Velvet Midnight - Max Walker Page 0,74
up there,” Benji said, standing, one hand looping through my elbow. He looked into my eyes, smiling wide.
“I love you, Rex.”
“And I love you, baby.” I kissed him. “Forever.”
Rex and his dad walked onto the stage to a room full of clapping and cheering. Behind them, the blue-and-white screens shifted and shimmered as if someone waved a magic wand at them, a video of Gavin Madison waving a rainbow flag at a Pride parade taking up the screens as a pop song made us all dance in our seats.
They both seemed excited, beaming from ear to ear as Gavin received his award. Rex resembled a handsome prince up on that stage, taking the spot next to his dad behind the tall glass podium. I looked between them, the stage lights lighting them up like celebrities, seeing a lot of similarities reflected back at me. They both had the same happy-sounding laugh, with the same easygoing grin and bright sky-blue eyes. I remembered a time when I thought the two of them couldn’t be any more opposite, and I strongly disliked Gavin for that. I’d seen him as a man who fought against my rights to live a happy life, except that entire time, he was actually fighting against his own inner demons, his struggle manifesting in hurtful ways.
Over the last two years, though, Gavin had really turned himself around. It had been a week or two before he was supposed to win his Senate seat in a landslide. He made a moving speech at the Georgia capitol that caused enough waves to garner international media attention. He came out on a worldwide stage, announcing his divorce of his wife while also making clear his love and support for his son. That part tugged at everyone’s heartstrings, even the most ruthless. He had started to cry, and the pain in his voice was real and raw. It resonated. He apologized for hurting him, along with the rest of the queer community. He promised, right there on live TV, that he would work for the rest of his life, wherever it took him, to make life easier for queer kids and adults all around the world.
It was a risky but very much-needed move. To be honest, I didn’t think he’d win the votes he needed to hold on to his seat. Although things seemed to be moving in the right direction, it was hard to tell how far we’d actually gotten.
Until the votes came in. Then it was clear: we came a hell of a way from where we started.
And since getting re-elected, Gavin immediately put his words into action. He really proved to everyone watching that he meant what he said through his now famous confirmation speech: “Equality for all means for all, not for some. Not just for those who look or sound or pray like you. For all.”
It was a resounding rebuke. And he fought every day to make sure queer people were seen as equals all throughout Georgia and beyond.
“Thank you, thank you,” Gavin said, the clapping softly dying down. I settled into my seat, trying not to freak out about seeing my boyfriend up on stage while about fifteen famous actors and actresses sat in tables all around me.
“This award really means so much to me. Not because I never win awards, which does factor into things just a little bit, but because it symbolizes something way bigger than just me. This symbolizes a hopeful shift for all of us. I’ve been in the closet for forty-two years of my life and almost forgot what being ‘hopeful’ even feels like.
“I don’t want anyone forgetting what ‘hope’ feels like. I’m committed to making positive change and inspiring a trail of leaders behind me, keeping that change alive even when I won’t be able to. So thank you.” He put a hand on his heart and bowed his head, the lights reflecting a sheen in his blue eyes.
“And, before they play the music, I wanted to introduce my son, Rex, the main reason why I changed into the better man I am today.” Gavin grabbed Rex in a tight hug, and the crowd broke into more applause.
Rex took the mic, and his dad stepped to the side. He seemed nervous, but I think I’d be the only one to tell. It was in the way he twitched his thumb and shuffled his feet. Small signals that I could quickly recognize.
“Hi, y’all.” He gave an awkward wave to a room of friendly laughter. “My dad taught me a lot about life, especially in recent years. He taught me to live without thinking of the judgment from others, and he taught me to follow my dreams even when they look impossible to reach. One of those dreams is sitting right there.” He pointed directly at me, the spotlight shifting so that I sat under it, surrounded by a sea of darkness. Rex’s face smiled at me from the stage.
People were clapping, but I couldn’t hear much past the blood pounding in my ears.
“Come up here for a sec, Benj.” Rex waved me up, motioning for me to climb onstage. More clapping. Some cheering. Someone nudged my shoulder. Was this really happening? I needed to move.
I stood up, my legs working even though I could feel them shaking. I laughed nervously, climbing up onstage with Rex’s help. I didn’t even look out at the crowd, terrified I would lock eyes with one of my favorite actors and instantly melt into a puddle spelling out “fan girl.”
Rex turned to me, looking only at me. The room seemed to collapse inward, the crowd and their hushed murmurs disappearing. I locked eyes with those ocean-blue orbs I’d fallen so deeply in love with.
“Benji,” he said, loud enough for the mic to pick up. “You’ve also taught me so much. How to take control of life and not let it take control of you. You’ve taught me how to tell the difference between a coral snake and a king snake—red touches yellow you’re a dead fellow, red touches black, you’re okay, Jack.”
“Correct,” I said, the room breaking in laughter.
“But beyond all that, you taught me how to love again. How to love you, how to love myself, how to love life.”
Wait, what was he doing? Why was he dropping down? Why was he putting a knee on the ground? Why was he reaching into—
“Benjamin Francis Gold, will you continue loving life with me?”
He opened up a navy blue box, and inside it sat a gleaming silver band, taking my breath away.
“Will you marry me?”
Silence swept through the room. Ice clinking against glass could be heard.
Shock. I was shocked and overwhelmed and absolutely over the fucking moon.
“Yes,” I said, low at first, realizing only the front of the room probably heard. So I said it louder, my happiness overflowing. “Yes, Rex, yes, absolutely yes!”
The room erupted into the loudest round of applause and cheers yet. People were up on their feet as Rex slid the ring on my finger, a perfect fit. He stood up, his expression a mixture of relief and overwhelming excitement. He grabbed me in a tight hug and kissed me, the cheers continuing.
“Forever,” he said against my lips.
“Forever,” I replied, feeling the ring on my finger, excited to see what forever would bring us.
THE END.
Thank you for reading VELVET MIDNIGHT. If you enjoyed the conclusion to Benji and Rex’s story then consider leaving a review! And keep a lookout for the next book following Maverick and Theo as they work to finally figure out who the Dove is (and fall deeply and irrevocably in love along the way).
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Max Walker
Also by Max Walker
The Gold Brothers
Hummingbird Heartbreak
Velvet Midnight
The Stonewall Investigation Series
A Hard Call
A Lethal Love
A Tangled Truth
A Lover’s Game
OR
Books 1-4 Box Set
The Stonewall Investigation- Miami Series
Bad Idea
Lie With Me
His First Surrender
The Sierra View Series
Code Silver
Code Red
Code Blue
Code White
The Guardian Series
Books 1-4 Box Set
Audiobooks:
A Hard Call - narrated by Greg Boudreaux
A Lethal Love - narrated by Greg Boudreaux
A Tangled Truth - narrated by Greg Boudreaux
A Lover’s Game - narrated by Greg Boudreaux
Deck the Halls - narrated by Greg Boudreaux
Code Silver - narrated by Jason Frazier
Christmas Stories:
Daddy Kissing Santa Claus
Daddy, It’s Cold Outside
Deck the Halls