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The breeze was warm when it slid across Mike’s cheeks, a soft, slow current of air that nudged him out of a heavy, dreamless sleep.
Far off in the distance, a tractor hummed against the chirping of morning birds.
He stirred, shifting against the sheets before slowly turning his head toward the open balcony doors. He blinked, adjusting to the light, and his brain completely short-circuited.
Will was standing right out there on the tiny balcony, leaning his forearms against the wooden railing. He was wearing nothing but a pair of white briefs.
Mike was shamelessly staring, his eyes tracking up and down Will’s back three times in a row.
First, the messy brown hair sticking up every which way from sleep. Then, those broad shoulders that looked so wide, yet fit so completely perfectly whenever Mike snaked his arms around them.
He traced the slight arch of Will’s spine, watching the soft muscles of his back relax under his tan skin, warmed by the Italian sun.
And then his eyes landed lower, on the curve of Will's round buttcheeks, and Mike’s mouth went bone dry.
The sun was officially up, but as far as Mike was concerned, Will was the actual light of the day. Right past the balcony, Tuscany stretched out in endless rows of green grape fields, rolling hills, and mountains in the distance.
It was the exact place Will had spent years talking about, sketching in the margins of his notebooks, dreaming out loud about during long nights in their apartment back home.
Mike had taken one look at those drawings last year and made up his mind. He worked every single double shift he could get his hands on, saving every dime, and with Will working alongside him to pool their cash, they’d finally made it happen.
Mike let out a long, quiet sigh, staring at the view—or rather, staring at Will against the view.
"I could really get used to this."
Will turned his head over his shoulder, a wide, easy grin breaking across his face. "Look who's finally awake," he said, turning around and leaning his lower back against the railing.
Mike rolled his eyes, resting his head back on the pillow. "Oh, come on, it's not even that late."
He glanced past the balcony doors to the small wooden clock hanging on the bedroom wall. The hands were resting squarely on the one and twelve.
Mike gasped out loud, his eyes snapping away from the clock so fast his neck nearly popped. "It can't be," he blurted out, sitting up frantically. "There's no way. Is that clock broken? I didn't just sleep until one in the afternoon!"
Will burst into a light giggle, shaking his head as he stepped back inside the bedroom. He walked over to the bed. "You definitely did."
He climbed onto the mattress, crawling forward on his knees. Mike immediately caught on, lifting the edge of the blanket so Will could slide right under.
The second Will settled in, Mike pulled the blanket over both of them and wrapped his arms tight around Will’s waist, dragging him flush against his side.
Mike let out a huge sigh of comfort, burying his face right into the crook of Will’s neck. He breathed in deeply, taking in that familiar scent of warm skin, laundry soap, and a hint of the fresh Tuscan air.
Without saying a word, he started pressing a lazy, continuous trail of tiny, short kisses right along Will’s neck and up to his jawline.
Will writhed a little in his arms, giggling at the ticklish sensation as Mike’s curls messy against his chin. "Mike, stop, that tickles—"
"Never," Mike mumbled against his skin, pressing three more rapid-fire kisses right below Will’s ear before finally pulling back a few inches.
He looked down into Will’s face. Will was staring right back at him, his hazel eyes bright and shining with so much affection and raw love that it almost made Mike's chest ache.
It was that soft, undisturbed look Will only gave him when it was just the two of them, completely away from the rest of the world.
Mike squeezed Will’s waist a little tighter.
"So," he asked, a smug little smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Do you love it here? Did your man take you to a great place?"
Will bit his bottom lip, trying and failing to hide the smile that was threatening to break through. He gave a slow, deliberate nod.
"Yeah," Will murmured, his voice soft and teasing. "I think my man might really love me after all."
"Hell yeah he does," Mike grunted happily.
He leaned down, brushing the tip of his nose against Will’s. He hovered his lips a millimeter away from Will’s, teasing him, intentionally lingering just out of reach to mess with Will’s head.
He started to pull back with a cheeky grin, but Will wasn't having any of it.
He reached up, cupping Mike’s face firmly with both hands, and pulled him right back down, crashing their mouths together into a sweet, slow morning kiss.
Mike hummed into the kiss, the vibration echoing in Will’s chest as he hummed right back. They melted into the bed, tangled up in the sheets and each other, unbothered by the fact that half the day was already gone.
It took them nearly an hour to actually pull themselves out of the tangled web of sheets and stumble into the kitchen.
