Stars Uncrossed (BoyxBoy)

Epilogue

Ten years later...

Luca let out a huff as he fished his key out of his scrub pocket, unlocking and opening the apartment door. It was completely dark inside, which Luca found unusual. He was hoping Aidan would be home, but much to his disappointment, he wasn't.

Part of Luca always felt unsettled when he'd walk into their shared apartment and find Aidan nowhere to be found. Usually he was just working late or out to get dinner for them or something, but a part of Luca wondered when Aidan would get fed up with him and leave or find love elsewhere.

After the championship game their senior year, they became internet sensations. The picture of the gay high school football player-cheerleader couple making out on the field went viral, but their fifteen minutes of fame didn't end there. Once they started their freshman year at Columbia they became even more famous, and that only grew when Luca went on to represent Team Canada at the 2021 and 2024 Olympics, winning two silvers and one bronze medal in men's artistic gymnastics and the team event.

Luca and Aidan became instant sensations, they were instagram influencers and even started their own youtube channel to talk about their lives as openly gay student athletes and Luca's Olympic journey. After graduating from Columbia they worried that life would separate them based on whichever paths fate had in store for them, but yet again fate proved that they were meant to be exactly where they were, together.

Luca got into Med school at Columbia, and Aidan turned down the opportunity to be drafted to the NFL in order to start Law School at Columbia as well. Luca wanted him to take it, knowing that playing in the NFL has been Aidan's dream since he was just a kid, but Aidan insisted that his interests had changed. The reality of the matter was that Aidan didn't want to leave Luca alone while he travelled around the country for games; though he didn't dare tell Luca that, knowing he'd throw a fit and force him to do it.

But Aidan never once looked back and regretted choosing the path he was on. From all their brand endorsements and the royalties from the book they co-wrote about their love story and their journey, Aidan and Luca went on to move into a glitzy apartment in the Upper East Side, with a gorgeous view of Central Park.

Luca set down his backpack and unzipped his heather grey sweatshirt, slipping it off as he grabbed a glass of water. It had been a rough day, though most of his days were rough. As a second year emergency medicine resident, what more could he expect? He loved the fast paced and exciting nature of the ER, but at the same time, at times he felt frustrated that he was always so damn tired.

It wasn't that Aidan himself wasn't busy, working at one of the top sports law firms in the country, but unlike Luca, he had a far cushier work environment with set hours and a nice office that had an amazing view of the city. Though they didn't have the time and energy to keep things romantic like they did when they were younger, Aidan loved nothing more than to just cuddle up to his exhausted husband as he slept soundly after a long shift at the hospital.

Yes, you read that correctly. Husband. Aidan proposed to Luca at their college graduation and they got married later that summer before they started med and law school. It was the happiest day of their lives, and to think that it almost didn't happen because of a stupid high school rivalry.

Luca often thinks back to the first two months that they dated, to all the pitfalls they faced; every argument and disagreement, of which they were many. He imagines how his life would have panned out had he gave in to the pressure and broke things off with Aidan ten years ago. Shuddering at the thought that he wouldn't have ended up with his one true soulmate.

Luca passed through the hallway towards their bedroom, glancing over the portraits that lined the wall. After their viral photo from the football field, Luca and Aidan recreated that photo at every major milestone in their lives. As cringe as that might seem, it was just one of the many little things that they loved about their relationship. The same pose in different situations and wearing different clothes, Aidan carrying Luca off the ground as the smaller boy embraces him behind the neck, kissing him gently on the lips. It served as just one of the subtle reminders that though life may go on, days turn to months and months to years, some things truly do stay the same.