"Gyan, your father will come around eventually," my mother said on the line while we talked.

        I hadn't seen my father in months, and we hadn't spoken just as long. I guess we really were taking a "break" from being in each other's lives. These months had been amazing, from Kenji and Darian's wedding to me and Gabriel enjoying each other's company, drama-free for the first time since he'd been back. The only downside was the tenuous relationship between me and my father.

        "I'm not going to think about it too much."

        Gabriel and I were on a road trip, traveling around the U.S. before grad school started for him. We were currently at Harley Falls University, wanting to visit our alma mater. This was a good moment. I didn't want to ruin it with thoughts of my father.

        "I just want you to know I love you," my mother said. "Your father does, too, even if it shows it in strange ways."

        I was still adjusting to our current circumstances, but with time, it got a little easier knowing this could be it for me and my father. Things were uncertain, but that was life. I was a little more comfortable with the unknown now than I was a couple months ago. My career wasn't set in stone. I was still figuring out what I wanted to do with my life now that I had the choice to choose my own path. I didn't know where I was going to be five or ten years from now, but I was okay with that. I was going to enjoy the journey, not obsess over the destination.

        "I know you do," I assured her.

        "Your sisters are here, too."

        Regardless of my father's presence or absence, I had my mother, sisters, Gabriel and my few friends like Darian and Anushka, who I'd seen regularly for the past couple months. I was still loved, and that was all I needed to know.

        "I know," I told her. "I'll be okay."

        "You guys being safe on your road trip?" she asked.

        I glanced over at Gabriel while we walked through campus, our hands interlocked. I never knew I would do this, walk in public, being able to show my affection for him in such a simple way. I kept my word. I never announced our relationship, but I never hid it either. Things were strained between me and the rest of my extended family due to rumors and gossip surrounding my sexuality, my canceled wedding and the current tension between me and my father. But that wasn't going to stop me from living my life and loving Gabriel.

        "Don't worry about me," I said. "I'll be fine."

        "You will," she agreed. "Doesn't stop me from worrying."

        "I'll talk to you later, Mom," I said. "We'll talk some more when I come back."

        "Okay," she said. "Take care of yourself."

        We exchanged byes and hung up, and Gabriel scrutinized me. "Everything okay?" he asked.

        "Yeah," I answered. "Just my mom being a mother."

        "At least, you still have her," he reminded me.

        "I do."

        He squeezed my hand, and I was reminded of our current situation. No one paid us too much attention, and we didn't feel like a freak show, part of the reason I loved this university so much. I could always be myself without hiding. People were open-minded and accepting. I wished the rest of the world was like that, but it gave me hope that there were people out there who wouldn't judge me for who I loved or how I lived my life.

       I chuckled. "I thought this place was it for us."

        "Yeah?"

        I nodded. "I thought this would be all we had. Memories. I thought we started here and ended here."

        I always wished for Gabriel to come back, but as the years passed, I lost hope. When he did return, I didn't see it coming, but man was I glad he did. He changed my life, back then and now. It was hell of a cliché, but he was like an angel who saved me.

        "I'm glad it wasn't," he said. "I agree with you after all. I'm happy I got fired." We chuckled. "I may not have come back for you, but I stayed for us."

        I scoffed. "About time."

        He playfully rolled his eyes, and I smiled. "We've both made mistakes, but we've learned. You really have changed."

        "Do you miss the old me?"

        I knew I wasn't as laid-back or snarky like I was before. Some may have said my younger self was cooler, but I was also ignorant, naïve and didn't have my priorities straight.

        "No," he answered. "I like the man you've become."

        "I do, too," I agreed.

        "Kenji said something," he continued. "His mom said we have many soulmates in our lives. In college, the people we were then fit together. Now, the people we are, they fit together, too. We've changed, but those changes make us still work."

        I smirked. "Was I your soulmate back then?"

        "Yeah," he said, "and you are now."

        We stopped at a hammock, and I recognized it. This was the place we spent so many of our college time lounging in, talking and laughing and enjoying each other's company.

