Chapter 15
Nick could tell Reggie thought something was up. Which made sense to him, he wasn’t good at lying. Especially to Reggie. He had planned a date for them for Valentines Day that Reggie predicted to almost its entirety. Nick almost slipped up when they asked why they hadn’t heard from the others today, but Nick wasn’t going to spoil the surprise and tell them either. Instead, he just opened Reggie’s car door, offering his hand with a smile. Reggie grinned at him, laughing as they took it. Willie didn’t live far, so him and the guys walked, and Flynn had slept over the night before with Julie. He let Reggie open the front door, everyone was standing in the living room. He was amused to see Luke and Willie with matching strips of duct tape over their mouths that had Alex’s neat scrawl across them reading ‘Surprise!’ Reggie was staring at them with their mouth hanging open and wide eyes, and Nick was starting to think this was a bad idea. Julie took a step forward, “Happy birthday, Reg.” She spoke quietly, but it broke the spell. They flew forward, wrapping her in up in their arms.
“Thank you.” They whispered.
“Of course. Why kind of little sister would I be if I actually listened to you?” She laughed, pulling back to see their beaming smile.
“Why do Luke and Willie have taped faces?” They asked, pointing at the boys as they struggled to peel it off.
“We didn’t want them to yell surprise and scare you.” Nick answered, wrapping his arms around their waist.
“You knew about this, right? Cause I definitely knew you were hiding something.” Reggie turned to him with a smile that always made his knees weak.
“Yeah.” He muttered, “I just didn’t want to ruin the surprise.” Reggie pressed a quick kiss to his lips.
“Thank you.”
They played every game Julie had in the house, and eventually played rummy which Luke was garbage at. Ray had baked a cake, it was vanilla, but he spent extra time that morning coloring the batter, so when he cut into Reggie almost cried. Each layer was different, so when they came together they made the gender fluid pride flag. Reggie hugged him before he could plate more than a single piece, and he happily returned the embrace. Luke, Alex, and Willie gave them the presents they got together, a green flannel to match the green flannel skirt and green ripped skinny jeans they got. Julie and Flynn gave them the gender fluid and pansexual pride flags, and matching corded bracelets that they immediately put on. Reggie hugged each of them, saying thank you over and over again. Ray went next, passing Reggie the adoption papers that officially made them part of the family, and officially made everyone need tissues. Nick went last, and he was nervous. Julie knew what his gift was, and shooed everyone out of the room. Reggie raised an eyebrow at their boyfriend, unsure what was happening. First, Nick gave Reggie a necklace. It was all black with two things dangling at the end, the first being a metal bar that read ‘from now until forever’ down the side, and the second being Nick’s championship ring from lacrosse. Reggie pulled it on, pressing their lips to Nick’s. Next, the one Nick was really nervous about, was a promise ring. It was just a simple silver band about an inch wide, and on the inside were the pan pride colors with the words ‘I love you’. Reggie’s eyes opened wider than Nick had ever seen. “I’m not proposing, so please don’t panic on me.” He said quickly, sitting with Reggie on the couch, “But soon, I’ll be heading off to school, and I want you to know that being with you is the happiest I’ve ever been. I want to make a promise to you that I’m always here. And that no matter the distance that ends up between us, you are always first in my heart, Reg. When I’m done with school, I want to spend forever with you. If you want that.” Nick fell back into the couch when he felt a body slam into him, arms wrapping around his neck. He wrapped his arms around Reggie.
“Yes, Nick. Yes, to waiting for you. Yes, to you always being in my heart. Yes, to forever. With you.” Reggie held out their hand, and Nick slid the ring on before pressing a deep kiss to his partner’s lips.
“I love you, Reggie.”
“I love you, too, Nick.”
Julie popped her head around the doorway, sharing a smile with the two of them before letting the others in. Ray kept trying to act like he wasn’t crying, but he wasn’t fooling anyone. He wrapped his arms around Julie and Reggie, “Rose would be so proud of you both.” And then Julie and Reggie were crying with him.
Ray had something else for Reggie. College letters. He didn’t know what any of them said, so he set them aside for Reggie to go through the next morning.