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A random stranger stopping you on your university campus asking to make a video for Tiktok when you were on your way to have lunch with your dad was probably the stupidest way to find out that your boyfriend was planning to propose to you. And exactly that just happened to Mack. Because of course it did.
Mack was happy to finally be able to leave the lecture hall after sitting still in the same seat for two whole hours. Actually not very still – his bouncing leg and constant shifting in the seat surely bothered the people sitting around him and earned a dozen glares, but Mack could never stay still. That's too much to ask from someone who was so full of energy all the time. So as soon as the professor finished concluding whatever topic he had been ranting about the whole time, Mack sprung from his seat and was the first one to rush out of the lecture hall.
As soon as he was out of the suffocating room, he saw Aiden leaning against the wall right across the door to his lecture hall, scrolling on his phone as he waited for Mack. Just like they agreed.
They were almost out of the university campus when it happened. When a girl with a bright smile, blonde hair with red highlights and a tiny microphone in her hands approached them. A tall guy with a phone trailed right after her. Mack had seen them before. At least the girl. He had seen her around the campus and on social media occasionally, she filmed various videos with students from their university that more often than not blew up and went a little viral. Mack was almost sure she did some silly video with their hockey team last year, but he couldn't be one hundred percent sure.
She grinned at Mack and Aiden as she waived at them to notice her as she hurried towards them. “Hey, guys! Wait up!”
Aiden’s steps slowed, forcing Mack to do the same and come to a stop.
Mack glanced at his brother as if to ask if they were actually going to do this, but Aiden wasn't looking at him, so his eyes darted back to the girl. Mack never really got caught by these trendy Tiktok video people before in university. Somehow in his three years in university he slid past them unnoticed. Until now.
But it's not like he had never done whatever was about to happen to him and his brother. On the contrary, he did it almost every day – their university’s hockey team had a social media admin, a fun lesbian named Lucy that Mack had befriended on her first day as part of their team, and she filmed content and made the guys do all sorts of challenges and videos almost every practice. And it was always fun, the jokes and silly questions made the whole locker room shake with their laughter or got the guys flying down the ice screaming loudly about something stupid someone just did for the video Lucy was recording.
Mack wasn't sure if he enjoyed doing those videos because Lucy always knew how to make the atmosphere light and everyone feel comfortable at the same time as she made them total fools for a video that would get twenty thousand likes in a day or because he was with his team that felt like his second family and with who he could be relaxed and free. The fact that Will was always either next to him in those videos or right behind the camera that Lucy was pointing at Mack was also a huge advantage of the whole thing. So he just hoped he wouldn't be too awkward with this new girl and no Will around to ground him.
“Hey, guys! Would you mind doing a short video with us?” The girl asked as she finally reached them, the guy that followed her waved at them from behind the phone, camera already pointed at them.
Mack glanced at Aiden again and this time his brother met his eyes.
“Uh hold on…” Aiden pulled his phone out to quickly check the time before looking up at Mack again. “We still have an hour till lunch with dad, I think we have time for it.”
Aiden was right. The drive to the restaurant they were supposed to meet their dad was only twenty minutes from their campus, so they had plenty of time left. Mack guessed he couldn't really object and it might be even fun. The girl seemed really excited and friendly.
“Sure.” Mack nodded and the girl pumped her fist in the air in celebration.
A moment later she spun on her heels to face the guy with the phone and waved at it.
“Hello everyone, it’s Sophia from BU and today joining us is…” she pushed the tiny microphone towards Mack, nodding at him in encouragement to introduce himself.
“Mack.”
The microphone was then pushed towards Aiden.
“And Aiden.”
“This guy is our university's hockey team’s captain, so he's hot stuff over here,” Sophia cheerfully said, motioning towards Mack, who couldn't help an embarrassed smile that appeared on his face. Of course she knew who he was. “You guys are brothers right?”
“Yup.” Aiden, chill and unbothered as always, hands in his jeans pockets as he gave the girl a nod.
It was a pretty known fact that Mack had an older brother. And Aiden used to be a part of the university’s hockey team and had played with Mack for a year before he decided to drop the sport and focus on his masters degree.
In a couple months, when Will graduates university, Mack would be left alone on the team without his loved ones to play with. It was a bitter thing Mack didn't like to think about nor looked forward. He had never played without either his brother or Will by his side. He learned to skate and handle the stick together with Aiden and had played together with him either at school’s team or at home since then. Later on, when he was a little older, he met Will and they had been playing together for the past ten years. Mack couldn’t imagine a game without at least one of them on his side, on his team, skating on the same ice.
“I can tell.” She smiled at them both.