Waking up fully was a slow process, heavily reliant on the promise of caffeine.
Making coffee, however, was strictly Will’s territory. Mike had proven back in their apartment that he could practically set a machine on fire just by staring at it wrong, so his only official job this morning was providing emotional support.
Or, as Will kept calling him while trying to reach the overhead cabinets, acting like an annoying, oversized koala.
Mike stood glued to Will’s back, his long arms wrapped tight around Will’s chest and his chin resting right on Will’s shoulder.
He refused to let go, dragging his feet along the cool tiled floor every time Will tried to take a step toward the stove.
"Mike, seriously, I’m going to drop the pot," Will laughed, using his elbow to nudge Mike’s ribcage as he carefully scooped dark espresso grounds into the pot.
"I'm helping," Mike mumbled into the neck of Will’s shirt, pressing a lazy kiss against his shoulder. "I'm supervising. Making sure the house doesn't explode."
"You're a hazard," Will said, but he leaned his head back against Mike's cheek anyway, letting out a small, soft sigh as the espresso finally began to gurgle and bubble onto the stove, filling the tiny kitchen with a deep, rich aroma.
They sat at the small wooden table inside, nursing their tiny cups of thick, dark coffee.
"Okay, so," Mike started, tracing the rim of his porcelain mug with his index finger. "The coffee here actually tastes like coffee, not like that brown water they serve at the diner down the street from our place."
Will snorted, taking a small sip and wincing slightly at the bitterness before smiling up at Mike. "That's because it's real espresso, Mike. Not three-hour-old drip coffee."
"Whatever it is, it's working," Mike said, stretching his long legs out under the table until his ankles locked around Will’s calves. "I feel like a human being again. Hungry, though. Extremely hungry."
"Yeah, me too," Will admitted, setting his empty cup down. "Let's go find something real to eat before you start chewing on the furniture."
They got dressed in simple clothes—cotton shirts and shorts—and walked out into the quiet midday heat, wandering down the stone-paved street until they found a small, local trattoria tucked away in a shaded corner. The place was almost completely empty, save for an older couple sitting near the front entrance, which suited them just fine.
Mike immediately guided Will toward a secluded table in the far back corner, shaded by a wooden trellis covered in leafy green vines.
It offered them total privacy, a little bubble tucked away from the rest of the world where they could be as disgustingly romantic as they wanted without drawing eyes.
Their fingers had been interlaced since they stepped foot outside their rental, and even as they sat down, Mike refused to break the contact, holding Will’s left hand firmly on top of the tablecloth.
They ordered a local favorite the waiter recommended—pici al ragù di cinghiale, thick, hand-rolled pasta tossed in a rich, slow-cooked wild boar sauce.
When the food arrived, the smell alone was enough to make Mike’s stomach growl out loud, making Will chuckle across the table.
They ate hungrily, the pasta being hands-down the best thing either of them had ever tasted in their entire lives.
"Alright," Mike said between bites, leaning his forearms against the edge of the table. "Now that we're officially fed and awake, what do you want to do over the next few days? We're in Italy, baby. Entirely up to you."
As he spoke, Mike noticed a small smudge of red sauce resting right at the corner of Will’s lower lip.
He giggled softly, reaching across the table with his free hand, his thumb gently catching the stray sauce and wiping it clean off Will's skin.
Without missing a beat or breaking eye contact, Mike brought his thumb back to his own mouth, licking the sauce off before picking up his fork again to keep eating.
Will’s cheeks flushed a subtle, dusty pink, but he didn't pull away.
"Because remember," Mike continued casually, twirling some thick pasta onto his fork, "We have a car. So it really doesn't matter if you want to go somewhere a little farther away. We can just drive."
Will narrowed his eyes slightly, chewing his food thoughtfully as his mind raced through all the maps and books he'd spent years obsessing over back home.
He looked down at his plate for a second, then his head snapped up, his eyes wide and completely lit up with excitement.
"The Leaning Tower of Pisa," Will said, the words tumbling out of his mouth quickly. "I really, really want to see it in person. And... I know it’s further away, like a couple hours, but Rome. I’d love to see the Colosseum, even just for an afternoon."
The second the words left Will’s mouth, the decision was already made in Mike’s head. If Will wanted to see Rome, then Mike was going to drive him to Rome, even if he had to sit behind the wheel for ten hours straight. There was zero debate.
