Rhett smiled at Lucy sitting on the mantle in the living room, sporting a set of twinkle lights of her very own. They were tiny battery-operated ones and when Rhett asked Cole about them, he’d smiled and explained that Lucy was jealous of the tree. It was ridiculous, but that’s why Rhett loved Cole.

He’d held onto that knowledge, though, keeping it close to his chest. It was Christmas Eve and they’d discussed getting engaged today to try and win Cole’s grandparents over to the idea of giving the vineyard to him. The very thought that Cole had to do something so 1800s, like get a spouse to prove his worth or that he was responsible enough, rankled Rhett. He’d do anything to help him make it happen, even get fake-engaged to his very real boyfriend.

But since Rhett moved in, Cole hadn’t mentioned the proposal or the engagement, so while part of Rhett was certain it would happen, another part of him was positive that it wouldn’t. Either way, Rhett tried not to think about it. They’d had a lovely Christmas Eve so far. They slept in, then spent the morning taking a stroll through the vineyard. Cole insisted on taking him to lunch and they chose a quiet place across town.

“I need the washroom,” Rhett said, getting to his feet. “Can you order for me if the waitress comes?” He had wanted to cook for Cole, but he pleaded with Rhett, pinning him down on the couch and peppering him with kisses, tickling his ribs until he agreed to let Cole take him out for an early dinner.

“Sure thing, baby.” Cole blew him a kiss, which Rhett did not pretend to catch.

When he returned a few minutes later, his drink had been refreshed so he guessed that he’d missed the waitress. “What did you order me?”

“Macaroni and cheese with a garden salad.” Cole took a sip of his drink. “Did you have a nice lunch with Penny yesterday?”

Rhett loved that Cole got along well with his best friend; he even seemed to like little Tyson.

“Oh, my God, Penny told me that David is trying to convince her to have another baby.”

“Tyson’s what, nine months?”

“Eight. He still hasn’t been out longer than he was in and David wants another.”

“Insanity.”

“She told him if he wanted another right now…” Rhett grabbed his glass and took a sip. “That he’d have to carry it himself.”

“Would you want kids?” Cole asked. Rhett supposed that the question wasn’t out of nowhere. They were currently talking about children, it was probably the natural progression of the conversation, yet Rhett blushed.

“I wouldn’t mind. Not right now, but maybe down the road.”

“Surrogate or adoption?”

“Either one, both maybe. I haven’t put that much thought into it.” Rhett shrugged a shoulder.

“Liar.” Cole grinned. “You think about everything you do. I think I’d want to adopt,” Cole admitted. “Though the idea of having little Rhetts running around isn’t unappealing. Twins would be neat.”

They talked and laughed until their lunch arrived and Rhett looked at Cole’s BLT longingly. His macaroni and cheese didn’t look terrible, but it didn’t look like a bacon-loaded sandwich either. He lifted a forkful to his mouth and took a bite. The texture was weird, sort of mushier than he’d expected and the cheese tasted funny, not quite cheese-like. Rhett had an inkling about what happened and decided to turn the tables on Cole.

“Oh, my God, Cole,” he moaned. “This is amazing!” Rhett took another bite, chewing and swallowing, devouring the noodles. “You have to try it.” He loaded his fork and held it out for Cole. “It’s delicious.”

Cole looked skeptical, but leaned forward and dutifully ate the offered bite. Rhett watched his face contort as he reached for his napkin. “That’s disgusting,” Cole complained, careful to keep his voice down.

“Did you seriously order me vegan macaroni and cheese? But more, did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

Cole took a huge sip of his drink. “You started it.”

“That’s just mean. You’re lucky I adore you.”

Cole wiped his tongue with his napkin. “You’re lucky you’re not really vegan.”

The practical joke took Rhett’s mind off the looming proposal, which may or may not happen. If it didn’t happen, he still wasn’t sure whether to be disappointed or relieved. If it was fake, at least he got his dream proposal. But to have it be real…Rhett couldn’t entertain the idea because he wanted it too much.

They spent the afternoon at home together, wrapping presents and reminiscing about past Christmases. After they wrapped gifts for Tyson, laughing at how spoiled kids nowadays were, they ate a lovely Christmas Eve dinner that, thankfully, was not vegan macaroni and cheese. For dinner, Cole had cooked shrimp, and fish, and crab, an imitation of the dish they’d eaten at that out of the way restaurant in Tahiti. After dinner, Cole took Rhett’s hands and tugged him into the living room.