It wasn't the first time someone told Mack and Aiden that they looked similar, that they could tell that they were brothers. When they were little sometimes people would even confuse them for twins.
“Anyways, back to business.” Sophia swayed back and forth on her heels as her eyes narrowed and turned towards Mack. “You are taken right?”
Most of the students in their university knew about their hockey team, meaning they were aware about the team’s captain Macklin Celebrini dating his teammate Will Smith. Besides, the team videos of him and Will had gone viral quite a few times because, as Lucy had said, of their insufferable sweetness that gave everyone tooth aches and their heart eyes they couldn’t seem to stop making at each other no matter where they were. Lucy too often fake gaged at them behind the camera as she was making content even if the barely contained smile betrayed her and fueled both Mack and Will to be even more lovey dovey just to mess with her.
“Yes.” Mack nodded, wondering where the girl would go from there.
“You trust your partner? Think they are loyal?” Sophia asked, no malicious intent behind her words, just pure warmth on her face and in her voice like she already knew the answer Mack would give her. And she might have known. She might have known more about hockey team than she pretended to and actually knew that he was dating Will and how down bad they both were for each other, as Aiden often teased them. It was impossible to not see what they had when someone looked at them, so of course the answer would be obvious to the girl if she saw at least one of the university's games and she probably had. Everyone had been to at least one BU game in their lives.
“Hundred percent.” Mack immediately replied, no hesitation. He trusted Will with his life. After years together there was no doubt about Will’s loyalty or anything remotely close to that. They both knew where they stood with each other. Doubts had long been dispelled.
Aiden chuckled on his side and both Mack and the girl looked over at him.
“You think your brother’s boyfriend is loyal?” Sophia asked, pushing the microphone from Mack to his brother. Her question gave away to Mack that she knew exactly who he was dating and that probably was the reason she was so eager to get them on the video.
“I don't think, I know that.” Aiden laughed again. And yeah after years of witnessing Mack and Will’s relationship, Mack’s family was as trusting and loving towards Will as Mack himself.
“So would you be down to pull a little prank slash loyalty test on your boyfriend then?” Sophie asked, a huge smile stretched on her face again as the microphone was back in front of Mack’s face.
His eyebrows shot up at the unexpected question and he stared at the girl for a moment, quickly nodding before the wheels inside his head had started to spin and pulled him into endless overthinking about how it might be a stupid idea and how they might end up being late to their lunch.
“Yeah, sure.” Mack shrugged, making the girl cheer happily as she excused herself and slid between the two brothers.
“So basically you just call your brother’s boyfriend and see if he is as loyal as you claim him to be.” Sophia explained as she turned her head to look at Aiden. The implication of what he was supposed to hint at at the call was very clear. The idea made Mack’s face immediately scrunch in disgust. The suggestion of Aiden and Will… Ew! Mack shook his head pushing the gross idea as far away as possible.
“Hold on a moment,” Aiden mumbled as he shoved his hand in his pocket again to fish out his phone.
“What do you have him saved on your phone?” Sophia asked as they waited for Aiden to unlock his phone and scroll through his contacts.
“Will Smith hockey,” Aiden replied as his thump swiped up and up.
Mack frowned again, this time at his brother's answer. “Dude, are you serious? Why would you have hockey next to his name like you know any other Will Smith in real life.”
“I might, you can never know.” Aiden looked up at him with a shit eating grin. Mack just rolled his eyes. “Okay, I found his contact. Do I just call?”
“Yeah, you know, suggest to hang out just the two of you, imply something…” Sophia nodded, her hand with the microphone moving closer towards Aiden’s phone as he hit the call button, turning on the speaker so everyone would hear Will on the phone.
“Okay, easy enough.” Aiden nodded as he pulled his thumb away from the screen.
As the first ringing sound left the phone speaker Mack felt his heart stutter in his chest. Something squeezed inside. And it was silly, he trusted Will, he knew he would never do such a thing as cheat on Mack, he had no doubt about how this call would go. But something else made him slightly worried. He couldn't tell what exactly, just a general feeling of uncomfortable uneasiness. Maybe it was the worry of putting Will in an uncomfortable and weird situation? Mack knew Will was loyal, he trusted him, he had no reason to put his boyfriend through this stupid prank that was supposed to ‘test’ his loyalty just for some stupid video for their stupid university's social media.
Mack was about to voice his change of mind and tell Aiden to hang up when the ringing sound cut off and Will’s voice came from the phone. The familiar sound immediately warmed Mack’s insides.
“Hey, Aiden.”
Mack and Sophia stayed quiet, both of them almost holding their breaths as they looked over at Aiden.