"Done," Mike said instantly, pointing his fork toward Will. "Don't even worry about the distance. We'll do Pisa tomorrow, and we can make a day trip out of Rome right after that. Whatever you want to see, we're going."
Will broke into a bright, beautiful smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, and Mike felt his chest swell with so much sudden, overwhelming love that it physically hurt.
He had to actively fight the urge to jump across the table, grab Will’s face in both hands, and kiss him all over his nose and cheeks right there in the middle of the restaurant.
Will shook his head, his smile softening into something deeply tender.
"Babe, you really don't have to just do whatever I want, you know," he said softly, his thumb rubbing over the back of Mike’s knuckles on the table. "You don't have to drag us all over the country just because I mentioned it. Honestly... it's more than enough just being here with you. It doesn't matter what we do or where we are, as long as I'm with you."
Mike felt a warm, quiet thrill run down his spine, a secret grin tugging at his lips that he had to bite down on to suppress.
"Trust me," Mike said softly, his eyes locking onto Will’s with a quiet, undeniable certainty. "You're going to get to see all of it."
They finished up their early dinner and slowly ambled their way back up the quiet stone path toward their rental.
Sunlight was beginning to turn a heavy, rich gold across the hills, casting long shadows over the gravel.
The moment they stepped back inside the bedroom, Mike started pacing around the room with an unusual amount of energy, off-key whistling floating through the air as he shuffled through his bag.
Will unbuttoned his jeans, sliding them down his legs to swap them for a lighter pair of shorts. He paused mid-motion, wobbling for a second as he pulled one leg out, looking over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow.
"Okay, I’ve seen enough, what’s up with you?" Will asked, stepping into the shorts and pulling them up over his hips. "You look strangely excited for this hike."
Mike’s whistling cut off instantly. He froze, his hand still buried deep inside his bag, and his pulse was currently thumping against his fingertips. He turned around slowly to face Will, forcing a flat, unconvincing laugh out of his throat.
"What? No, I'm not," Mike stammered out, rubbing the back of his neck with a sweaty palm. "I'm just... you know, excited to mess up my knees and be in absolute pain for the next three days. It's gonna be great."
Will snorted, reaching over to the small wooden dresser to grab his baseball cap. "You know, if you're really that worried about your knees, we can just stay right here and do nothing," Will said, shrugging effortlessly as he adjusted the brim of the hat over his brown hair. "We don't have to—"
"NO!" Mike blurted out, the word bursting out of his chest before Will could even finish his sentence.
The loud shout echoed off the high plaster walls of the bedroom. Will blinked, his hands dropping from his hat as he burst into a confused, genuine laugh.
"Baby," Will called out, laughing as he took a step forward. "What is wrong with you? You are acting so weird."
Well... Mike had his reasons. Very specific, life-altering, incredibly nerve-wracking reasons.
Will stepped all the way into Mike’s personal space, closing the distance between them until their chests were almost touching.
He raised both hands, placing his palms flat against Mike’s cheeks. They were so warm and soft, the heat of Will’s skin instantly cutting through the icy spike of panic in Mike's chest.
Mike leaned into the touch without a second thought, his eyes fluttering shut for a fraction of a second as he melted into Will's hands.
Will leaned up on his tiptoes, pressing a tiny kiss right onto the tip of Mike’s nose.
He shifted down, planting another soft kiss on Mike’s cupid’s bow, then drifted to the side to press his lips against the dark mole on his right cheek, just a little bit above his jawline.
Finally, Will brought their lips together for a brief, warm kiss. When he pulled back, it was with a loud, wet smack that broke the quiet of the room.
Will stayed there for a second, looking into Mike’s eyes. He gave his cheek a gentle, light pat before letting his hands slide back down to his sides.
"You'd better go grab those knee sleeves then," Will teased softly, a mischievous little glint in his eyes.
"Oh, fuck you," Mike shot back, pointing a finger at him.
Will just laughed out loud, turning around to head toward the front door. "Later!" he called back over his shoulder.
Mike stood in the middle of the bedroom for another five seconds, taking one massive, shaky breath to get a grip on his sanity.
He checked his pockets—wallet, key, chewing gum—and patted himself down to confirm he had everything.
"Alright," Mike muttered to himself under his breath. "Alright. You got this."
He walked out and pushed through the front door, stepping out into the fading afternoon sun with Will right by his side, ready to hit the trail.
