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“Why? Because you’re the top?”

“Mira!” I gasped, poking her, and she burst out laughing, drawing Aiden’s eyes to us.

“He bought you a ring, you bought him a ring, just get engaged! What’s the big deal? You already own a house together.”

Aiden was staring at me, eyes wide. “You bought a ring?”

Mira grinned. "And that's my cue to leave. I'm taking an Uber to meet my study group." She kissed her brother's cheek, then surprised me by doing the same to mine. "Congratulations, homeowner."

We watched her stride away, already on her phone, arranging her ride.

"So," Aiden said, turning back to me. "I hear you bought half my house."

"I did," I agreed, pulling him closer by his hips. "Regretting it?"

"Regretting living with a grumpy mechanic who wants to put his motorcycles in our living room?" His eyes crinkled at the corners. "Not a single one. Except that my sister ruined my surprise proposal plan.”

“My plan.”

“I seriously doubt you planned to hire a hot-air balloon and a skywriter for a coordinated, masterful aerial declaration of love.”

I blinked down at him, at a loss for words.

He beamed up at me. “There were going to be fireworks, too.”

I narrowed my eyes, starting to suspect he was making this all up to fuck with me. He leaned in, and kissed me on the tip of my nose.

“Will you marry me, Cash Upton? I have a ring.” He whipped out a matte black box, flipping open the lid to reveal a wide ring in dark gray tungsten, subtly molded with the texture of a motorcycle tire. Smiling, I slipped the box I’d gotten him out of my pocket. Vintage white gold, pretty, and just his style.

He gasped, beaming up at me as he slipped it on.

“Yes, of course, yes,” he said, then stopped, frowning. “Wait. I just did the proposal and the acceptance. I feel like we missed the part where you talk.”

I burst out laughing, shaking my head, because that was pretty much how things went with us, and I was totally okay with it.

“You’ve gotten so much better with the help of your therapist. Do you want to try? It’s okay if you don’t.”

“Okay.” I swallowed, taking both of his hands in mine. “I love you, Aiden. So much. Everything about being with you changes my life for the better. And I want to marry you, if you’ll have me.”

“Holy shit. Yes. Of course yes! Oh my god, we’re getting married! And we have a house. Best day ever.”

He threw his arms around me and hugged me tight, and I leaned down and nipped his ear. Because even though I could say it out loud now, there was still something special about our own little language.

“I love you, too,” he replied, beaming up at me.