“Hi, Will.” Aiden greeted casually, just like he normally did when he spoke to Will. Mack heard them have small talks and saw them gang up against him too many times in his life, it was nothing abnormal or strange. Just his two favourite people getting along. “What’s up, dude?”
“Ah nothing much, just got back home from my morning lectures. Was about to order something for lunch.” Will replied from the other end of the call and there was some background noise, he probably also was on speaker, doing something around the apartment.
“Cool.” Aiden nodded like Will could see him. “What about Mack? Is he home?”
There was a pause before Will replied. “Um no, he won't be back home for a while I think. He is supposed to have lunch with your guys’ dad in like an hour. Aren't you supposed to be there too? I think Mack mentioned you joining them.”
Mack’s eyes flew from the phone to Aiden, expecting to see his brother brainstorming for a lie, but to his surprise Aiden was already opening his mouth with a lie ready to be told.
“Yeah, man, I was supposed to have lunch with them but my morning lecture got cancelled so instead I had breakfast with dad.”
A small sound came from the phone. An acknowledgment of Aiden’s answer and reasoning, but Mack knew all of Will’s little sounds and breaths, exactly what they meant. This one was a little confused like Will was not really sure what to make of what Aiden just told him, like it didn't really make sense to him.
“Okay,” Will finally said, a bit more shuffling heard from the phone. “So why are you calling me, is something up?”
“I thought that maybe I could come over?”
“You know you are always welcome in mine and Mack’s home, Aiden. You can drop whenever, dude, I will text Mack to let him know you will be coming and to have him grab some beer for us three on his way home from lunch with your dad.”
Mack felt his heart skip a beat at his boyfriend’s answer. It was true, both Mack’s and Will’s families were always welcome at their apartment, no warning of dropping by beforehand needed. And it's not like Aiden hadn't already hung out with Will alone a bunch of times before today. More than once Mack had come back home from lectures to find his older brother hanging on his and Will’s couch, bothering Will who was making dinner for Mack in their kitchen that was conjoined with the small living room. It always warmed Mack’s heart knowing that his favourite people got along so well.
“There's no need for Mack to know,” Aiden said and Mack’s eyes rose from the phone screen to look at his brother again.
“What?” Will’s confused voice came from the speaker after a few long seconds. “You mean you gonna get the beers?”
“No, I mean there is no need for Mack to know at all that I’ve visited you.”
For anyone such a sentence should have been enough to indicate what Aiden was suggesting, what his intentions were and why exactly Mack shouldn't know about the visit. Mack bit his tongue, waiting to hear how possibly his boyfriend would deny his brother such bullshit idea. Would he maintain his usual self that never got into any kind of fights and politely told him to fuck off or started cursing him out on the phone?
Another silence stretched, this time longer as Will seemed to finally understand what Aiden meant. Mack wondered if Will would call Aiden an absolute idiot and give him a lecture on how stupid and disgusting he was being or would straight up curse him out and hang up, blocking his number until Mack came back home and explained to him what actually happened.
“Oh.” Will’s voice finally came from the phone again, but instead of disappointment, anger or disgust he sounded like he had some other realization, like he liked the idea that he gathered from Aiden’s suggestion. “You wanna come over and see Mack’s engagement rin-”
Mack, whose eyes were still glued to his brother, saw Aiden’s face fall, his eyes widening in pure panic at the words Will was saying on the phone as he frantically ended the call, cutting Will off.
But it was a little too late. Aiden was a little too slow to end the call.
The silence was deafening between the four of them as Will’s words sank in. Mack couldn't peel his eyes away from his brother’s panicked face that was now looking straight at him.
Engagement. Will said engagement. Mack felt his stomach twist and his chest tightening as the wheels in his head started spinning and he registered the full meaning of Will's words, his unfinished sentence.
Will had an engagement ring for Mack. He was planning to propose to him.
Mack’s heart was beating like crazy behind his ribcage, it felt like it would break free at any moment now and fall down onto the dirty path of the campus.
Mack wasn't afraid of marriage or future with Will. They had talked about it before, about how they saw a future together and how they knew that they were the one for each other. They talked about getting married in the future many times throughout the years they had been dating.
The first time they talked about it, it was more of a joke about a far away future than a serious conversation. Mack was sixteen, Will was seventeen and they had been together for just a few months back then when the topic of a future together was somehow brought up. They joked about marriage for the first time back then. They hadn't even said ‘I love you’s yet at that point, but they already knew that they wanted forever with each other.