It was six in the evening, and the sun was still sitting relatively high in the sky. It was warm—maybe a little too warm for a full physical trek—and bright enough that Mike had to keep his eyes narrowed against the glare, but the weather was undeniably perfect for a hike.
And a hike in Tuscany was, of course, Will’s absolute biggest dream.
Will was athletic.
He had muscles, great stamina, and a natural stride that made walking up inclined dirt paths look like an effortless stroll through a flat park.
Mike, on the other hand, was the literal opposite. If it were entirely up to him, he would happily spend three hundred and sixty-five days a year planted firmly in bed, binge-watching movies, stuffing his face with endless bowls of popcorn, sour candy, and snacks he could lay his hands on until his brain went completely numb.
Will would usually sit on the edge of the mattress, watching him eat with a look of mild disgust mixed with fond disbelief, but it worked. They balanced each other out perfectly.
The place Will had picked for them was nothing short of stunning. As they walked deeper along the trail, following the winding path right next to a river that looked surreally, impossibly blue under the bright afternoon light, Will couldn't suppress a single one of his reactions.
"Mike, look at the water," Will said, stopping dead in his tracks every fifty feet to turn around and point. "I’m serious, look at it. Have you ever seen a river that clear? You can see the smooth pebbles at the bottom from all the way up here."
"It's... yeah, it's really blue, baby," Mike panted out, his hands resting heavily on his hips as his lungs burned.
"And the trees!" Will continued, completely ignoring Mike’s near-death state as he gestured wildly up at the dense canopy over their heads. "The way the light filters through the leaves... it doesn't even look real. It feels like we walked right into a postcard."
The thick leaves made cool spots of shade, flickering shadow over the dirt path, making the whole forest look like something plucked straight out of a classic fairytale book.
But while Will was practically floating up the trail, leading the way toward the top, Mike was genuinely fighting for his actual life.
Every two minutes—literally, every hundred and twenty seconds—Mike had to stop.
He bent over at the waist, placing his hands on his knees, gasping for air while dragging the back of his forearm across his dripping, sweaty forehead.
Meanwhile, Will was giggling, his wide, dimpled smile never leaving his face for a single second.
Because Mike was taking an excruciatingly long time to make any upward progress, Will kept doubling back on himself, crossing the path back and forth between where Mike was struggling and the higher bend of the trail just to keep moving.
"Come on, grandpa," Will teased, jogging down three steps and reaching both hands out toward Mike with an amused grin. "I thought you said you were excited for this!"
"I am," Mike wheezed out, his chest heaving as he reached up to take Will’s hands. "I'm... thrilled. My lungs are just... taking a brief vacation."
Mike was about to draw in another deep breath to complain further, but the air caught directly in his throat the second he pulled himself up over the crest of the hill and saw the clearing.
His jaw dropped. He had never been anywhere outside of their bubble in New York until this trip, but standing right here, he would say without a single shred of hesitation that Sentier Elsa was the most gorgeous, breathtaking place he had ever laid eyes on in his entire life.
Everywhere Mike looked, there was nothing but lush, vibrant green trees, the sweet, continuous chirping of birds, and the gentle, rhythmic lapping of the river rushing against rocks.
The water level was a little low in this particular stretch, exposing a natural pathway across the riverbed.
It looked almost like a bridge created entirely by nature itself—a line of massive, flat stepping stones crossing the water, flanked on both sides by two thick guide ropes.
Will squeezed Mike’s hand tightly, his eyes sparkling as he pointed directly at the natural stone crossing. "Mike! Look at that bridge! We have to cross it. Come on, let's go!"
Mike just nodded dumbly, still completely paralyzed by the sheer beauty of the scenery. "Yeah. Yeah, whatever you want."
He stood back for a second, watching Will with a soft, aching heaviness in his chest.
Will looked so impossibly happy. He was practically vibrating with excitement, darting his head around to take in every single leaf and branch, stopping near the edge of the river bank to bend down and touch the wet rocks with genuine, curious wonder.
Will cupped his palm, scooping up a small handful of the water, watching it catch the sunlight before letting it slowly flow back down through his fingers into the river.
And right then, standing on the dusty trail with the sound of the rushing water filling his ears, it hit Mike with the force of a freight train.
This was the place. This was the exact, perfect moment.
He watched Will take his first confident step onto the flat stepping stones of the river bridge.
