“Come on, Fox!”Leanne calls out.“Don’t make us drag you onto the coffee table!”
Fox straightens up, reluctantly making his way to the center of the room.Everyone quiets down, their eyes fixed on him.
“Alright, alright,” he says, holding up his hands.“First of all, thank you—all of you—for making me feel special tonight.Even though I hate surprises and I specifically told Cameron not to do this…” He pauses, shooting me a playful glare, “…it means a lot to see you all here.”
Blaze raises his beer.“To Fox!The biggest pain in the ass we all love!”
The room bursts into laughter and cheers, and Fox shakes his head, smiling as he raises his drink.
“To all of you.Thanks for putting up with me.”
Later that evening, the party winds down, the decorations slightly askew, and the smell of spilled drinks lingering in the air.Most of our friends have left, but Blaze is passed out on the couch, snoring loudly.
Fox and I sit on the floor of the living room, sharing the last piece of cake from his birthday.
“You really didn’t have to do all this,” he says, his voice softer now.
“I wanted to,” I reply, resting my head on his shoulder.“You deserve to know how loved you are.”
He looks down at me, his eyes warm and full of something I can’t quite describe.
“I love you, Cam.”
I smile, pressing a kiss to his jaw.“I love you too.Happy birthday, Fox.”
Epilogue
Forever Starts Here
It’sChristmasEve,andthe living room glows with the warmth of soft fairy lights wrapped around the tree.The scent of pine lingers in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of cookies from earlier in the day.Lila pours herself a glass of wine, while my mom sits with a steaming mug of cocoa.The room feels alive, even in its quiet moments, filled with the soft hum of conversation and the occasional jingle of bells as someone adjusts a decoration.
Fox sits across from me, his usual confidence replaced by something more tender, almost nervous.He’s holding a small black box in his hands, fingers drumming lightly against the lid.I glance at him curiously, but he doesn’t meet my gaze right away.
“Cameron,” he says, his voice steady but softer than usual.My mom stops mid-sip, her eyes darting to us, while Lila freezes with her wine glass halfway to her lips.The room suddenly feels smaller, like everything and everyone is focused on us.
“What’s going on?”I ask, half-smiling as my heart starts to pound.The way Fox looks at me—his blue eyes brimming with something I can’t quite name—makes my chest tighten.
Fox clears his throat and stands, the small box still clutched in his hand.My breath catches.
“I didn’t plan a big speech because, well, you know I suck at those,” he starts, glancing at our moms with an almost sheepish grin.They’re frozen, hanging onto every word.He turns back to me, his expression softening.“But I’ve been thinking about this moment for a long time.About us.”
I sit up straighter, my palms suddenly damp as my heart pounds harder.He steps closer, kneeling in front of me, and the box in his hands feels like the center of the universe.I hear my mom gasp, followed by a muffled “Oh my God” from Lila.
“Cameron,” he continues, his voice breaking just slightly.“You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.You’re my calm when I’m a mess, my balance when I feel like I’m spinning out.And God knows I didn’t deserve you when we first met, but you loved me anyway.”
Tears blur my vision, and I can feel my hands trembling.I can barely breathe.
“I don’t want this to end,” he says, opening the box to reveal a simple but beautiful silver band, sparkling faintly under the glow of the tree lights.“I want to wake up next to you every day.I want to build a life with you.Will you marry me?”
The room is silent except for the soft crackle of the fireplace.My mom’s hands are covering her mouth, tears streaming down her face, while Lila clutches her chest like her heart might burst.
“Yes,” I whisper, the word tumbling out before I even realize I’ve said it.Then louder, firmer: “Yes!Of course, yes!”
Fox beams, his grin lighting up the entire room.He slides the ring onto my finger with hands that are somehow steadier than mine.As soon as the band settles in place, he pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly as our moms erupt into cheers.
“My babies are getting married!”Lila exclaims, already crying as she rushes to embrace us.My mom follows, squeezing me tightly before grabbing Fox into a hug of her own.
“I’m so happy for you,” she whispers to him, her voice choked with emotion.“You’ve made my son so happy.”