The second time they talked about marriage the conversation was more serious. Maybe because they were older and more mature than when they were sixteen. It was on Mack’s eighteenth birthday, it was way past midnight and they laid sprawled in Mack’s bed, close to each other. Will softly caressed Mack’s skin as he ran his fingers all over his body, everywhere he could reach with the younger boy laying half on top of him. The touch was setting Mack ablaze, he remembered that clearly, it was a night Mack would never forget. The soft touches, warm kisses and sweet whispers filled the dark of the night and somehow between Will’s fingers running over Mack’s back under his t-shirt and their soft, synced breaths they ended up talking about their future - the university they both would apply for, the apartment they would rent together, hockey they would continue to play together even in university.
Then their future fantasy stretched further and they got past first and second university years and engagement was brought up. Will was the one who started that topic and they ended up pouring their hearts out to each other for the next hour after that, confessing that they only saw the future with the other and no one else. They talked about how they would get married and what the celebration would look like, how they would like to be proposed to.
Since Will started university the talk of their shared future and occasionally marriage came up more often, sometimes in the form of a joke, sometimes it was serious and deep, something they talked about for hours until the sunrise.
So Mack was sure, he had been sure for years that he wanted to get married to Will one day. Knew that they talked about it and it would certainly happen someday in the future. The marriage didn't scare him one bit. Nothing actually scared him about the situation, he just didn't think the future would come so fast. That the future was now.
Maybe his brain refused to believe that Will actually got him the ring and wanted to propose, that's why he was so shocked. Even with all the validation and obvious love Will gave him, Mack sometimes still got self conscious, still was overthinking everything, still couldn't believe that he got to have Will completely, forever. The engagement ring shattered crumbs of those doubts and fears that lingered in his head, shaking Mack to his core.
Will wanted him forever.
“Mack.” Aiden finally breathed out, his face an expression controlled between panic and regret, eyes still huge as he bore holes in Mack’s head, mouth opening and closing as if he didn't know if he should say something or shut the fuck up.
Aiden knew. He clearly knew about Will’s plan to propose to him. Will obviously told Aiden about him getting a ring. He literally just asked his brother if he wanted to come and see it while Mack was out. What the hell.
After what felt like years, Mack finally let himself take a deep shaky breath in and dropped his gaze from his brother’s face to the phone in his hand that was still frozen close to the microphone. The girl in between the two seemed to be equally as stunned as Mack himself at Will’s words, not daring to speak up before Mack did.
Before Aiden could say something more than just Mack’s name his phone screen lit up with the words 'Will Smith hockey‘ and a loud ringtone cut the silence again.
Aiden quickly accepted the call, this time bringing the phone to his ear.
Mack could hear Will’s muffled voice as he asked ‘what the hell,dude?’ to his brother.
“Something came up, can't talk or come over anymore. Bye!" Aiden spilled in one breath and hung up without allowing Will to reply or question his weird behavior.
Tense and awkward silence again surrounded them. Mack didn't really hear the silence. He heard his heartbeat in his ears, his whole body felt like it was pulsing, vibrating and buzzing with emotions. It felt like the other three people around him could hear the thunderous orchestra of emotions that was swirling inside his body.
“Well we definitely can't use this one now.” Sophia broke the silence and burst the tension bubble, her voice halted the wheels in Mack’s head as he felt the shock disappearing, only leaving warmth, happiness and a crazy heartbeat behind.
“Yeah, better not, at least for now.” Mack breathed out and Sophia immediately beamed at him, seeing that the initial shock had disappeared from his face.
“We will keep this in our archives. But congratulations, Mack! Or at least I think I should be congratulating you for the future occasion.” The girl smiled softly at him, her sincerity clear on her face.
“Umm… Thanks I guess? Not like there is anything to congratulate me on yet.” Mack laughed, nervous and awkward and also so impossibly giddy.
“We can definitely see that you were right about your trust in him.” The girl fished a colorful piece of paper out of her pocket and pushed it towards Mack to take. On it was a handwritten Instagram username. “Text me once it happens and if you still want us to post the video. Or even if you don't want us to post it anywhere, but want it for yourself as a memory.”
“Thanks.” Mack smiled down at the girl.
Aiden stayed silent the whole time, just watching Mack. Mack could feel his brother's eyes glued on him, probably trying to read how he was feeling and how he will have to handle this situation once it would be just the two of them.
The guy, who was recording the whole thing, lowered the phone and Sophia turned to Mack again.
“Okay, firstly, very sorry about ruining the whole thing and surprise for you.”
“It’s fine, you couldn't have seen that coming.” Mack shook his head, hands fidgeting with the sleeves of his jacket as he realised how they all were in an awkward situation there.
“You’re really not mad?” Sophia asked carefully.
