Devon kissed Carl’s nipple and then his collarbone. “God, I know it’s crazy, but I love you too.”
Carl grinned, satisfaction seeping into every muscle, including his heart. He was at peace and right where he wanted to be.
Losing his virginity had felt so urgent, and now he knew why.
Devon was right. He’d said it first.
Losing his virginity had turned out to be the gateway to his future.
No, their future. Together.
Epilogue
DEVON
“You’ve got everything?”Hope asked, looking worried as she stood to the side, observing the final shove of luggage into the back of the Taurus. “You didn’t forget the box from your bedroom?”
“Nope. Got it all,” Devon said, watching his sister fret.
“You know I really am sorry if I was unkind that day.” She met his gaze with dark, worried eyes. “I was feeling protective of you both. And maybe a little jealous.”
“I know. I’m not mad at you.”
It’d become obvious over the last two and a half months that Hope both supported their new relationship as she saw them together, and also mildly struggled with Carl being Devon’s boyfriend now and not just her best friend.
Christmas Day, for example, she’d cooed over the exchange of gifts between Devon and Carl in front of the Christmas tree and clapped at the way their parents had made them pose for photos together as a couple. But she didn’t love how their mom had started to call Carl “Devon’s Carl” when referring to him amongst friends and family. That seemed to sting her in a way that Devon understood. After all, Carl had beenherCarl for years.
But, in the end, she seemed to have made peace with her reservations about Devon embracing Carl’s adventurous lifestyle, and with her shifting place in Carl’s life.
The night before last, she’d come into Devon’s bedroom and sat at the edge of his bed, picking at the comforter before saying, “I know I argued that you shouldn’t go, that it was a bad idea and all that, but now I’m glad you are. This way, you’ll be out there to keep him safe and take care of him.”
“We can take care of each other,” Devon had corrected.
“Yeah, you need taking care of too,” she’d said with a teasing smile. “Carl says you do.”
Devon had winced, wondering just what Carl had shared with her about the dynamic between the two of them, but Hope had dropped the teasing, saying instead, “I love you both, and I love that you love each other. Just know that if you ever need or want to come home, I’ll drive across the country to get you.”
“That’s quite a promise.”
“You know how I hate travel.”
Devon had smiled. “I love you, Hope. But you won’t have to make that long drive. I promise.”
Hope had rolled her eyes, stood, and said, “I know I won’t.”
“Do you?” Devon had asked, surprised at her new faith.
“Yeah. He loves you. He’s always loved you. And I can see that you’ve got it just as bad for him.”
“I do.”
Now the three of them stood by the Taurus saying their final goodbyes. Devon’s parents had given them a farewell dinner two nights ago on their way out of town for work again. Carl’s parents had blubbered over their boy the night before, alone, and had come with Carl to drop him off, leaving behind coffee in a thermos for their drive and a lipstick stain on Carl’s cheek.
Hope, however, lingered on.
“Drive carefully,” she said. “Don’t get any tickets. Don’t tailgate, and don’t—”
“We know how to drive,” Carl interrupted. “L-let’s n-not m-m-m—argh! Don’t make a big deal about it.”
