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“We can stay in, order food, and I think you’ll like my piano. It’s much better than the one we have at home. I’ll play for you because I know how hot you think that is.”
He smiled, rolling his eyes. There was my Brian. “I wish I brought my guitar.”
Yeah, that was a mistake on our part. I wasn’t sure what either of us had been thinking. “We can buy one.”
“Why would I do that when I have one at home?”
“Because you don’t have one here. You can play it if you come with me to visit my parents again.”
He frowned. “If?”
“I want you to. You know I do, but…”
I felt him tense against me. And then the line was moving forward, so we grabbed our bags and did the same. Luckily, it moved fast, and a few minutes later we were in the back of a car.
“I’ll come back with you if ya want me to,” Brian said. “You’re my boyfriend. I want to be with you.”
“I want to be with you too.” I smiled.
“And we don’t gotta stay in tonight either. If there’s somethin’ you wanna go do, we can go do it.”
“Okay…why do I get the feeling you’re pissed at me?” I shifted uncomfortably. I hadn’t done anything wrong. Hell, all I was doing was trying to make this easier on him.
Brian sighed. “I’m not mad at ya. It’s fine. I just…” He shrugged. “I just want this trip to be good for you.”
That made my heart do all sorts of fluttery things it had never done before Brian Manning. “It already is. I get to introduce the man I love to my parents.”
“Stop flirtin’ with me.”
“You like it when I flirt with you. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be smiling so big.”
And I had to admit, putting that expression on his face was absolutely one of my favorite things.
“Shut up,” he replied, then set his hand on my thigh.
When the cab driver slammed on the brakes, honking, then swerved into the other lane around cars, Brian jerked his head in my direction. “Is this normal?” he asked quietly.
“It is. You get used to it.” At least I hoped he would.
I groaned when we pulled up in front of my place and I saw my parents standing on my stoop. My annoyance was tangled up with my excitement to see them. I wanted this time with them, but I wanted to work Brian into it all too. Maybe I should have told them about Brian’s anxiety…but it was his to share, and knowing Brian, he wouldn’t want his business out there that way.
Mom and Dad waved as the cab stopped, and I waved back. “My parents are here. So much for just the two of us tonight.”
“Already?”
“Sorry. I should have asked them not to come yet. I wasn’t thinking.”
“And how’s that fair to you? Or them? You don’t gotta ask them not to come. They love you. My struggles are mine to deal with, not everyone else’s to handle.”
They did love me, but I also loved him. It was hard to straddle the line of giving Brian the space he needed, while also showing him he didn’t ever have to be alone. “FYI, they can be—” The car door jerked open. “A lot,” I finished as Mom shrieked.
“Out of the car, Charles! I want to meet this boyfriend of yours!” Mom said, making nerves hit low in my gut.
“I see. You don’t even love me anymore.” I climbed out, the driver already taking our bags from the trunk and placing them on the sidewalk.
“You know I love you, but I had to wait until you’re in your forties for you to tell me you’re in love, and I haven’t even met him yet. I’ve known you your whole life.”
I laughed. “I should hope so.”
The second Brian got out behind me, she had her arms around him. His were at his sides, beneath hers while she squeezed. His pupils were blown wide like he wasn’t sure how to react.
“Rhonda, let the man breathe,” Dad told her.
“Yeah, Mom, ease up,” I added, and she let go. “Not everyone is into hugs from people they don’t know.”
“It’s fine,” Brian said, his voice a little rough.
“No, Charles is right. I’m sorry. I’m just so happy to have my baby home and to meet you. I’m Rhonda, and this is John.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Brian said, then looked toward my dad, holding his hand out. “You too, sir.”
“Just Rhonda and John are fine,” Dad said.
Brian nodded, his gaze finding mine.
“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go inside.” His fingers twisted together nervously, so I grabbed both bags and handed him his, hoping it helped give him something to do with his hands. “You guys could have given us a little while to get settled.”
