Forbidden: Afterglow

Chapter 35

-ZACKS' P.O.V-

   So. Plan is. Propose. But gotta ask mothers first.
"When, when, when, when, when?"
"Jeez. Frankenstein, calm down."
"It's shiny. Pretty. Shiny. Pretty. Glitter."
     I hold the ring in my hand. Definitely girly enough for my gay lover. But still manly.
"I'm going to ask Valerie and Ninfa for their blessing."
"When?"
"Now."
     I head out and knock on his parents door.
"Come in, Zack." Valerie says.
    I walk in. "Hey guys."
"What's wrong? Finnley get hurt? Cause I'm going back tomorrow."
"No. I want to ask you guys a question."
"Okay?" Ninfa sits up.
    I pull out the ring. "I would like to ask for your sons hand in marriage."
    Valerie and Ninfa start laughing. "Yeah. But took you long enough."
"Hey. I needed the balls, okay?"
"Nah. You're good man." Valerie says. "Good luck."
"You say that like you think he will say no?"
"He will say yes. He's been waiting a while." Valerie says.
"And with that ring. He will have to say yes." Ninfa smiles to me.
"When are you to ask?" Valerie asks.
"I was going to take him out tonight. Thinking about doing it there."
"Okay. Where? What are you going to wear?"
"Normal dress shirt and dress pants."
"Nice. Nice." Valerie says.
"You think he will like the ring?"
"He's going to love it. Be surprised if he ever takes it off."
"Have you ever taken your ring off?" I ask both of them.
"If so, not for very long."
"Most of the time we were injured in the hand. Or Finnley or our other kid was being a shit and shit."
    I cringe massively. "I want kids but no. Jeeze No."
    They laugh at me. "Life."
"I'll let you guys go back to telling you shitty war stories."
"Ha. Ha." Ninfa rolls her eyes.
    I take my leave. Pacing our room. Waiting.
    I was afraid. I admit. I was afraid. It's like, moving in was a huge step but it only made me realize how much I truly love this man. How much I need him.
"Hey beautiful. Why you pacing?"
"Oh. I wanted to ask you out on a date."
"So you're pacing because you want to go out for dinner?"
"Yeah but I got us a table at the restruant."
"Doesn't explain the pacing."
"You worked. I don't know if you're up for a date."
"Of course I'm up for a date. What's the dress attire?"
"I'm going with dress shirt and pants. So. Whatever you want. You look great in everything."
"Thanks?"
    It's true. I'm not a man of pink but he looks sexy in pink. We looks great in just about everything.
"Do I get a name of the place?"
"No. Just dress nice."
    He kisses my cheek. "I love you regardless if you're being sneaky."
"You're very picky with your food. Either has to be top notch, your mothers or really greasy pizza."
"Guilty. Also picky about my taste in men."
"What does that mean?"
"It means there is only one man for me, babe." He smiles.
    I lean in and steal a kiss. He has the softest lips. They heal..
    Pulling back with smiles, I get ready. He does the same and we head off to our place. My heart races out of control the whole time. I don't know exactly what to say..
    I had a whole speech thing planned but now I don't know what to say. My brain turned into mush. Like the fart putty slime green thing that farts.
    I'm screwed. So screwed. I'm going to die.
"You're quiet."
"Yeah. Sorry. Been thinking heavily. And then my mind turned to mush."
"Oh? I'm sorry." He says in a slight giggle. "You always mushy then."
"Did you just call me an idiot?"
"No, love. You did that on your own."
"I guess I did."
    As the meal comes to an end, my time is up. Now or never. Or now or probably not for a while. But now would definitely be ideal.
    I get out of my booth and drop to knee in front of him. It seems as if the world stops and it's just us. Or maybe the people in the restruant just goes into silence. And I speak from the heart.
"You're right. I am an idiot. Took me years to figure that out. But I'm also your idiot. And I would really enjoy being your husband rather than boyfriend. So, Finnley, will you marry me?"
"Are..Are you serious?"
"Absolutely. Will you marry me?"
"Yes. I will."
    I put the ring on his finger. All the people go into laughter and aws. I'm pulled to my feet and then into the booth.
"Hi?"
"Hey."
    I laugh at his ridiculous smile. He's adorable. And mine now, forever.
"Let's go home."
"Nah. I wanna dance with you."
"But I wanna go home."
"You can't have a dance with me?"
"We can dance at our wedding."
