Page 60 of Redemption Ridge Vol II

Tyler jerked upright and stared at him in the dimly lit room. “We already exchanged gifts.”

They’d stuck to their traditions of only buying things that fit inside the Christmas stockings they’d bought for one another for their first year on the ranch. Tyler had stuffed Owen’s with his favorite snacks, fishing lures, and more bath stuff from Hope’s store. Owen filled Tyler’s stocking with butterscotch candies, coffee samples from around the world, and his own special range of bath products that smelled like Irish Spring but were better for his skin.

Owen winced and said, “Don’t be mad.”

Tyler acted like he was contemplating it for a few seconds before grinning at him. “Only if you promise not to get mad at me either because I got you something too.”

They scrambled out of the bed and rummaged through their suitcases, then faced one another with the gifts tucked behind their backs.

“Who goes first?” Tyler asked.

“I brought it up, so I’ll go.” Owen took a deep breath, then kneeled on the floor in front of him. “I didn’t plan on doing this in my underwear, but I’m in too deep to second-guess my decision now.”

Tyler shook all over and clasped his free hand over his mouth so Owen wouldn’t know he was fighting back a laugh. Something in his expression must’ve given Tyler away because Owen narrowed his eyes and made no move to open the black jewelry box resting in his palm.

“Are you seriously laughing at me right now?” Owen’s tone expressed outrage, but his twitching lips revealed he found the situation funny too.

Tyler also dropped to his knee and pulled a matching black box from behind his back. “And maybe I also love how your dick has fallen out of your boxers again.”

Owen looked down at his crotch and grumbled as he tucked himself away. “The guy has a stake in your answer too.” His gaze dropped to the box in Tyler’s hand. “I worried I was asking too soon.”

“Same,” Tyler agreed. “I knew I was ready, but I wasn’t sure you would be.”

“We’ve been inseparable for over six years now,” Owen said. “We’ve worked and lived together in the closest quarters imaginable. You’re my best friend and the only person I want to share my life with, Tyler.”

“Babe, you don’t have to convince me.” Tyler shook the ring box for emphasis.

Owen sighed. “I prepared the speech for your parents because I really thought I’d have to pitch myself.” He laughed and shook his head. “I didn’t get past the first sentence with either of them before they gave their blessings.”

“That’s so sweet,” Tyler said.

“If they’d proven me wrong and turned out to be dirtbags, I was still going to propose so you’d know that I would always be your family.”

Tyler’s lips trembled, and happy tears filled his eyes. “I had a similar speech prepared when I called your mom earlier this week.”

“Really?” Owen asked.

“I didn’t make it far before she started to squeal and cry. Then, she ran over to Stephanie’s apartment to share the good news. Steph was enthusiastic about our pending engagement, and then the two of them got enthusiastic together.”

Owen grimaced. “Gross.”

Tyler laughed at his discomfort. “Just kissing, babe.” Owen fully supported the relationship, but no kid wanted to think about their parent getting it on. “Do you want to hear what I said to trigger the squealing, crying, and kissing?”

Owen scrunched up his face as he contemplated. “Maybe?”

“I promised Maggie that your heart will always be safe with me,” Tyler said. “That’s as far as I got with her before the conversation went sideways. I was going to tell you that too, but I think you already know it.” Tears filled Tyler’s eyes, and he blinked to clear his vision, not caring that they spilled down his cheeks because Owen was crying too. “I brought this ring with me because I wanted to make this a damn good weekend if it was going to be my last in Texas. I promised you my forever, Owen, and I want to ask you for yours too.”

They opened their boxes together, revealing the rings they’d bought for one another. Owen had purchased a yellow-gold band, and Tyler had chosen white gold. The rings were simple, but their paths to this moment were anything but. They took turns removing the bands from their boxes and sliding them on. Kneeling on the floor in a borrowed bedroom, they promised their love to one another and their commitment to forever. Sealing it with a kiss led to other explorations that would be more comfortable in the bed.

“Definitely a merrier Christmas now,” Tyler said once Owen slid deep inside him.

“About to get even merrier.” And Owen kept his word just like he always did.

Six months later…

Tyler stowed his bag in the pickup’s back seat and said, “Do you have everything?”

The Kenny Chesney concert had finally rolled around, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Owen had just found out he passed his GED test the day before, and they had so many things to celebrate during their weekend away from the ranch. When he didn’t get an answer, Tyler stepped back and peered around the back of the cab to find Owen still leaning against the opposite side of the truck with his eyes locked on the gravel driveway. Tyler called his name, and Owen turned to look at him.