Page 38 of Love in Mission City: The Shorts

I wracked my brains.I’d heard the name.Nice guy.Several years younger than me.Elementary school teacher?French Immersion, if memory served.Hadn’t realized he was gay, but that wasn’t a huge surprise.

“So you’re moving to Mission City because of Ben?”

His grin was rueful.“I agreed to take the position and then met Ben.Things all came together.Now, I wasn’t sure he wanted a relationship after our weekend fling but…” Despite his dark skin, a blush emerged.

“Well, this is great news.I’d love to introduce you to my…” I floundered.Fritz and I had never named our relationship.We hadn’t needed to.We were together.Practically lived together.Worked side by side literally.Hell, I’d even learned to live with the motorcycle engine noise.“…partner?”

“Dickens, that sounded like a question.”His eyes twinkled in amusement.

In that moment, everything became clear.“I’m going to ask him to marry me.And I don’t know if he’ll say yes, but…” I flapped my hand.So unlike me.

“I’m sure he’ll say yes.Or he will if he has any sense.”A wistful expression passed over Isaac’s face.“If we’d stayed together, then I never would’ve met Ben.”

“And I wouldn’t have met Fritz.You see, it was all meant to be.”

“Yeah.”He scratched his head again.“So we’re good?”

“We’re more than good.”I offered an impish smile.“We’re friends.”

A matching grin.“I like that.I can use more friends in this town.”He gave a little wave and headed back outside into the nippy air.

Christmas was just around the corner.

Sunshine breezed into the room, her green corduroy jumper with Santa’s grinning face matching a swishy skirt of the same fabric.She stopped, gave me one long level look and asked, “Did you buy him a ring?”

“Uh…”

“And you have to be creative.”

“Dare I ask?”

“Oh, you’ll figure it out.”She made a shooing motion.“Now, go find something nice.Something strong that he can wear at work.”

“I don’t mind if he takes it off while he works.”Honestly, Fritz didn’t need a ring.Neither did I.This commitment we had transcended symbols.

“Yeah, whatever, make it a good one.Oh, I know a jeweler in Vancouver.You’ll love her.”

I eyed the threatening storm clouds.

The meteorologists predicted first snow of the year.

“You’ll be fine.”She placed her hand on her hip.“Now, go.”

So I did.Made the round trip to Vancouver in just under three hours.The snow started about halfway home, and by the time I pulled into Mission City, I was sweating under the strain of driving in the snow.One of my least favorite things to do.I drove past my store to find it shuttered for the night.Oh, good, Sun had left early.

The light in Spike’s shop was still on, but he’d be closing up soon.

I parked around back and sprinted up to my apartment.I hopped into the shower to wash off the gross stress sweat and then lay down on the bed.I positioned the ring perfectly and snapped a picture, then sent it to Fritz’s phone.

Forty-two seconds later, his heavy footfalls clomped up the stairs.He burst through the door and slammed it shut.Two thuds as he so considerately removed his boots.Within moments, he was at the threshold to my bedroom.

He held up his phone.

I grinned.

He sputtered.“You sent me a dick pic.”

“Well, given my name is Dickens, I would say it’s about time.”

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