Read It And Weep (Anthony Rizzo)

Forty Six~ Home Sweet Home

Anthony

After what felt like spending half my life in the airport I arrive in sweet home Florida. It was a lot warmer than Chicago, but that wasn't saying all that much. It was already pretty cold at the beginning of November so it's nice to be in the heat for a little.

I get my stuff in the house I was renting down here and within a day I was settled in. I decide to drop by my parents house and see how they were doing. So I drop by and find them cuddled up on the couch watching a movie.

"Ugh, if you're going to be all gross I'll go play with the dogs at the animal shelter instead" I tease as my mom pops up.

"Anthony" she cheers as she shoots off the couch. She runs over to me before wrapping me in a hug.

"Hi mamma" I smile as I hug her back.

"Why didn't you call? We could have picked you up from the airport" she insists.

"I had to go get my car anyway and it gave me a chance for me to get things settled down before you start peppering me with questions" I tease.

"Like where is your girlfriend" she asks jumping right into it.

"Right" I sigh. "About that..."

"You weren't together... were you" she accuses and I start to blush. She sees through everything and it was actually kind of creepy.

"No, we weren't. You told me you were coming and that I better have a girlfriend with me so I freaked and begged Hannah to do it. And she was nice enough to agree to it mostly because she thinks so highly of you and dad and didn't want you guys worrying about me. And it's not like we don't like each other or we don't care for each other" I defend.

"Then what is the problem" she wonders.

"I wish I knew" I sigh. "She's an amazing woman, unlike anyone I know. She wants to change the world, and she is. She doesn't know it, but she is. And I know she feels strongly about me too, I can feel it. The way she looks at me makes me feel so weak, yet so strong at the same time. She's everything I ever wanted" I admit.

"You love her" my mom smiles and I smile back.

"I do. I really do" I say.

"Then what's stopping you" she wonders.

"She's scared. Love isn't something she gets outside of her love of sports and her family. And the whole family situation is difficult because she feels like she's undeserving to be loved because her parents left. She thinks they left because she wasn't loved by them" I explain.

"Oh" my mom gasps. "That's awful."

"It is. But I'm not going to give up on her because she's harder to love. People like that need love the most. And she wants me by her side, she wants to know her life with me in it and not without me. So I'm going to try my best to be what she needs me to be then hopefully someday soon she will let me in" I explain.

"I'm sorry sweetie but some people who has been hurt like that, they don't find love" she explains.

"She's not some people mom, she's the only person. And she isn't trying to find love. She's already found it. Now she just has to share it" I say.

She just smiles at me as she rubs my arm. "You love her a lot Huh" she asks.

"I couldn't tell you how, but I fell for her. One day I woke up and I was like damn... I really miss this girl. I could really use that smile to get me through the day, I could use those big eyes to see me for better than I am. So then I would call her just to hear her voice and I would smile. I don't know why but I smiled because she answered and she was talking to me. There's really important people dying to talk to her and she was talking to me..." I trail off.

"You guys have been through a lot, I can tell. I just need you to know that if you break that girls heart she will not forgive you no matter what you guys go through together. She doesn't trust easy and honestly no girl should, but once you break that trust there's no going back. So just.. be careful" she begs.

"I will momma, I promise" I smile.

After I hug my dad I sit down with them and we watch another movie. They make some popcorn and I get some much needed family time. We hang out for a little before I go back to the house. I collapse on the couch before running my hands down my face. I was pretty exhausted and was going to turn in early for I had a long few days ahead of me.

I hear my phone go off and I let out a groan only because I left it in my jacket pocket. So I get up and head to the door to grab my phone. I see it was Hannah and smile to myself before answering it.

"Hey there" I start as I lean against the wall. I rest my head against it as I fight away the sleep.

"Hey Anthony, did you make it home safe" she wonders and I smile.

"Yeah. I unpacked and hung out with my parents some today" I assure her.

"Good. Just wanted to make sure you're okay" she insists.

"Is that all" I tease as I hear her laugh on the other line. What I would do to see her laugh right now.

"Pretty much" she assures me. "How are your parents doing?"

"They're good. A little overwhelmed with the walk off for cancer stuff and thanksgiving preparations, but they're doing good" I assure her.

"That's awesome. I hope you know you have some amazing parents. I would kill to have parents like yours" she claims.

"They would kill to have you as your daughter. My mom specifically, she really cares for you" I admit.

"How so" she wonders.

I sit there and think about how to explain this, but it was kinda hard. "She sees you a lot of the same way I see you. She knows that you do a lot of things out of the pain that you carry with you. But she also knows that the things you're doing can only happen because of the love in your heart too. And she always wanted a daughter, she thinks you're a great girl who she would never be able to give up on" I explain.

"Well isn't that the sweetest" she asks and I smile.

"I like to think so" I tease.

"Well... I should probably get to bed so I can be at soldier field early tomorrow. It was good to hear from you" she says and I can feel my heart beating faster.

"It was good to hear from you too Han" I reply.