Page 124 of Win Some Love Some
He pulled up his contacts and called Birdie.
His mom. The one who loved him so much sometimes it scared her. I could relate.
She answered on the first ring.“Hey, Nick. What’s wrong? Did you break something? Is it the house? Did it burn down? Are you in the hospital?”
Oh, man, I saw why Nick worried about her worrying about him. It was a lot, like my Dad, but with more words.
“Where are you? At the restaurant? Is Antony there with you?” Nick asked.
“Yes. Why? Oh no. This is serious. Do I need to get him? I’m getting him. Tony! It’s our son. He’s in trouble.”
“I’m not in trouble, Birdie. I just need to tell you both something.” He kissed my cheek. My neck.
“I love you,” I whispered, running my fingers over his face.
“Who’s there with you? Did I hear a woman’s voice?”
“What’s going on, Nick? You’ve got Genevieve in a panic. Tell her now you’re not in a hospital.”
“I’m not in a hospital,” he said in the direction of the phone, even as he pressed his body between my legs. “But I am with someone. I wanted to let you know I’m dating someone. It’s pretty serious too.”
“Really?”I could hear the confusion in Birdie’s voice.“You’re calling us to tell us about your dating life? What’s happeningright now? Is this really Nick? You’re going to need to prove it. What’s your favorite thing I make?”
“Geez, Gen. Let him talk.”
He took both my hands in his bruised ones and pressed them against his cheeks. He looked directly in my eyes.
“It’s falafels. Now, listen up, while I tell you about this woman I’m dating. I love her. I’ve always loved her, but now it’s different and very real and not like anything I’ve ever felt before. I was having a hard time telling anyone about it, even admitting it to myself because I was afraid of how big it was. But I’m not afraid anymore. Because feeling this way…it’s not as scary as I thought it would be, so you shouldn’t be scared for me. Okay? In fact, it’s pretty fucking great.”
“You’re so brave,” I mouthed.
He smiled and pressed a gentle kiss against my lips.
However, there was silence from the other end of the phone.
“Hello? Tony? Birdie? Did I lose you?”
There was a gasp. Or maybe a sob.
“I’m just so…so…happy for you.”
“Oh, Birdie, don’t cry,” I said.
“Nora? Is that you?It must be…there’s only one person I know he’s ever really let himself love. It’s you, isn’t it?”
“Surprise!” I said into the phone.
That’s when the waterworks really started. Sobbing and big gulps and broken sentences.
“Oh…he was so sad when you left...We didn’t know if you would come back…Za said she always knew it would happen, it would just take time.”
Antony cut to the chase.“Does Roy know?”
“He does. He gives us his blessing,” I said.
“He owes me fifty bucks,”Antony said.
“You were on the bet, too?” I asked.
