Chapter Fifteen #3
Tyler took pictures of the food his mother prepared and texted them to Harry.
She’d asked him to bring an authentic Texan recipe back to the ranch, and his mother was excited to oblige the request. By the time they finished eating, Tyler was nearly in a food coma.
Owen revived him by whispering a few lines to his new “Rocket Man” song, and the kids kept him awake with their incessant requests to open gifts.
The Booths had switched to a kids-only rule for buying presents once their family started to burst at the seams. Many of his siblings were on tight budgets with growing families, and his parents had never put emphasis on material things, anyway.
Tyler and Owen bought the older kids their own pair of skates, knee and elbow pads, and helmets.
They’d purchased age-appropriate toys and clothes for the infants from a list his mother provided.
The roller skates were a tremendous success, and his dad decided they’d turn the unfinished part of the basement into a mini rink so the kids could work out some of their excess energy.
But first, his mom had a surprise up her sleeve. “I wanted to change things up slightly this year because I finally have my entire family here.” She passed out a wrapped box to everyone, including the grandkids. “Go on,” she said. “Open them.”
They pulled out matching pajama sets for the entire family.
She’d chosen green and plain flannel bottoms with beige Henley tops featuring evergreens and woodland critters wearing festive holiday hats or scarves.
Not a single person groaned about the cheesiness because they knew what the moment meant to her.
“Pictures, dessert, and then skating in the basement,” she said.
The festively decorated staircase made the most sense to use as a backdrop for a group their size, so they lined up in rows while their dad put his camera on a tripod and set the timer.
He took his spot between his wife and father on the first step, and they all hammed it up for the camera.
It took four or five tries before they got an image where everyone was looking at the camera and smiling.
Tyler had told his mom that Owen loved pumpkin-flavored anything, so she made a special pumpkin cheesecake with a gingersnap crust just for him.
There was grumbling among the siblings that Owen was their mom’s new favorite.
She didn’t bother to correct them, so Tyler figured there might be some truth in their accusations.
He certainly couldn’t blame her infatuation.
Owen’s expression upon first bite was pure bliss, and it only made the siblings want it more.
He ended up sharing because he was a wonderful person and wanted to remain in their good graces.
By the time they made it up to their new room, the guys were too stuffed and tired to fool around…
much. They settled for long kisses, light petting, and deep conversation.
Tyler told Owen about the big talks he’d had with his parents, and Owen shared the reading therapy plans he’d put together with his mom’s help.
“I’m going to enroll in an extensive program for adults,” Owen said.
“Wendy helped me find the nearest center, and it’s the one by Keegan’s therapist.” He got quiet and introspective for several long moments before breaking the silence.
“I’ve stared at that building so many times while waiting for Kee and wondered what would happen if I found the courage to walk inside and ask someone for help.
I’m finally ready. After I get better at reading and writing, I’ll start GED classes.
Those will last another three months before I can take the test. It’s likely I’ll still need some dyslexia tools for the exam, but I won’t know which ones until I’ve completed the therapy. ”
Tyler hugged him tighter and kissed his cheek. “That’s wonderful. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you. I never would’ve reached this point if not for you and your mom.” Owen rose up and looked over at the bedside table. “Hey, it’s midnight.”
Tyler snuggled closer and whispered, “Merry Christmas.” He reached for the lamp to turn it off, but Owen stopped him by squeezing his ass.
“It’s about to get merrier,” Owen replied huskily. “I brought a special gift for you.”
Tyler jerked upright and stared at him in the dimly lit room. “We already exchanged gifts.”
They’d stuck to their traditions of only buying things that fit inside the Christmas stockings they’d bought for one another for their first year on the ranch.
Tyler had stuffed Owen’s with his favorite snacks, fishing lures, and more bath stuff from Hope’s store.
Owen filled Tyler’s stocking with butterscotch candies, coffee samples from around the world, and his own special range of bath products that smelled like Irish Spring but were better for his skin.
Owen winced and said, “Don’t be mad.”
Tyler acted like he was contemplating it for a few seconds before grinning at him. “Only if you promise not to get mad at me either because I got you something too.”
They scrambled out of the bed and rummaged through their suitcases, then faced one another with the gifts tucked behind their backs.
“Who goes first?” Tyler asked.
“I brought it up, so I’ll go.” Owen took a deep breath, then kneeled on the floor in front of him. “I didn’t plan on doing this in my underwear, but I’m in too deep to second-guess my decision now.”
Tyler shook all over and clasped his free hand over his mouth so Owen wouldn’t know he was fighting back a laugh. Something in his expression must’ve given Tyler away because Owen narrowed his eyes and made no move to open the black jewelry box resting in his palm.
“Are you seriously laughing at me right now?” Owen’s tone expressed outrage, but his twitching lips revealed he found the situation funny too.
Tyler also dropped to his knee and pulled a matching black box from behind his back. “And maybe I also love how your dick has fallen out of your boxers again.”
Owen looked down at his crotch and grumbled as he tucked himself away. “The guy has a stake in your answer too.” His gaze dropped to the box in Tyler’s hand. “I worried I was asking too soon.”
“Same,” Tyler agreed. “I knew I was ready, but I wasn’t sure you would be.”
“We’ve been inseparable for over six years now,” Owen said. “We’ve worked and lived together in the closest quarters imaginable. You’re my best friend and the only person I want to share my life with, Tyler.”
“Babe, you don’t have to convince me.” Tyler shook the ring box for emphasis.
Owen sighed. “I prepared the speech for your parents because I really thought I’d have to pitch myself.” He laughed and shook his head. “I didn’t get past the first sentence with either of them before they gave their blessings.”
“That’s so sweet,” Tyler said.
“If they’d proven me wrong and turned out to be dirtbags, I was still going to propose so you’d know that I would always be your family.”
Tyler’s lips trembled, and happy tears filled his eyes. “I had a similar speech prepared when I called your mom earlier this week.”
“Really?” Owen asked.
“I didn’t make it far before she started to squeal and cry. Then, she ran over to Stephanie’s apartment to share the good news. Steph was enthusiastic about our pending engagement, and then the two of them got enthusiastic together.”
Owen grimaced. “Gross.”
Tyler laughed at his discomfort. “Just kissing, babe.” Owen fully supported the relationship, but no kid wanted to think about their parent getting it on. “Do you want to hear what I said to trigger the squealing, crying, and kissing?”
Owen scrunched up his face as he contemplated. “Maybe?”
“I promised Maggie that your heart will always be safe with me,” Tyler said.
“That’s as far as I got with her before the conversation went sideways.
I was going to tell you that too, but I think you already know it.
” Tears filled Tyler’s eyes, and he blinked to clear his vision, not caring that they spilled down his cheeks because Owen was crying too.
“I brought this ring with me because I wanted to make this a damn good weekend if it was going to be my last in Texas. I promised you my forever, Owen, and I want to ask you for yours too.”
They opened their boxes together, revealing the rings they’d bought for one another.
Owen had purchased a yellow-gold band, and Tyler had chosen white gold.
The rings were simple, but their paths to this moment were anything but.
They took turns removing the bands from their boxes and sliding them on.
Kneeling on the floor in a borrowed bedroom, they promised their love to one another and their commitment to forever.
Sealing it with a kiss led to other explorations that would be more comfortable in the bed.
“Definitely a merrier Christmas now,” Tyler said once Owen slid deep inside him.
“About to get even merrier.” And Owen kept his word just like he always did.