“No, of course not. None of us could have guessed that it would go like this. I’m just…yeah.” Mack shrugged instead of finishing his sentence. He couldn't put it into words. If he started talking he would end up rambling to the poor girl he didn't even know five minutes ago and he did not want that. He did not want strangers to hear Mack ranting about his feelings for Will, not when he was feeling so much and so strongly now. He could tell all that to Aiden, but not to the girl and the guy that were standing next to them.
“Okay then… But seriously huge congratulations, Mack! You two are such a sweet couple and I’m a huge fan of the team, so I’m always delighted to see you play and the chemistry you two have on ice is insane too.”
Mack felt a laugh escape his lips at the girl’s even more sincere congratulation and confession. “Thanks again. Once he… Umm… once it happens I will let Will know what you said.”
“Great! Sorry again and thank you both for stopping by to film this.” The girl looked between the two brothers as she started to walk backwards towards the guy she came with. “And don't forget to text me.”
“I won't.” Mack promised and with one last wave the girl and the guy were gone. He was left alone with his brother.
Mack shoved the piece of paper in his jeans pocket and turned around to continue walking towards the parking lot where they were originally headed when Aiden finally snapped out of his trance and his silence, his fingers grabbing onto Mack’s jacket sleeve in hurry to halt him.
“Mack, I-”
“Can we get to the car first and talk there?” Mack breathed out the words and Aiden quickly nodded letting him go.
Mack dropped behind the wheel as soon as they reached his car and a second later Aiden slipped into the passenger seat next to him.
His insides hadn't calmed down one bit since he heard Will on Aiden’s phone saying he got an engagement ring for him. His chest and stomach buzzed with something too much.
Mack looked down at his hands that laid limp on his lap. His eyes were drawn like a magnet to his left hand where Will planned to put a ring on his finger.
God that was an insane thought.
There was a ring hidden somewhere in their apartment, waiting for the right, in Will’s eyes, moment to give it to Mack.
There was a ring in Mack and Will’s apartment.
Mack felt his stomach twist as he realised he wouldn't be able to stay put in his home with this knowledge. It was already driving him crazy. This was bad. This was very very bad.
“Mack…” Aiden called out his name softly after a minute of silence.
Mack looked up from his lap to his brother. Aiden’s eyes were already on him, probably were on him the whole time, face soft and a little sad. Mack’s silence was probably freaking him out.
“God, this is so shit. Mack, I’m so sorry, I didn't want to ruin this for you.”
“You didn't ruin anything.” Mack shook his head.
“I knew about it, Mack. I should have thought about the possibility of something that you weren’t supposed to hear be said on that call and I didn't. I constantly worried about accidentally saying something I was not supposed to to not fuck this one thing for you and I still did.”
“Stop blaming yourself, you didn't know he would say that.” Mack rolled his eyes, already tired of his brother blaming himself for something that wasn't even his fault.
Aiden shut his mouth and looked at Mack for a long few seconds.
“Are you… not happy about this?” Aiden asked in a careful voice and wow. His brother thought Mack didn't want this, didn't want to get engaged and marry Will.
“Gosh no, Aiden, I’m so fucking happy you have no idea. I wanted it so much, I want him more than I have wanted anything ever in my entire life.” Mack rushed to explain, words spilling from his mouth as he ran his hands through his hair, trying to get them busy. “We had talked about marriage, and I knew we both wanted it. I just… I am surprised about the timing, that the future we talked about is suddenly the present.”
“You look scared and freaked out right now,” Aiden said softly, eyes searching his face.
“I’m happy. Seriously. Just… I found out about it not the way I was supposed to, you know?” Aiden nodded. “Yeah, so I can't be… can’t feel it fully like I would if Will was with me, like if it would have happened like it was supposed to.”
Mack couldn't control what left his mouth and wasn't sure that what he said was even making sense. But Aiden nodded, he seemed to miraculously understand what Mack was trying to say.
“And oh my God, Aiden. There is a ring somewhere hidden in my fucking apartment. I will go crazy with this knowledge, I will fucking turn this place upside down the moment I am left alone. And he wants to marry me! He wants to marry me!” Words spilled from his mouth and Mack dropped his head on the steering wheel with a groan. He was a mess and he was going crazy. That was not how his day today was supposed to go.
Mack felt a hand land on his right shoulder and give him a light squeeze.
“Of course he wants to marry you, Mack.”
“I know he does,” Mack mumbled into the wheel.
“It’s not my place to tell you anything that Will told me and it’s clearly stressing you out, so I think you should just talk to him about it when you get home after lunch. Explain to him what happened and save yourself from this mess in your head and him from worrying about what is wrong with you. We both know he will notice that something is bothering you the moment you step through the door.”
