Nearly another month had passed, but I had been saving diligently and working my ass off. The baby was due any moment now, so tensions were high in the household. We had our good days and our bad days, but we somehow grasped onto the knowledge that the future was something perfect to look forward to.

“Cole, where are you going every week?” Piper finally asked me. “You can’t just be writing. You write so much here.”

I tried my best to hide my secret. I didn’t want him finding out about the ring until I was down on one knee. Plus, I had the perfect idea as to how to propose. It was going to be incredible.

“I’ve just been taking walks. Sometimes, I sit in the park,” I said. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’m going to be like when I become a father.”

That part wasn’t untrue. Every single day was a new way of learning how to become a better man for both Piper and Peter. Admittedly, I used to be a little scared of the idea. Was I ever that good of a man? I mean, really? Sometimes, I felt like I wasn’t cut out for this.

Then, there were the days where things came together. I’d walk home from the jewelry store, after paying the clerk what I could, and I’d just smile to myself because of how easy it was to Piper’s husband.

On those days, I knew I could handle having a child. It was going to take work, of course, but that never stopped me. I could get beaten down, could take my father’s abuse, and I still would push forward. Piper and I were so similar in that regard.

“If you told me, I’d walk with you,” Piper said. “You don’t have to escape from the house.”

“Oh, baby,” I said, tickling my fingers down his back. “I’m not escaping. Being home with you is like being in heaven.”

Piper rolled his eyes and smiled. “Yeah, right,” he said.

But I didn’t laugh because it was true. I loved being with Piper. Even when things felt stressful, it was better than anything in the world. Without Piper, I had nothing.

“I’m serious, Piper. I love this,” I said. “And that’s why I’m taking you out to a big, fancy dinner in two hours.”

Piper’s eyes lit up. “What? You are?”

I nodded, clutching against the black velvet box in my jacket pocket. I wasn’t done with my payments, but the clerk was kind enough to trust me. Tonight was going to the night I surprised Piper. My heart was beating like crazy, but I was ready.

“Have you heard of Bianca’s?” I asked, smiling. Of course, he had heard of Bianca’s. It was only the best Italian restaurant in the city. Bianca made each noodle by hand.

“Oh my God!” Piper squealed. “Really? Are you serious?”

“Heck yeah, I am! And we’re going to order three courses and all the desert you can handle eating,” I said.

Piper had worked so hard these nine months. He deserved this. “I love you so much!” Piper threw his arms around my neck, causing me to collapse against him.

“I love you, Piper. Now, go get dressed. Time is of the essence!” I exclaimed, rubbing my hands together eagerly. I was about as excited for this food as he was.

“I’m going to wear my best pregnant outfit,” he said, happily bouncing toward the room. There was nothing more I enjoyed than seeing such a big smile on his face.

We both took our time to get ready. For myself, I picked out my nicest suit. It was dark black with red stitching. It had been in my closet for years, waiting for this one moment.

Piper picked out his favorite maternity shirt. It was utterly cute and frilly around the edges, with a small hand-stitched rose design around the bottom.

“You look so handsome,” I said, spraying cologne against my clavicle and neck.

“God, so do you. So fucking handsome. And you smell so nice,” Piper gawked with hearts in his eyes.

I kissed him, feeling his belly pressed against mine. He definitely felt like he was going burst at any moment, which only furthered my excitement. “Are you ready to go?” I asked him.

“Yep. Ready when you are,” Piper said.

Together, we jumped into the car and drove to the restaurant. The whole restaurant was bustling with people, but I had reserved the best table in the house, in the outside garden where we could be semi-secluded.

The red lights hung against the corners of the garden. Roses surrounded us, as well as the green shrubbery. It felt utterly authentic, and everything was going according to plan. Even so, I was nervous as hell and Piper could tell.

“Cole, you’re glistening. Are you warm?” he asked.

“Me? Warm? No. Well, I’m hot for your love,” I said. I was talking way too fast and almost robotically. I couldn’t control my tones or my muscle movements. I was a total wreck over this proposal. I just wanted it to go smoothly.

