peppermint to be // bronnie

about two years later

"Ronnie..." I heard Brandon coax, my brain still in slumber mode. "Ronnie!" I awoke and after pushing away the sleepy confusion, I realized Brandon had crawled on top of me. "Happy anniversary, baby."

"Oh man, we're not gonna fuck are we?" I grunted.

Brandon rolled his eyes and planted a kiss on my forehead, completely compromising what was left of my masculinity. Unfortunately, I loved every single little kiss of his. "Happy anniversary," I whispered, "and merry Christmas Eve." He smiled softly down at me and rolled over onto his back. "Hey now! Get back here!" I exclaimed, turning over to face him.

"I can't believe two years ago we were hungover on your floor, spooning," he sighed.

"Now we're hungover in my bed."

"I didn't drink that much last night."

"Ah, so you were sober when you sang me that Justin Bieber song?"

"Okay, maybe I got a little drunk."

I shook my head and laughed, "I can't believe you're still this cute."

He stretched an arm over me and pulled himself closer. "I'll always be this cute, Flowers don't age."

I looked at him, neither of us said anything as we just stared at each other. I slowly moved forward to kiss him. "Ew! Flowers, go brush your teeth," I cringed as I registered his morning breath mixed with my own.

"It can't be that bad!" Brandon groaned.

"Go, go, go--we can't make out all day if you taste like that."

Brandon huffed and slipped out of bed. "I love you!" I called as he stormed out to the bathroom.

I took a moment just to lie there, thinking about how truly grateful I was to have what I had.

Things had changed quite a bit since I woke up on the floor with Brandon. He had started working at the coffee shop alongside Mark, as they both needed to make money somehow while working on their music project. Speaking of which, I had also learned of Brandon's musical talent beyond drunkenly singing Christmas songs. Every once in a while I hear him from the living room and I yell, "sounds good!" And he yells back, "I was warming up, Ronnie!"

For our first anniversary, we spent it with Brandon's family as Brandon wanted to spend Christmas with them. It was just as wonderful and warm as the first time we were there.

It was then I realized I loved him to a point where letting go of him would never be an option. So, you know, he's stuck with me.

****

When I finally got out of bed, I found Brandon in the kitchen, digging through whatever food we had. "Do you want me to make you hot chocolate?" I asked. "That's how you first started loving me, right?"

"Yes, please!" He exclaimed, grabbing something from the fridge. "Do you wanna make cookies?"

"Isn't it a little early for cookies?"

"It's 12 o'clock in the afternoon."

"Oh shit--then cookies it is! Also...who the fuck are we?"

I made Brandon his hot chocolate then helped him slap cookie dough down onto a baking sheet. "One day we'll have enough motivation to actually make cookies," he chuckled. When we fit as many cookies as possible onto the sheet, Brandon put it into the preheated oven and went over to his hot chocolate. He took a sip and sighed, "having a boyfriend who owns a coffee shop is the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"That good, huh?"

He took another sip, "the only reason why I'm dating you."

We paused before bursting out laughing. "You're so dumb," I said, still with a hint of fondness in my voice. I could never genuinely insult him no matter how much of an asshole he could be.