“Right.” I nodded. “Very cool. Thank you, baby. But, um… it’s already open.”
“I know!”
“And the plastic bag inside is open.” I frowned as I looked into the box.
“Yes! I threw the instructions away, and also a couple of the pieces!” he said proudly.
I blinked at him in confusion and he flushed.
“Look, it made a lot more sense in the moment, okay? I was the tiniest bit panicked… or, okay, fine, a wholelotpanicked when I was at the bakery earlier. I wanted to make some kind of, um, gesture thing? For you? To show you that I love you? So this issymbolic. Like, we can build it ourselves, and it might never be right according to the package, but it’ll be right for us.” He swallowed. “Except… I’m just now realizing that I gave my boyfriend an instruction-less box of LEGOs that’s a few pieces shy of a full set as a symbol of our relationship.” He pushed a hand through his hair. “Are yousureyou know what you’re getting into with me?”
I grinned. “Say that again.”
He frowned. “What? The whole thing?”
“No, baby. Just the part where I’m your boyfriend. And you love me.”
“Oh.” His expression cleared. “I love you, Dare. Like, a lot.”
“And in case you didn’t catch it earlier, I love you too, Brian Carr. I have loved you forever, and I will love you forever. And I am one hundred percent positive thatyouare exactly what I want.”
