He was dreaming. He had to be.
“This is real, baby. This is me, asking you to spend the rest of your life with me. No, I’m not crazy. Yes, I know exactly what I’m doing. No, I don’t care that you’re only twenty. And yes, I do want an answer.” He grinned. “Even if the answer is ‘I’ll think about it.’” He flushed. “Although I’d prefer an outright yes.”
Tommy’s heart was beating so strongly, he swore everyone in the room could hear it. And finally he found his voice.
“You really wanna marry me?” he whispered, unable to tear his eyes away from Mike.
“Oh God, yes.” Mike shifted closer, his hand tightening around Tommy’s. With his free hand, he reached into his shirtpocket. “I even have a ring.” He held it up, a circle of polished silver.
It was the sight of the ring that made Tommy’s heart soar.
“You… you’ve really thought about this, haven’t ya?”
“Constantly. I bought this a month ago.” Mike’s eyes, wide and blue, were focused on him. “So, as you might imagine, I’m getting kinda nervous here, because?—”
“Yes!” Tommy blurted out. “I’ll marry you.”
Mike visibly held his breath. “You said yes?”
Grinning, Tommy nodded. “I said yes.” He couldn’t resist yanking Mike’s chain. “Your hearin’ goin’, Mike? This an age thing? Should I be worried here?”
Mike laughed. “You like living dangerously, don’t you?” He made as if to put the ring back in his pocket. “So maybe I need to reconsider my?—”
“Don’t you dare.” Tommy held out his left hand.
Caroline was laughing, Ben and Bethany too.
Mike placed the ring over the end of his finger and slid it into place. He leaned forward until his face was inches from Tommy’s. “Love you. Need you. Want you in my life. Is that clear enough?”
Tommy smiled and closed the gap to kiss his fiancé on the lips. “Crystal.”
That road snaking off into the future had just taken an interesting—and unexpected—turn.
THE END
