I, Cameron Langley, kissed Ethan Wong. And he kissed me back. Everything felt right in the world.

Well, almost everything. 

The realization in the morning that this weekend was ending and we'd be on our separate ways back to college was a giant weight on our shoulders. Both of us knew it was bound to happen, but I, for one, didn't want to accept it, especially after last night. 

Over the course of one weekend, Ethan and I had unpacked a lot and addressed our concerns and emotions that accumulated over the course of years. There was still so much to be said, things to discuss and learn, that one weekend wasn't enough. 

Especially with our feelings for each other.

There were no words for how much I missed Ethan, and now that we both knew each other's feelings, it was hard to fathom that we'd have to be separated again. Yale was 135 miles away from him, roughly a two-hour drive. And while it wasn't terribly far—just a little farther than the route from here to Yale—it didn't beat sharing a hotel room in one of our dream destinations.

"Cam, you've gotta get packing," Ethan said, crossing the room. "Check-out is at noon."

I groaned, still bundled in the fluffy duvet. "I don't wanna."

I didn't want to get up or leave Ethan. It was a shame we couldn't just hit a button and restart the weekend. Add more time together, like a 30-second button on a microwave.

"I don't either, but our advisors will be on our asses if we don't get down there early to load our stuff into the buses." He stuffed his toiletry bag in a duffle bag. "I know your bus is shorter, but ours is a three and half hour trip."

"Yikes."

"Yeah, and I'm not sure we'll have time to stop and eat, so I'd like to go downstairs to get something small for the road."

"Fine." I unraveled my makeshift cocoon, strolling across the room to pack. 

I took my time to get the most out of our remaining time in room 512. I resisted the urge to bear hug Ethan and bring him back to bed to cuddle. If I had to argue with our advisors to let us stay longer, I would. 

But I obliged in packing my belongings, occasionally sneaking in a kiss or two as Ethan checked for anything he missed. 

Outside our hotel room, I spotted my coach in the halls near his door as we dragged our suitcases behind us. Though I was sure he said he had a room to himself, someone had his door propped open from the inside.

"Call me later, Alan. I've gotta meet the boys downstairs."

"Alan?" Ethan said, watching the affair.

"I'll be down there shortly," a familiar voice said before a male exited the same hotel room. With the door propped open, Coach and the male embraced in a hug. 

Ethan gripped my arm tightly before looking up with wide eyes. "Is that..."

Confused, I squinted my eyes in an attempt to see better who my coach was rooming with. I had thought he got a room by himself. Ethan and I stilled as Coach pressed a firm kiss against the male's forehead as they parted from their hug. There was no way that we were seeing things. 

"That was Alan," Ethan stated, his face paled. "My music professor Alan."

"Oh, shit, really?"

Ethan nodded, turning around in case they turned and spotted us. "How do they know each other?"

I shrugged. "Our schools are hours away. Unless they're long distance, I don't see how they could be..." 

My body cringed at the thought. Not that I saw anything wrong with them; I just didn't want to think too hard about my coach's love life. 

"Hey, boys," Coach said, practically startling us from our skins. It was wishful thinking that he'd ignore us. 

"Shit," I cursed under my breath before giving him a half-smile, Ethan greeting him. "Oh, hey, Coach."

"Got your stuff?"

I nodded, pointing at the door. "How did you know Ethan's professor?"

"Alan? We go way back," he said, waving a hand through the air. "I knew Alan from college."

I blinked. "Ah...I didn't realize you two were close."

Coach laughed. "We were close friends and shared a lot of classes. We didn't know we'd be meeting here like this."

I glanced at Ethan. "Neither did we."

"Besides," Coach said. "You know how it goes in locker rooms. I've had my fair share of experimenting around. Alan and I went on a few dates back then, believe it or not."

He laughed at our shocked expressions. 

"See you downstairs," he added before we could say anything—not like we could at this stunning revelation. He walked past us to the elevators with his luggage in tow. Needless to say, we let him go own first, attempting to process what just happened before we met the others downstairs. 

When we reached the lobby, it was a quarter till noon. We checked out of our rooms and waited in the lobby for the buses to arrive. 

Alan and our coach hadn't said anything to each other in the lobby despite what we had overheard on our floor. The fact that they knew each other was still mind-boggling, let alone whatever they were back then.

