'missed you so much'
The plane ride to Pennsylvania was basically just me talking about my home town nonstop to a very intrigued looking Troye, at least I hope that I didn't bore him to death, his smile said otherwise though.
We are in a cab now, not far from my childhood home and I can feel myself glowing at the thought of seeing my mom again.
Troye’s eyes are closed, a look on his face I am failing to read.
“What are you thinking about?” I ask curiously.
“Honestly?”
“Honestly.”
“Home,” I smile sadly and I take his one hand into my own, embracing the fact that his are so small and soft compared to my own.
“I’m going to make this trip worthwhile, I promise.”
“Thank you, Jake, but just remember to spend as much time as you need with your mom, yeah?”
“Yeah, I promise,” although at this moment your happiness is indeed much more important.
I almost press my entire face against the glass of the window when I realise the cab is turning onto the street my old house is on.
Within minutes I am standing before it with Troye at my side, gripping my hand tightly. I don't mind of course, I know new places freak him out and not just because he can’t see them, and that reminds me just how vulnerable he really can be, at that thought I squeeze his hand right back.
“Come on,” I say gently, he smiles softly as I tug him along.
“I can carry my own bag you know,” he tells me. I chuckle in response and then knock on the front door, feels strange to be doing that; apparently my mom thinks so too.
“Jacob Taylor, I really hope you are not knocking on your own front door!” Troye giggles beside me.
At that, I walk in, taking Troye along with me into the house. It smells the same, the furniture is still in the same places, mom still has her love for tulips I see, nostalgia punches me in the gut with mighty force.
From the kitchen my mom runs in, her young, evergreen soul present, I know that can never change and it will never change.
“Jakey!” she squeals, running over to hug me. I let go of Troye hand and hug her tightly back. I close my eyes and bury my face into her neck, bending down a bit, since I am so much taller than her.
“I missed you so much, mom,” my voice is strained, I'm trying to fight tears desperatly, for Troye's sake.
“I missed you so much too,” she peppers kisses all over my face and then acknowledges Troye standing awkwardly to the side, I can’t help but smile even more since he got to be here too.
“Mom, this is Troye.”
“Hello Troye, it’s so nice to finally meet you, Jacob has told me a lot about you,” I cringe a bit, hoping he doesn’t think I gush about him all the time, because I totally never do that when I get the chance.
My mom goes straight in for a hug, I laugh under my breath as I can clearly tell by Troye’s face that he wasn’t expecting it.
“Wow,” my mom starts. “You really are just so gorgeous,” I watch Troye’s cheeks turn pink in colour.
“Oh, uh thank you,” he smiles bashfully; I think this crush is not just some crush anymore.
…
....
The past few days at home have been just as great as I knew they would be.
Troye has been living in the comfort of the guest bedroom while I get to sleep in my old room again, the bed is much too small but it's tolerable for a week or so. Just as long as Troye is comfortable, which he really does seem to be; completely at ease.
At that thought, I think my mom may love Troye more than she loves me.
As long as I still have her lemonade though it's all good.
Tonight though, after another lovely dinner with my mom, I want to take Troye somewhere I hold very close to my heart, a place mom doesn't even really know about.
“Ready, Tro?” I ask, tugging my other sneaker on and tying the laces.
“Yeah,” he says. “Care to tell where you are taking me though?”
“Nope,” I say happily, hopping over to where he stands, waiting to take my arm for me to lead. “It’s a surprise.”
He inclines his head in curiosity and I link my arm through his.
“Don’t give me that look, do you not trust me?”
“Of course I trust you but I thought the look would come off more like endearment, I like this Jacob a lot,” my cheeks fill with sudden warmth.
“Oh, well what is this Jacob like?”
“The one who is in his element, who wants to show me his whole world,” I cannot help the grin that plasters itself onto my face.
I help Troye into the passenger seat of my car, shutting the door gently after him.
As I begin to make my way around the car to get to the driver seat, my eye catches movement at the living room window, my mom stands there, watching me with a fond smile. The soft light of the room illuminating the back ground of where she stands.
I return her smile with one of my own, bashful is probably what it looks like. I wonder if she can tell how gone for I am for this boy.
I turn abruptly and shake my head, chuckling to myself as I get into my seat.
“What’s the joke, Jake?”
“Just…uh…” I look back, she still stands there, her arms crossed over her chest, dressed in her night gown, one she has owned since I was a young child. “Just happy,” I finally respond, it’s the overall truth.
Troye surprises me a bit by placing his hand on my thigh over the console.
“That makes me happy to hear that,” I place my hand over his and we sit in silence for a bit.
“You are majority of the reason you know that, right?” I tell him, he smiles softly, he blushes lightly.
“Ugh you sap,” he chuckles, shaking his head. “Why do you always do this,” he teases.
“Do what!” I exclaim incredulously with a wide smile.
“Make every little moment so sickenly sweet and I don’t know... so fucking adorable, you always make me blush,” I smirk at his admission, he had never admitted to blushing before.
I just chuckle at his statement.
“So stop doing that, you have enough room in my heart, so there is no need to take any more space with being so damn endearing,” he says. Again with the endearment. Huh.
“And I’m the sap.”
“Shut up and drive you adorable idiot,” I decide to push my limits a bit, just to irritate him.
“Your adorable idiot,” I say with an annoying wistful tone, turning the key.
“Oh my God, I am going to get out this car,” he threatens, placing his hand on the door handle. I lock the doors quickly. Troye pretends to grunt in annoyance as he hears the sound of the doors all locking automatically at once.
“Oops,” I tease. “Looks like you're stuck with me.”