Mike swallowed hard, his left hand instinctively dropping down to bury itself deep into the pocket of his shorts. His fingers trembling violently against the fabric.
His throat went bone dry in an instant. He was suddenly sweating way more than he had been while actually climbing the hill, a sharp surge of nervous adrenaline flooding his veins.
Mike was completely silent. He took one massive, shuddering breath, his heart hammering against his ribs so fast he thought it might crack a bone. Without thinking it through any further, Mike suddenly sank down onto his left knee right there on the uneven, damp rock.
His center of gravity threw him off immediately. He wobbled to the side, his foot slipping an inch on the wet stone, and he had to quickly throw his left arm out to grab the guide rope to keep himself from plunging straight into the shallow river.
He scrambled for a second, fighting his own clumsy limbs, until he finally managed to lock himself into a relatively stable, kneeling position.
His breathing was fast and shallow.
"Watch your step," Will called back casually as he carefully navigated the rocks, leaning his weight slightly against the guide rope. "The algae on these flat ones is a little slick, but if you step right in the middle, it's totally fine. Wow, look at the fish down there! Mike, can you see them? They're tiny, they're like silver—"
Will cut himself off mid-sentence. The trail of his cheerful rambling died out when he realized he was speaking into total silence. Mike hadn't answered him. In fact, Mike hadn't made a sound in over twenty seconds.
"Mike?" Will asked, turning around slowly on the middle rock to check on him.
But he froze completely two feet in front of Mike on the stone path. He stood locked in place, his head tilted slightly, his eyes wide and unblinking as he looked down at Mike on the ground.
"Will," Mike started.
His voice cracked so embarrassingly high on the single syllable that it sounded like a dying bird.
Mike winced, his face burning bright red. He cleared his throat loudly, squeezing his eyes shut for a brief second to reset.
His right hand was still crammed deep into his pocket, and he suddenly realized that if he was going to do this, it would probably be a very fucking good idea to actually take the ring out.
With shaking, sweaty fingers, Mike hauled the small, dark blue box out of his pocket and held it out in front of him, snapping the lid open.
Will’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. His lips parted in a silent, shocked gasp, his hands dropping from the guide rope as he stared at the box.
Mike tried to gather his thoughts.
He had spent the last three weeks sitting on the edge of his bed back in their apartment, memorizing a long, beautifully crafted speech.
He had rehearsed it in the shower, in the car, while waiting for the coffee at the coffee shop—every single word carefully chosen and memorized until he could recite it backward.
But looking up at Will right now, with the river rushing around them and Will’s wide, beautiful eyes staring down at him, every single word vanished into thin air. His mind went blank.
He swallowed hard and tried again.
"Will," Mike said softly, his voice much steadier this time, though his lower lip trembled slightly. He paused, taking a ragged breath to settle his wildly beating heart. "I... okay. I just really want you to know how much I love you. Like, really, truly love you."
Will didn't move. He didn't even seem to be breathing, his gaze locked entirely on Mike's face.
"I love you on your absolute worst days," Mike said, the words starting to spill out of him now, raw and unprompted, coming straight from his chest instead of some script he'd memorized. "And I love you on your best days. I love watching you stand over the stove when you're making my favorite food, and I love how you always, without fail, compliment me even when I look like trash. I love the tiny little moan you make when you eat something really tasty. I love how you hum—that soft little noise in your throat—every single time I come up behind you and wrap my arms around you."
A faint, tearful gloss started to cover Will’s eyes, but he stayed completely still, listening.
"I love the stupid way you dance when a good song comes on the radio," Mike continued, a small, breathless smile breaking through his sheer panic. "I love how you just... enjoy life. How you bring actual light and joy into everybody’s grey, boring world. Especially mine."
Mike stopped, forced to pause to catch his breath because his chest was so tight he could barely get the air in.
His left knee was pressing directly into a sharp edge of the rock, a nasty cramp shooting up his calf, but he didn't care at all. He couldn't care. He needed to get every single word out.
"You keep me grounded, Will," Mike said, his voice dropping an octave, thick with quiet emotion. "You make me feel like life is actually worth living. You give me a reason to wake up every single morning... even when you're snoring softly right into the side of my neck. I love how you always smell so good, but... honestly, I even love when you're all stinky and gross after coming back from the gym, because why wouldn't I? It's you."
Mike sucked in another sharp breath, holding the little box higher, his hand trembling against the cool air.