Alan, Ethan's professor, counted the instruments near the entrance while our Coach shoved a water bottle in Felipe's direction. He looked worse for wear, sporting a hoodie and dark shades. He never learned to take it easy with alcohol. Coach Barnes was scolding him as Kenji and the others shook their heads. While usually I'd join in and tease Felipe, I wanted nothing more than to remain by Ethan's side. I even contemplate hitching a ride with them to spend 3 hours on a bus with him. I'd gladly take a bus myself if it meant more time with Ethan.

"Cam," he said, waving to his classmates in the corner of the lobby with lounge chairs. "I've been thinking."

"And?"

"I think we could try it," he said quietly, pinching my hoodie sleeve between his thumb and pointer finger. 

I raised a brow, mouthing, try?

He nodded with a faint smirk. "Doing a proper couples trip to New York. A graduation present."

I blinked, Ethan's words settling in slowly. "You mean..."

"I mean," he drawled. "I want this if you do."

"Oh." His hand squeezed mine. "You sure?" 

Ethan smiled. "I've never been more sure of anything else."

A mix of a laugh and a squeal escaped me as I tackled him into a hug, pulling away to look at him. "You're serious, right? Not some kinda prank?"

He shook his head. "I mean it, Cam. I won't ghost you again; while it is long distance, it should still work. And we can do all the things we discussed before. Seeing Les Misérables on Broadway, Empire State Building, Central Park, etc."

"Yes," I said. "Whatever it is, I'm all for it."

"Even if it's just Taylor Nights in the hotels?"

"Even if we're just doing silent karaoke," I said. "Through Zoom or FaceTime calls, no less."

Ethan leaned into me, resting his head against my shoulders. Across the room, I spotted a few teammates glancing in our direction, curious but not judgmental at all. While I knew they'd have a million questions to ask, and I'd probably have to talk to PR and Coach about it, those seemed minuscule to the idea that I'd have to let Ethan get on a bus away from me. We'd see each other again, but I'd miss him like crazy till then.

"Good," Ethan mumbled. "I don't wanna mess it up again. I...I love you."

My heart melted at the sound of those words. "I love you too."

He blushed, my cheeks probably as pink as the fruity cocktails I sipped on last night. Leaning down, I pressed my lips to his. It wasn't nearly as passionate as the one we shared in private upstairs; kissing in the hotel lobby in front of all our peers felt just as great. 

Ethan hadn't left yet, and I was already going to miss him. The weekend passed too quickly, and though graduation was around the corner, I wondered if I could just make the two-hour drive to Berklee to see him before then. I wasn't the best driver in the world, and I've never ventured that far, but there were other ways I could make it there. I'd look it up on the bus ride home. Maybe I could find a McDonald's between our schools and meet up. 

"Are they still betting on us?" Ethan said, distracting me from my thoughts as I glanced at Eric and Kenji. They collected money from a few of the younger players on the team, grinning as they counted the cash in their hands. When they spotted us staring, they proudly waved the small stack of cash in the air. 

"Those idiots," I muttered before squeezing Ethan's hands. "Don't mind them. Though, they'd be shocked at Coach's history with Alan."

"Right?" He smiled. "But it's kinda cute, those two."

He pointed to Kenji and Eric, who were fighting over the money like a pair of kindergartners. "Cute?"

"Not like that," he clarified. "It's like they're work husbands. Team husbands? I don't know the right term, but they act like a married couple."

I made a face. "I don't know about that. Not sure Izzy, Eric's girlfriend, would appreciate that."

Ethan laughed. "Probably not."

Though, now that Ethan mentioned it, those two were close, despite the bantering Eric had to put up with Kenji. Even I felt bad for him at times. 

"Well, I have another perfect idea," I said, linking arms with Ethan. "For our great graduation gift adventure. Not in New York, though."

"Oh, and what did you have in mind?"

I grinned. "T-Swift tickets?"

"Really?" A look of suspicion crossed his face. "Wasn't it sold out? I thought the ticket buying was a shit show."

I shrugged. "I may have bought a bunch. I skipped an important lecture just to ensure I got a good seat too. It's in June."

"You're joking."

"Nope."

"You're crazy. An actual Taylor Swift night with Taylor herself?" Ethan smiled. "Sorry to say that Taylor Night in your Corolla's got nothing on Taylor live."

"I don't know. The weekend in room 512 has a certain ring to it, too, doesn't it?"

He laughed. "It sure does. But you know what sounds better?"

"What?" Though I had a feeling I knew what he was going to say.

Ethan's hand rested in mine like a glove. "Ethan and Cameron."

"Ethan and Cameron," I said, squeezing his hand. "I like the sound of that."