Allegro con fuoco

LVIII

This time he found his way back, no problem. He even ran up and down the street for a bit, so he'd at least look like he'd been jogging when he got back into their room. The ring was safely stowed away in a small black velvet box in the back bit of his backpack. It made his heart sing to think about it. How would Brett react? Would he be happy?
He'd be happy, right? 
He opened the door to the room quietly, just in case Brett was still asleep. How long had he been gone for? He wasn't quite sure, he never checked the time when he left.
"Hey, good morning! Wow, you've already gone for a run?"
Brett was beaming at him from his place in the bed, and even though it was for a good cause, Eddy still felt a pang of guilt for having to lie to him. Well. Half lie. I mean, he did run, right?
"Yep! This time I didn't get lost." he said proudly. 
Brett grinned. 
"I had faith in you. So. I could eat a horse, as Todd would say. Wanna head down and grab some breakfast?"
Eddy walked over to the bed, where Brett was sitting up, swinging his feet on the floor. He leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the lips. 
"Let's go eat. I'll have a two minute shower while you get dressed."

The world looked different to Eddy today, like someone had flipped a light switch he hadn't known existed. He smiled at the same girl from yesterday as he grabbed some food from the buffet and sighed happily.
Brett was going to be happy, right? 
"So how far are the gardens?" he asked as Brett sat down opposite him with an unfeasibly large looking breakfast. 
"Like ten minutes by bus, I think."
"Cool."
Eddy did his best to eat normally, but to be honest, it was hard, because he was getting super nervous. His stomach felt all arid, like a door had blocked it and it wouldn't let anything in. He sighed softly and took another bite. 
"You alright?" Brett asked. 
Damn it. Brett knew him too well. He looked up in faux surprise. 
"Yeah, fine." he lied again. "Not very hungry though, I already grabbed a croissant when I went running. I think I'll nick another one for on the bus."
He pushed his bowl away and Brett seemed nullified. 

"God, it's hot." he said as they walked out of the hotel. "Is it always this hot?"
Brett chuckled. 
"I'm here for the first time too, remember. But yeah, it's hot. And humid. I can't understand how you could run in this."
"Neither could my lungs." Eddy quipped, and Brett chuckled again. "I love it though. I dunno what it is about this place but it feels..."
"Homey." Brett added. "It does, right?"
Eddy nodded. Brett was right. Homey was exactly how it felt. 
The bus came quickly. Efficiently, like everything here. They got on and walked to the back, like they always did. Everything seemed so normal, even though they were so far away from home. And yet nothing was normal inside Eddy's mind. He took Brett's hand when they had sat down and nobody could see. It was clammy, he knew that, but surely Brett would just attribute that to the heat? He sat back in his seat and tried to relax, tried to keep his breath even, tried to make sure Brett wouldn't notice anything strange about him. He could have cried with relief when he saw the sign for the gardens. 
"We have to pay, right?" he asked, just before they would have to get up.
"Yeah, I think it's like 30 dollars. It's on me, though, I invited you."
"It's... it's like a date." Eddy whispered. "We don't... you know, usually."
Brett squeezed his clammy hand. 
"I know. We haven't had the most standard relationship, have we? But now we can go on dates. Right?"
Eddy squeezed back. 
"Yeah. I love you, you know. Thanks. For the gardens."
"Love you too. I think we get off here."

Eddy's heart was in his throat again as he followed Brett off the bus and to the entrance to the gardens. His backpack bounced slightly on his shoulder, the weight of it heaver than he was used to, somehow, even though there was nothing in it but a croissant and a bottle of water. 
And a little, black velvet box. 
Brett was going be happy, wasn't he?