"I want to live my whole entire life right by your side," Mike said, looking directly into Will’s shining eyes. "Raising kids... or getting a bunch of cats, whatever you want, whatever you prefer. I want to grow old with you. I want to be eighty years old, walking down the street, still holding your hand and kissing you in public, telling you nasty-ass, disgusting jokes just to make you laugh and gross you out on purpose."
Mike stopped speaking.
Silence stretched between them, save for the steady, rushing sound of the river and the distant chirping of birds in the trees.
Will hadn't said a single word. He stood completely frozen on the rock, staring down at Mike with an unreadable expression, his chest rising and falling slowly.
Mike’s pulse thundered in his ears. The silence was killing him.
"So..." Mike whispered, his voice small, terrified, and utterly desperate. "Will... Baby… Will you marry me?"
"No!"
Mike’s heart instantly dropped straight into his shoes.
The sheer shock of the word made Mike flinch so hard his right foot slicked off the wet, mossy rock.
His knee buckled, his balance gave out, and he let out a loud, embarrassed yell as he slipped sideways, his body tipping over the open water.
He scrambled wildly with his free arm, grabbing the guide rope just in time to stop himself from plunging face-first into the freezing river.
"What?!" Mike choked out, his eyes wide with panic as he dangled over the water, looking up at Will in total confusion and sheer terror. "What do you mean, no?"
Will shook his head frantically, throwing his hands up in the air. "No! I mean—no, it's not supposed to happen like this!"
Mike hauled himself back up onto the rock, his knees shaking, his brain completely scrambled. "Baby, what are you talking about? What do you mean it's not supposed to happen like this?"
Will let out a massive sigh, reaching down into the deep front pocket of his own shorts. He pulled his hand out and held something up in the air between them.
It was a tiny, square, dark green box. Almost identical to the one Mike was holding.
Will popped the lid open with his thumb, revealing a simple, gleaming silver band resting inside.
Mike’s eyes widened so fast he felt his eyebrows hit his hairline. He stared at the box in Will’s hand, then at his own box, then back up at Will’s face.
"I was going to propose to you at the top of the hike, you idiot!" Will shouted, half-laughing, half-crying as a single tear finally spilled over his eyelashes and ran down his cheek.
Mike sat there on his hands and knees on the wet rock, staring at the ring. A sudden, breathless, incredibly ridiculous "Oh..." escaped his lips.
He stared at Will’s ring for three solid seconds before a wide, goofy grin slowly began to spread across his face.
"Well... hey," Mike said, his voice cracking slightly with relief. "At least we have the exact same thoughts. That basically means we're made for each other, right?"
Will let out a wet, breathless laugh, rolling his eyes up toward the sky as he wiped his cheek with the back of his hand. "You are incredible. You really couldn't even wait until we got off the rocks?"
Mike shifted his weight awkwardly on his aching knee, trying to adjust his leg so the sharp cramp in his calf didn't make him pass out entirely.
"Okay, but... what do you actually say?" Mike asked, looking up at him with wide, hopeful eyes. "To the question?"
Will looked down at him, a huge, helpless, gorgeous smile breaking across his entire face. He giggled, a sweet, musical sound that echoed over the water.
"Of course I say yes, Mike! I wouldn't have bought a ring to propose to you in the first place if I was going to say no!"
Mike let out a massive, dramatic sigh of relief, his shoulders slumping as the sheer weight of his anxiety finally evaporated into the warm air.
"Okay, good," Mike muttered, wiping his sweaty forehead. "Because for a second there, I thought I was gonna have to jump into this river and drown myself." He paused, looking up at Will with a suspicious squint. "Wait... would you have said no if you hadn't bought a ring at all?"
Will rolled his eyes, stepping a few inches closer on the flat rock and reaching down with his free hand. "Just put the ring on my finger, you dork."
Mike grinned wildly, his whole face lighting up. "Gladly."
He scrambled to stand up, but his foot caught on the edge of the wet stone again. He slipped forward, pitching his long body directly into Will’s space. "Whoa—!"
Mike almost took them both down into the river, but thanks to Will’s athletic, surprisingly strong frame, Will planted his feet firmly on the flat rock, catching Mike by the waist and hoisting him upright before they could tumble into the water.
"I've got you, I've got you," Will laughed, holding Mike steady until Mike got his footing back on the center of the stone.
