Biscotti - 6. Chapter 6

Since I knew the way, I drove. Dad sat in the front, Mom in the back with some dish she made. “The first time I drove here, we were talking so much I missed the turn.”

I didn’t miss it this time. Pulling into Brad’s driveway, and before I stopped, there were three people on the porch. “Scott, who is the giant? I think he is even taller than Uncle Vic.”

“That’s my Viking, Loki!” Before I got my door open, Brad opened my Mom’s door and was helping her out. Such a Loki! Of course, Dad and I had to get out by ourselves.

When we got on the porch, I introduced Mom to Mom and Dad to Dad. “Loki, this is my Mom and Dad.” I waited for it.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mom, Dad. This is my Mom and Dad.” I whispered to Dad, “Wait until you see what’s out in the back.”

“Dad, would you please show my Dad what you have out back?”

“Sure! Come along, Dad, would you like a cup of coffee?”

I looked at Brad, took his hand, and smelled it. “You said you weren’t going to wash your hand.”

“It was an accident.”

I heard Dad telling my Dad, “Bring your coffee, and I’ll show you around.” I smiled when I heard that: two down, two to go.

Brad took my hand and pulled me upstairs to his room. He closed the door and was going to lock it. “No, don’t lock it. I don’t mind them seeing us hugging or kissing. If you lock it, they will think we are doing something else.”

“How about this?” He picked me up and threw me on his bed. He laid down beside me, pulled me into a kiss. “I could lay here and do this all day.”

“Brad, we aren’t moving too fast, are we? This is our second time together. I don’t want to go so fast that we don’t enjoy the journey.”

“It will be a journey, won’t it?”

“Yes, and I hope it’ll last a lifetime,”

“You are a romantic”

I never got to answer or make a comment. Someone’s lips were pressed to mine. Then we played a game: I would kiss his nose, he would kiss mine. We continued this game till we were back at the lips.

We heard footsteps coming up the stairs. I jumped up, straightened out my shirt, and re-buttoned it. I looked at Loki - he smiled and batted his eyelashes. We were sitting at his desk, working on his Monday math assignment. I noticed a button not buttoned on his shirt. I slipped my hand and pinched his nipple, he jumped just as soon as the door open, and his mother entered. I started to laugh so hard I fell off the chair. Brad reached down to help me up. He was just off-balanced enough to fall on top of me when I pulled him down. I kissed him, and he blushed to know my mother was there watching as well.

“You two better get ready - dinner will be ready soon.”

When they left, we were still on the floor. I kissed my Loki. I thought that should hold him through dinner. We washed up together and headed downstairs.

“We are eating family-style.”

“What does that mean?”

“We’re eating in the kitchen.”

“We always eat in our kitchen.”

The two dads were on the ends. I sat on one side next to my dad, and Brad sat beside me next to his dad. Our mom’s faced us. Grace said, the food arrived. My mom pitched right in. I knew the Dads would hit it off, but not sure about the Moms. It seemed that they were doing ok as well.

Dinner was great. Once in a while, I would slip my hand under the table when no one was looking and rub his leg, coming very close to his upper thigh but always stopping short.

“Brad, are you ok? You seem skittish.’”

“Yes, Mom, I’m fine. I think there is a bug in here that likes my leg.”

My mom looked at me and mouthed the word ‘behave’! Of course, who else saw it? Loki.

“Teach, explain to us about this, Loki.”

At first, I was startled - they called me Teach. “In Viking mythology, Odin was their god, and he had two sons, Thor and Loki: Thor was the good son with his mighty hammer; Loki was the naughty son, and he liked to play tricks on people. I call Brad ‘my Viking Loki’ because, compared to me, he’s a giant, looks like a Viking, and is full of mischief.”

His dad looked at him and then broke out in laughter that soon had the whole table laughing.

Brad was blushing. I kissed him on his cheek. “That’s ok - you’re my Loki.”

When dinner was over, Brad and I insisted on doing the cleanup. The ladies jumped at the chance, fixed the four of them cups of coffee, and headed out to the patio. Brad and I set to work, emptying serving bowls and placing the leftover food in Tupperware. If there wasn’t enough to save, Brad and I ate it. With two people working together, it didn’t take long for the kitchen to be clean.

Brad took a soda, and I took a bottle of water. We went out to sit with the folks. That didn’t last long. I opened my water and accidentally spilled some on Brad’s chest. “Oh! I’m sorry, Brad. The cap was stuck, so I had to use a little force to open it. I guess I used too much force. Here, let me dap it dry with my handkerchief.” Of course, leaning over to pat his chest somewhat dry, the bottle being uncapped spilled into his lap. Brad jumped up, and I started to laugh. He gave me one look, and I began to run. With his long legs, it didn’t take long for him to catch me. I knew what was going to happen, and sure enough, the tickling began.

“He caught him by the sounds of it, and someone is getting a good tickling.”

“I don’t know how you feel about Scott, but we’re so glad that Brad has found someone. When we first met Scott, we weren’t sure if he was right for Brad. But we overheard a discussion they had. You would have been proud of your son. He insisted that they take it slow, and by slow, they meant kissing, hugs, and hand-holding. Scott said when they graduate from college, they can renegotiate the terms of the agreement.”

“Scott has always been driven towards a college education. He’ll make it, I’m sure. Generally, when he sets his mind on something, he gets it.”

“I heard them even discussing the possibility of getting scholarships to different schools in different States. I hope they both end up at the same school.”

“I don’t hear any giggling. I’m going to peek and see what they are doing.” Mom walked around the corner of the house. They were lying on the ground looking at the stars.

“You would never guess what they are doing. They are lying on the lawn looking at the stars.”

My mom smiled. She knew on clear nights I’d do that, and sometimes, when Dad was late, she would sit outside with me, pointing out the constellations.

“Ange, we should be going.”

So, arrangements were made for next week. Dad was looking for his keys, and then he remembered he didn’t drive.

“Looks like I need to make a spare key. Scott, ready to go?”

“Ok, give me a few minutes to use the bathroom.”

“Do you really have to go?”

“Yes.”

“Tomorrow, the whole family meets at my grandparents. We have never missed as far as I remember. You’ll see when you and your family come with us.”

Scott ran to the bathroom. Brad waited outside the door. Some heavy kissing, and then Scott left. He never saw the tears in Brads’ eyes.