26. Perry

Since visiting and meeting most of Roman's family—his other sister didn't get back while we were there—we've been exceptionally close. He's extra touchy and I'm hyperemotional to the point I don't want to leave the house without him.

But I do because our routine is important; which is why I'm currently having lunch with my brother at the Log Jam on a Wednesday afternoon in late September. Our tradition for when he decides the lodge is officially in its downtime.

"So what do you have coming up?" I ask as I remove the tomato from my sandwich.

"Normally nothing." He laughs. "But Sasha had another idea for a fall leaf viewing thing. He's renting a horse and wagon for the sugar shack and, if it doesn't rain, taking people on a tour, along with this camera. To take family portraits or some shit like that." He squirts a giant puddle of ketchup on his plate. "He arranged it all and filled the eight rooms I gave him to use at the lodge. So I guess it's a success."

"That sounds like fun, actually. Great idea."

"What about you? Any side jobs with Ted coming up?"

Ted knows I like to be busy and usually offers me odd projects on his construction sites. It's not for the money, but for me to keep busy. I can only take so much sitting around. But this time I have something else I want to do.

"Nothing with Ted. But I have something I want to talk to you about."

"Okay. Go for it."

He pops a fry in his mouth and waits.

"I went to see my financial planner last week and changed the beneficiary on my life insurance. I put Roman on." I pause for the next bit. "I also updated my will."

"To Roman?"

Clearing my throat, I nod. "Yeah. Because, usually, you have your spouse as a beneficiary."

Leaf coughs and chokes and reaches for his water glass.

"Uh…did I miss something?"

"Not yet. I mean, I think he'll say yes, but I didn't want to wait to get all this stuff in place. With his new nephew and things with his business, I just want to…I want him taken care of."

"I understand. Connor did the same thing when we were together. Before we were even married, he did that. When are you, I mean, do you plan to propose soon?"

"Well, that's why I asked if the lodge was empty this weekend. If it is, I'm gonna need Sasha's help and probably yours, too."

Leaf's smile is easy. "My little brother is gonna get hitched. Should we hug now?"

"Oh, fuck off." I laugh and steal a fry from his plate. "I've never loved anyone like I do him. He's a prickly bear some days, but he's also so warm and kind. He's like nobody I've ever met. And so fucking hot. How do you not like him in a corset? I didn't even know I liked that until he showed up."

Leaf makes a gagging sound and laughs.

"Can you not be all lovey while we're eating?"

"Says the guy who had to show me when he learned what sexting was."

He laughs, unashamed.

"Okay, that's fair. But I really wanted to make sure you knew how fun it could be."

"I taught you how to use the phone, genius. I think I'm aware."

Leaf just laughs again. Like he didn't traumatize me when he showed me a picture of his dick. Thank god that's all I saw.

"So why the lodge and is Roman on to you?"

"Because it's where we met. A lot of big things happened for us at the lodge. It seems fitting to clear all the negatives with a positive. And I want my romantic confession of love, dammit."

"I didn't know you were just as into that shit as Sasha. I thought you read those books for the sexy parts only."

"In the beginning I did." Some of that shit was spank material. "But I really like how people fall in love and make all these gestures. I want to tell him I love him with some enormous display, like candles and rose petals."

"Gross. Really?"

"Oh shut up, Mr. I-made-a-batch-of-maple-syrup-and-name-it-Sasha's-Sweetness. That's more gross."

Leaf laughs and has the decency to be embarrassed.

"He went bananas over that."

"I know. One of his best friends here, remember? Sometimes I hear things about my brother that I really don't want to. So cut me some slack."

Sasha sometimes over shares and forgets I'm Leaf's brother. Which is… disturbing at best.

"So what is it you have to make up for?"

"Well, he told me he loved me first. While standing in calf-deep muddy river water in his raincoat and boats while I was in my wet suit with a scared kitten in my hands. It wasn't exactly romance novel material. I want something more. Something epic."

And by the time I finish laying out my plan to Leaf, he's a little misty-eyed. But he's on board.

Operation Secret Proposalis a go.

Now to get Roman there without figuring it out.

"You swear he'll like this? I don't want to fuck this up."

Sasha may have been Roman's best friend longer than he's been mine, but I trust him to guide me.

"Perry, you chose well. He loves roses. He also loves that gross citrus water you both drink. And there's nothing more romantic than an I love you under the stars." He sighs and stares dreamily outside.

"Is the suit too much? Should I tone it down?"

Sasha shakes his head.

"No. He'll love it. It's hanging upstairs at our place. You can go up and get ready while I finish up the decorations here. You can play the bonfire by ear. Sometimes he gets all pissy about his clothes smelling like campfire."

Sasha rolls his eyes and I grab him for a hug.

"Thank you for your help. I just hope he says yes."

"He's a moron if he doesn't."

I leave Sasha decorating the common area of the lodge. He strings the same twinkle lights around the room that I used for his welcome home party. Two huge floor-standing vases I rented from a local wedding decorator sit under the archway. They're overflowing with a metric tonne of blue and white roses. It cost me a small fortune, but his blue rose corset is my favourite and I hope he wears it tonight.

Millie baked his favourite gingersnaps, and Sasha made a punch with the citrus water we both like. It's by no means an extra elaborate display, but once all the battery-powered candles are in place and the timer goes off, there's no way he won't swoon.

And there's no way he'll say no.