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“You go first,”Jax said.
“I didn’t go anywhere today,” were the first words from his mouth. That hadn’t been what he meant to say, but it was too late now. “I wanted to make this memorable for us, so I needed to have the people we love the most here with us when I asked you the most important question I’ve ever asked anyone.”
He pulled the ring from his pocket and opened his palm so Jax could see it. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of someone—he couldn’t tell who—moving close enough to take pictures. He refocused on the man on his knees before him.
“I love you, Prof. I’ve loved you for almost twelve years. I hated every second that we were apart, and Google says that that’s almost 378,432,000.” Quiet laughter filled the room, but Noah ignored it. “I think it’s safe to say I will always love you, so will you please put me out of my misery and marryme, Jax?”
He watched as tears filled Jax’s eyes, though he didn’t let them fall. They were both a mess, but he didn’t care.
“That’s a whole lot of seconds, babe,” Jax replied, swallowing hard. “And I know how every one of them without you feels. I never want to feel that way again. So yes, I’ll put you out of your misery, because selfishly, it puts me outof mine.”
More laughter … Noah loved the feeling as he slid the gold ring onto Jax’s finger. It fit perfectly, because he’d borrowed one of Jax’s rings to get the right size. Then it was Jax’s turn.
“I’ve been walking around with this ring—literally—for almost three months, Noah. I didn’t want to rush you, but I knew, long before you moved in with me, that you would be the only man I’d ever ask to be mine. You’ve always been mine, from that first moment when you walked into my music room and gave me the eye. I should have known I didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of escaping you. I didn’t want to then, and I don’t want to now. I’m glad you want me, because I want you. So, will you stay mineforever?”
His ring also fit perfectly, and Noah didn’t have to wonder how Jax knew his ring size, because he’d been trying on jewelry in a pop-op shop when they’d gone on one of their weekend excursions to a neighboring town. He had bought a costume piece with a big red stone for the Halloween party that he’d attended as a vampirewith Jax.
“Forever,” he promised and squeezed Jax’s fingers when he slid the ring on.
They leaned in together and kissed each other, just managing to keep it PG. After the joyous congratulations of their family and friends, dinner was a happy, noisy affair, with dancing following it. Noah couldn’t think of a time when he’d been happier and only one other day could top this one. He had a plan for that day, too, but this time he’d be the only one who would know it … he and theofficiant.
On a hot day at the beginning of August, a year after they first found each other again, Noah and Jax invited their family, friends, and colleagues to bear witness to the beginning of their marriage. Jax’s boss, a notary public with the necessary license, married them in the gazebo down by the water. The Barrington Strings played all the music, from the walk down to the water’s edge through to their walk back to the house as a married couple. And, in among all the other songs, was one piece that Noah knew no one would forget.
As he stood playing the song he had composed for his love, Noah’s heart swelled with gratitude. He was only able to play the first movement, but he’d been practicing and doing his PT routine diligently so he would be prepared. The sound was rich, warm, romantic, and vintage Noah. He couldn’t hold back the tears when he received a kiss from his man and a standing ovation from the guests. And even after the group took over and played the entire work, he was still buzzing from the high of that achievement.
“Are we staying for the party?” Jax whispered in his ear as they walked to the head table afterwards. “Because I can think of a lot of better things to do than eat a bunch of food and cake and smile for thecameras.”
Noah laughed. “I’ll bet you can, but you can’t ditch the party until after dessert. Your mom made me promise.” He looked into Jax’s eyes and winked. “Seems she knows you a whole lot better than I do.”
Jax shook his head. “If I’d known you were going to gang up against me with my own mother…” He cut himself off and sighed dramatically.
“Yes?” Noah grinned, daring him to say anything more.
“Nothing,” he answered. “Because really, anything I said now wouldbe a lie.”
Noah chuckled. “That’s what I thought,” he replied with a self-satisfied smirk.
After dinner, the first dance, the cake—they smooshed each other’s lips with frosting and then licked it off, to whoops and wolf whistles and catcalls—and dances with their parents, even Noah’s patience had worn thin, and he was ready to disappear. Still, he waited until the guests all got up to dance to some stirring, sexy Latin rhythms before he pulled on his husband’s arm.
“Let’s get out of here now, Prof,” he whispered in Jax’s ear.
They were going to Niagara Falls, mostly because it was close by. They had nothing planned for the first week of their honeymoon. They’d just go where the mood took them. The second week, they’d fly down to Jamaica and spend two more weeks sunning themselves and discovering Jamaica, as the ad suggested. Then they’d come back to spend a few days with family before the new semester began.
But tonight, they had booked a room at a nearby inn and had already packed their suitcases for the drive up to Niagara Falls. All they had to do was get to Jax’s car. Making discreet eye contact with Jax’s mom, Noah pulled his husband along, making dance moves as he did until he got into the house.
“I’ll be sure to lock up, boys,” Mrs. Knox told them. “Get out before they notice you’re gone. I love you both. Call me when you get to Canada.”
“Will do, Mom. Loveyou too.”
Hugs and kisses, and they were off. The sun had just gone down, the night was theirs.
This night, and forever.
The End
