Chapter Text
One year later...
“Do you wanna sit in the front row or…?”
“Honey, of course I do!”
Jack’s shoulders relax slightly as he smiles down at Bitty. “Just making sure. Thanks, bud.”
“Of course, sweetheart,” Bitty replies, patting Jack on the shoulder and reaching up to give him an assuring kiss on the cheek. “Gotta get the best seat in the house.”
“Haha, yeah,” Jack laughs, leaning into the touch. He looks over his shoulder and sees the store manager give him a nod in the direction of the podium.
He leans down to place a quick kiss on Bitty’s lips; even after a year, he still has to force himself to pull away.
“Good luck, sweetpea,” Bitty whispers, keeping the moment between just them even though they can both feel the stares of the crowd on their backs.
Jack smiles, nods, and makes his way to the podium.
“Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you all for coming,” He starts, looking out at the rows of people that are there just for him. The turnout is bigger than last year, but somehow Jack is less anxious this time around. No doubt it has something to do with the certain blond head of hair constantly in his peripheral.
“My name is Jack Zimmermann, author of Is This the End and its sequel, This is Not the End, which came out last Pride Month,” He thumbs at the corner of the book in front of him. “I thought it was fitting to release this new book, Work in Progress, during Pride as well. This story….means a lot to me. I hope it can come to mean something to you too.”
“I’d like to start off with the dedication.” Jack opens his copy to the first page and takes a deep breath. “To Eric….”
He looks up from the page, and his eyes catch Bitty’s immediately. Right there, in the front row, exactly where he should be.
“Thank you for being the story I was always meant to find.”
Bitty’s smile grows wider somehow, tears beginning to form as he mouths an “I love you.”
Jack wishes he could say it back, but he can’t, not right now.
Instead, he opens to the first chapter and lets the words say it for him.