Teddy took one look at the new cage and hunched down on Alex’s arm. “Go home,” he said.

“Aw, he’s afraid,” I said. “I told you it was too big.”

“He just needs to take a look around,” Alex said. He opened the cage and held Teddy in front of it. “See, Teddy? All of your favorite toys. There’s your perch, and I sliced up some papaya for you.”

I laughed. “How did you do all of this?”

“Stealthily,” he said. Teddy, looking very suspicious and reluctant, fluttered up to perch on the stripped branch spanning the width of the cage. He bent to test the wood with his beak, and Alex smiled, clearly pleased with himself. “There, see? He likes it.”

“You’re shameless,” I said.

“You aren’t happy unless Teddy’s happy,” he said, “and you know what they say: happy wife, happy life.” He got a strange look on his face, and then said, “Speaking of which.” As I watched, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box.

Then he dropped down onto one knee.

My heart started racing. I clapped both hands over my mouth.

“Sasha,” he said, “this past year with you has been the best year of my life. I want to bicker with you every day until I die. Will you marry me?” He opened the box, and there was a ring inside, small and shining.

I couldn’t think. My head felt like it was floating three feet above my body. “I don’t understand,” I wailed.

“I love you,” he said, so patient with me, the way he always was when the chips were down. “I love the way you let the dishes pile up in the sink until Yolanda gets fed up and does them for you. I love the way you never put the cap back on the toothpaste. I even love your stupid bird. And now that I’ve managed to con you into moving in with me, I don’t intend to ever let you leave. I hope that sounded exactly as creepy as I intended it to. Please marry me.”

“Oh, Alex,” I said, and started crying again, so overjoyed and overwhelmed that I thought I would explode. “Yes. Of course I will. Yes.”

He slid the ring onto my shaking finger, and then he stood and took me in his arms, holding me tight. “I hope these are happy tears,” he said.

I nodded, my face moving against his shoulder. After a moment, I got myself under control enough to speak. “Definitely happy,” I said.

“I even love your snot,” he said. “You’re perfect.”

“No,” I said. “We’re perfect.”

And we were.