Jay

Epilogue

We've just had a run-in with Arch on our sixth-month anniversary, and when I saw him in front of Ryder, I wondered if he would crumble, if he missed him and if he wanted him back. He never said anything about Arch, but they haven't seen each other in a year, and even though he says it was always me, I know he loved him. But he shot him down today, and I'm so grateful. It solidified everything between us, and I couldn't be happier. We've just bought a house together, and we're moving into it today. We've got the rest of the new furniture coming tomorrow, so tonight, we have an air mattress and an empty house, but it's ours.

When we walked into the meal, I could tell Ryder was rattled at seeing Arch, but he said it was more how bad he looked and the weight he'd lost. He felt sorry for him but still didn't want him.

We head back to our place. Fuck, that sounds great. We get ready for bed. I walk in, and Ryder's just about to climb in. "Wait, I don't think I can do this. I need more. This isn't enough."

"I'm not enough?"

Twat.Of course he would think that.

"No. Yes." I sigh. "No, that's not what I mean. Yes, you're enough. This. You're fucking everything to me." I gesture around the house. "This… it isn't enough."

I pull my hand out from behind my back and get down on one knee, opening the box to show the two black wedding rings. "I wanted to do this at the restaurant, but after all that, the shit show with Archie… I thought I'd wait a few days." But the more I look at him the more I want to start it all here. I want this to be our life together. "I can't wait another second longer. Marry me, Ryder?"

He gets down on his knees in front of me, he cups my face in his hands and my eyes flutter closed as he caresses my cheek, he leans in and kisses me. "Fuck yes, I'll marry you. I've never been happier."

And in that moment, I realise it's always been him, he's my heart, and my soul, and my forever. I can't wait to start living the rest of our lives, together. He's my best friend, my lover, my everything and I refuse to live without him by my side. He's mine and I am his. He rests his head against mine and grins. "One day at a time."

I smile back and let out the breath I was holding whispering out. "One fucking day at a time."