Epilogue
THREE YEARS LATER
MILES
“We said no gifts!” Zach swatted at Miles before accepting the rectangular package wrapped in dark blue paper with a snowflake design left over from Christmas.
They faced each other on the couch, the remnants of their anniversary dinner still on the coffee table in front of them.
Miles should have cleaned up first, but he’d been too impatient.
Their third anniversary. Three years together.
There’d been so many changes, and at the same time, everything was still the same.
They’d moved to a slightly larger apartment but kept Zach’s furniture, and if Miles ignored the hallway leading from the living room to the bedroom, he could imagine he was back in that tiny studio, never more than a dozen feet away from his favorite person.
He would have been happy to stay there forever, living under Zach’s skin, but there wasn’t enough room for all their stuff.
Once Miles’s internship turned into a real job—albeit entry-level—and Zach managed to balance his MBA studies with working as a TA, they made enough to upgrade to a one-bedroom.
The first thing they did after getting the keys was hang their horseshoe on the wall.
“We said no spending money on gifts,” Miles corrected. “And this was…well…not free, but… Oh, just open it.”
He wasn’t nervous. He was fine. Zach would love it.
Miles shoved a hand in his pocket and brushed his fingertips against the soft velvet.
There was no reason to be nervous.
Zach tore through the wrapping and pulled out a heavy frame. His gorgeous gray eyes were filled with confusion when he glanced up at Miles.
“It’s cute, but I don’t get it.”
Miles smiled, not offering an explanation. Zach looked back, examining the picture closely as if trying to work out a puzzle.
It wasn’t much of a puzzle. Miles had recruited Mara to help him get the perfect shot at Thanksgiving, waiting until Zach’s slender fingers were wrapped around his wineglass and his expression glazed over after listening to Jerry’s incredibly detailed stories of tractor repair.
Miles had cropped the picture at the waist and photoshopped himself next to Zach, changing the background from the living room of his family’s house to the Portland skyline. It wasn’t a perfect approximation of the painting he’d tried to emulate, but it was close enough. Zach would get it.
Miles watched his face, anticipating the moment realization dawned.
He didn’t have to wait long.
“Hey, I get it! It’s like American Gothic but updated for modern sensibilities.
” Zach laughed without taking his eyes off his gift.
“I love it. I look so severe with my very intimidating wineglass, and you’re definitely giving off I have a terrible secret vibes.
I don’t know if you remember, but I once made a joke about—”
That was his cue. Miles slid down onto one knee and revealed the little box he’d been clutching in his sweaty hand for the past few minutes, fumbling a bit to flip it open.
“Zach,” he started. “You’re the love of my life.”
“Oh, fuck!” Zach gasped, his hand flying up to his chest. “Miles!”
Miles stifled a chuckle. “May I continue?” He received a wide-eyed nod in return and shifted his weight to get more comfortable.
“Zach. I’ve loved you since before I can remember.
You’ve been my best friend for years, my constant source of joy, my inspiration and support.
I’m so glad I ran away from home that summer to stay with you, because the thought of going through life without realizing all the ways I love you is terrifying. I almost lost you.”
His breath hitched, and he had to pause. Even now, years later and no longer in danger of losing Zach, the memories swarmed him like a dark cloud. He could still taste the bitter despair of knowing Zach had slipped away from him.
“You wouldn’t have lost me,” Zach whispered. “I wouldn’t have been able to stay away.”
They’d had this conversation before, many times. Zach always said he would have come back to Miles eventually, but Miles wasn’t so sure. Zach was headstrong and stubborn. Soft and vulnerable. Skittish. If Miles hadn’t chased him down twice in one summer, he might have disappeared. Forever.
Miles tightened his grip on the soft velvet.
He had Zach now, and nothing could tear him away.
Miles wasn’t proposing because he worried about Zach leaving or because Zach wanted it.
They’d never even discussed marriage, not outside of some passing jokes or comparing their imaginary wedding to the ones they’d attended as a couple.
They didn’t need to get married to know they would spend the rest of their lives together. Their bond was solid.
Miles was proposing because he wanted to.
A few months ago, he’d walked past the same tiny jewelry store he always passed on his lunch break, but something stopped him in his tracks that day.
After studying the window displays, he ducked inside and found the perfect ring.
Thin and elegant for Zach’s slender fingers, glittery with tiny diamonds set into the band.
Miles wanted to buy it on the spot and propose to Zach that very night, but sadly, he didn’t know Zach’s ring size.
It took another few weeks before he could surreptitiously measure Zach’s finger after he’d passed out on the couch while watching TV.
He wasn’t sure where the sudden rush had come from, the desperate need to see that ring on Zach’s finger, to sign a piece of paper, to officially belong to each other. All he knew was that he never wanted either of them to be stuck in the waiting room, kept apart, unable to see the other.
“I can’t imagine a life without you in it, Zee. I need you. You’re my person, my safe space, the favorite part of my day. I promise to love you forever.” Miles paused to take a breath and swallow past the butterflies in his throat. “Will you marry me?”
Tears formed in the corners of Zach’s eyes and slid slowly down his cheeks as he lowered himself to his knees, coming face to face with Miles.
“Of course I’ll marry you, baby. I’ve been yours for years. I’ll always be yours.”
He leaned in for a kiss. Their lips pressed together, soft and warm. Miles trembled with relief, or maybe Zach was the one trembling. It was impossible to tell.
They were one.