“I love you so very much, baby boy. You are everything that I could ever want in a partner. I love your soft heart, your kindness, and your need for me to take care of you,” Jace said.
“I love you too,” Avery whispered.
Jace released Avery’s hands then reached over to Gus and gave the black German Shepherd a scratch on the top of his head before reaching for something attached to Gus’s collar.
A box.
A very small black box.
Jace untied the box from Gus’s collar and the dog moved closer to Avery to lean against Avery’s leg.
Avery dug the fingers of his right hand into Gus’s thick fur of as he started to shake.
Still on one knee, Jace opened the box with it facing Avery.
Two beautiful shining rose gold rings sat nestled inside the black velvet padding.
“Avery, my love, my boy,” Jace said. “Will you marry me and be my forever person?”
Tears were already falling down his cheeks, making it hard to see his Daddy. His love. His everything.
Avery had not expected this. They had briefly talked about how they felt about marriage a year ago when they’d been invited to Grant and Caleb’s for a barbecue that ended up being a secret wedding that the two surprised them all with.
Caleb hadn’t warned anyone that Grant had proposed and the wedding took place a week later. Just a small ceremony with an even smaller guest list.
At the time Avery hadn’t really thought much about marriage. He already knew that Jace was it for him. No one would ever compare to the man that had stolen Avery’s heart the first time he’d held Avery on his lap as Avery had cried.
It had been in front of the restaurant Avery had worked at as Avery had waited for the bus in the cold. Jace had seen him break down and had been there to pull Avery out of the darkness and into this new wonderful life. That was also the first time that Jace had said the word Daddy.
Daddy.
His Daddy. His partner. His future husband.
“Avery,” Jace said.
He blinked. Why was Daddy still on his knees. Avery wanted to wear his new ring. He wanted to show everyone!
“I need an answer, baby,” Jace told him.
“An answer?” Avery repeated. Then it hit him. He hadn’t said yes!
Jace smiled sweetly. “Yes, an answer, baby boy.”
“Yes!” Avery launched himself into Jace’s arms and of course his Daddy caught him because Jace was the very best Daddy in all the world. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Jace kissed him, full of passion and love.
Avery kissed him back, digging his fingers into Jace’s shoulders as he clung to the man he loved.
Cheering, shouts, whooping, and cat-calls interrupted the best kiss and possibly most important of Avery’s life.
He jerked his mouth away to look back toward the kennels.
They were all there. His friends. His family.
Clint, Gio, Phil from the camp. Byron was holding Mitch as tears ran down Mitch’s cheeks and he grinned. Caleb was in his Daddy Grant’s arms, dabbing at his own cheeks. Hayley was bouncing as he cheered, holding on to Mac. Jayme was dancing around with Lance before grabbing ahold of Sammy and forcing him to dance as well while Creed laughed. Marco was clapping softly but his eyes were shining with tears as Skinner held him close against his chest. And Master Finn had two arms full of Jackson and Michael as neither seemed to be able to stand still.
“Let me put the ring on you and then we can go show our friends,” Jace said.
