“This is all mandatory, and you know that I like you so don’t take it the wrong way. I’m sure that you get it after what you just had to do with your little sister’s boyfriend.”

Bentley stuffed his hands in his pockets as they finally reached the boardwalk. He nodded to Tawny, clearing his throat. “I get it. You’re doing what a best friend is supposed to do. No hard feelings.”

Tawny pushed her red hair away from her face as the sea breeze got stronger. “Perfect,”  she said. “Kit and I go way, way back. Our relationship hasn’t always been perfect, but I love him to the moon and back. I’d like to think he feels the same about me.”

Bentley looked at her and nodded. “I’m sure he does.”

“I think it’s awesome that you two found each other again. Kit is happy and your relationship is beautiful.”

“I think so, too.”

“But Kit told me about the blow up you two had –”

“It was ugly,”  Bentley said, cutting her off. “I said things I wasn’t proud of as did he, but we talked about that and we’re moving past it.”

Tawny glanced up at the park. “Let’s go on that ride.”

Bentley smiled. “You sure? Haven’t you guys been drinking? If you puke on me, you can’t be in the wedding.”

Tawny laughed. “I’ll be fine. Come on.”

They headed towards the ticket counter as Kit and the others went to the arcade. Bentley got a couple tickets and they made their way to the line. Tawny turned to Bentley and smiled.

“I’m thrilled to hear you two worked out whatever it was. I just… Kit was my person for almost 15-years at this point. It feels like I’m handing him over to someone else now, and I just want you to know it’s a big deal for me, Bentley. Take care of him. I probably don’t have to tell you this, but Kit is an incredible, passionate person, and he’s crazy about you.”

Bentley let the words she said sink in. They were quiet for a few minutes, taking in the sights of Pacific Park and Santa Monica pier at night. It was quite the view. They moved forward in line, and Bentley swept a hand through his hair.

“You’re not handing him over to me, Tawny. You’ll still have him. He’s your best friend.”

Tawny smiled. “As great a thought that is, I do happen to live across the country.”

“The internet is one hell of a tool,”  Bentley quipped back. “Besides, I have no doubt we’ll make our way out east to visit you.”

Tawny folded her arms over her chest. “Yeah. You better.”

He smiled. “But, I hear what you’re saying, and I need you to know that he’s in good hands. I…” he trailed off for a moment, looking at the roller coaster as it zoomed by. “I’m in love with him.”

Her eyes went wide as she turned to look at him.

Bentley licked his lips and continued. “I haven’t told him as much. I wanted to, but… you know. Our little spat happened and I got too much in my head. But I want you to know that he means the world to me, too, and he’s in good hands. I promise that.”

Tawny’s jaw was still dropped. They were up for the ride next, and the employee urged them forward. She finally spoke when they moved past the gate to board the ride. “Are you going to tell him? You should tell him.”

“Yeah. I mean I plan to –”

“What are you waiting for?”

He smiled and shrugged after considering the question. “The right moment, I guess?”

Tawny rolled her eyes. “Boys overthink everything. When you’re with someone you love, there’s no such thing as a wrong moment.” She climbed into the roller coaster first, patting the seat beside her so Bentley would take the hint. “Tell him tonight.”

Bentley refused to let her see his nerves as he climbed into the ride beside her. She made it sound so easy. There was still a chance that Kit would look at him like he was insane.

“Totally your choice,” she said. “But I’d let him know.”

Bentley secured himself in the ride and then nodded. “I will.”

??

Luckily for Bentley, Tawny didn’t puke on him while they rode the roller coaster. In fact, she held her own.

They made their way into the arcade and searched for their friends. Jonah and Noah were battling it out at the air hockey table while Bella and Ariel played Dance-Dance Revolution. Kit was by his lonesome over at the Super Mario game. Tawny elbowed Bentley in the side and pointed over to him.

“Go now,” she whisper-shouted.

Bentley swallowed hard before nodding his head.

Relax, he told himself. This was the boy he meshed with perfectly since he walked into the bike shop. Hell, maybe even before that. This was the boy he could look at and the world was stop. This was the very boy who could smile at him and his whole outlook on life would change. Kit was Bentley’s person, and he knew that Kit had to feel the same way.

Right?

Bentley got his bearings and walked over. Kit had been immersed in the game, moving the joystick as he hummed along to the music playing. A younger girl stood beside him watching, and Bentley smiled at her before wrapping his arms around Kit.

“Wow. Level 4, huh?”

Kit smiled at the sound of Bentley’s voice and the feel of his arms wrapped around him. “Yep. I’m the king around these parts.”

Bentley kissed his cheek and watched Kit play for a little while. Kit was doing great – blasting fireballs at turtles and moving along the game map with ease. Then, Bentley started to kiss his neck; his hands moving from Kit’s waist underneath his shirt.