     I laugh to his eagerness. We head home with an instance.
"Love me, loverboy."
"Been a while since you called me that."
"Like.. 5 days?"
"Okay. So I do enjoy your nicknames."
"Soon to be hubby."
"Oh. I love that."
"Hubby."
     I show him the love he asks for and more. I nuzzle into his chest. His hairs making me sniffle.
"Shave your chest."
"No. Makes me manly."
"Trust me, babe. You're no manliness. You're more girly."
"Thank you." He says in a laugh.
"So shave."
"Shave and a lot of baby oil."
"Don't get me hungry again. Don't think I could take more."
    He holds me tighter. "I love you so much. Can I be honest with something though?"
"Uh. Yeah? When aren't you?"
"Look in my sock drawer. Under the red undies."
"I really don't want to get up."
"Just do it."
    I sigh and get up. Walking all the way across the room. Maybe he just likes the view of my ass. I don't know.
    Opening th draws and lifting the boxers, I ball them up and grow them across the room, hitting Finnley in the face.
"Thanks, loverboy. You're great."
"Uh-huh."
    Looking back to the drawer, I find a box. Lifting it, I slowly open as I turn to him. The most beautiful ring. Perfect gems in place around a thick wedding engagement band.
"I was going to ask you on your birthday."
"Well, obviously yes."
"Would you like to wear it? Will you marry me?"
"My naked fiance just asked me to marry him. How could I say no?"
    About to put the ring on, he stops me.
"Hey. No. That's my job."
    I hurry over to the bed. "Okay."
    He takes no hesitation to take my hand. The ring fits perfectly to the promise one of so long ago. It's perfect.
"I love it. And you. All perfect."
    He pulls me down back on the bed. His arms keep me warm. I love it.
"You know our family will eat this up. They're going to try to plan everything."
"Thing is, would you let them?"
"Yes and no. You know how I am. I can do this. We can. I'm going to have a lot of fun though."
"I have no doubt. I have no doubt at all. Just not pink."
"No, no. Not pink. Not a thousand percent sure but not pink."
    I kiss his lips lightly. "Anything. Just as long as you walk down the aisle to me."
"If I don't fall on my ass."
"Can't you like hover or something?"
"You know I can. I don't want to do that though. And be inproper."
"You'll be fine."
"If I have you."
    I lean in and steal another kiss. His chest hair tickles my arm. I pull away.
"I'm shaving your chest."
"What?"
"I'm shaving your chest."
"Now?"
"Yes."
"But.."
"Are you afraid of me cutting you?"
"No. It's just.. the kiss."
"I have no problem with going again. But I would like to shave you first cause I can't do this. It's so terrible. You need your back done too."
"Okay?"
    I run off and gather the things I need. I shave off his chest hair with a bare razor blade. The smoothness.
"Better?"
"Yeah. But I'm not doing your back."
"I'm just going to do laser hair removal. Magically."
"I SHAVED YOUR CHEST FOR NO REASON?!?"
"Sorry."
"Babyboy. You evil man."
"Punish me."
"You don't want that."
"You turned your weariness to hunger just for me. So, yes."
"As you wish."
    I give him all he asks for. And more. Again. And it leads up back here.
    On the edge of sleep. On the edge of losing myself. Happier than ever.
"I love you so much, Zack. You be made me the happiest man there is to be."
"I could say the same, Finn. And very well mean it."
"I'd hope so."
"Do you remember our first time?"
"Yeah. It was super awkward."
"It was. But it wasn't bad. Now it's great."
"What is your point?"
"I knew by the love in your eyes that day, even through the awkward loves, I would make you my husband. I just had to find it."
"Like you needed to rethink moving in?"
"Yeah. I feared it. Thought maybe you deserved more. So I didn't want to move in. And then it all hit. If I lost you. And I couldn't help but want to share the bed fully. Then waking to my husband. Like a vision. And I remember looking back, after everything was said and done. And seeing that same look of pure love. It shows brighter these days but was more than enough to push me to want more."
"Yeah. Forever, married, it does sound wonderful. Hopefully get that one nurse guy off my ass."
"No. Mine."
"Yeah. He gets closer to me everytime I go to the hospital to restock."
"I really don't like him."
"Jealousy?"
"Very."
"Don't be. You're the only one for me."
    I begin to fall asleep. His arms perfect. And sleep inducing.