“You’re acting weird,” Piper said, slightly smiling. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

I took a big gulp of my red wine, exhaling hot air into the glass. “I’m totally fine,” I said. “Just enjoy yourself.”

I glanced at the couple next to us. They were talking and laughing loudly. They were having a great time. I couldn’t stop focusing on them. “Thank you so much for taking me out. You’ve been so sweet to me lately,” Piper said.

I prearranged every course, starting with their house dishes. Piper immediately dug into the noodles, all handcrafted just for us. “This is the best food I have ever tasted!” Piper exclaimed after sucking in a big noodle.

“I just want you to have the perfect dinner,” I said, smiling. I still had my eyes focused on the couple next to us. The alpha stood up in in the middle of the restaurant. He held the hand of his omega, sweetly.

“Oh my God,” one of the guests exclaimed. “Is he…?”

The alpha got down on one knee. Piper turned his attention to them, finally. He put his hand over his mouth. “He’s proposing, isn’t it?” he asked.

I nodded and stood up. I walked over the couple, heart beating at a million beats per second. I tapped the alpha’s shoulder and said, “I got this.”

Piper looked utterly confused. “Cole, what are you doing? You can’t do that!” he exclaimed.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the black velvet box. Little did anyone know, I paid the couple to act for me. I got down on one knee. “Piper. You have given me everything,” I said.

“Oh my God!” Piper said, tears visibly shining in his eyes.

The restaurant was flabbergasted. “You taught me how to love when there was so much hate. You gave me a reason to fight. You showed me how to forgive when it didn’t seem possible,” I said. “And that’s why I wanted to take you here. I wanted to surprise you to the fullest. I wanted to take your hand and ask you to marry me.”

“Oh, Cole,” Piper said. The tears fell down his sweet face. He was trembling with intense emotion.

“Will you marry me?” I asked. “It would give me the most joy in the world if you did.”

I glanced down at my hands. They were shaking uncontrollably. I opened the box and showed him the unique ring I had picked out just for him. Piper exhaled and immediately threw his hands around me.

“Yes!” he cried. “You’re the absolute love of my life!”

I carefully took the ring from the box. I slowly slid it over his finger, signifying our union and incredible life bond. “We have gone through everything together. And though we had a considerable amount of time apart, I knew I’d find you again. I knew we’d spend our life together.”

The couple behind me clapped, and the restaurant quickly followed suit. I wasn’t sure they could fathom what had just happened. They looked back and forth between the couple I had paid to act for me, and us.

“I love you more than you can imagine,” Piper said.

I stood up and hugged him. The restaurant applauded for the second time, finally understanding. “Cheers!” somebody exclaimed from behind us.

An Italian singer walked out into the garden and started to sing in an operatic voice. He sang a song of love, while Piper and I took hands. I pulled my fiancé to his knees and looked into his beautiful eyes. “I am yours. Forever,” I said.

We started to dance, focusing on our body and rhythm. It just came naturally. We held each other close, listening to the deep voice of the baritone. “I’ll never let you go,” Piper said.

“Jacob has nothing on this love,” I added.

It was the special night I had been hoping for. When the song finished, we both took a bow. I was blushing so much that my cheeks seemed to radiate heat. Piper sat down, laughing wildly.

“I can’t believe this night!” he said with excitement. He sat smugly, but before his back hit the chair, he darted back up. “Um, Cole. You’re not going to believe this but—”

“You’re water just broke, didn’t it? I asked with a smile. Somehow, I knew immediately.

Piper nodded slowly, eyes widening with worry. “Um, shit. What do we do?” he asked. “We just go to the hospital? Shit! What do we do?”

I knew the day was coming soon, but I didn’t anticipate for the baby to arrive a week early. Still, the doctor had walked us through this a few times already. We had time.

I walked behind Piper and calmly lifted him up. “It’s okay, sweetheart. This is going to be the best day of our lives. Just relax, and I will take care of everything.”

Piper looked at me with doe eyes. “Am I going to be okay, Cole?” he asked.

“I promise that you will. I won’t let anything happen to you,” I said. “And our doctor is the best in the city.”

“Okay,” he said.

I could sense that his mind was racing, but this was my time to stay calm for him. Nothing was going to happen to my babies. Nothing.