“You thought of everything—maybe even more than I did that night on Joey Drive. You even found a bayberry candle... and it’s the middle of summer. I’m impressed.”
Ralph slid a shot of tequila over to him. “Here.”
They held their glasses up and clinked.
“To us,” Ralph said.
“To us.”
They tossed the shots back.
Bo set his glass down, pushing it away. “Yes, sir. Just what the doctor ordered.” He turned to Ralph, kissing him and grabbing at his crotch. “I’m already feeling frisky.”
“Light that candle. Let’s take it in the bathroom with us.”
“Sure thing.” Bo opened the tin, wanting to get a whiff of the spicy scent beforehand. He raised it and froze.
Resting atop the green-colored wax were two gold rings, both with a satin finish and a polished black inlay around the circumference.
“But before you light it, tell me that you’ll be my husband and maybe wear one of those rings,” Ralph said, his Carolina accent slipping in like an old friend.
Bo looked at him, eyes welling. “Goddamn, you’re good.”
“I try.”
“Of course, I’ll be your husband.”
Ralph was teary now. They embraced.
“I kind of feel like we’realreadymarried,” Bo said when they separated.
“Yeah, but we should make it legal... just in case, God forbid, something happened to one of us.”
“Or I decide to divorce you and take half your money.”
“You wouldn’t do that. That’s not your modus operandi at all.”
“Ooh. Big words. Youknowhow that turns me on.”
“Besides, if we’re married you get ALL the money AND my dick.”
“I do love your dick. It’s like a magic wand.”
“And I waited six months, that’s long enough, Bo, isn’t it?”
“I’m surprised you waited that long.”
“I’ve been planning it for a while. I just had to figure out the right time.”
“Well, it’s a sweet surprise... proposing on the eve of another flip. A big one too. I say we make use of it while we can. Let’s hit that shower.”
“What if I said there’s no hurry?”
“I’d say how uncharacteristic of you. Where’s the tequila?”
Ralph chuckled. “That’s not what I mean.”
He slipped his hands down Ralph’s pants. “Well, what I’m feeling here suggests otherwise. It’s ready as usual for some hocus-pocus.
