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Charlie was startled awake by the sound of his bin falling over just outside his driveway.
His heart started pounding. He sat up in bed.
“Shit, fuck!”, he heard a familiar voice mutter.
He smiled to himself and looked at the Alexa on his bedside table. 2.47am.
His boyfriend Nick had gone out with friends. It must have been a good night.
He got up and went to the window. He saw his very drunk other half trying and failing to open the latch on their gate.
Nick would lift the latch, attempt to push the gate forward, drop the latch back down, giggle, shush himself for giggling and try again.
Charlie watched Nick do this a few times before he took pity on him and headed downstairs.
He grabbed Nick’s hoodie and joggers on the way out and put them on over his T-shirt and shorts.
He opened the front door and approached Nick.
“Hey love, having a bit of trouble? Let me help you”.
Nick sighed but didn’t look up, transfixed by the gate.
“I’m fine, thank you”.
Nick’s voice was slurred with drink but so polite. A tone usually reserved for his boss or service providers.
Charlie smiled at his stubbornness.
“Seriously babe, I’ll open it, it’s cold, you should come inside”.
Nick, head still bowed, paused. And then,
“I’m sorry sir, I’m sure you’re very nice but I must inform you, I have a boyfriend so I will not be going home with you tonight”.
Charlie’s heart clenched with love for his golden retriever boyfriend.
“Nick, sweetheart, I’m not propositioning you, it’s me”.
“No, sir, please, listen to me, I have a boyfriend. And I love him very much. I’m sure you’re very nice and will find someone soon but that person is not me”.
Charlie was doubled over with laughter at this point.
“Nick. It’s me. It’s Charlie”.
“Yes, his name is Charlie. How did you know?”
Charlie rolled his eyes.
“Lucky guess”.
Nick groaned and gave up on the gate. He reached for the pillar next to it and put his head on it, apparently prepared to sleep there.
He still hadn’t looked at Charlie.
“Alright mister, time to go inside”.
Charlie opened the gate and put his arm around Nick who flinched and backed away.
“No! I told you! I have a boyfriend”.
Charlie was still amused but getting a bit exasperated.
“Yes, I know, Charlie. He asked me to help you. I’m going to take you to him”.
“Charlie’s here!”, the pure delight in Nick’s tone banished any sign of irritation in Charlie.
“He’s inside. Come on, let me help you in and then I’ll get Charlie”.
“Ok”, Nick muttered. He straightened up. But his eyes were still half closed.
Charlie moved to his side and put his arm around Nick’s waist. He pulled Nick’s arm around his shoulder and they moved unsteadily into the house.
“Charlie’s the best!”, Nick stated happily, “he’s so hot! And kind! And funny! And clever! I love his hair! And he always smells so good! And he makes the best lasagne ever! Better than my mum’s! But don’t tell her that! I love him so much! I hope he knows that! I’m going to tell him as soon as I see him! I’m going to give him a big kiss and say, ‘I love you sooooooo much’ until I make him laugh! I love his laugh!”
Nick had delivered his monologue the whole way up the stairs and into the bedroom.
“He knows you love him”, Charlie said softly, “and he loves you too”.
Nick giggled.
“I know! He tells me every day! I’m so lucky! He could have anyone and he chose me!”
“Well that’s not true!”
“It is!! He’s so wonderful and beautiful. Any man would want him. But I get him. I get to kiss him and hug him and……”
Nick stopped and put his hand to his mouth.
“What?”, Charlie was curious. He had placed Nick on the bed at this point and was battling to take off his clothes.
“I love having sex with him”, Nick flushed, “do you think he likes having sex with me? I’m not as big as he is. His cock is massive!”
“Alright babe, I think that’s enough talking for now!”
Nick was now in nightclothes and under the covers.
“I’m just going to get you painkillers and water for the morning and a bucket in case you need to be sick. I’ll be right back”.
“Mmmk”, Nick mumbled, sleep already claiming him.
When Charlie returned he put everything next to a sleeping Nick.
Nick woke at the sound. His eyes lit up.
“Charlie!! I missed you!”, he moved to sit up but Charlie pushed him back down gently.
“Hi sweetheart. It’s ok, you’re in bed. Why don’t you go asleep and we’ll talk in the morning!”
“Ok. I love you Charlie!”
“I love you too, you giant rugby idiot!”
Nick giggled again.
Charlie got back into bed and Nick immediately flopped on top of him, holding tightly.
“Nick!!”
“I love you Charlie. So much!”
“I know baby”.
“Do you like having sex with me Char?”
Charlie sighed.
“This again. I have absolutely no complaints in that department Nick. I promise”.
“Ok, good. Cos I want you to be happy. I want us to have a good marriage”.
“You have to propose to me first!”
They had discussed marriage many times over the years. Nick said he wanted to be the one to propose.
“I’m going to. Next Saturday!”
Charlie froze. Nick clearly had forgotten again that he was talking to Charlie.
“What?”
“Yep. I have it all planned. We’re going on a picnic and I’m going to propose. I have the ring and everything. Do you want to see it?”
“No, it’s ok”.
“Ok. I hope you like it!”
“I’m sure I will. Sleep now!”
Nick was out in seconds. Charlie lay there for longer, his mind a whirl.
What was he to do?
He knew Nick would have wanted the proposal to be a surprise. Should he tell Nick it had been spoiled now. Nick would be kicking himself. Could he pretend to be surprised. Nick would see right through that!
When Nick woke the next day, he had no memory of their conversation from the night before. Charlie let it go.
But he was distracted over the next week.
He knew his love. He knew Nick would have planned every detail and want it to be perfect and a total surprise.
On Wednesday Nick suggested a picnic for that Saturday. Charlie agreed.
On Friday evening Charlie watched as Nick prepared the baskets.
He should feel excited. But he just felt bad for Nick that the surprise had been ruined.
Saturday morning, he woke first.
Eventually Nick rolled over and gave him a kiss.
“We need to talk”.
“Oh? Everything ok honey”, Charlie’s heart broke at seeing the concern in Nick’s eyes.
“I know about today”.
“About the picnic. Well it’s not exactly a secret”, Nick’s tone was light but Charlie saw a shadow pass over his face.
“No. I know about the proposal”.
Nick sat up.
“What? How?”
Charlie summarised the events of the previous week.
“Oh shit. I’m sorry Char”.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. You were being so loving and cute. I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. I was thinking I might be able to fake a surprise. But I don’t want that. I want the surprise too”.
“So, do you want me to propose today?”, Nick asked carefully.
“I don’t know. Obviously I want you to propose. I want to marry you so much. But I liked the idea of a surprise”.
“Ok. So no proposal today then. I’ll wait, do it when you’re least expecting it”.
“Ok. I promise I’ll say yes!”
They smiled at each other and kissed.
“We’ll still go on the picnic though”, Nick said as he pulled Charlie on to his chest.
“Oh yes, definitely”.
“Ok”.
“Ok”.
“We’ll make it a celebratory picnic instead”.
“What are we celebrating?”
Silence.
“Char?”
“Yeah?”
“Will you marry me?”