Aiden was right, of course. Will would immediately see that there was something bothering Mack and it would drag out for days probably because Mack can be stubborn like that sometimes even if it drives him crazy.
With a sigh Mack straightened his back and nodded.
“Yeah, I will talk to him. Now let's go meet dad before we end up being late and he ends up scolding us for ten minutes.”
Mack was only physically present at lunch. His mind was far away from the restaurant. He didn't hear much of what his dad said and more than twice had him repeating Mack’s name to gather his attention. Mack couldn't help but think whether or not his dad also knew about the fact that Will was planning to propose to him. He probably did. Will probably talked with both his parents and Aiden about it before getting the ring and going ahead with it.
Since Mack wasn't really there, the lunch passed quickly and in no time he dropped his brother off at his apartment and headed for his own home.
On his way home Mack couldn't stop thinking about how somewhere in the apartment there was a ring hidden, waiting for him.
***
It was stupid. It was so stupid how Mack stood in front of his apartment door with keys in his hands, just staring at it for a good minute as nerves made his insides vibrate. He had never been nervous before about coming back home. But then again, he never knew that after stepping inside he would have a conversation with Will about a very real engagement ring his boyfriend got him.
The elevator dinged at the end of the hall and Mack pushed himself to move his body and unlock the door before any of his neighbours saw him frozen by the door like some weirdo.
Mack quickly shook his hands in hopes to shake off some of the nerves and stepped through the door.
“Hey, Mack.” Came Will’s voice from behind him as Mack was taking his shoes off, facing the door. He didn't need to look over to know that Will was on the couch that was perfectly visible the moment you stepped through the front door. The direction from where the sound came told Mack all he needed to know about his boyfriend's whereabouts. “How was lunch with your dad?”
“Good,” Mack replied, his car keys dropping into a bowl next to Will’s that stood on a tiny table by their front door.
Mack really wanted to sound normal, but his brain was running too fast for him to say more than a word at a time if it wasn’t about what was occupying his head for the last few hours.
Will, of course, immediately caught onto the lack of words. Mack was always talkative, always bombed Will with everything that happened the whole time they were separated, retold him the funny or interesting conversations he had with other people, gossiped about everything and anything he could.
Mack finally hung his jacket and turned around to face his boyfriend. Will’s face was clouded with concern as he frowned slightly, eyes running up and down Mack’s body, scanning him and his body language that would surely betray him.
“Baby, what's wrong? Did lunch with your dad go wrong?”
Mack shook his head as he left the hallway and entered their living room, getting closer to the couch Will was sitting on.
“No, the lunch was fine. I think.” Mack couldn’t really remember anything his dad had said during the whole meal or what he himself had said. He was vaguely aware of his dad’s confused and a little annoyed glare when he didn't respond after the third time his name was called out. Mack could only hope it wasn't that bad when he did speak with his dad.
“Something else happened then?” Will’s frown deepened as Mack stopped by the couch. The expression and sincere worry on his face and in his voice made Mack’s insides twist again. This time not because of nerves or shock, but because of love. Because he loved Will so much and he felt so loved by him too.
“No, I mean yes, but there's nothing for you to worry about… At least I think there isn’t.” Mack stumbled over his words, hands nervously twitching by his sides.
“You're making me more worried, Mack,” Will said as his eyes fell for a second down to his hands because of course he noticed the small movement. Will reached for his hand, gentle fingers wrapped around his wrist, pulling Mack closer and down onto the couch. “Come here.”
And Mack obeyed. The soft touch felt like someone had flicked a switch in him and his whole body relaxed, the chaos and buzz inside him dying down.
Mack leaned back into the couch, his right thigh pressed against Will’s left one, his boyfriend’s fingers caressing the back of his hand softly, drawing small circles and invisible patterns on the skin.
“What's up, Mackie?”
God he sounded so soft. So ready to do whatever it took to make Mack feel better.
Mack was so in love he could probably cry. Instead he opened his mouth.
“I was with Aiden.”
Mack saw Will’s face fall. Just like Aiden’s did when he was on call with Will. But Will tried to school his expression back to somewhat normal half a second later, didn't let the surprise and fear linger on it like his brother had hours before. However, the soft caressing on his hand had halted and didn't resume.
“Yeah, you had mentioned that he was supposed to join you and your dad for lunch,” Will said, but Mack heard how wrong these words tasted on his tongue.
Mack took a deep breath in. It was either now or never. And Mack couldn't go for never, he’d go crazy.
“I know about the ring, Smitty.”
It was so silent in the apartment that Mack heard the tiniest sound that left Will as his breath got stuck somewhere deep in his chest as Mack confirmed what he already had feared.
