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the route, ensuring it would take them by the National Christmas Tree and pause there. That would be the moment Ty would propose. With a giddy sense of relief, Ty climbed into the carriage.
    “There’s a blanket to use for your comfort and warmth,” the driver said, turning around. “And we’ll stop on The Mall for hot cocoa. And if you need anything, just let me know. My name is Ed, and Buttercup is your equine guide for the evening.”
    “Thank you, Ed and Buttercup,” Micah shouted, burrowing into Ty’s side. He draped the thick blanket over them and snuggled down as the carriage lurched forward. “Look at all the envious tourists,” Micah said, his breath puffing into a cloud. “They wish they had a man who arranged carriage rides.”
    “Well, you are the prettiest princess.”
    Micah pretended offense for a moment, but then his expression slid into a coy smile. He batted his eyelashes and cupped his hands by his cheek. “You think I’m pretty?”
    Laughing, Ty wrapped his hand in Micah’s scarf and pulled him close. “The prettiest,” he confirmed before pressing his lips to Micah’s flirty pout.
    They kissed and kissed, and Ty didn’t care they missed half the sights because Micah’s mouth was warm and inviting and he nimbly teased Ty underneath the blanket, slipping his fingers underneath Ty’s sweater to play along his sides. Micah tilted his head back, offering, succumbing because the little shit knew it was one of Ty’s favorite things when his wild, relentless boyfriend gave in . Amped up, pulse thrumming, and dick hard in his jeans, Ty devoured Micah’s mouth, uncaring of the spectators. What did they matter? He was going to marry Micah. They were going to be engaged in only a few minutes.
    Ty scraped his teeth over Micah’s bottom lip, earning a throaty moan, and valiantly tried to ignore the tickle in his throat.
    He couldn’t.
    Pulling back, Ty dropped his head and coughed into Micah’s shoulder.
    “Sorry,” he said, throat tight. “Where were we?”
    “Um… Ty?” Micah softly touched Ty’s cheek. “Your eyes are puffy and red and… watering.”
    Ty blinked and liquid spilled down his cheeks. He scrubbed his sleeve over his face and sneezed—violently.
    “Oh, sweetheart,” Micah said softly. “Are you okay?”
    Ty rubbed his nose, suddenly stuffy. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
    Sneeze.
    “It must be the cold.”
    Sneeze. Itch. Water.
    “Or maybe I’m coming down with—” Itch. Sneeze. “Something.” Itch. Cough. Sneeze.
    What the fuck?
    Micah glanced at him, concern furrowing his brow. Then he looked down at the blanket they were romantically bundled in, and with his pinched fingers, pulled out a long orange hair.
    Oh no.
    “Um… sir?” Micah called to the driver. “Ed?”
    “Yes, young man?”
    “This blanket wouldn’t have come in contact with a cat, would it?”
    “Possibly. We have a very friendly barn cat in the stables. He’s a friend to the horses and loves to lie on the equipment. In fact….”
    Ty gave into a sneezing fit that lasted a full minute and drowned out Ed’s explanation.
    Ty pulled on his collar, his throat scratchy and his nose beginning to run.
    “I think I might be having—” Sneeze . “—a reaction.”
    “Yeah, baby. I think so.” Micah kicked off the blanket and allowed it to fall to the bottom of the carriage. He petted the back of Ty’s head, fingers carding through his hair, massaging the base of his neck. “We need to get you a couple of Benadryl.”
    Ty nodded and coughed.
    “Uh… Ed and Buttercup,” Micah called. “My boyfriend is allergic to cats, and we really need to get to the nearest Metro stop.”
    No. No. No, no, no, no, no. Ty snapped his head up, nose throbbing, eyes itching, misery blooming fast and real in his gut and down his throat.
    “You didn’t get to see the tree,” Ty croaked.
    Micah smiled. “I can kind of see it from here.” He craned his neck and gestured. “It’s beautiful.”
    “But…