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“What if I asked you?” Aaron said.
Caleb wasn’t sure he understood. “Asked me what?”
Aaron gave an exasperated huff. “To marry me.”
“Wait a second. Really?”
Aaron nodded. “These past few days, I’ve had a chance to think about what I want out of life. I realized I was letting things in my past control my future. I was afraid of getting hurt again, afraid to take a chance and truly move forward. I don’t want fear to ever hold me back again. What I want, all I want, is you, Caleb.”
“It means so much to hear you say that.”
“I’m one hundred percent all in too. Will you marry me?”
“God, yes. Of course I will.”
Caleb grabbed hold of Aaron, wrapped him in an embrace, and twirled him around. He let out whoop of joy, the sound echoing against the bare walls of their new house. A home they’d they make theirs and fill with love. Caleb set him down and took Aaron’s handsome face in his hands, kissing him thoroughly.
They were interrupted by the buzz of Aaron’s phone vibrating. Caleb’s phone also chirped to life. They ignored them until both phones went off again.
Aaron pulled back, chuckling. “One guess who that is.”
“I don’t think I have to.” Caleb took his phone from his pocket and showed Aaron the screen. “She never was patient.” They looked at the screen together.
One of you better tell me something soon. The anticipation is killing me.
“Are we keeping this a secret or do we tell her?” Aaron asked.
“I have no intention of keeping this news under wraps. Do you want to text her or should I?”
“You can do it.”
Caleb typed: You’ll have a brother-in-law soon. “Look good?” He showed it to Aaron.
“Perfect.”
Caleb clicked Send, put the phone on the counter, and pulled Aaron close so they could get back to the kissing.
They ignored her replies.
Epilogue
“BABE,” Caleb shouted from the living room, “hurry up. The commercial is almost over.”
“I’m almost done,” Aaron called out as he pulled the bag of popcorn from the microwave and emptied the contents into a large bowl.
They’d been working on the house together since they returned from Caleb’s championship win. In the lead-up to the championships, Aaron had overseen some of the remodeling of the house—refinishing the floors, fresh paint where it was needed, better kitchen appliances. The painting of the pond that Caleb loved so much hung over the fireplace in the living room. Meanwhile, the scandalous paparazzi picture of their park kiss and the “World’s Best Tutor” trophy had a home on the mantel.
Aaron turned off the kitchen light and joined Caleb on the couch that had just been delivered that afternoon. Aaron snuggled in close to him, balancing the bowl of popcorn between them, as they prepared to watch Dimitri’s interview. The online live stream of NY1 was the only way to see it in Foster Grove.
As Aaron reached for a handful of popcorn, Caleb leaned even closer, “I like how that engagement ring looks on your finger.”
Aaron glanced at his hand and admired the platinum band that now adorned his ring finger. “As it turns out, not only is my fiancé an excellent hockey player, he has superlative taste in men’s jewelry.”
“Aren’t you a lucky fellow,” Caleb teased, nibbling Aaron’s earlobe.
“Okay, Romeo, let’s put that idea on hold until after the show,” he said, focusing their attention back to the television.
“Welcome back to Sports on One. Joining us is Dimitri Stanislov, one of the stars of the newly crowned Stanley Cup championship team,” the interviewer said, introducing Dimitri. “Congratulations. You helped bring the Cup back to New York for the first time since 1994.”
