TRASK RESISTED the urge to scratch at the healing tattoo on his side. He was only reacting out of nerves and what the new tattoo represented. Felipe was charmed by the little image, but then again he would be since it was for him, a catlike imp with a steaming cup of coffee. He’d wanted to gauge how Felipe reacted to that little bit of permanency before he moved on to the next step. He should’ve known Felipe would be delighted. Trask was the only one who felt like he needed to take things in slow steps.
At least that’s how he’d lived for the last fifteen years. Slowing down until he was crawling along. Felipe had made him speed up some, but after this decision, well, he was really jumping into the future.
He had to remind himself that the more they worked on their house, the more this felt like the right step. Just natural. Despite his concern when he’d broached the topic to Felipe’s family, they’d been delighted instead of worried. Funny what a couple of months could do.
“What the hell am I thinking?” Trask touched the lump in his pocket with a spurt of panic as he peered through the black curtain separating the con from the panel rooms. He did not profess his undying love in front of a group of people. He most certainly did not let it be known to Felipe’s friends that he planned to do so. They filled the small room near to bursting. Who the hell knew Felipe had so many damned friends? “This is not the way to go about this. It should be private, quiet.”
Like at their home, though it was anything but private and quiet with workmen trotting in and out all day following the well-laid plans of Reva and Donato’s friends. Yeah, at least here there were plenty of people rooting for them.
Ryan gave him a nudge of commiseration. “It would not stop the panic, believe me. And when he’s looking at you, you’re going to stop feeling that panic. You won’t even be aware of the rest of us. Besides, you can’t back down. I won’t let you. He took down Deadpool. If you don’t ask him to marry you, I’m booting you out of the Den and making him our official mascot.”
Both the thought of Felipe out-sassing Deadpool and Ryan sticking up for him had Trask smiling. “I’ve been telling Felipe for months that I’m not into grand gestures, and he’s okay with that,” Trask grumbled a little more. “Why did I decide that I needed to do a grand gesture for this?”
Ryan squeezed his shoulder. “Because you love the diva, and you know that by doing it this way, he’ll know without a doubt you mean it, because you sure as hell never would if you didn’t.”
Ryan had a damned point. Besides, Trask had been dreaming of this surprise and the look on Felipe’s face ever since he’d bought the ring. It wasn’t easy to get one over on his imp, and he knew Felipe was clueless about what was about to happen because if he’d picked up on it, he would’ve hounded Trask until he spilled.
Trask eyed Felipe’s animated face as he answered some cosplaying question that Trask hadn’t even heard. He shoved his hands into his pockets to hide the trembling. He’d bared his soul in NA rooms with memories that still had him squirming in shame sometimes. He could bare his soul here with a lot more joy if he’d just stop overthinking it.
“Any other questions?” Abby asked with a pointed look toward the curtain at the back.
Trask wouldn’t let it be said that he punked out on one of the more important moments in his life. Not this time. Not when it came to Felipe. “Actually, I have a question for Felipe, if that’s okay.” He slipped through the curtain and walked halfway up the aisle. As he did, the people thronging the room, the strangers and friends, ceased to matter as Felipe turned his gaze on him.
His eyes brightened, and a grin curved that generous mouth of his. “Trask, are you looking to do the Tin Man thing for real?” His expression took on a wicked note that Trask knew all too well. “I give private lessons.”
Abby elbowed him in the side with a hiss as Brenden let out an exasperated sound. “Family show, Suero.”
Felipe rolled his eyes and then narrowed them as Trask continued toward him until he had come around the front of the table and paused by Felipe’s chair. He glanced around the room, then looked back at Trask. “Okay, what gives?”
“I had a couple things I wanted to say now that we have our little house, even if we’re living in the middle of a mess as we fix it up. There’s no one else I want to live in the middle of a mess with than you.” Trask thought he might never be entirely comfortable with talking about his feelings, but Felipe made it easier than most. “Back when you set your sights on me, you gave me a glimpse of a future that I didn’t know I wanted, and then it became something I needed.”
“Trask Briscoe, you are messing with my head.” Felipe fisted his hands over his heart, and the look in his eyes just filled Trask up with the light that Felipe gave him. “Don’t joke with me.”
Trask smiled at him and reached into his pocket, closing his fingers around the little box. “That future showed me waking up next to you. It showed me the imp in your smile and your attention to detail whether you’re making a costume or a home. It showed me you chattering at me nonstop.”
“Wow, that’s serious love,” Morris said, making the room chuckle.
Felipe flipped him off without ever taking his eyes off Trask as he went down on one knee and held out the little box. “I want you to be my partner, my best friend, my other half.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Felipe whispered, tears welling in his eyes. “Stop screwing around.”
Trask grabbed his hands and folded them to his heart. He’d never seen Felipe so off-balance. If this was what grand public gestures did to his imp, Trask would have to make the effort to do it every once in a while. “Felipe, you know me. You know I don’t mess around when I’m serious.” He smiled faintly. “I have a rule, you know.”
Felipe nodded, his throat working before he finally managed, “Yeah, I know your rules.”
“Will you marry me, Felipe Suero?” To Trask’s everlasting panic, the tears spilled from Felipe’s eyes. “Don’t cry. For the love of God, don’t cry. I’ll take it back if it’ll make you feel better.”
“You can’t take it back. I’ll brain you.” Felipe grinned through his tears and flung his arms around Trask’s neck. “I can’t believe you made a public spectacle of yourself for me. I love you more than puppies.”
Trask laughed and got up, pulling Felipe into his arms. “Is that a yes?”
Felipe opened the little box and slipped the ring on his finger. “That’s a fuck yes, Tin Man.”