#shout out to ryan for helping me with these bc i almost pulled my hair out and shoved it down my throat

[kathrynmhahn]

Kathryn Hahn getting ready for the 2025 Golden Globe Awards

[saturninemartial]

idk when i’m gonna finish writing this chapter bc i have no time rn to write but uh here’s an excerpt from chapter 1 in the next part of the i love you more series.

(please read me and you first if you haven’t, cough cough.)

That gooey sentimental thought causes Ryan to look back over at the big guy, with something almost wistful inside of him. People belong to themselves, he knows that; but he’s also allowed to believe in people being made for each other too. Two halves to a whole, right? There couldn’t be a skeptic without a believer.

Shane turns his head and catches Ryan’s eye, raising his eyebrows quizzically; in turn, Ryan coughs quietly and turns his head, as though he’s embarrassed he’ll be caught thinking thoughts.

“Looks like everyone’s here,” Shane leans over and mumbles. “You wanna?”

“Yeah,” Ryan breathes. “I’ll do it.” He takes another drink, then sets it down a little too loudly, clumsily. Why is he getting nervous? These are their friends, he shouldn’t be choking on his words. Shane apparently notices him struggling, as the older man’s hand finds his under the table and gives a squeeze. That’s enough for Ryan to clear his throat and force his voice out of him. “Hey guys!” he calls down the table to get everyone’s attention. “Can I just get your ears for a second?”

There are now many eyes on him, and—oh, they’re all expecting something exciting. Ryan glances back at Shane before continuing.

“So, um… Shane and I just want to let you guys know that, well…” He starts to laugh, a tinge of nervousness in it. “We’re getting married.”

There’s barely a beat, before everyone pipes up all at once.

“I knew it!” Jen is shouting from across the table from her spot next to Sara, who’s giving them a small round of applause; and Steven is bouncing and pulling on Ryan’s arm and basically screaming in his ear. The rest of the group has erupted into cacophony too, and Ryan can only barely make out things about a ring and dates and the wedding.

Ryan looks beside him, giving Shane a wry grin, which is returned with a crooked smile. They’re both kinda proud.

The commotion has lowered in volume only a hair when Zach’s voice calls out, “Hey, we can make it into the Unsolved-Worth It-Try Guys-Ladylike crossover everyone has been waiting for!”

“That’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard,” Keith laughs, and Ryan can’t help but join in on the laughter, while Shane is massaging his temple, but with a hint of a smile on his face.

“That sounds like a logistical nightmare,” Andrew agrees, chuckling quietly into his drink.

“No, we could all have, like, duties and stuff!” Zach continues. “Shane and Ryan’s duties are just to get married, while the rest of us do something to help with the planning and setup!” Ariel and Becky, who’ve both pulled up chairs to join their respective husbands, seem to agree on the chaos, but also the organization point Zach brought up.

“Zach, you can’t just invite yourself and other people to somebody’s wedding,” Eugene chides, shaking his head.

“Exactly!” Shane chimes in, pointing between Eugene and then Zach. “Just for that, nobody’s getting invited, and we’re gonna get married in some secluded forest with only Bigfoot as our witness!”

Everyone busts into laughter, even Ryan and Shane. It’s so ridiculous that they can’t help themselves. When it all calms down, Shane’s arm drapes across the back of Ryan’s chair; and Ryan wishes it was a reasonable time to just snuggle up to the older man’s side and listen to his laugh inside his chest.

“I mean, we work for Buzzfeed, so does anything really happen if it wasn’t filmed for Buzzfeed?” Zach gives a comical shrug, which is met with more laughter because, boy, isn’t that the truth.

Quinta manages to lock her sights on Ryan and Shane, which is terribly intimidating. “Show. Us. The ring.” She lightly slams the table with each word; and now there are people agreeing with her—they want to see the ring too!

Oh, the ring.

Ryan bites his lip, holding in laughter. As far as their families know, it was just an agreement, with no rings exchanged. “Actually…” he starts, making Shane think that he’s going to tell them the same thing they told their families. Shane doesn’t even flinch, until Ryan is reaching into his back pocket for his wallet; then Shane is giving him the strangest look. Already starting to giggle, Ryan withdraws the still-tied beef jerky wrapper and holds it up. “This is the ring he gave me.”

There are gasps around the table, coupled with, “What is that?” and Shane is next to him holding his face in his hands, embarrassed. “It’s a beef jerky wrapper that he found in a pile of trash and tied around my finger.” He places his other hand on his heart. “Swear to god.”

Shane is immediately being questioned; and when he doesn’t deny this, then the judgment comes.

“Shane! Ryan is worth so much more than trash!” Steven scolds, absolutely scandalized.

“You gave my boy actual trash?” Jen is leaning halfway across the table; next to her, Sara is laughing in shock. Everyone is offended on Ryan’s behalf; and to Ryan, it’s fucking hysterical and he can’t stop laughing.

“I can’t believe you kept that,” Shane mumbles, though it’s still audible to the people closest to them in proximity.

“To be fair, I kept it because it reminds me of you, and just how you and us that little proposal was,” Ryan reasons, putting on a sweet expression. Shane rolls his eyes but Ryan knows it’s good-natured.

“Ryan Bergara is worth so much more than any dinky piece of jewelry all the money in the world could ever buy,” Shane proclaims, somewhat sassy. “Which, oh, he’s already wanting a ring! You hear that? Ryan’s a gold digger!”