        I turned to face him. "I've never loved anyone the way I love you."

        "Do you wish you loved more people?" he asked with a crease in his forehead. "Just to know that you aren't missing out? Just to confirm that I'm really what you want?"

        I shook my head. "You may not want to hear it, but I don't regret all the people I slept with." He resisted a frown. "Hear me out. Being with all those people reminded me that I'm not missing out on anything by committing to you. Because no sexual experience is half as exciting as loving you." A smile spread on his lips. "Having sex with all those people wasn't nearly as intriguing or gave me the same variety that I see in you. I'll rather explore the many layers of you and our sex life than being with multiple people." He grabbed me into a kiss, and I didn't hesitate to reciprocate, not caring who looked. Even when we pulled away, maintaining eye contact, only he mattered. "So, no. I don't need to love more people. I'm more than happy with you."

        He put some distance between us to watch me. "That means the world to me." He hid a sheepish smile. "I think it's kind of hot."

        I arched a brow. "What is?"

        "Mr. High-Sex-Drive who feels weird about love loves me," he said. "You don't fight for your men..."

        "But I fight for you."

        "Sex doesn't equal love for you and your kisses aren't sentimental..." he went on.

        I took a step towards him. "But it does, and they are for you."

        He touched his heart. "I love that. It makes me even more of a hopeless romantic."

        I remained silent, being more certain of what I was about to do. "Gabriel?" He waited for me to continue, and I dropped down on one knee. His eyes widened. "I've spent the past couple months in a fake engagement and the past couple years thinking I would never marry a man I loved." I took the ring out of my pocket and showed it to him. "Then you came back and made that a possibility."

         "Gyan." He clasped a hand over his mouth, and I noticed we were getting some people's attention. A couple of them even stopped to watch.

        "You've always wanted the wedding and the marriage and the romance." I grinned. "Let me give that to you because damn do you deserve it, and I deserve to be happy, too. Nothing makes me happier than spending the rest of my life with you." I didn't miss the tears in his eyes as he tried to hold back the tears. He was such a drama queen sometimes, but he was my drama queen. "Gabriel Acosta, will you marry me?"

        "Yes," he said without hesitation. "Of course, I'll marry you." I put the ring on his finger, and he pulled me to my feet. "I love you so much, Gyan. It's not even a question."

        He pulled me into a hug before planting a kiss on my lips. A couple people clapped, and it was one of the most euphoric experiences of my life. I'd been thinking about and planning this since Kenji and Darian's wedding passed. If there was anyone I was going to marry, it was Gabriel, and there was no doubt in my mind that this was the right choice. There wasn't a better moment than this, and Gabriel and the people around us amplified the joy.

        My father didn't accept me, but many people did.

        When me and Gabriel pulled back, we smiled at each other. "I love you, too," I said, and he pulled me into another hug.

        I never thought this was a possibility, me marrying a man, Gabriel at that, and not hiding my sexuality, but here we were.

        Gabriel and I pulled away and continued our walk, hands clinging to each other. He examined his ring finger. "We're doing this."

        "We are," I confirmed. "We're gonna be okay." His expression visibly relaxed, and I knew he believed me.

        I didn't know what the future held. Gabriel was going to grad school, I didn't know how things were going to end with me and my father, and I didn't have my whole life mapped out anymore. I didn't know how me and Gabriel's life was going to pan out, individually and together. All I knew was that I was ready for it. There was nothing to fear.

        For the first time in years, all I had was hope, for me, for him, and for us. This wasn't the end. It was just the beginning.

THE END

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* This is it! Gyan and Gabriel's story is over! What do you guys think?

*It's been almost two years since I posted that first chapter, and man, has a lot happened. I didn't always update frequently, but thank you for all the support and patience. I'm eternally grateful. It's ironic because I finished this book August of 2020. The story technically starts late August of 2020, when Gabriel returns from Australia. Kind of funny how things work out. I'm going to post a last part which will give some backstory on the book and I'll ask for some feedback, something I always do. Keep an eye out for that.