Traffic crawled. Aaron kept his eyes on the road and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, anxious to get home. It was closing in on half-past five, and he had a feeling that Mal wouldn’t be able to delay Gage from coming home for much longer. Before that happened, Aaron had some prep work to do… if only he could make it back to the house.

He glanced at the map feature on his phone. The highway was lit up in red. According to the tiny symbol on the screen, there’d been an accident, and it had congested the southbound lane.

“C’mon…” Aaron dragged his finger across the screen, trying to figure out how long he’d be stuck in traffic. “Not today…”

He took his finger from the screen, letting the program snap back to his current location, and let out the breath he’d been holding. No matter how long it took, everything would be okay. He’d already planned several ways to keep Gage occupied in case something like this happened. He’d get home and have plenty of time to get what he wanted done whether Gage was there or not.

Aaron’s proposal hadn’t gone according to plan the first time, but tonight, it wouldn’t fail. When Gage stepped through the front door, he’d enter a wonderland that they would both remember for the rest of their lives. And from there? Aaron smiled, even though no one was around to see. From there, his best friend would be his, and their tiny family would be official. He’d make good on the promise he’d made Gage all those years ago.

I’m always going to be there to look out for you.

Aaron had meant it then, but he’d prove it now.

Traffic couldn’t hold him back—he was ready. Tonight would be a dream brought to life, made sweeter yet by one simple word.

Yes.

By the time the lock on the front door clicked and Gage let himself in, Aaron was massaging the kale. The port wine sauce had reduced and was simmering on the stove, and the seared chicken had been sitting just long enough that it was ready to serve. He looked up from the metal prep bowl and across the open-concept kitchen into the living room. Gage stood with his back to the closed door, his eyes wide.

“Aaron?” Gage asked in shock. “What’s going on?”

“I told you tonight was going to be something special.” Aaron set the kale down. It had darkened and softened like silk, ready to join the rest of the greens he’d prepared for tonight’s salad. “Go get ready. Put on something that makes you feel good. Take all the time you need. I’ll be here waiting for you when you’re ready.”

The tips of Gage’s ears went bright red, like they always did whenever he was exceptionally delighted. He set down the bag slung over his shoulder by the shoe rack, and Aaron watched as his eyes traveled from the work going on in the kitchen to the arrangement on their small dining room table, situated between the living room and the kitchen. An assortment of pillar candles occupied the center of the table, their flickering flames casting shadows across the walnut finish. At Gage’s place, laid behind his plate, was a single, long-stemmed rose.

Gage’s eyes flicked back to Aaron. He parted his lips as if to speak, but said nothing. The blush moved from his ears, across his cheeks, and down his neck, until at last he nodded and hurried for the baby gate blocking the stairs. He fumbled with the latch, made a tiny sound of frustration and embarrassment, then conquered the mechanism and stepped through. Soon enough, the sound of his footsteps was all that remained. The bedroom door opened, then shut. Aaron closed his eyes and smiled.

Tonight was going to be perfect—he knew it.

The proposal would go off without a hitch.