"Do you feel forever about him?" echoed in his mind ever since coming out to his mom. The same question lingered as him, June, and Nora picked up Henry in Texas and visited Alex's dad's lakehouse. The stucco lakehouse couldn't match Henry's beauty. As the day waned and it was just them, Alex, and Henry, by the fire and fireflies, Alex could say it. 1000%—he was all in.

"Hey," Alex finally said, shifting to see Henry on his shoulder. "Thanks, by the way."