Chapter 19
The next day, when Reggie had to go to their only Saturday class, Nick took the time to look around Reggie’s apartment. The thing that caught his eye the most was a shadow box on their bedroom wall, that held a piece of their cut off cast, pressed sunflowers, the pictures they took at the carnival, and other little things Nick had given them. He knew they kept them, he didn’t realize they cherished them so much. Though he should have realized, because Reggie had yet to take off the ring and necklace he gave them. Nick felt his heart well up with affection as he thought about his partner. He never told Reggie about how hard the distance was for him, because he knew it was hard for them, too. They were all in their twenties now, and Reggie still made him feel like a love sick teenager. Nick had known since the beginning that he wanted to spend his life with Reggie. Now he just needed the right time to tell them.
The right time wasn’t that far away, as it turned out. Nick and Flynn stayed with them until Reggie and Julie finished their post grad programs, and the four of them moved home together, reuniting with the three boys that decided college wasn’t for them. Willie had gone to a trade school in town for construction, and Alex and Luke had joined the workforce. Sort of. They mostly just taught music lessons at a local shop. Luke talked a lot about a boy named Bobby he taught. Julie was taking over for Ms. Harrelson as the music teacher for their old school, Nick was working there as a history teacher, and Flynn was starting an internship with a design company that had a local branch. Reggie wasn’t telling anyone where they went when they left for their interview, saying they were afraid of jinxing it. But Nick was glad they were together again, it felt wrong to do this without everyone.
They all got together after work was done for the day, just like they used to after school, in the studio doing stupid things they were lucky they didn’t get hurt over. Like the time Luke and Willie tried to toss Alex onto the couch and he missed the coffee table by a couple inches. They were all thankful Reggie hadn’t been paying attention at the time, distracted playing with Nick’s hands. But today Nick was the one not paying attention. It took Flynn a few tries to get his attention. “Nick!” She finally screamed, face a few inches from his.
“Huh?” He snapped to look at her.
“I asked what has you so zoned out.”
Nick looked around, Reggie and Julie were still in the house talking to their dad. Nick fished around in his pocket, pulling out the ring. It wasn’t silver like the promise ring, it was made of a sleek black metal. “I’m waiting for the right time. And I think I’m starting to overthink it.”
“Is that-“ Alex squeaked with a big smile that was mirrored on everyone’s faces.
“Yeah.” Nick huffed a laugh, “You guys don’t think it’s stupid, do you?”
Luke shook his head, it was no secret that the three boyfriends agreed marriage wasn’t for them. Only two of them could get married, and they wouldn’t do that to themselves. “I think it’s the best idea you’ve ever had.” He answered honestly.
“What’s the best idea he’s ever had?” Nick heard Reggie ask, quickly closing his hand around the ring.
“Being with you.” He replied easily, because that was true.
“Aw, you sap.” Reggie grinned, kissing their boyfriend.
Julie ran into the studio a second later, “Reggie, will you tell us where the interview was now? I know you told dad!”
Reggie wrapped their arms around Nick’s, interlocking their fingers. “It was at the recording studio downtown.”
“What?” They all exclaimed at once.
Reggie couldn’t hide their smile, “My post grad work was in music production, and they hired me as their newest sound editor!”
“That’s amazing, Reg!” Nick kissed their cheek. “I’m so proud of you.” Conversation continued for a while, until Nick couldn’t take the looks the others were giving him anymore now that they knew. He cleared his throat, “Hey, Reg?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Can you come outside with me really quick?” Reggie’s brow furrowed in concern as they nodded, following Nick’s pull on their hand out the door. Reggie didn’t miss everyone’s eager smiles.
“Are you okay, baby?”
“I’m great, Reg. There’s just something I want to talk to you about.” Nick started, he could almost feel the gears in Reggie’s brain turning. “It’s nothing bad, I don’t think so at least. I’m just gonna say it. Reggie, I love you so much. You are never afraid to be genuinely who you are, no matter how you’re feeling that day. You have the most ridiculous sense of humor, but I love it because it’s yours and always makes me laugh. You’ve been through so much, and you’ve come out stronger for it. When we were at school, it was the worst because I missed you so much, and I never want to be without you again. So, Reggie,” Nick knelt down, opening his hand to reveal the ring, “Will you marry me?”
Reggie had tears slipping down their cheeks as a smile broke out over their face. “Oh, Nick...you beat me to it.”
Nick blinked, “What?”
Reggie knelt down in front of Nick, laughing softly, as they pulled a ring from their flannel pocket. It was rose gold. “I was going to propose to you.”
He laughed, “Do you still want to?”
Reggie nodded with a grin, gesturing for Nick to stand back up, “Nick, I never thought I’d find someone who could accept me enough to really love me. I figured anyone that tried would run away at the first sign of my panic attacks, but you never did. When we started dating, you said all you could do was stick around and prove you weren’t going anywhere, and you kept that promise. You never left. I love you more than I ever thought possible, and I want to cherish you forever. So, will you please become my husband?”
“Yes, Reg. I would love to.” Nick pulled them to their feet, pressing a kiss to their lips before pulling off the promise ring, and they slid their rings on each other’s fingers.
Later, when they told the others what happened, they all laughed because it was such a them moment.