“It’s time to exchange presents,” Cole said, taking a seat on the floor in front of the tree. There were only two boxes for them under the tree, and to Rhett’s dismay, the box containing his present was far too large to be an engagement ring. It was just as well, Rhett thought, there were no Santa hats anyway. It wouldn’t be his dream proposal otherwise.

“Open yours first.” Rhett said, grabbing the box and handing it to Cole. His hands trembled a little and he felt suddenly ridiculous about his gift.

Cole pulled the ribbon off the box and gently removed the lid. The smile on his face made Rhett feel a little better about his gift. “His name is Ricky,” Rhett said. “I figured he’d look nice next to Lucy. Or you could take him to your office.”

Cole held the tiny potted fern with great care, his fingers brushing the delicate leaves. “I love him. He’s perfect.” Cole set him aside and leaned forward to steal a kiss from Rhett. “Your turn.” Cole said, his mouth still kissably close.

Cole reached under the tree and handed Rhett his gift. He tore into the paper, suddenly eager to see what was inside. Rhett opened the flaps of the box and removed the tissue paper.

He looked at Cole. “Santa hats,” he said, scarcely able to breathe. “You got me Santa hats.”

“Put one on,” Cole said, taking the other from the box and putting it on. Rhett followed his example, and somehow, with his jittery fingers, he managed to get the hat on. “Now keep digging.”

Rhett turned his attention back to the box and dug in more tissue paper until he saw it. “Oh, my God, Cole. How?” Rhett asked, dumbfounded as he saw the same pot he’d fallen in love with in Tahiti.

“Getting it was the easy part. Waiting for Christmas to give it to you? That was the hard part.” Cole grinned and leaned back. “Go slip her into her new dress. I bet she’ll love it.”

Rhett stood and took the pot over to Lucy. Her current pot was a cheap plastic one that’d he’d transplanted her into and it fit in the new pot with room to spare. “I think she looks lovely. I can’t believe you got it for me.” He stroked his finger along the edge of the pot. “Thank you.”

Rhett turned and there, kneeling in front of him and the tree, under the lights and in a Santa hat, just like in all his fantasies, was Cole. Cole was the newest addition to the fantasy, but he was the best part of it. Better than the Santa hats or the sound of carols softly playing in the background. Better than the perfectly lit tree, a mishmash of their ornaments, even better than Lucy on the mantle in a set of lights.

“Rhett,” Cole said, his voice trembling more than it did in Rhett’s imagination. “A few months ago, we both got this crazy idea that we could fake being together, that somehow we could fool everyone into thinking we were a couple and that we could do it without our own feelings getting tangled up.” Cole swallowed and Rhett shook. He stood frozen, as Cole opened a ring box that Rhett hadn’t noticed until that very moment.

“Cole,” Rhett started to talk, but Cole took his hand and shushed him.

“Rhett, the only people we fooled were ourselves. This might have started off as a farce, but it’s the most real thing in my life. You are the most real thing in my life. How I spent my whole life standing next to you, but not beside you, is a mystery to me. Rhett, I want to marry you. I want to marry you for real. I want to stand beside you, with you, for the rest of my life. I love you.” Cole took a deep breath and gripped Rhett’s hand tighter. “Rhett Alexander Kingston, will you marry me?”

“Cole,” Rhett exhaled, his entire body trembling. “Before I answer, you need to know something.” He took a deep breath. “I love you, too. I’ve loved you since that night in Tahiti.”

“Which night?” Cole grinned, his relief palpable, his smile suddenly broader.

“All of them.” Rhett admitted. “All of them, Cole. It’s been real for me for a long time.”

“Then marry me.”

“Yes, Cole, yes. I’ll marry you.”

Cole pulled Rhett down to him and captured his mouth in a brutal kiss, their teeth clacking as they both broke out in laughter, stopping only to slip the rings on each other’s fingers. Cole leaned against the couch, pulling Rhett into his arms.

“When was it real for you?” He looked up at Cole, suddenly eager to know.

“I don’t know that it was ever truly just pretend for me,” Cole admitted, “Once the idea of you became a reality, I couldn’t stop wanting you. I wanted to know you and all your secrets. I wanted to know how you like your coffee and what you wear to bed at night. But if you want an actual, precise moment,” Cole gazed at the tree for a minute and Rhett watched the way Cole smiled at whatever memory he was playing in his head.

Cole looked back at him. “Definitely in Tahiti, when I woke up next to you that first time.”

Rhett laughed. “When I launched myself onto the floor?”

Cole smiled at him and chuckled before answering. “I woke up next to you knowing that I never wanted to wake up anywhere else ever again.”