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“You know, Hale is trying to plead insanity to all his charges, including embezzlement. His defense is that I’m a troublemaker, and he spent years fixing problem after problem, which put a strain on his mental health until he broke and committed the crimes he did.”

Luka chuckled and Burton became outraged on my behalf.

“Can you even file for insanity if most of his crimes are blue collar ones?” Burton asked.

I shrugged.

“If he couldn’t convince the emergency doctor he was having a heart attack, although his lawyers are trying to incorporate that into his defense, there’s no way a psychiatrist would diagnose him as insane.”

We all chuckled at the thought of Hale convincing a doctor his gay son drove him to criminal lengths. It would be funny to hear while the man was under oath. But unless called by the court, I choose to never see him ever again.

“We should take a trip during Christmas vacation?”

I perked up at Luka’s words, and so did Burton, as he rested his chin on my shoulder.

“Oh, and where would you like to go?” I asked.

“Maybe Prague, or Vienna, somewhere we haven’t even dreamt of going before. But first…” Luka trailed off before he pulled a box out of his front pocket. When he opened it, there were three white gold rings with a script design and three inlaid diamonds spaced apart, representing… well, us.

“Oh, wow, they are beautiful,” I whispered.

Burton sniffed and between staring between the box and Luka’s face, he teared up and brushed them away. “They are perfect. Do they fit?”

Luka lifted one and held out his hand. “Let’s try it out, B.”

Eager, Burton held out his hand and Luka, with careful precision, slid the ring on his finger with ease. He was overwhelmed, and after kissing Luka; he buried his face against my neck.

I beamed at Luka as the ring he chose for me gave me a shiver when the cool metal touched my skin. But as soon as it was in place, it warmed, and I stared at it in awe. A symbol of our connection to each other.

“It’s gorgeous.”

Not wanting Luka to slide on his own band, I gripped it and held it out until Luka’s hand held steady and I slipped it on.

“It feels as though I’ve had it on forever. Thank you, lover. It’s perfect.”

Burton smiled through tears as Luka kissed him. Luka then kissed me. And of course, Burton dipped me and made loud kissing noises up my neck until he pressed our lips together, leaving me breathless.

In the middle of a warm August night, as peace settled around us, I relaxed with the two men who held my entire heart and soul.

“I love you, both of you, with everything I am.”

And I always would.

THE END