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“Then you’re all set, my friend. Go, go. You don’t have a lotof time.”
Noah still hesitated. “Are you sure you and Dave won’t stay, McKoy? You guys have done so much to help me and to make Jax feelat home.”
“I’m sure. We’ll see you at our New Year’s Eve party. This time should be for just you and your family.” He leaned in to give Noah a bro hug. “Go on. We’ll find you before wehead out.”
McKoy and the rest of the department, with the full knowledge and cooperation of his department chair, had managed to persuade Jax to go out for drinks before coming home. That gave Noah time to bring all the guests for the party that Jax didn’t know about, where he would propose to him in front of their family and friends. He was beyond nervous, but also excited to finally have what he’d always wanted with his professor … forever, a happily ever after, like they got in romance novels.
His lover had been throwing around broad hints about them settling down, but Noah didn’t know when Jax planned to do more than suggest they think about it. He was ready to move on, and he hoped Jax wouldn’t be angry that he’d stolen his thunder. He just couldn’t wait any longer. No time was better than the present to act on the desire that had been filling his heart almost from the day he’dmoved in.
The doorbell rang … that would be the flowers. He smoothed his hand down the white silk shirt he’d chosen, the mandarin collar hugging his throat softly. His black dress pants were pleated and cuffed, and his polished dress shoes shone in the light. Pulling the matching jacket over his shoulders, he headed back down the stairs where his and Jax’s family were waiting in the living room.
McKoy was about to head up to get him. He and Dave stood at the foot of the stairs, watching himwalk down.
“Looking sharp there, Santiago.” McKoy reached in to give him another bro hug, and Dave, his husband, did the same from the other side. “Congratulations, man! The next time we see you, you’ll be an engaged man.”
“Everything’s ready and where it should be. You’ll need to serve dinner as soon as you pop the question so everything will still be freshand warm.”
Dave was a chef and had gifted Noah the evening meal so he would have one less thing to worry about. If Jax liked the food, maybe they could hire him to cater their wedding. Something to discuss with his lover, later … much later, after everyone was asleep and he had given Jax at least one orgasm. Nope … not going there. He didn’t need to get all worked up with so many people around.
“Thank you, Dave. I really appreciate this.”
“Well, we’re going before he gets here. Text me after, to let me know how it went.” McKoy paused a second, then added, “Or, even better, have someone record it so we can see for ourselves.”
Noah smiled. “I’ll think about it. Not sure I want to die before mywedding.”
They laughed, and he watched them leave before going in to make sure everyone had a drink. Two charcuterie boards graced the coffee table, and his dad was in an animated conversation with Jax’s mom, little sister, and Annie, while Jax’s brother and brother-in-law were laughing over something Jimhad said.
He wished Teagan, Joel, and Blair could be here, but they were finishing The Barrington Strings’ second tour. They’d be back after Christmas. He’d send them the recording as well, so they could share in his joy. His manager had secured so many offers for him that they would need to discuss which ones were realistic for him to take on in the new year. Jax’s boss had indicated that she’d be happy if he would spend an evening with the performance majors and had suggested that he might look into doing some adjunct lecturing in the newsemester.
He had a lot to be grateful for and he knew it. Only one thing remained … to make Jax his permanently. When lights on the driveway signaled his arrival, Noah shushed his guests, and went out to meet his man. He was glad that Jax was never less than well dressed for work, so he wouldn’t have to do much to spruce up, though he might want to change his shirt. He’d see how that went. He knew Jax would want to know whyhewas all dressed up.
The door opened and Jax walked in, dropping his briefcase and his coat before gathering Noah intohis arms.
“Mmm. I missed you today. Was everything okay when you got down there?”
Noah nodded and kissed him, needing to shut down the conversation. He didn’t want to lie anymore, even if it was a harmless one.
“Something smells good,” Jax observed next. “Did you order out?”
“Yeah.” Well, technically, he’d had a chef cook it, but that was almost like takeout, right?
“Why are you all dressedup, then?”
“I just wanted to make it special. I felt like it.” He really was a terrible liar. “You can stay in whatyou have…”
“No. I’ll go change my shirt. I want to be dressy with you.”
Another kiss and then Jax went up to change. Noah moved his coat to the closet and his briefcase to his office and then went back to wait for him, this time with drinks in his hands. When Jax came back down, he had changed into a white shirt like Noah’s, only his was open at the collar.
“Let’s go sit and have a drink. Dinner will take just a few minutes more to warm up completely.”
The lights in the living room were on but Jax wouldn’t see anyone until they walked in. Noah let him go ahead of him and grinned when Jax paused as he walked in and saw all the people gathered there.
He took a few more steps in as the others said,“Surprise!”
“It’s not my birthday, babe,” he said, turning to look for his lover and finding Noah down onone knee.
The look on his face was everything Noah could have wanted. Joy, love, desire … all the things that said the answer to his question would be “yes” shone in Jax’s eyes. But before he could ask it, Jax was also kneeling and withdrawing something from his pocket. Noah’s eyes immediately welled up. He’d been right … Jax had been planning to propose, as well. The room and its occupants faded away, and only he and Jaxremained.
