Nothing Special V (Nothing Special 5)

“Then there was an email for a deposit on the venue… that place, The Ashton. Day, they wanted five thousand just for the deposit. Then all the other stuff just kept adding up on me. I can’t afford it, baby. Even going half and half on a twenty-five thousand dollar wedding – and Vikki said that was on the cheaper scale, it’d probably be more – is way over what I can do. I know you didn’t know because our finances have been separate this whole time, though we share the house expenses. Maybe you forgot about my financial problems early on when I became a detective, or maybe you thought I was good now. I just got all that debt off me a couple years ago, so I haven’t had time to build up my savings like I’d like. Leo, I tried to come up with some ideas, even thought of taking a loan on my pension, but I’ve already borrowed once to help my mother. If I borrow again, I won’t be able to retire until I’m ninety. I should’ve been a man and told you up front, but I was… I was scared you’d take the proposal back or say we’ll just wait until we can afford it. So I was trying to stall on the date to come up with a way I could get the money up. But, if I’m being honest, I don’t ever wanna spend that much money on something that’ll last for a few hours. I know… I know, I’ll remember it forever.” God got back up and stood between Day’s legs, cupping his face, staring down at the love of his life; splaying himself wide open for him. “But being with you… all the years of partnering with you is all I’ll ever reflect back on… it’s all I need.”

Day dropped his forehead to God’s chest, shaking his head. God closed his eyes, hoping like hell that being honest was, in fact, the best policy. “Please say something.”

“I wanna strangle you right now.” Day’s voice was muffled by God’s thick pecs, but he still heard him. “I wanna just… ugh!”

Day’s head shot up. “That’s what all this has been about? You’ve been avoiding me for four whole months because… Jesus, Mary, and Joseph… I can’t believe this.”

“You mad?” God asked nervously.

“Yes! Not about you not being able to afford a wedding, but for you not trusting me to talk to me about this. Damnit, Cash. I’m not fuckin’ Kim Kardashian, what the hell did you think I was gonna do if you told me it was too expensive?” Day frowned. “You thought I’d take the proposal back?”

“No… I don’t know… I didn’t wanna find out. You looked real excited about everything when you and Vikki were talking about it.”

Day shook his head. “I’m not that superficial. You have to know that. I was excited about marrying you… that’s it. I could care less where or how.”

God dipped his head and captured Day’s mouth in an apologetic kiss.

“You put me through hell,” Day whispered against his lips, kissing him again.

“I know. If you’ll just marry me in a real private, modest ceremony, I promise I’ll spend the rest of our lives making it up to you.”

Day leaned back, that gorgeous teasing smile back on his face. Oh, how he’d missed it so much. “Okay. Short, simple, and cheap. With a name like Cash, you’d expect more, but hey, whatever you say.”

God laughed, the wonderful feeling making the hard lines that’d been etched in his forehead ease just a little. When the humor died down, they stood there holding each other, gazing thoughtfully. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve known better. It was my pride, sweetheart. It’s not easy to tell the person you love that you’re too poor to give him what he wants.”

Day looked at him the way he always did. With respect, not pity. “You’re not poor, Cash. But instead of spending too much on the ceremony, why don’t we spend a fraction of what the wedding would cost and go on a nice honeymoon somewhere quiet and alone.”

God’s eyes lit up. Hell, yeah. That’s exactly what he was talking about. Yes, just him and his man. “I’m glad that’s straightened out and you’re not going to kill me. I have something for you.” God raced into the den like an excited kid and came back a few seconds later, holding the black ring box that’d been hidden inside the entertainment stand for a couple weeks. “I bought this a while ago. It’s not as nice as the one you gave me, but I liked it a lot. Picked it out myself.”

Day took the box and opened it, his beautiful hazel eyes shining brighter than God’d ever seen before. He watched his partner pull out the simple gold and chrome band, squinting to read the inscription inside.