Lights, Cameras, Outsiders!

Chapter 67

LCO 67

Francis let Matt and I go back to the room to get rest and to congratulate each other.

"I love you," I said to Matt, putting my arm around his neck and kissing him.

"I love you," he said in between kisses. He scooped me up and opened the hotel door and carried me to the bed. He sat down on the bed and I sat up, putting my arms around his neck again and kissed him over and over until he backed up.

"Wait, wait, I got some wine," he said, getting up and going into the fridge. He pulled the bottle out and two glasses out of the cabinet. He poured some red wine in each and handed me one.

"Thank you," I said. He took a sip and put it on the bedside table. He smiled and wrapped me into his arms and pressed the rim of my lips with his. I started to fall backward and laid on the bed as he towered over me. I grabbed the hairs on the back his neck and tucked his upper lip in between mine. It became hot, and all that was heard were the rustling of the bedsheets, the sharp inhaled every now and then, and the sound of our lips connecting and detaching. I started to think about all the different things we had to do: get me things out of Susie's house, arrange everything with the apartment, tell my parents. Tell my parents! My lips fell Weak, and Matt drew back.

"What's the matter?" He said.

"We have to tell my parents. And your parents. And Charlie. And your siblings," I said. He smiled and sat straight up on the bed.

"Alright, alright. You wanna call my parents first or yours?" He said.

"Yours," I said, sitting straight next to him. Before grabbing the phone, he picked me up and put me on his lap.

Then he started to dial. I laid my head on his shoulder and put my arm around his back.

"Hello?" His mother answered the phone.

"Hey, Ma! It's Matt," he said.

"Oh, Matt! How are you? Where are you calling from?" She said.

"Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ma. I'm good," he said.

"How's everything? How's Essie?"

"Everything's great, Ma."

"Oh that's good."

"Hey, I wanna tell ya something."

"What?"

"I am now...engaged to be married," he said with a smile. She screamed. I mean she literally screeched.

"You're not joking?!"

"No. I'm not. I proposed to Essie a couple hours ago."

"Oh my God! How is she? What does the ring look like? When's the wedding?"

"Hey, hey, calm down. She's..."

"Elated," I said.

"Elated. I think the ring looks great. She thinks it's beautiful."

"Oh, we haven't met her parents. Paul! Paul! Matt's engaged! He's getting married! Tell me, Matt, is she glowing? Did you get her father's blessing like we raised you?"

"Yes, I got her father's blessing. We went down to Miami last weekend and met them and I got it then."

"Are they nice people?"

"Uh, her dad is."

"And her mother?"

"Don't ask. She's a handful."

"Oh...Matt, I'm so happy for you! You're gonna make me a grandmother soon?"

"Hey, now, we just got engaged."

"Ok, ok."

"Look, we gotta call her parents, and tell them but I'll talk to soon, Ma."

"Alright, Matt. Congratulations."

"Thanks, Ma."

"Alright, sweetie, I love you."

"Love you too."

"Bye."

"Bye." He hung up the phone.

"She was excited," I said, handing him his glass.

"Yeah. And now it's time to tell your mother," he said, taking a sip and handing me the phone.

"Can I call Charlie first?"

"No. Call your parents," he said, kissing under my ear. I took a deep breath before dialing my folks number. And thank God my dad answered on the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Dad, it's Essie."

"Essie! Hi, how are you, honey? You get home safely?"

"Yeah, yeah, I did."

"Good. How's Matt?"

"Great. I need to tell you something."

"What?" He tone went from cheery to grave.

"Matt and I are engaged now," I said, squeezing my eyes shut and readjusting my grip of Matt's side.

"You are?!"

"Yes."

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, that's great! Francine, come here, come here." No don't come here, don't come here. "Essie needs to tell you something," my dad said.

"What? Hello?"

"Mom, I'm getting married," I said. Okay, she screamed and it was the good type of scream. Not the terrified.

"You are? To who?"

"Matt, Mom. Matt proposed to me a couple hours ago," I said.

"Oh really? Here's the phone, Larry. Don't get too excited. She's engaged to Matthew."

"I know, Francine. Hello?"

"Yeah, Dad."

"Essie, that's fantastic. I can't believe it. Does Charlie know?"

"No. We just told his parents."

"Oh wow...wow."

"Well I guess I'll tell Charlie."

"I'll talk to Susie. Is she home?"

"Not yet. Try in a couple hours."

"Ok. Congratulations, Essie."

"Thanks, dad."

"And tell Matt congratulations too."

"Okay."

"Bye. I love you."

"Love you too."

"Bye."

"Bye," I hung up.

"That was emotionally draining," I said.

"Come on, it wasn't that bad."

"Well I guess I better call Charlie."

"Nah. Let's take a break," he said, snatching the phone and putting it on the table again. His hands squeezed my sides and kissed me. We stayed connected until his teeth started to dig in my bottom lip.

"Do you care if my mom doesn't like you?" I asked, nudging his nose with mine and holding the back of his neck.

"No. I care about us."