“Mack-”
“No, I need you to listen to me, because this is just so fucking stupid how this got ruined for both of us.” Mack suddenly got back his vocabulary and ability to speak when he saw Will’s face twist to something too close to sadness and disappointment. Mack quickly pulled his phone out of his pocket and unlocked it. “You need to see this.”
Mack wasn't sure he would be able to retell the whole story without making it impossible to understand with all his feelings bubbling inside him, so he had texted Sophia, the girl who made the video, asking her to send it to him before he drove back home to Will. It took approximately thirty seconds for her to respond. Mack thought that showing Will the video would be way quicker and more convenient for both of them. The video was barely two minutes long and Mack was sure that his flustered, stumbling over the words story would take at least five.
Mack offered Will his phone and his boyfriend’s eyes darted from his face to the phone in his hands and back to Mack’s face again before accepting the offered device with his other hand that wasn't still on top of Mack’s.
Will’s eyebrows pulled into an even deeper frown as he looked down at the screen for a couple long seconds. Then without a word he thumbed at the screen and let the video play.
Mack let a slow breath out and shifted closer to look at the video too. He didn't watch it when Sophia sent it to him thirty minutes ago, didn't have the patience to stay even a couple minutes more away from Will with only his running mind.
The video played and the girl’s cheerful voice, calling for Mack and Aiden to wait up for her filled their living room.
As soon as he and Aiden showed up on the screen, Mack’s eyes peeled away from his phone in Will’s hand and looked over at his boyfriend, studying every little twitch of his face.
Mack heard them talking in the video. Heard his a little tight with awkwardness laugh at Sophia’s comment, his confident and immediate ‘hundred percent’.
Will’s voice from the phone filled the room and Mack saw how this Will’s, the one’s sitting next to him, eyes slowly closed and his jaw tensed as he listened to his own voice, knowing what was to come. His eyes snapped open right before the announcement of the ring’s existence. Most likely to see Mack’s reaction. Mack’s own eyes returned to the phone screen to see what he looked like at that moment. He needed to know what Will saw at that moment.
The video ended and for a moment only their slow deep breaths were heard.
“You know that I-”
“I know.” Will nodded, eyes still glued to the dimming phone screen.
Good. Mack had to make sure that Will knew that he still wanted this, still was as sure of it as before. Even more now.
“I just didn't expect the future to be now.”
“It wasn't supposed to be now. Not yet. Not for a few more months,” Will mumbled his eyes finally leaving the phone that went dark and looked up at Mack.
A few more months. “Oh.” It had clicked for Mack. “After your graduation?”
Will hummed and as if he suddenly remembered the existence of his fingers that were resting over Mack’s hand, the soft caressing started again.
“Mack.”
“Yeah?”
“This is so fucked up.”
“I know.”
“And so fucking stupid.” Will’s lips twitched up into a small smile as he spoke and Mack felt his own face transform into a stupidly soft grin at the sight.
“Yeah.”
Will’s tongue peaked out of his mouth for a second as he quickly ran it over his dry lips and Mack couldn't help and not look down at the small action. Sue him that he found his boyfriend extremely attractive and wanted to kiss him all the time.
As if reading Mack’s mind, or more likely just knowing Mack too well after all these years together, Will leaned closer to him and pressed their lips together into a soft kiss.
Whatever was bothering Mack, swirling deep in his chest or making his brain spiral disappeared at the soft warm contact. It was like Will had the power to make everything that wasn't making Mack happy disappear. And maybe he did.
All too quickly Will pulled away from the kiss and Mack watched as his boyfriend tossed his phone to his lap and stood up from the couch, his hand leaving Mack. The distance almost made Mack groan in disapproval.
Before Mack could start complaining or grab him to pull him back next to him, Will reached their kitchen in a few big strides. He watched his boyfriend with curiosity as he crouched down by one of the cabinets and pulled the lowest drawer open. Mack was in the kitchen enough times, he and Will made meals together often enough and he knew his kitchen pretty fucking good, but that one drawer was a mystery to him. He had no idea what was stored there nor when was the last time he had pulled it open. Probably when they moved in.
Will struggled with the contents of it for a few long seconds before seemingly finding what he needed and standing up. With his hands clasped behind his back Will returned to the couch and Mack suddenly knew exactly what was hidden in the drawer.
Will dropped back on the couch next to Mack and finally with a grin revealed a tiny square light blue box.
Mack looked down at the thing in Will’s hands in wonder for a moment before meeting his eyes.
“Do you have a speech ready?”
“In my head I still had a few months for this. I had started writing something, but at the same time I was worried I’d forget everything when the time came. And I was right. I can’t remember a single sentence I had written down for this exact moment.”
