Page 27

TWENTY-THREE

JERRYN

I feel like I’m in a dream.

The last month has been nothing short of epic now that Bane and I are no longer dodging our feelings, and for the first time since puberty I feel like a whole person.

I carry the plate of bacon to the dining room where Bane is already setting out the hash browns.

Lowen has the orange juice pitchers and Oakley has bottles of champagne.

It’s expected to snow today, the first one this season, which makes me smile.

I’m looking forward to a snuggly day on the couch with my favorite person.

Salem and Indy come in next, both carrying platters. Kit and Stewart are right behind them with the eggs Benedict. Wren and Ridley went all out this morning, so much so that I probably won’t have to eat again until dinner.

We all settle in our seats, passing platters around and filling our plates. Everyone is talking and laughing, and a new sense of joy fills me. It’s obvious to me now that I was always a little detached from the romance around me, thinking it wasn’t for me, but now I get to have it too.

Bane leans over to kiss my cheek, smiling before he bites into his strip of bacon while I pour syrup over my pancakes. “I hope it doesn’t snow too much this week,” he says. “We have a fun night planned on Wednesday.”

“It isn’t supposed to be much.”

We’re going into the city on Wednesday to see a special showing of a cult classic movie from the fifties. I don’t know what it’s about, but Bane said it was his grandmother’s favorite movie, so I’m up for it. He does so much for me; I’m more than happy to return the favor.

Kit clears his throat loudly, getting everyone’s attention. He shifts in his seat, glancing at Stewart, who smiles and rubs his arm in encouragement.

“Hey, guys,” Kit says. “I want to tell you something.”

Indy nods. “What’s up, man? You okay?”

“Oh yeah, I’m good. It’s in the past, but I want you all to know.” Kit glances at Stewart again, then blows out a slow breath. “My time on the West Coast was… difficult, to say the least. That’s why it was so easy to take Indy up on his offer to come back here to Willow Bay.”

Everyone is silent as we listen. My stomach tightens with nerves. I hope nothing is wrong with Kit.

“I coped with stress and disappointment in unhealthy ways,” Kit continues. “Long story short, my family intervened and I ended up in a treatment program.”

“Dude,” Ridley says. “For alcohol?”

Kit shakes his head. “No. Online gambling mostly, but generally, my tendency towards destructive behavior.”

“Oh, Kit,” Lowen says softly. “Why didn’t you reach out to us?”

He shrugs, scratching his beard. “I was embarrassed. I knew you’d all be there for me, but I was so fucked up, I didn’t even know where to start.”

“How are you now?” I ask.

“Good.” Kit smiles. “Really good. Like I said, this is all in the past, many years ago now, and I’ve done well with my coping skills since then. I’m bringing it up because of something Jerryn told us a while ago.”

I tilt my head. “Something I said?”

“The night you told us about your sexuality,” Kit says.

“You were vulnerable with us, and you trusted us with that. It made me realize that I still had a little bit of shame to work through, so I did, and part of that is telling you guys because I know you’ll still hold me up.

” He looks over at Stewart. “I’m not indestructible, and there’s always a chance that those behaviors could sneak up on me again.

I wanted you all to know in case, but also, just to know me. ”

“Is there anything we can do to support you?” Bane asks.

“Nah, man, I’m solid right now. Moving back here was the best thing I could do. Being with you guys, meeting Stewart, and having Moby’s to focus on has been great for me.”

“Thanks for telling us,” I say. “We’re glad you’re okay now.”

“Thanks, Jerr.” Kit smiles. “Now, enough heavy talk. Let’s finish eating.”

The conversation starts up again, all of us talking, sometimes as a group, and sometimes in side chats. Sundays make me so happy.

After brunch and cleanup, we all split off in different directions. Bane holds my hand as we climb the stairs to his room. He opens the door first, stepping to the side to let me enter. When I cross the threshold, my jaw drops.

The sitting room is decorated with scattered candles, all lit. The couch is piled high with comfy blankets and pillows, and on the coffee table is a medium-sized white box.

“What is this, Bane?”

