Page 63 of Open Liner
Together, we’d chase after a lifetime of color, one stroke on the page at a time.
Epilogue
Drake
Three Months Later...
The day of the fundraiser had arrived.
Now that it had come, I was excited, but I no longer placed the weight on it that I once had. Back then, I’d been searching for a way to stand out, to feel like I’d achieved something with my life. I’d been aimless and searching for a direction.
And in the process, I’d found everything I’d been looking for in one person.
August had been over my apartment every waking second since we started dating, with occasional bouts at his place, and I couldn’t wait until his lease was up.
I was absolutely asking himto move in.
We might be zooming ahead at lightning speed in our relationship, but I’d spent enough time dancing around people who hadn’t understood me and never would. August made me feel complete in a way I’d craved my entire life.
“You ready to raise some money in style?” August asked, driving us toward the firehouse. He’d offered to be the designated driver tonight, since I would need to drink, or twenty, once we got there.
“Don’t know about style. I’m pretty sure I’ll get there and no one will show up.” I scrubbed my palms across my face as August flew down the street, far too close to the firehouse for my liking. I needed a dozen extra days to prepare. The emails had been sent, the equipment hauled in, tickets sold, but there were still so many small loose threads involved with even a one-night show. Yet I hadn’t been alone through the process.
“Harmonica Joe will for sure bring in randoms,” August said. “He has a weird little cult entourage in the area.”
No lie there. We’d gone to a few other oddball shows to scout talent and settled on him to open. But with the weight of funds for our firehouse’s new kitchen on the line, as well as not wanting to waste the time of people I respected, my nerves were at an all-time high.
The familiar sight of the firehouse didn’t calm me like it usually did. August drove around back to park, and I noted the space to the side of the building we’d cleared for the show. Thank fuck it wasn’t raining. If the sky had opened up, we would’ve been screwed, trying to cram the whole show inside the firehouse.
Once we parked, I hopped out and started striding to the front. August thankfully kept pace with me, which was a feat in my anxiety-ridden state.
Already, the cones were set up to block off certain areas, half of the initial setup work done.
I blinked and blinked again.
August clapped a hand on my shoulder. “We had some early help.”
“Hey, he finally arrived,” Serena called from where a few familiar faces were over by the platform we were using for the stage. Mom, Dad, Blair… all my family members were here. And not just them. August’s parents were milling around the side of the building, busy setting up signage. Dooley and Jacobs were shuffling a few bigger pieces of equipment out.
My heart thumped hard, like it’d burst right out of my chest.
“I know you and the crew at the firehouse have this handled, but we wanted to help too,” August said. “Folks from my work will be coming to offer help soon too. They’re all excited for the show, especially Cas.”
I leaned in to August and pressed a kiss to his lips. I knew exactly who had set this into motion.
Gratitude spread in my chest—for him, for our family and friends, for the life we were building together.
Everything was better with August Jones around.
When we separated, I sucked in a sharp breath. My dad approached, so I strode to meet him midway. He looked completely out of place for a punk show, wearing a salmon-colored polo with his hair tightly combed, and I loved it.
“Tell me where you want us. Your mom and I are so proud.”
Those words caused my heart to squeeze tight. I’d had Mom and Dad’s approval all along, and a small part of me understood that. I just needed to figure it out for myself. August’s easy acceptance, the way he meshed with me like no one else had given me the push I needed more than anything in realizing that.
“Thanks,” I said, clutching at my nape. Embarrassment flushed through me at how many people had shown up to help. What had seemed like a long task would be over far too easily, and it was thanksto everyone in both my corner and August’s—which was a hell of a lot of people. “There are a few more signs tucked into the firehouse that I’d brought earlier. We can start there.”
“Put us to work,” August said, his bright grin lighting up his features.
