A Year Without You

Chapter Ten

I finally asked the girl of my dreams to marry me and now came the task of planning and lord only knows what is going to happen when the rest of our friends hear the news cause Andy and Vic are going to go from zero to a hundred, so we better buckle up.

Couple weeks later

"No!" "come on Maya be reasonable " I marched out of the dressing room at the Tuxedo store "No, Andy I will not wear a pink pantsuit to my wedding " She looked at me with a pleading look " Oh come on it doesn't look that bad. it could be much worse. " I laughed wanting to kill her as I step out of the dressing room " Not that bad ... It could be worse?! Are you kidding me?! I look like a god damn bottle of Pepto Bismol " Vic huffed and pinched the bridge of his nose "can you just bend a little " Oh I know she just didn't tell me to bend a little I have bent more than enough " Bend a little? Bend a little Vic I have bent on the food, the reception, the DJ, even the damn wedding colors and if I bend anymore, I will snap! "I looked at them in frustration " this is one thing I refuse to bend on this time I am not getting married looking like the cotton candy blob " They looks at me knowing I was serious "ok" Andy nodded " we will just find something else " Vic said as I walked back into the dressing room I swear if I had it my way Me and Carina would be getting married at city hall and been done with it. The only reason I agreed to this was so there could be something good to come out of this shitty ass year.

So, after all afternoon looking, we finally found the perfect outfit for the wedding. It was miracle Andy said that we actually found something that I would agree to wearing. That I couldn't argue with at all I had to agree with her on that. I had apologized to Vic for flipping out on her because I knew she was only trying to help. I drove home music blasting out of my speakers I pulled up in the driveway of Mine and Carina's apartment building. I walked into our apartment, so exhausted from Vic and Andy dragging me around all day " Carina babe I'm home?!" I yelled in search of her when I smelt the heavenly aroma of Carina's mother's famous lasagna in the air.

I walked in the kitchen she didn't notice me I wrapped my arms around her from behind I kissed her neck she jumped in surprise with a smile " hey you how did it go with the girl's today? " I sighed resting my chin on her shoulder "I was ok ... but is it too late to run to Vegas? " she giggled " Yes because we already paid for everything and bambina they mean well even if they are driving you insane" She turned to face me I looked back " I know babe but if I have to bend anymore I will lose my mind " Carina kissed me and I felt all the tension leave my body she pulled away " Everything is going to be fine Maya and in two weeks we will officially be wife and wife " I smiled " Once again you are right I just need to relax " She smiled sweetly " Good now dinner is almost done I hope you're hungry " I kissed her neck playfully " I am but for you " She laugh and pushed me gently " well if you behave the rest of the night you might just get lucky and have a surprise for desert" I smiled" Don't think I am not holding you to that promise " Carina lightly laughs " Oh I have no doubt you will"

Two weeks later

Today was the day I was going to marry Carina DeLuca. I stood in front of the mirror in our bedroom getting into my pantsuit. I took a deep breath I was so damn nervous more nervous than I have ever been in my life like I am today. I wasn't this nervous when I join the fire academy or when I went through training hell, I wasn't even this nervous the first time I fought a fire. I heard a knock on the door and in walks Andy smiling "Well look at you on your big day, you ready? "I smile at her trying to tie my tie I was so nervous I couldn't get the knot right "here let me help you "I sigh having given up on the tie as she walks over. She starts to help me out " seem like yesterday we were in the academy trying to one up each other. now look at you" She pulls the knot and straightens it "Now you're a big-time captain and getting married " I looked at her as she stopped " thanks Andy and yeah well I am the person I am today because of you never give up on me and thanks to Carina I now know what it is to be a good partner to the person I love " I look at her. I will always be your competitive best friend; I'll have a wife" She smiled warmly and hugged me "I love you Maya " I hug her back "I love you too Andy" She looks at me "ok let's go".

We sneak past Vic and Carina as they are getting ready in the guest room and head out the door to my car. Andy and I climb in and we start to make our way to Vic's family's restaurant, I look out the window think about how neither of my parents will be there to see me get married. I fight with myself in my head about just going over there and telling them that today is the day, I am marrying the woman that I am stupidity in love with. I was fighting with myself so bad that up until two hours ago I was in deep focus mode over what I was going to wear. I swear I must have been thinking so loud Andy could hear my thoughts cause just then she looks over and says to me "Maya, is there a chance you're focusing on your outfit, so you don't have to think about the fact that your parents don't know you're getting married?" I look over at her in the driver's seat and then turn my head away because she was speaking the truth. I listened to her as she continued "Look. I got married when I did so my dad could be there. I-It's a big thing. Tough relationship or not." I keep looking ahead as I feel Andy's eyes on me as she keeps trying to talk me into going to see my parents. "Okay, I will take your silence as rejection of my theory, and we'll go get you hitched. Without your parents. You know what I mean? Without them even knowing- "I couldn't take it anymore and I caved because I knew on some level that what Andy was saying was right. I look over at her "Okay. Fine. Five minutes." Andy hits the turn signal and starts to head towards my parents' house.

We turn on to their street and into the driveway I feel my stomach get twisted up in knots as I walk up the stairs to the door. I look back at Andy as she gives me a nod of support letting me know that I got this, and she has my back. I take a deep breath and slowly exhale as I knock on the door which is answered by my father. "Hi, Dad." My father responses in shock to see me at the door. "Hi, sweetie." and that is when everything that I have been hold back from saying comes flying out of my mouth "I'm bisexual. Or queer, I guess they say now. And I'm in love with a woman and I am marrying her tonight. Just wanted you to know that, officially." My father looks at me with this look of shock just nodding as he is trying to process what I just told him. I see my mother hiding in the hallway listening out of the corner of my eye and I say to her as I look past my father "And, Mom, you don't deserve to be cowering in the hall behind him again. You have other options. You don't have to be here." My mother looks at me with awe on her face as I keep talking my father looking down the rage in him building because I finally see him for what he is and have a backbone against him, I keep talking to my mother "My soon-to – be wife has offered to take you in, and I would like to, so ... If at any point you have had enough, you know where we live and we will always have a bed for you." My father tries to chime into be his over baring self "Young lady –" I cut him off before he can ever get out another word as I look him in the eyes I say "No. No more from you."

I turn on my heels and walk away and honestly, I feel twenty times lighter. I look at Andy as we walk back to the car and I know she's proud of me for doing what I just did. We get back in the car a I sigh in relief Andy smiles as we look at each other "Let's go get you married Bishop" she says as she puts the car in gear.