Ann Aguirre - I Want It That Way

But I wouldn’t, not ever.

“That was incredible,” he mumbled.

“Agreed.”

“There hasn’t been anyone else. One day, this winter, I saw you across the parking lot. You were with your roommate.”

“I remember.”

“I just saw you, and I was hard as a rock. You waved to Sam and got on that asshole’s bike, and I wanted you so bad I couldn’t breathe.” This was his version of a Nadia journal, and he was offering a glimpse of his soul, just as I had with mine.

“At my lowest, I listened to your phone messages, again and again. I saved every one you ever left me.”

“I listened to your footsteps overhead, and just about every night, I pretended you were coming down, that you’d be in my bed when I turned over.”

After that, we had no choice but to make love again. This time, it was dreamy and sweet, sitting up, arms around each other’s backs. It was almost two when we took quick showers, and then I went upstairs to put on a decent outfit. To meet Ty’s parents, I didn’t want to look as if I’d been rolling around in bed with their son all afternoon. Even if it was true. Once I tamed my hair and put on some makeup, I ran downstairs to meet him.

His smile when he saw me melted my heart; it likely always would. “Ready? I called my parents to let them know you’re coming. Are you okay staying for lunch?”

“Sure. We can take Sam out next Sunday.” I dared him to argue.

“When the weather’s this nice, he likes the park.”

“Then I’ll pack a picnic lunch.”

Ty’s eyes went liquid; there was no other way to describe it. In fact, the naked love and longing was almost too much for me to bear, a sweetness that would strangle me. But I breathed through it and followed him out to his car. I was nervous on the ride to his parents’ place, mostly because we were fledgling-new, and this was akin to throwing down the gauntlet.

I shouldn’t have worried.

When Sam saw me, he ran over to give me a hug, just like he did in school, but this time, I knelt to return it, closing my eyes against the rush of love. It’s not just Ty. Sam’s mine, too. I might not have any legal claim on him, but I adored this kid.

I whispered in his ear, “Which dinosaur could jump higher than a house?”

Sam thought about it, then said, “I dunno.”

“All of them, silly. Houses can’t jump.”

His giggle washed through me like sunlight as Sam squeezed me around the neck. “I missed you, Nadia.”

Ty’s folks were great, five to ten years older than mine, and absolutely doting grandparents. Pleasure just about unraveled me when he introduced me as his girlfriend. His mom and dad seemed delighted to meet me.

After lunch, she pulled me aside to whisper, “I’m so glad he’s smiling again. I’ve been so worried about him since—”

“Diana.”

“He told you about her?”

I nodded. Then she just hugged me so hard. I took that to mean I had her support. It also should be noted that Mrs. Tyler did not have hobbit feet.

As for Sam, after lunch he asked why I was there on a Sunday. We were in the backyard, where his grandparents had set up a play set, and Ty was pushing him on the swings. Each time Sam soared up, he kicked his feet like he could touch the sky. I knew that feeling; I got it every time his dad glanced in my direction. Other people might not understand this move, but happiness mattered more to me than coloring between the lines.

“Nadia’s going to be around a lot more,” Ty said to Sam.

“How come?”

He seemed to weigh his answer and then said, “Because I love her.”

That, apparently, was not a revelation to Sam. “Oh. Me, too.”

“How would you feel if she came to live with us someday?” That was a huge leap, but maybe it was better to put it on the table, so Sam wasn’t surprised down the line.

“Would she stay in your room or mine?”

“Mine,” Ty said.

“Okay, then. But she has to make hot dog casserole.” As far as Sam was concerned, the conversation was over. “Push me higher!”

We stayed until past dark. And when we left, we went home together.

“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Ty muttered.

The three of us took up a whole row on the plane, and Sam was beyond excited. We were heading to Sharon to spend the Fourth of July with my family, where they’d meet Ty and Sam for the first time. Ty had driven us to Ann Arbor, and until now, he was mostly silent, listening to Sam chatter about the plane.

“They’ll love you,” I said.

“So you claim. I’m expecting your dad to threaten me.”

“He might. Pretend to be terrified.” Amusement colored my tone as I smiled at him over the top of Sam’s head. “Oh, I have a brother, too. He’s more likely to pound you.”

“He has to catch me first.”

The flight was only a couple of hours, not long enough for Sam to sleep. But he was tired and grouchy when we disembarked. I cheered him up with dinosaur jokes as we waited for our luggage, then we headed outside, where my parents were parked and waiting. Mom bounded out of the car and ran toward the doors. Dad came slower, and I saw evidence of the Parkinson’s in the excessively careful way he moved. I also noticed that Mom was driving, something that never would’ve happened before.

“Is that your mom and dad?” Sam asked.

I nodded, hugging them both, then I said, “This is my boyfriend, Ty. And Sam, of course. He’s our pet leprechaun.”

“Nadia!” Sam yelped, but he was grinning up at my parents. Then he offered a small hand for my dad to shake, and I registered the exact moment he imprinted on their hearts, just as he had mine.

“We should get going,” Mom said. “It’s two hours to Sharon. Has Nadia told you anything about the place?”

Ty appeared to ponder, climbing into the car. “Only that it’s small.”

“That’s about the size of it,” my dad said.

On the drive, we made casual conversation, avoiding the topic of Dad’s illness. He grilled Ty politely, but he stood up to it well, I thought. Every now and then, my mom caught my gaze in the rearview mirror, and she smiled with her eyes. A couple of hours later, we reached the Sharon city limits, and I was actually glad to be back.

“The Fourth is a big deal around here. They put on a huge fireworks show at the county fairgrounds. People drive an hour or more to see it,” I informed them.

“Wow,” Sam said, obviously impressed.

Part of me couldn’t believe Ty was here with me, meeting my parents, pulling into the driveway of the house where I grew up. But he was looking around the neighborhood with interest. “That’s a craftsman bungalow,” he noted. “Those are usually fantastic in terms of both design efficiency and elegance.”

“I can probably get Jay Oliver to let you see the place,” my dad offered. “He and I aren’t real close, but when he finds out you’re studying architecture, he’ll want to show the place off.”

That was definitely an olive branch; Ty grabbed it with both hands. “That’d be great.”

At the house, Rob was waiting in the living room. Lauren was there, too, and I hugged her until her spine popped. She looked so much brighter, no shadows in her eyes and an easy smile that told me she’d made the right choice, no matter what the world thought.

“You’re in summer school?” I asked.

“Yep. Most of my credits transferred. I’m basically a sophomore, but I’m happier in computers. I can do something useful, something concrete. There are still problems, of course. I’m the only girl in a lot of my online classes and you wouldn’t believe how much crap I get.”