Second Chance(72)

“My turn.” Jack opened the box he was holding and showed Nate the ring he’d chosen. “Nate. We grew up together and you were my best friend in the whole world, but I never thought we could be more. But now… I can no longer imagine my life without you in it. Please, Nate, will you do me the honour of being my husband?”

Nate had lost the battle against tears and they flowed down his cheeks as he nodded. “Yes.” He sniffed unattractively. “I want that more than anything.”

They took the rings out of the boxes and slid them onto each other’s fingers. They were a remarkably similar design. Both stainless steel, inlaid with a line of contrasting colour. Jack had chosen black for Nate, and Nate had picked copper.

“Does yours fit okay?” Nate asked.

“It’s perfect. Yours?”

“Perfect too.”

They kissed each other to seal the deal, until Nate’s knees started to hurt from the floor. He broke the kiss and stood, pulling Jack up with him, and leading him to the sofa.

“Can we take a photo of the rings?” Nate got his phone out of his pocket and they clasped their hands together. He held his phone up to get the perfect angle and snapped a couple just in case. “There.” He moved close beside Jack to show him the pictures. “That can be the next one we print off for our photo board. The next instalment in our story.”

“Then wedding photos?”

“Absolutely, then the honeymoon. There’ll be lots of photo opportunities.” Nate pulled Jack’s arm over his shoulder and snuggled in beside him.

“There’s so much to look forward to.” Jack wrapped his arm around Nate and kissed the top of his head.

“There really is.” Nate’s heart was so full he thought it might burst. He smiled up at Jack. “I’m the luckiest man in the world.”