Traffic crawled. Aaron kept his eyes on the road and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, anxious to get home. It was closing in on half-past five, and he had a feeling that Mal wouldn’t be able to delay Gage from coming home for much longer. Before that happened, Aaron had some prep work to do… if only he could make it back to the house.
He glanced at the map feature on his phone. The highway was lit up in red. According to the tiny symbol on the screen, there’d been an accident, and it had congested the southbound lane.
“C’mon…” Aaron dragged his finger across the screen, trying to figure out how long he’d be stuck in traffic. “Not today…”
He took his finger from the screen, letting the program snap back to his current location, and let out the breath he’d been holding. No matter how long it took, everything would be okay. He’d already planned several ways to keep Gage occupied in case something like this happened. He’d get home and have plenty of time to get what he wanted done whether Gage was there or not.
Aaron’s proposal hadn’t gone according to plan the first time, but tonight, it wouldn’t fail. When Gage stepped through the front door, he’d enter a wonderland that they would both remember for the rest of their lives. And from there? Aaron smiled, even though no one was around to see. From there, his best friend would be his, and their tiny family would be official. He’d make good on the promise he’d made Gage all those years ago.
I’m always going to be there to look out for you.
Aaron had meant it then, but he’d prove it now.
Traffic couldn’t hold him back—he was ready. Tonight would be a dream brought to life, made sweeter yet by one simple word.
Yes.
* * *
By the timethe lock on the front door clicked and Gage let himself in, Aaron was massaging the kale. The port wine sauce had reduced and was simmering on the stove, and the seared chicken had been sitting just long enough that it was ready to serve. He looked up from the metal prep bowl and across the open-concept kitchen into the living room. Gage stood with his back to the closed door, his eyes wide.
“Aaron?” Gage asked in shock. “What’s going on?”
“I told you tonight was going to be something special.” Aaron set the kale down. It had darkened and softened like silk, ready to join the rest of the greens he’d prepared for tonight’s salad. “Go get ready. Put on something that makes you feel good. Take all the time you need. I’ll be here waiting for you when you’re ready.”
The tips of Gage’s ears went bright red, like they always did whenever he was exceptionally delighted. He set down the bag slung over his shoulder by the shoe rack, and Aaron watched as his eyes traveled from the work going on in the kitchen to the arrangement on their small dining room table, situated between the living room and the kitchen. An assortment of pillar candles occupied the center of the table, their flickering flames casting shadows across the walnut finish. At Gage’s place, laid behind his plate, was a single, long-stemmed rose.
Gage’s eyes flicked back to Aaron. He parted his lips as if to speak, but said nothing. The blush moved from his ears, across his cheeks, and down his neck, until at last he nodded and hurried for the baby gate blocking the stairs. He fumbled with the latch, made a tiny sound of frustration and embarrassment, then conquered the mechanism and stepped through. Soon enough, the sound of his footsteps was all that remained. The bedroom door opened, then shut. Aaron closed his eyes and smiled.
Tonight was going to be perfect—he knew it.
The proposal would go off without a hitch.
17
Gage
The bedroom door shut, and Gage leaned against it out of necessity—he wasn’t sure that his knees would hold until he made it to the bed. The rhythm of his heart marked the passage of time with its frenzied beats, and he tried to focus on it instead of the whirling thoughts in his mind.
There werecandleson the table. Candlesanda rose.
When Gage had learned that Aaron had arranged for Bo to spend the night with Mal, he’d been under the impression that they’d head out somewhere. He hadn’t been expecting to be romanced likethis.
Gage covered his face with his hands and laughed into his palms, muffling the noise. There were candles, and a rose, and the whole house smelled delicious as Aaron cooked dinner—way better than anything Gage had made since he’d moved out of his parents’ house. And more than that, seeing Aaron in the kitchen, the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up to the elbow while he prepared the greens, kindness and love in his eyes and a tiny, charming smile on his lips, had been a vision in and of itself. It was well within Aaron’s means to afford expensive trinkets and gourmet meals—if he hadn’t been working overtime and through the summer to finish his PhD as quickly as possible, Aaron could have easily jetted back and forth between Munich and Aurora. He’d spoiled Gage with gifts through the time they’d been apart, but only because he couldn’t be there personally to see to Gage’s needs. A home-cooked dinner and gorgeously set table meant so much more than trinkets did, and the fact that Aaron had preceded the meal by arranging for Bo’s medical appointments and overnight care just so Gage wouldn’t have to worry? The stress and worry off Gage’s shoulders was a better gift than anything money could buy.
Tonight, not only was Aaron proving that he could care for Gage financially, but that he was there to support him emotionally as well.
Trembling with happiness, Gage launched himself across the room and collapsed back onto the bed. He knew he couldn’t stay there for long—dinner smelled amazing, and it had to be close to being ready, if it wasn’t already done—but he needed a moment to plan what it was he was going to do. Aaron had gone through the trouble of setting up an amazing evening for them, and Gage wanted to return the favor.
Put on something that makes you feel good.
It was nice of Aaron to ask, but that wasn’t going to cut it. Gage sat up, glanced across the bedroom to his new dresser, and grinned.
Why stop at something that made him feel good when he could put on something that would make them both feel fantastic instead?
* * *
The pearls clackedagainst the bottom of the dresser drawer as Gage lifted them from where they’d laid. He let them drape over his wrists, strings of beauty he’d once believed he didn’t deserve. The tiny strips of black fabric the strands were attached to were soft to the touch, designed to be comfortable to wear. Gage had never tried them on before.