Standing chest-to-chest on the narrow bridge, Mike carefully pulled the ring out of his box with shaking fingers.
He took Will’s left hand, gently sliding the band onto Will’s ring finger. It fit perfectly.
Once it was on, Mike stood there, shifting his weight nervously from his tiptoes to his soles, back and forth, again and again, his hands bouncing with frantic excitement.
"Okay," Mike urged, nudging Will’s shoulder. "Now you. Ask me too."
Will giggled, shaking his head fondly at Mike's complete inability to stand still. He held his own tiny box up, pulling the second silver ring out.
"Mike," Will started, his voice soft and warm. "I love you so much. I love when you wear those reading glasses that make you look like a giant nerd. I love the way you stuff your mouth with totally unhealthy junk food until you can barely chew. I love the way your voice cracks and sounds like a pipe under high pressure every single time you get overly excited or frustrated about something."
Mike rolled his eyes, but the massive, goofy smile on his face completely ruined the effect. "Hey..."
"I'm serious," Will murmured, reaching out to take Mike’s left hand. "I love how tight you hold me in your sleep, like you're afraid I'm gonna disappear if you let go. I love that I can tell you literally anything, no matter how weird or stupid, and you always just... get it. You get me. I love how ridiculously long your arms are, and how you can wrap them around me and make me feel completely safe from the rest of the world."
Will slid the ring slowly onto Mike’s finger, his thumb gently smoothing over Mike’s knuckles.
"I love how embarrassingly flirty you get," Will continued, looking right into Mike's dark eyes. "I love your corny jokes even though they're embarrassing. I love that you talk in your sleep—and that you'll actually answer me if I ask you questions while you're passed out. Hell, I even love when you drool all over the pillow, and how nerdy and insane you get over anything that has to do with us."
Will stepped in closer, his thumb stroking the back of Mike’s hand. "I love you, Mike. So... will you marry me?"
Mike immediately leaned forward, pressing his forehead firmly against Will’s, closing his eyes as a wave of pure, overwhelming happiness washed over him.
"Yes," Mike whispered softly against his skin. "Yes, of course."
Will hummed against his lips.
"Thought so," he murmured, gently brushing the tip of his nose against Mike’s.
Mike reached out, extending his hand so Will could hold it.
Will gripped Mike's fingers, bringing their hands together right between their chests to align the two silver bands.
The rings caught the golden sunlight, shining brightly against their skin.
Will intertwined their fingers tightly, bringing Mike’s hand up to his mouth to press a soft, lingering kiss against his knuckles, right over the cool metal of the ring.
Mike smiled, leaning down to do the exact same thing to Will’s hand, kissing his knuckles and the ring resting on his finger.
Will finally pulled back a fraction of an inch, a bright, playful glint returning to his eyes. "Alright, come on. We should actually finish this hike now."
"Right. The hike," Mike said.
He moved to take the next step along the river stones—and immediately slipped.
He caught himself on the guide rope, gasped, took another step, and slipped again.
In the span of five feet, Mike managed to almost fall into the river three separate times on the exact same patch of wet rock.
He didn't let go of Will’s hand for a single millisecond, clutching Will’s fingers with a vice-like grip as he stumbled along behind him.
Will couldn't stop laughing, holding Mike steady every time his ankles wobbled.
"I honestly can't believe you actually sank down on a rock when you're already struggling with your knees," Will said, shaking his head in total disbelief.
Mike bit his bottom lip, pulling Will a little closer by his waist as they finally stepped off the river stones and back onto the solid dirt path.
Mike grunted, a cocky little smirk pulling at his lips. "I like living dangerously."
Will just laughed out loud, shoving Mike’s shoulder gently as they kept walking up the trail.
Mike swung their joined hands between them, looking over at Will with a warm, ridiculously happy expression. "But hey... at least no matter what happens next, we're fiances together, right?"
Will froze for a split second, giving Mike a sharp side-eye, looking at him in utter disbelief that Mike really had the absolute guts to use that phrase again with modified words.
He opened his mouth to make fun of him, but Mike was looking down at him with those massive, round puppy-dog eyes, completely innocent and overflowing with love.
There was no way Will could ever say anything mean to him when he looked like that. He loved him way too much.
Will softened, a quiet, beautiful smile spreading across his lips as he squeezed Mike’s hand.
"Yeah," Will said softly, leaning his head against Mike's shoulder as they walked up the sunny path. "Fiances together."