Archie took it, curious. Brogan kneeled beside him, heart pounding. “Will you marry me?”
Archie stared, eyes wide. Then tears spilled down his cheeks.
“Is that a yes or a no?” Brogan asked, voice cracking.
“A yes,” Archie whispered. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They held each other, forehead to forehead, until Brogan pulled back, smiling through his own tears.
“When do you want to get married?”
“Valentine’s Day,” Archie said.
“That’s perfect. Open your present.”
Inside the box, two shiny gold rings gleamed in the light.
“One for me, and one for you,” Brogan said. “Let me put yours on.”
Archie held out his hand. “They look like wedding bands.”
“They’re pre-wedding bands,” Brogan said. “We’ll get different ones for the big day, but we can wear these now.”
“I love that idea.”
Archie slid the ring onto Brogan’s finger, and they kissed again, wrapped in each other and the glow of the tree. Molly barked once, as if she were in on the celebration. And Brogan felt like the luckiest man alive.
After the last ribbon had been tossed aside and Molly and Pasha were curled up in a pile of wrapping paper, Brogan and Archie showered, got dressed, and bundled up in their new sweaters and jackets. Brogan’s heart was still thudding from theproposal, but he played it cool as he grabbed the keys and told Archie, “I’ve got one more surprise.”
They drove out of town, the roads quiet and dusted with snow. The sky was a soft winter gray, and everything looked like it had been dipped in powdered sugar. Archie kept sneaking glances at Brogan, fingers brushing his on the console, their matching rings catching the light every time they moved.
When they pulled up to the little farm, Archie’s eyebrows lifted. “What is this place?”
“You’ll see,” Brogan said, grinning as he parked. “Come on.”
They walked toward the barn, boots crunching on the gravel. A few goats bleated in the distance, and a golden retriever trotted past with a jingle bell collar. Then, from around the side of the barn, a horse-drawn buggy rolled into view with black with red velvet seats, the horse decked out in sleigh bells and a wreath around its neck.
Archie’s mouth dropped open. “Brogan.”
Brogan just smiled and held out his hand. “Hop in, fiancé.”
They climbed into the buggy, snuggled close under a thick plaid blanket. As the horse started forward, the world slowed down. They passed rows of pine trees strung with lights, wooden cutouts of reindeer and snowmen, and a little nativity scene nestled in a grove of evergreens. Lanterns lined the path, flickering gold against the snow.
“This is unreal,” Archie whispered, his breath visible in the cold air.
Brogan looked over at him completely smitten. “You’re unreal.”
Archie laughed and leaned in for a kiss, slow and warm despite the chill. They kept their hands clasped, fingers brushing over the rings again and again like they couldn’t quite believe it.
“I keep looking at this thing,” Archie said, holding up his hand. “Like, is this real? Did we actually do this?”
“We did,” Brogan said, kissing his knuckles. “You said yes, remember?”
“I did,” Archie said, eyes shining. “Best decision I’ve ever made.”
They rode in silence for a while, just taking it all in—the crunch of the snow under the wheels, the soft jingle of the bells, the way the lights twinkled like stars had fallen to earth. Brogan rested his head against Archie’s shoulder, and Archie tucked him in closer.
