“Yes,” Nick answered without hesitation. “Yes, definitely, totally.” Then he gave an apologetic grin. “I’m sorry. I kind of ruined the moment, didn’t I?”
Amusement and relief bubbled out of Jackson in a rich burst of laughter. “Not for me. This is perfect.”
Nick took the ring and studied it. “Wow, this is lovely. Are those oak leaves etched on it?” He looked more closely. “And is that mistletoe as well?”
“Yes. Our first kiss was under the mistletoe in the kitchen, but our first real kiss was up the tree, so it seemed appropriate to have both.”
“And our first blow job was in the tree too,” Nick reminded him. “Do you want to put it on for me?”
Jackson slipped it on his finger and it fitted perfectly. “Do you like it?”
“I love it!” Nick turned his hand this way and that. “And I love why you chose that design. Can I get a similar one for you so we can be matching?”
“Of course.”
“I’d been thinking about proposing too, but I was afraid it was too soon.”
Jackson smiled. “We may have only been a couple for six months, but I reckoned all those years of friendship had to count for something, and I didn’t see the point in waiting.”
“Well, I’m glad you beat me to it.” Nick leant forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. When he tried to draw back, Jackson slid a hand into his hair and deepened the kiss. His other hand found Nick’s thigh and he let it drift towards Nick’s crotch until he found the bulge of his dick. Breaking the kiss, he said, “You can get it out now if you want?”
Nick grinned, bright eyed and flushed. “Hell yes, I want! Can I suck yours after too?”
“Absolutely.”
They walked back through the woods hand in hand. As they approached the gate to the garden, Nick said, “Can I tell them?”
“About us getting engaged?”
“What else? I wasn’t planning on telling them about the blow jobs.”
Jackson laughed. “Probably for the best. And yes, of course. You’re wearing the ring, so they might notice anyway.”
They’d spent enough time with Nick’s parents since Christmas for Jackson to be fairly sure they’d be happy about this development, but even so, there were jitters in his stomach as they walked through the garden.
Thankfully both Nick’s parents were in the kitchen, and Jackson didn’t have to wait any longer because Nick burst through the door saying, “Mum, Dad… there’s something I need to tell you!”
They both turned, attention caught by his excitement.
Nick held up his hand, and the silver metal glinted where the light caught it.
“Oh!” Sue gasped, one hand coming to her heart.
“Jackson asked me to marry him.” Nick beamed. “And I said yes—obviously.”
“That’s wonderful news,” Reg said with a huge smile. “Congratulations, both of you!” He abandoned his crossword and got up to shake Jackson’s hand, and then Nick’s—but Nick pulled him into a hug instead.
“Yes, congratulations!” Sue gave them both hugs and kisses. “What lovely news. So how did you do it, Jackson. Did you go down on one knee?”
“Technically I think it was both knees,” Jackson said.
“He proposed to me in the Pirate Tree,” Nick explained. “So space was a bit tight.”
“Let me see the ring?” Sue took Nick’s hand. “Oh, Jackson. It’s beautiful! I love the leaf design. What’s the significance?”
“Well… our first proper kiss was under some mistletoe in the Pirate Tree,” Jackson said. He saw the beginning of a smirk on Nick’s face, so he shot him a warning glare. “Hence the oak leaves as well as the mistletoe, and that’s why I took him back there to propose.”
“Your first kiss?” Sue’s brows drew down in confusion. “But how can that be? Christmas was the first time you visited here and you were already together then.”
Shit. Much too late, Jackson realised his mistake. “Um….” He looked desperately at Nick for support.
Nick’s expression flitted through shock, to mild panic, and quickly settled on resignation. He sighed and rolled his eyes. “Nice one, Jackson. You’ve just totally blown our cover on Operation Fake Relationship. But I guess now at least we can use it in our wedding speeches, because it will be good fodder for that. Bags I get to tell it though, because it was my idea.”
“Nick. What are you talking about?” Reg asked.
“Well.” Nick gave a nervous laugh. “Okay, um. Funny story….”