64. Varian

It took some time, but we found a house in the same neighborhood Lindsay bought in. Close enough to ride bikes between. The moving company had unloaded and set up all the furniture, but Arik's whole life of stuff was mostly in boxes and had been sitting in his parents' garage this whole fucking time. He never put up any of his awards. Just put them in a box and shipped them to his parents. Along with everything he'd left there when he left for Warped.

"It's a wonder none of this was stolen." I stood outside our office, which we couldn't even get into because it was so full of boxes.

Arik pulled the door to the office closed. "That's a job for future Arik."

"You don't want to start unpacking tonight?"

"Nope. Nova and I have a surprise for you." He wore a coy smile.

"You two. This is going to be the rest of my life, isn't it?" I kissed his smile.

"You signed up for this. Don't get mad now." His grin spread as he took my hand. "Come on, she's waiting outside."

Nova stood on the deck with a new ghost shirt on, grinning ear to ear.

"What's the ghost carrying?" I asked, stepping closer.

"It's a box, and it flips up." Nova flipped up the little flap on the shirt, revealing a ring in the box.

My heart stopped.

I turned around.

Arik was down on one knee with the same box in his hands. He opened it. "I've loved you through every season of our lives. The summers and winters. I want all the rest of your days. Every single one."

"Yes." Tears streamed down my face, and I grabbed him, hauling him to his feet.

"Do you like it?" Nova asked. "I helped him pick out the ring!"

I looked between the two of them. "How did you get her to keep the secret if she helped you pick out the ring?"

"I told her fifteen minutes ago. I had the jeweler bring them all here to show her while you were directing the movers." Arik's entire face lit up with his smile. "I know how she is."

"You guys told me not to keep secrets," Nova muttered from behind me.

"I have one more thing to show you," Arik said when I was done kissing him.

"Two things," Nova said.

"Right. I almost forgot." Arik gestured at her. "You first."

She turned around to show me the back of her shirt. It read: I have two dads.

I was so overwhelmed with happiness, all I could do was grab Arik and kiss him again. "What's the other?"

Arik pulled up his sleeve to reveal the empty-handed ghost tattoo, but its hands weren't empty anymore. In its hands was a ring, and inside the ring was the word: Forever

"You… When did you get that?" How had I not noticed?

"A few days ago."

I wrapped my arms around his neck. "I want one too."

"I knew you would. We'll go together."

"Can I get one?" Nova asked.

"I love you," I breathed against Arik's mouth ignoring Nova's request.

"I love you too."

"Hello?!" Nova poked me.

"You can get a temporary one," I muttered into Arik's lips.

"Good I want my ghost carrying a bomb!"