“You’ll always be ours,” they repeated.
When I recovered from the shock, I wiped away a tear. “Wait a second,” I said. “What if I had picked the ring at the restaurant?”
Rory chuckled, then pulled out another set of house keys. “We had two sets made. You would have got the keys no matter which you picked.”
“Dramatic effect,” Franklin said, twirling his hand through the air. “My idea.”
I laughed, then pulled my phone out of my pocket. “Speaking of dramatic effect…”
“Are you that eager to tell Lilith?” Franklin asked. “I guess we should call Ava and let her know you said yes, too.”
I shook my head quickly. “Not quite yet. I need this moment to last just a little bit longer.” I fiddled with my phone, found the link I was looking for, and hit a button. A second later, “Ring My Bell” started singing out, and I pumped the volume all the way up.
Rory laughed loudly, then turned to Franklin. “I think we owe it to him.”
I extended both of my hands, palm toward the sky. “Come on, then,” I said. “Let’s give these people a show.”
Rory took my hand, then tucked his arm around my waist, pulling me close as Franklin tossed his arms over our shoulders, joining us in a sway to the music.
“You’re not afraid to be seen with a couple old geeks?” Franklin teased.
“I hear disco should come back soon,” I joked. “Anyway, if you’re fine with everyone knowing you fell in love with a tattooed punk like me…”
Rory squeezed my side, and I laughed when they pulled me closer. “We couldn’t be prouder,” he said.
“Me, either,” I said.
And so we kept on dancing, three people in love who were making a life together. We were happy and stronger than we ever would have been apart. Life might not have always dealt us the best cards, but when Franklin and Rory invited me into their marriage and into their home, I knew that none of that mattered anymore.
Because now, no matter what challenges came our way, I was the lucky guy who got to spend the rest of my life loving them right back.
The end