“I know how much you love cozy Sundays,” he says, squeezing my shoulders from behind. “I ordered a cake from Rachel’s Bakery in the city.”

“Rachel’s? When did you do all this? It wasn’t like this when we went downstairs.”

“You were whisking eggs when I slipped out.” He grins. “I made sure Wren would keep you busy for a few minutes.”

“This is so sweet.” I twist around to look at him. “You spoil me.”

“I waited a long time to be able to. Hope you’re not too full. I got your favorite flavor.”

“Peanut Butter Splendor?”

“Of course.”

“Oh my god.” I hurry over and sit on the floor, pulling the lid off the box to get a whiff of the incredible peanut butter cream cheese frosting. Before I can dig in, something catches my eye, and my heart races.

“Bane?”

“Yeah, sweet thing?” He kneels next to me, a bright smile on his face.

“What is that?”

“It’s exactly what you think it is.” He reaches into the box and picks up the delicate jewelry sitting atop the cake on a small piece of paper.

“I have zero chill when it comes to you. The minute we talked about getting married, the seed was planted. I’ve been looking for the right ring and then the right moment for a week now, and today felt perfect. ”

My eyes well with tears as realization sinks in, but I’m too choked up to speak.

“I fell in love with you the second I saw your sweet face,” Bane says.

“It hasn’t faded, and it never will. We have what it takes to go the distance, and I promise with all my heart to give you my best every single day until I take my last breath.

” He holds my left hand in his. “Jerryn, will you marry me?”

The tears slide down my cheeks as the words settle over me. I never thought I’d get married, and definitely didn’t think it would be to my best friend in the whole world.

“Is this real?” I manage to ask.

“Yeah, babe, it’s real. What do you think?”

“What do I think?” I laugh as the tears flow. “Yes. A thousand percent yes.”

“You’ll marry me?”

I nod, knowing I must look a mess, but I don’t care. He really wants to marry me!

Bane holds my hand steady as he slides the black metal band onto my left ring finger. I look down at it and I see engraving on the band. I peer closer to read it. It’s our initials, J and B, with a heart between them.

“Your initial had to come first,” Bane says. “Otherwise the rings would read BJ.”

I sputter a laugh, and with shaky fingers, I pick up his ring and put it on him.

“This is perfect,” I whisper, sniffing.

“I’m glad you think so. Good thing I canceled the flash mob.”

“What?”

Bane laughs, lifting my hand to kiss it. “Kidding. I think I know you pretty well after all these years, and I know you wouldn’t like a public show. I considered asking in front of the guys, but my gut told me you’d prefer a private, simple declaration of my love for you.”

I nod, smiling. “You do know me.”

Bane tucks my hair behind my ear. “Are you happy, Jerr?”

“Happier than I’ve ever been.”

“Good. I’ll tell you a funny story.”

“Okay.”

“Do you remember a couple of months ago when Florian gave us the drink samples for our signature cocktail?”

I nod. “Kind of. I remember thinking that we didn’t get individual drinks.”

“That was my doing. I worked with him to come up with something that I hoped would show you I was trying to get your attention in a romantic way.”

“Really?”

“It’s called Love Potion, Jerr. By design. It’s sweet and sexy, just like you.”

I laugh softly. “That’s adorable, but I didn’t get it.”

“Yeah, you did actually.”

“I guess I did.”

“Now—” He gets to his feet. “—let’s dig into this cake and pick a movie to watch. Tomorrow we’ll tell the guys and our folks, then we’ll start planning.”

“Okay.”

After we get settled under the blankets, with the cake box sitting on our laps and forks in hand, Bane leans in and kisses my cheek.

“You’re gonna be my husband soon. That’s so badass.”

“It is.” I exhale slowly. “Thank you.”

“For?”

“Being everything I always thought you were. Not only did you help me see myself as whole, you showed me what love feels like, long before you declared it.”

“The easiest thing I’ve ever done is love you.”

It took a long time for this to happen, but I know now that we weren’t ready any sooner. As Bane has said before, better late than never.

“You’ll still be my best friend,” I whisper.

Bane smiles, kissing my cheek. “Always.”