Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 9

house alone to drive to the airport. He had butterflies in his stomach. Somehow admitting his feelings out loud made them all the more real, and he was afraid Cole would see it written all over his face. He would tell him, but he wanted the moment to be right. Somehow a crowded airport on the busiest travel day of the year didn't seem like the right setting.
    The airport was insane. He managed to get to the terminal where Cole would be getting off his plane, but he couldn't find him among the crowd of travelers. He was bordering on panicking when a pair of arms slid around his waist from behind and the sweetest voice in the world said, "Heya, stranger. Looking for someone?"
    "No one important," he teased.
    "Hey, now," Cole pouted, poking him in the ribs.
    Michael turned and hugged him tight. "You know I'm only joking." He grabbed one of Cole's suitcases and started making his way through the crowd. "I'm afraid to ask how your trip went. This place is crazy."
    "Well, it took an extra hour and a half to get checked in and through security. There were three, yes three, screaming kids on the plane, and I had to sit sandwiched between an old lady wearing enough flowery perfume to make my eyes water, and guy the size of a house."
    "Poor, baby. Sounds like a B grade movie."
    "At least there were no snakes."
    "Come on. Let's get you out of here. Although, I can't guarantee my house will be much better. My mom and sister are dying to meet you and probably ask all sorts of annoying questions."
    Cole was afraid of that. He wished Michael had his own place. Not that he didn't want to meet his family, but he felt uncomfortable being the center of attention, and being around families made him nervous. "Yeah, I sort of expected that. Are you sure I shouldn't have booked a hotel room instead? I don't want things to be awkward."
    Michael felt a little hurt Cole didn't want to stay with him. He wanted Cole to be a part of his family, and he wanted him to want that as well. Maybe Cole didn't feel the same way about him and that was the reason he hesitated. "You can go to a hotel if that's what you really want, but it would probably hurt my mom's feelings. She's been cooking and cleaning all week to get ready."
    "No, no. I'm staying with you. I just wanted to make sure everyone is okay with it. Besides, I'm hoping your mom will whip out an album full of embarrassing baby photos and spend the night telling me stories about how you used to pee the bed until you were ten or something."
    "On second thought, a hotel room sounds great."
    Cole didn't learn anything terribly incriminating or blackmail worthy about Michael from his family but thanks to his mother, he now knew Michael didn't pee the bed when he was little, but he did have a penchant for dropping trou outdoors, especially at T-ball practice and neighborhood cookouts. Cole had been laughing so hard he nearly snorted turkey. Spending Thanksgiving with Michael's fun and loving family felt wonderful.
    Michael's mom was everything Cole expected her to be. Even his sister, Angela, was exactly as Cole had pictured her. She was sassy and intelligent and a little more of a wild child than Michael. He'd been prepared to witness things like constant bickering, wet willies and noogies between the siblings. It was the fierce protectiveness she had for Michael that caught him by surprise. He knew he would have to prove himself to her before she completely let down her guard.
    When the grand meal was finished, they all gathered in the living room, to watch the Macy's parade on television. By the time the last float was shown, their stomachs had enough room to squeeze in just a little more. He asked Eli if he would help him with desserts in the kitchen. He had been meaning to talk to him anyway. "Hey, man, I just wanted to say thanks" he told Eli as they walked into the kitchen.
    "For what?"
    "For sending Michael to the beach house that weekend. I know you did it on purpose, and normally I would have been pissed but, well…."
    "You fell in love," Eli finished his sentence.
    "Yeah, man. Yeah, I did."
    "I'm happy for you, Cole. You deserve to be happy."
    For a split second, Cole saw sadness and loneliness reflected in Eli's eyes. "So do you, Eli. I would never have imagined there was someone out there who could fit perfectly into my twisted puzzle of a life, but it's possible. I'll keep my eyes open for you. I owe you one after all."
    "Look at you gettin' all sappy on me! Don't you worry about me,