Page 67 of In the Shadows

“Huh?” Joey and I said in unison.

“What, you thought I didn’t follow your Twitter page?” he laughed. “Something you need to tell the father of the potential groom?”

Oh shit, was I supposed to ask for his permission before asking Joey? Is that how it worked? Did it still work that way? Was that the same for guys?

“Slow your roll, boy. I can see the wheels in your head turning so fast the tread is flying off them. That was my dumbass way of telling you two congratulations.” He laughed.

Thank fuck he laughed.

“Um, thanks, Dad,” Joey mumbled.

“Yeah, thanks. It didn’t go down the way I’d initially envisioned it, but the moment was right so I let it fly,” I told him. “Recent events have told me to grab life by the balls and not let go. I’ll be damned if I’m gonna risk losing Joey again.”

Joey blushed at my words, but they were true.

“Remember our talk at the hospital, Ricky? You know where I stand and I know without a doubt that you’re the right man for my boy. Now, have you told your mom?” he asked, just as the front door flew open and my mom entered the kitchen like a mini hurricane.

“How dare you boys get engaged and not let me know!” she yelled, everyone froze including Maggie. “Oh sorry, hi Maggie.”

“Hi,” Maggie said, returning to her pancakes. “You want to join us for breakfast?”

Brett walked in, carrying Brandon who was desperately trying to wrestle free of his dad’s clutches. “Sorry boys, I tried to hold her at bay. Figured you’d be by later to fill us in but she was in a tizzy and couldn’t be held back any longer. I’m just thankful she didn’t storm your room. Who knows what she would have walked in on?” He sat Brandon down who immediately jumped in my lap.

Everyone laughed.

Joe added, “Yeah, don’t want to see what I’ve seen. Those images cannot be erased.”

Fuck me, I’m so embarrassed.

“Thanks, Maggie, but we already ate,” Mom told her.

She sat plates in front of us and Brandon immediately nicked a piece of bacon from mine. I shot him a pouty face and he laughed.

“Sorry Mom, I wanted to plan something more elaborate but with all the good news last night I just couldn’t hold off any longer.”

“Is the date set? Where do you want to have it? Have you chosen the colors? There’s so much to do,” she rambled on.

Joey’s deer in the headlights look had me jumping in to pull back my mom’s reigns.

“Mom, take a deep breath. We only got engaged like twelve hours ago. None of this has been discussed and probably won’t happen until after we get back from touring with Maiden,” I tried my best to calm her but her face said she was full to the brim and ready to burst. “Okay, here’s the four-one-one. We are engaged, we are looking at houses. Maiden asked us to double headline a tour with them that starts this summer. Joey and I are getting matching wedding band tattoos today. This afternoon we are jamming with Maiden. We bought a car together. Um, what else? Joey, am I missing anything?”

“My PT is over in two weeks.”

“Yes, Joey is healed and his PT is almost over. Anything else, babe?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Not that I can think of, but I haven’t finished my coffee yet.”

“You guys did so much I didn’t know about,” Mom pouted as she took a seat.

I feared she might cry.

“Sorry Mom, it’s been a whirlwind for us since getting home. We’re twenty-eight and it’s time for us to grow up.”

Diamond entered, shirtless as usual. “Yeah, time for them to grow up.”

“Time for all of you to fly the coop so Maggie and Brad can move in,” Joe informed the room.

“What”? came out of everyone’s mouth at the same time as all heads turned his way.

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