Jackie shook his head. He really hadn’t.
“Baby,” Boone said as he drew Jackie into his arms, “we’re as good as married, and married couples live together.”
“We’re not married.”
“No, we’re mated, and that’s better.”
Jackie frowned.
“Oh, come on,” Boone said, “you know it is. Mating is for life. Human marriages don’t last that long.”
“A year ago, I was human,” Jackie said as something cold curled up in his gut. “I may be a shifter now because some asshole thought it might be a good idea to play god, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still believe in human practices. We’ll discuss moving in together when there’s a ring on my finger.”
Jackie pulled away from Boone and marched out the front door. He was so angry he could punch something, preferably Boone. He had been dreaming about walking down the aisle with the man he fell in love with since he was a kid. Just because he was a shifter didn’t mean he didn’t still want that dream.
“Jackie.”
Jackie ignored Boone and kept walking. It would keep him from following up with the thought raging through him and punching Boone square in the jaw.
“Oh, come on, Jackie. I didn’t mean it like that.”
Jackie climbed into the truck and slammed the door closed before Boone could reach it. He’d walk if he had to. He refused to discuss moving in together until Boone understood he was just as human as he was shifter.
Boone climbed into the driver’s side and started the truck. He didn’t start driving. He just crossed his hands over the top of the steering wheel and stared out the front window. After a moment, the silence became uncomfortable.
Jackie started to wonder if he should have kept his mouth closed. He was putting Boone in the same position he was arguing against. He was sure Boone’s traditions were as important as his own. He didn’t have a right to disparage them.
“What’s your ring size?”
Jackie’s jaw dropped as he turned to look at Boone. “What?”
“I need to know your ring size. If I’m going to propose, I have to have a ring, don’t I?”
Jackie nodded absently. “Seven.”
He was going to propose?
“Gold gold or white gold?” Boone asked as he put the truck in drive and started down the driveway.
“Either?”
“Gem?”
“Depends on the setting.”
Boone chuckled. “No, I mean what kind of gem?”
“Oh.” This was a very weird conversation. “I don’t have a preference.”
Boone glanced at him. “I wonder if they make a gem the same color as your eyes.”
“There’s a tiger’s eye.”
“Be better if it was a lion’s eye.”
Jackie laughed, the heavy feeling that had been pressing him down fading away. “I don’t think they make lion’s eye gems.”
“They should,” Boone insisted.