“You mean me accidentally finding out that you were planning to propose to me?” Mack let a small laugh slip past his lips and watched Will smiling harder too.
“I should have made an emergency speech for situations like this too.”
“You can put the ring back there and I will pretend like I didn't see anything.” Mack pretended to cover his eyes and it earned him a laugh from Will.
“I wouldn't have said anything in that speech that I don't already tell you every day,” Will said, catching Mack’s hand and pulling it down to his lap again.
“Yeah? And what do you tell me every day?” Mack cocked his head to the side, his lips stretching into a smile as he looked at Will.
“That I love you so much I can literally feel it with my whole body. Sometimes it feels like my whole body is on fire for you, I feel it in my bones and every cell in my body buzzes with everything I feel for you.” Will's hand rose to Mack's face, softly brushing the hair away from his eyes, fingertips lingering on Mack’s face.
Mack could feel his cheeks starting to heat up at Will’s words and the way he was looking at him. Mack felt so incredibly loved.
“That you are so fucking special in every way, Mack.”
Will told him all those things every day, but Mack never got used to it, the words never lost their effect on him and his cheeks and sometimes his entire face turned pink. Now was no exception, especially with the tiny box in Will’s hand.
“You're so pretty, baby.” Will’s thumb brushed over Mack’s burning cheek, his blue eyes almost shining as he stared at Mack. “And you know that I want to spend my whole life with you. And if there is something after death, I want to be there somewhere with you too. Only you, Mack.”
Will pulled his hand away from Mack’s face to the box and Mack’s eyes followed it as Will opened the tiny thing, revealing a silver ring dotted with darker and lighter blue gemstones all around it. “Mack, will you make me even happier than I already am and marry me?
Mack blinked and suddenly the ring was blurry. Mack knew for hours that Will had the ring for him. He knew before he walked into their apartment that Will wanted to propose to him. He knew what would happen and what Will would ask the second he saw his boyfriend dig out the tiny box from their kitchen drawer. And yet he still couldn't prepare himself for the actual question and the tears.
“You know the answer, you didn't even need to ask,” Mack mumbled as his hand rose to his face to rub at his teary eyes.
“No, I had to. I fear that’s the whole point of this thing, baby.” Will chuckled.
“Of course I will marry you. Now put the damn ring on my finger.” Mack breathed out with a laugh and Will didn't waste any time, pulling the ring from the box, gently taking a hold of Mack’s left hand and slipping the ring on his finger.
Mack stared at the pretty thing on his finger for a long moment before looking up and meeting Will’s eye again.
“I love you so much it feels like my body is too small to fit all the love I have for you.”
Will only managed to let out a soft laugh before Mack’s hands settled on his face and pulled him in for a kiss. They both were smiling too wide for it to even be called a kiss, but it didn't matter. It counted as a kiss for the two of them.
When they pulled apart, Mack’s hands slid lower to wrap around Will’s neck and he started pressing kisses all over his fiancé’s face. God Will was his fiancé! Mack couldn’t stop smiling even as he pressed his lips to the other man's skin. Every brush of his lips was followed with a giggly ‘I love you’.
“Mack?” Will called out when the kisses finally stopped and the two just sat with their hands around each other, Mack’s face pressed against Will’s, his forehead resting against the blond’s template, soaking in his warmth.
“Mhm?”
“What did you expect to hear on that call?”
The question made Mack chuckle a little and he pulled away from Will to be able to look at him.
“I was wondering if you’d be able to find a polite way to tell Aiden to fuck off or if that would be something that would anger you so much you’d curse him out and block his number.”
“Honestly, even if there was no ring and there wasn't any secret I was sharing with him that would give me some other idea as to why he wanted to secretly see me, I wouldn't have realised what he was implying by that vague stuff he was saying until he straight up said he wanted sex because that's just the craziest thing ever. Like Aiden and gay sex? Unthinkable things.”
Will’s words made Mack laugh so hard his forehead fell to his fiancé’s chest as his whole body shook with waves of laughter.
“You know, now we will surely have to invite Sophia to the wedding,” Mack mumbled into Will’s chest after his giggles finally died down.
“Who the fuck is Sophia?”
Will clearly wasn't paying much attention to the girl’s introductions in the video.
“The girl in the video.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah oh. She was very sweet and even apologised for ruining the surprise. Also she's a fan of our team and said we are super sweet and have insane chemistry on ice, so we will have to invite her.”
“Whatever you want, baby.” Will hummed above him.
But with Will’s hands around him and engagement ring on his finger Mack already had everything he ever wanted.