by Lane, Shawn;
“I’ve never been on a cruise before.”
“Nope, me either,” Mark agreed.
“You think my parents will be okay while we’re gone?”
“They’ll be fine, Drew. As you’ve pointed out yourself, it’s just a four-day thing. We’ll dock back here on Monday.”
“God, it’s a beautiful day. I’ll bet sunset is going to be amazing.”
Mark nodded. “I have something I want to give you.”
Drew straightened away from him. “Oh?”
Mark smiled. “Before you get too excited…it’s not a ring. Not that I wouldn’t give you one, someday.”
He laughed, not feeling the least bit sad it was not a ring. Everything was great with them. He had no complaints. “I never thought that. What is it?”
His lover reached into an inside pocket of the leather jacket he wore and brought out a slim black rectangular box, the sort that generally held a bracelet. Mark placed it in Drew’s hand.
Drew snapped open the hinged box to reveal a gold curb link bracelet. “Wow, it’s beautiful.”
“Check out the inscription,” Mark said softly.
Drew lifted the bracelet from the box and noticed a rather large clasp with engraving on it. He turned it over to read. Mark’s One and Only.
He glanced up at Mark, who had a huge, gorgeous smile on his face. He blinked away the tears that threatened to sting. Barely able to breathe, he whispered, “Thank you.”
“Then you like it?”
“Like it?” His voice broke. Drew tried again. “Like it? I love it. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Mark took the bracelet from his shaking hand and fastened around his left wrist. He held up Drew’s wrist for inspection. “It looks great.”
“Yeah, my boyfriend has amazing taste,” Drew agreed, throwing his arms around Mark and hugging him fiercely.
“Hey, you two! Want to join the rest of us? It’s time to go through security!”
Drew and Mark broke apart to watch Steve waving at them. They laughed.
“I guess we’d better go.” Mark closed his hand around Drew’s as they walked toward the group and the ship terminal.
Drew couldn’t help thinking what great couples they all made. He could see them all being together far into the future and always being the best of friends. None of them could he ever see breaking up. This, all of them, was what happily-ever-after looked like. Sappy, maybe. Drew didn’t mind being called a sap.
“Everything all right?” Mark asked him, squeezing his hand.
“Yeah, everything is fantastic.”
With this group…only forever would do.
THE END
ABOUT SHAWN LANE
Shawn Lane is a multi-published author of gay romances and believes love and passion know no boundaries. Happily Ever After is for everyone.
She has been published by Loose Id, Ellora's Cave, Amber Quill Press, Dreamspinner Press, and Evernight Publishing.
Shawn lives in California and holds down a boring day job in a legal department of a giant corporation dreaming of the nights and weekends when she can create new stories.
For more information, visit smlgr8.blogspot.com.
ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC
JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!