“Let me make some calls. Find out when Tony can take some time off and we’ll head up there to check it out in depth.” Andrew puts his hand over the receiver long enough to say something to Cara. I can’t make out the words, but I laugh at the tone in his voice. It seems I’m not the only one who turns into a puddle of goo around one of the DeLuca children. “Cara says it had better be soon because she doesn’t want to look like a whale.”
“That depends on her brother,” I remind Andrew, knowing that the comment will likely cause a phone call from one sibling to the other. Since Tony’s family isn’t speaking to her either because she stuck up for Tony when he came out, we’ve somehow been relegated to the shoulder to cry on. Hormones have made that woman downright volatile. If Tony wasn’t so excited to be an uncle to a normal kid as opposed to the pint-sized bigots he currently has, I think he’d be threatening Andrew for knocking her up on their honeymoon. “But I’ll be sure to relay the message.”
“Sounds good. Look, I have to get going, but I’ll call you later this week to discuss what I find.”
* * *
Five weeks later,Tony and I make the drive up to D.C., once again on our way to New York. I realize what a lovesick fool I’ve become when my heart warms a bit as we walk past the gate where we met. Tony wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me close to his body. “No picking up strays if our flight is cancelled this time.”
“Nah, I learned my lesson on that one last time, I tease, running my hand along his stomach. “There was this one guy I gave a ride because I felt bad for him and I’m still trying to get him to back off.”
Tony swats my backside, leaning over to kiss me in the middle of the busy corridor. He’s come a long way from the closet case I met the last time we were here. “Don’t hear you complaining when my mouth is wrapped around your cock,” he whispers, nipping at my ear before pulling away.
Jerk. The khaki shorts I’m wearing do nothing to hide my arousal. I shift so my carry-on is directly in front of my body, as if that’s going to be any less conspicuous.
Tony leaves his bags with me at the gate and heads off to grab coffee for both of us. When he comes back, I shut down my iPad. This weekend is more business than pleasure, so I want to give him my undivided attention while I can. Taking the coffee from his hand, I lean closer to him, loving the fact that he no longer stiffens when I get the urge to be close to him in public.
“You know, I was thinking…” Tony starts. He seems distracted this morning and I wonder if it’s because we’re going to be in New York for the first time since his blow-up with his parents. It may be a huge city, but I’d be nervous if I were in his shoes. Hell, Iamnervous that we’ll somehow run into them and it’ll cause Tony to pull back into his shell.
“That’s always dangerous.” Tony glares at me, straightening in his seat as he turns to face me. Apparently, he’s not in the mood for teasing today. “Okay, I’ll quit teasing now. What’s up?”
I take a sip of my coffee while I wait to see if he’s going to tell me what’s got him in such a mood. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat, muttering something under his breath.
“Baby, I was kidding.” Seeing just how uneasy he is, I start worrying a bit.
“Okay, I need you to hear me out. Can you do that?” I nod, wishing he’d get on with it before I lose my breakfast all over the terminal floor. Most of the time, ‘hear me out’ is Tony code for something that’s a great idea, but he still seems to be waiting for me to run away from him screaming. “I know you’re the more sensible one of the two of us. I’m impulsive and not known for thinking things through, but this has been on my mind for a while now.”
Tony slides off his seat so he’s kneeling between my legs. “Dom, the last time we were both in this airport, it changed our lives. Hopefully, you’d agree with me when I say it was a change for the better.” I nod my agreement and Tony lifts my hand to his lips, kissing each knuckle before continuing. “Every night, I say a prayer to whatever higher power is out there looking after us because there was definitely some divine intervention happening that night. I had all these plans to do this right, but we both know that’s not my style.”
I lean forward, kissing Tony’s forehead. “Yeah, but I’ve learned to love that part of you as much as the rest.”
He rewards me with a smile that makes me wish we were anywhere other than in a crowded airport terminal. “I know, baby, and that’s a tiny piece of why I love you. I didn’t think I’d ever find someone crazy enough to put up with my shit. I know we can’t do it right this minute, but the next time we head up to New York, I want you to make an honest man of me. Dominic James Tricoli, will you marry me?” He opens his clenched fist, displaying a simple titanium band with two small diamonds at the top.
“Never do anything halfway, do you?” I ask, wrapping my hand beneath his chin, pulling him in for a kiss. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
It’s not until applause erupts around us that I remember where we are. A few of the women around us have tears in their eyes, and even most of the men seem genuinely happy for us. A couple of older men seem disturbed, but I choose to ignore them. Instead, I hold out my left hand, looking at the ring Tony picked out. It’s simple and understated. It’s perfect.
* * *
Tony
“Baby, time to wake up,”I nudge Dom, chuckling at the scowl he gives me when he opens his eyes. “We’re about to land, you need to put your seat up.”
“That’s a stupid rule,” Dom grumbles. “It’s not like I’m any less likely to die if I’m sitting upright or reclined two inches.”
Dom has no problem with being up in the morning, but I learned within a week of living together that he willneverbe happy about being awake until about thirty minutes after opening his eyes. “Yeah, yeah…” I reach over his body, pushing the button to adjust his seat. “But that flight attendant is crabby as hell this morning so you’d better not piss her off.”
Thirty minutes later, we’re standing at baggage claim when a pregnant belly presses against my back. “I swear, I didn’t do it,” I joke, putting my hands in the air in mock surrender. “Dom, you know I haven’t been out banging any women. I swear!”
“Eww, that’s disgusting,” Cara squeals. I turn around to give her a kiss on the cheek. She’s one of those pregnant women that I would assume makes all other women hate her. If not for the basketball under her shirt, you’d never know she’s a little over a month from popping out my little niece or nephew.
“You look good,” I say, rubbing my hands over her Buddha-belly.
“I feel like crap, but thanks.” Cara curls herself under my arm while Dom retrieves our bags. We follow Andrew and Dom, who are already talking about the buyout they’re considering, to the parking garage so we can hit the road to Rochester.
Cara squeals as Andrew unlocks the doors, causing all three of us guys to rush to her side, asking if there’s a problem with the baby. In return, my demonic sister doubles over laughing. If I didn’t love her so much, I’d slap the hell out of her. “Guys, if you’re going to freak like that, I might just have to stay home this weekend. I mean, it’s cute, but really, not everything in life is caused by the baby.”
“Then what was that little outburst caused by?” I ask, annoyed beyond belief with my big sister.
