Nick

That evening David picked Nick up from the apartment he shared with Charlie. To make the evening extra special, Olly had convinced Charlie that they should get ready at their parents’ house so that their boyfriends could pick them up, just like old times. Nick liked the idea when Olly had suggested it but now it was just more time for Nick to be second-guessing his plans.

David must have sensed how anxious he was because he asked, “Everything alright over there Nicky?”

Nick needed to talk about it, he needed reassurance that he wasn’t making a mistake. “Erm, not exactly,” Nick paused to take a deep breath before continuing, “I’m planning on proposing to Charlie,” then adding at the end, “tonight.”

“That’s amazing Nicky, but why are you anxious? It’s obvious how crazy you two are about each other,” David tried to reassure him.

“But what if he doesn’t want to get married or thinks we’re too young or that it’s too soon,” Nick started to have a small panic attack. David pulled the car over to the side of the road so he could comfort his brother.

“Nick, breathe, just breathe, deep breathes. You and Charlie have been together for almost 10 years, no one could think it’s too soon. You already live together, and he loves you so much Nicky. You must know that.”

A few deep breaths and Nick was starting to calm again. David just waited patiently for Nick to be ready.

“Thanks David, you turned out to not be that bad a brother after all,” Nick tried to tease as he regained his composure.

“Ha, right back at you Nicky boy. We ready to get going?” David asked with true care in his voice for his little brother. Nick nodded and David started the car up again to continue to get their boys.

David

David truly was pleased for his brother; he didn’t have a single doubt that Charlie wouldn’t accept Nick’s marriage proposal. Everyone could see those two were soulmates. There were still days when David regretted how he first reacted to seeing Nick and Charlie together, realising years later that it was just his own repressed feelings of being bisexual that caused him to lash out. They were in a much better place now, there was still bridges to repair between them, but the resentment David had once felt towards Nick was long since gone.

As they drove in a comfortable silence towards the Springs’ house, David’s thoughts drifted to his own boyfriend, his Olly. He didn’t understand what Olly could possibly see in him, he knew it wouldn’t last forever – someone younger, more fun, more like Olly would come along and be able to offer him things that David couldn’t. David dreaded that day, but he knew he wouldn’t stand in the way of Oliver being happy. For now, Olly was his, he was so happy whenever he was with Oliver, it’s like he wasn’t whole unless Oliver was by his side.

David had sometimes thought what it might be like to have a future with Oliver Spring, he’d picture them getting married somewhere crazy like while scuba diving or maybe on a beach at sunset just the two of them. Something so different from a traditional wedding, but full of the love they felt for each other. Maybe if they had met at school, like Nick and Charlie, or perhaps at university, then things might have been different. Even if that future seemed almost impossible to him, David knew he would cling on to everything Olly would give him, for as long as he would have him.

Oliver

Oliver heard the car pull up outside. He double-checked how he looked in the mirror of his bedroom before tucking the ring he’d bought into the pocket inside his jacket. He walked down the hall to his big brother’s childhood bedroom, knocked on the door and called out, “Charlie, our dates are here.”

Charlie pulled open the door and Olly looked at him standing there in his own suit.

“What? Do I look ok?” Charlie asked nervously, returning to look at himself in the mirror to check if something was wrong with his outfit.

Olly followed his brother inside the room, “You look great Charlie, I was just thinking, the Nelson brothers didn’t really stand a chance with how good we look.”

Charlie blushed, “Hardly. Are you sure I look ok?” Charlie said adjusting his suit for the hundredth time that evening.

Olly reached out his hands to hold Charlie’s, “Yes Charlie, Nick is going to love it.”

“Thanks Olly, you look amazing too,” Charlie said, finally taking in how his brother looked.

“Why thank you,” Olly grinned, “Now come on, they’re here and the last thing we want is them getting grilled by Mum.”

Olly and Charlie headed downstairs and were both left speechless when they saw how handsome their boyfriends looked standing there in their suits. Olly was the first to move and ran over to give David a massive hug, whispering into his ear, “I’m going to have so much fun taking this suit off you later on,” causing David’s cheeks to go bright red.

Charlie

When Charlie saw Nick standing there he thought, not for the first time, that he couldn’t believe Nick was his boyfriend. Charlie walked down to stand in front of Nick.

“Hi,” Charlie smiled.

“Hi,” Nick smiled back before pulling Charlie into a hug.

“I missed you,” Nick said without breaking the hug.

“It’s only been a few hours,” Charlie giggled.

“That’s a few hours too long,” Nick groaned, and Charlie was sure he felt Nick smelling him while his face was nuzzled into his neck.

“Nick, don’t we have somewhere to be,” Charlie reminded his boyfriend.

“Oh,” Nick suddenly remembered their plans for the evening and reluctantly released his boyfriend.

Nick and David escorted their partners to David’s car, Nick and Charlie sat in the back, while Olly sat up front with David. When everyone was ready, David gave Olly’s leg one last squeeze and started driving them to the restaurant. Normally Nick and Charlie wouldn’t be able to keep from kissing each other throughout the journey, but Charlie was still distracted by thoughts of the ring that was inside his jacket pocket.