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Christmas one year later

It had been the happiest year of Heath’s life. He still had to pinch himself sometimes so he didn’t start to worry about things going wrong. Tristan was a great boss and there’d been no issues working for him. Heath was thrilled to be part of a company that was so innovative. His boyfriend was a genius.

They were going to have Christmas Eve together then go to Tristan’s parents’ for dinner the next day. Heath had all the ingredients ready to make pizza and Tristan was due back any minute. The house looked lovely. They’d decorated it together and decorated their outside tree which fortunately hadn’t kept growing. Neither of them had been able to come up with an explanation for what had happened, so they’d just accepted it had and stopped trying. They didn’t believe in magic but they did believe something special had happened.

“I’m home!” Tristan called and Heath went to meet him.

“It’s snowing?” Heath gaped at the flakes on Tristan’s coat.

Tristan pulled him into his arms. “I thought that was on your wish list to Santa?”

“Ha ha.” Heath kissed him and kept on kissing him. “I wanted pizza but now I want you more.”

Tristan took his hand and tugged him into the lounge. “There’s something I need to ask you.” He pulled Heath down onto the sofa next to him.

“Yes,” Heath said.

Tristan laughed. “Did you get the blue cheese for—”

“Yes.”

“Can we watch the—”

“Yes.”

Tristan raised his eyebrows. “Now I’m trying to think of things you definitely don’t want to do.”

“I’m a new man.” Heath smiled.

“Can you let me speak without interrupting?”

“Yes.”

“In that case.” Tristan dropped down onto his knees and looked up into Heath’s eyes. “Would you like to marry—”

“Yes! Sorry. Oh God. Yes!!! Sorry. Too excited. Try again.”

“Would you like to marinate the salmon we’re taking to mum’s?”

Heath swallowed hard. “Yes.”

“Don’t do it wearing this.” Tristan held out an open box with a silver ring inside.

“Damn it, now I have to say no.”

Heath pulled him into his arms and onto his back on the sofa.

“Make it up to me,” Tristan said. “You know the answer I need to hear.”

“The only answer I want to give. Yes!”

The End