't so snarky anymore. So much had changed, but we didn't outgrow each other, even though we grew separately.

Now, all we had to do was continue growing together, whether that was in Shirley Heights or somewhere else.

"I'm not," he admitted.

"College is over."

"We're not just college," he said. "We have so many more years ahead of us."

I couldn't help but smile at that. When I left, I thought that was it for us. I thought Gyan would just be someone who I loved in college, and who got away. Now, here he was. Right there with me, ready to face the next chapter of our lives.

"Don't leave to escape your dad," I said, and he looked away. "Shirley Heights is your home, even if things are a little rocky right now."

I was grateful to have Gyan to myself, but that didn't mean I liked the fact that he and his father weren't talking. I knew what it was like to live without a father, and I would never wish the same thing on the man I loved.

Gyan shrugged. "I'll live."

"You should talk to him."

Gyan frowned. "He doesn't want to talk to me."

"You want to talk," I pointed out. "It's not just about him. Do what you need to do."

"I'm not going to worry about it right now." He resumed playing his game of chess. "How were things with your dad?"

"Great," I replied. "Angelica got really emotional."

She cried. Even my father cried. She had so many questions, and my father was enthusiastic to answer them. She wouldn't stop talking, but my father seemed to love it. I guess he was just glad she wasn't resentful or bitter. I may have to share my father's time with Angelica now, but at least they both got to do this. I was looking forward to more family time with my father, even if we would never get the chance to be a complete family with everyone. Angelica and I may have wanted my father in our lives, but Ma had every right to keep her distance from him. I would never get the traditional nuclear family, but it was a family nevertheless, and I was okay with that. 

"You deserve this, Gabriel," Gyan said while shifting his focus to me. "You missed a couple years with your father but make use of the time you have now."

"I will."

Everything was working out perfectly. Gyan wasn't engaged to Anushka, and we were together. I got a couple acceptances into some grad programs. My sister met her father for the first time since she was a baby, and most of all, I was home, surrounded by the people I loved.

"With the exception of your dad, things are pretty good right now," I told him.

"Kenji and Darian's wedding is coming up, too."

My eyes widened. "Oh my God. It's in less than a week." He nodded. "At least, we still get a wedding."

"One that's queer as fuck."

We laughed. "You can't go wrong with that," I said before he claimed my lips into a kiss.

Right now, I wasn't going to worry about too much. My focus was on Kenji and Darian's wedding that was quickly approaching. Before that, we had another event to look forward to.

Their bachelors' parties.

I just knew it was going to be a hell of a night.

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* This is a short chapter that's just meant to tie up some subplots. The next two chapters are some of the highlights of this story. 😊

* I'm the worst. 😫 I have this terrible habit of abandoning my writing and hobbies when I start dating someone new, but this quarantine is the perfect time to do some writing (especially since I can't even see him now). I just need the discipline to do it. There are only five chapters left of this story, so I need to just get them out. Plus, it's not like I have anything else to do. Keep yourselves safe out there, folx!