Payback was a bitch.

Kit’s breathing hitched first. He tried to continue playing, but eventually turned around to face Bentley.

“You little shit.”

Bentley played innocent. “What? It’s not my fault you can’t focus.”  He smiled.

Kit shook his head, but it was when he began to smirk that Bentley knew he’d accepted it. Bentley pulled him away by the hand and smiled at the girl.

“Have fun!” 

She blushed and mumbled something that sounded like a ‘thanks’ in response.

“I had a high score, by the way.”  Kit pouted, but when Bentley kissed his cheek he smiled. “Tell me what you talked about with Tawny. And where are you taking me?” 

They exited the arcade and began walking along the rickety wooden boardwalk again.

Bentley squeezed Kit’s hand tighter. “Oh, you know she just told me that she’d have my balls on a spoke if I ever hurt you again. No big deal.” 

Kit smiled. “Tawny wouldn’t.” 

“Let’s see if the photo booth is empty.” 

They walked in that direction and Kit turned to Bentley. “You know, I have some very fond memories in that photo booth.” 

“Do you?”  Bentley asked, feigning ignorance. 

“Don’t play dumb. We shared the first-kiss to rival all first kisses in this very booth. Totally caught me off guard, too.”  He pushed the curtain aside and sat down first, making space for Bentley. Bentley took his seat and closed the curtain behind them, watching as Kit added money to the machine.

“It was one hell of a kiss, but what I find amazing is that each one gets better and better. Don’t you agree?”  Bentley asked with a smile.

As the screen counted down from five, Kit cupped Bentley’s face and moved in closer. “I don’t know. Remind me…” 

Bentley stared at his lips with a smile as he closed the distance. Their sensual kiss was caught on camera, and then Kit pulled back.

“Yeah. Definitely yeah.” 

Bentley felt butterflies in his stomach when Kit wrapped an arm around him, resting their faces together, and smiled at the camera. He did the same, hoping that this picture would capture the very essence of what he felt. Bentley felt loved. He felt in-love. He felt like the world was his, and all he wanted to do was give it to Kit.

The photo was taken and Kit gushed about how adorable it was. Bentley could agree. Their smiles went up to their eyes. He listened to Kit’s wonderful melodic rambling as he hit the button for their third photo to be taken, and as Kit threw up the peace sign, Bentley let himself say it.

“I’m in love with you, Kit Edwards.” 

3-2-1…

The camera flashed. Bentley was staring Kit straight in the eyes. Kit was staring back. His mouth was slightly agape, and Bentley could practically hear his heart racing. He reached down for Kit’s free hand and held it in both of his – neither caring about the photo booth to strike the next pose.

“I was going to take you away to the Catalinas and get this fancy hotel room and tell you how I feel. Maybe we’d go all the way, and it’d be perfect. But Tawny said something that resonated with me… she said that when you’re in love, there is no such thing as a wrong time. I love you. You don’t have to say it back, but I did want you to know that I’m all in.” 

Kit looked so beautiful that Bentley was honestly surprised he finished his statement without getting distracted, or going off on some long, nonsensical tangent. He slowly began to smile when Kit removed his hand from Bentley’s and ran it through Bentley’s hair.

“You’re…”  Kit trailed off, shaking his head. “God, Benny. You’re unreal. I have no clue what I did to deserve you.” 

Bentley looked him in the eyes as the camera flashed for the fifth and final time. They both laughed for a moment, but Bentley caught himself and answered. “I feel the same way every day.” 

“For the record, Tawny was right.”  Kit smiled. “You would not have had to take me to some over the top fancy place to say you love me. As great as that sounds… this moment will stay with me for the rest of my life.”  He turned to the machine and pressed ‘print.’ “Literally,”  he finished.

Bentley laughed. “Yeah. I figured we may as well keep the theme going.” 

“I’m on to you now,”  Kit said. He smiled. “Next time you drag me in this booth, I’m just going to assume it’ll be to tell me you’re pregnant.” 

Bentley burst out laughing so much that he had to hold his stomach. He let Kit hand him one of the photo strips as he calmed down and caught his breath.

“Bentley Michael Williams,”  Kit began.

Bentley looked up from the pictures – the pictures that beautifully captured the moment he told Kit he loved him and the following moments of his speech. He smiled at Kit and took a deep breath.

“Yes, Kitten?” 

Kit leaned in to kiss his cheek and then pulled back to look him in the eyes. “I love you, too.” 

Bentley couldn’t help the grin on his face. They embraced as much as they could in the small, brightly-lit photo booth, wrapped in one another as tight as could be. Bentley breathed him in and closed his eyes as Kit kissed his neck. This was it. This was what he wanted for the rest of his life, and though he imagined people would tell him he’s too young to know for sure, he knew that Kit was who he needed.