Page 46 of His Christmas Love Song

Could it be that you want me, too?

I wanna be more than friends.

My heart beats despite its cracks.

I think I’m in love

with someone who loves me back.

I once doubted your love.

I was scared but you stayed true.

Love called us both out.

And we made it through.

Old fashioned it may be.

I love you, I do.

As a friend and a lover

it was always going to be you.

Ryan opens his eyes, and the crowd erupts into ear-splitting cheers. Hank’s clapping so hard his hands are burning.

They swiftly change gears into something brisk and up tempo, and the energy never goes back down. By the time everyone on stage is taking a final bow, Hank feels like he’s run a marathon. He can’t imagine how the performers feel. It takes some time for the crowd to disperse. Emma disappears to make sure the security they hired is doing their jobs of getting everyone safely off the property, except for the ones who are paying guests. Hank goes to the kitchen, which has been partially converted to a backstage green room for this event.

People dressed in black are dealing with instruments and equipment, and Cameron and Jesse and Ryan are clustered together, talking over each other excitedly, faces red and sweaty.

“Babe!” Cameron catches sight of him and Hank tackles him in a bear hug.

“That was incredible.”

“Good show, right?” Cameron says.

“The crowd loved it,” Hank says. “And so did I. But you guys didn’t have to say all that stuff.”

“We wanted to,” Ryan says, clapping him on the shoulder. “And we meant it.”

Jesse grins toothily. “Besides, we’re still auditioning for the Moore-Keane wedding gig.”

“Dude, give us a minute,” Cameron says, laughing. “Besides, what about you two? Or are you going to elope and save us the drama?”

Jesse smiles at Ryan. “I don’t know. We wouldn’t want to deprive our mamas of a wedding, would we, darlin’?”

“They’d probably kill us if we did, Jess,” Ryan agrees happily.

“Wait—you mean?” Cameron goggles at them.

Hank notices for the first time the matching slender gold bands on their ring fingers. “You guys got engaged?”

“Last night,” Ryan says, his eyes bright and his smile so wide it looks painful.

There’s a fresh round of everyone hugging everyone else as Cameron and Hank congratulate them. Jesse and Ryan put their arms around each other, and Hank can’t think of any two people who’ve ever been more meant to be.

“This calls for champagne.” There must be a spare bottle or two in the lodge’s wine stores.

“When are you doing the deed?” Cameron asks.

“We haven’t really talked about it. Maybe this Christmas?” Ryan suggests.

“Isn’t that kind of corny?” Jesse asks. “Mistletoe and snow and all that?”

“It turns out I kinda like corny,” Ryan says, looking at Jesse like he’s a snow day and Christmas morning and pumpkin pie and eggnog all rolled up into one. “In fact, I love it.”

“I love it, too,” Jesse says, and then they kiss.

It’s the corniest, happiest ending anyone could possibly hope for.

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