The Good Side of Me

Chapter Twelve

The past two weeks have been surreal, but unfortunately it's back to reality as we make our way to the plane. We take possession of our house tomorrow and have decorators coming, so hopefully we'll be officially moved in by the end of the week.
           
"I'm sad we have to go home," I whine.
           
"I'm sad to, I wish we could just stay here forever," Anthony replies as he takes my hand.
           
Mike comes to help us with our bags and notices the ring on my finger. He pulls me in for a hug and tells me how happy he is for me.
           
"See, I told you there was no way he'd say no," Mike laughs and says to Anthony.
           
"You thought I would say no? You idiot. What did you do, tell the whole world about this?" I laugh.
           
"Basically," Anthony laughs. We spend the entire flight eating donuts, watching movies and napping.

*
           

Finally, we land and we're both exhausted. We gather up our bags and head over to the car where my mother is waiting excitedly to greet us.
           
"Hi boys!" My mother exclaims. I hate that she calls us boys, it makes us sound like brothers. She won't stop though, so I just accept it and laugh about it. After she hugs us both, she grabs my hand and admires my ring. "It's beautiful honey, I'm so happy for you two," she says as she starts to tear up.
           
"Mom, oh my god," I say.
           
"I can't help it. You have no idea how happy it makes me to see you so happy and in such a good place. I never thought I'd see you here," she cries, placing her cold hands on my cheeks.
           
"I love you mom," I say.
           
"I love you too baby," she says.
           
"I hate to break up this moment, but I'm freezing. Can we please go home?" Anthony says and we all laugh and climb into the car.
           
"Are you regretting this already?" I joke. I grab his hand and it's like ice. "You're freezing." I say and I grab a blanket from the backseat and wrap it around him.
           
"I'll get used to the weather soon enough. I don't regret this at all," Anthony says, as he leans his head on my shoulder. He's asleep in under two minutes.
           
My mother asks me all about our trip and wants every detail from the proposal. We spend the entire hour home talking about it.
           
"We should start making a guest list honey, you know weddings require a lot of planning," my mother tells me.
           
"Mom, we aren't having a big wedding, so don't get too excited," I sigh. I know she's going to try and take over this wedding. I love my mother, but I'm not comfortable having a wedding with all the neighbours, her friends and Bob from accounting.
           
We get home and I'm shocked to see my father is home. I still haven't gotten used to this new relationship of ours. I'm certainly not complaining though.
           
"Hi buddy, congratulations!" My father beams as he pulls me in for a hug.
           
"Thanks dad," I say.
           
Rosalita has dinner ready for us almost immediately and we sit at the table and tell my parents about our trip. I'm so exhausted from our flight that once I'm done eating I rest my head on Anthony's shoulder and start to fall asleep.
           
"Anthony, why don't you take him to bed? He looks exhausted. You have to be up early tomorrow anyways the decorators are meeting us at the house for nine," my father says.
           
"Yeah, I could use some sleep. Hey, come on, let's go to bed," Anthony says as he nudges my shoulder.
           
"I believe he said to take me to bed, which really means carry me," I say without opening my eyes.
           
"Let me just take this back," Anthony says as he reaches for my ring.
           
"Oh my god, I hate you," I say and laugh.
           
"Let's go brat," Anthony says as he picks me up.
           
We head upstairs, have a quick shower then climb into bed. We're both exhausted from the flight and fall asleep instantly.