Are We There Yet? - 3. Chapter 3

Okay, I was wrong. I wanted to go back home. What had possessed me to take a six-year-old to Disneyland? Tony and I had been dragged all over, and I was completely drained. Tony didn’t seem to be fairing much better. The plus side was, even Jake was tired. His never-ending energy had finally been exhausted.

“Please tell me we can go to the beach and relax tomorrow?” Tony collapsed on one of the beds as soon as we got into the hotel room.

“Actually, I was thinking.” I sat Jake on the bed and stripped him of his clothes as he swayed back and forth. I could tell he was beyond tired. “We have hotel reservations in San Diego tomorrow night.” Rather than try to get Jake completely dressed, I grabbed one of my t-shirts and pulled it over his head and then tucked him under the covers. He was asleep within seconds of his head hitting the bed.

“Okay, so San Diego tomorrow night. What’s the plan for the day?” Tony turned his head and looked at me. “Please tell me we’re not doing a second day of Disneyland.” Tony sat up, kicked off his shoes, and moved up the bed until he was resting against the headboard. He looked at Jake and smiled. “Though it was worth going. Jake had a great time.”

“Yeah, he did.” I walked over and joined Tony on the bed. It felt good to just relax after the hectic pace of the day. “And no, we’re not going back to Disneyland. I figured we could maybe go to the beach for a few hours tomorrow, eat lunch, and then head towards San Diego. It’s only a couple hour drive, so we may even be able to hit the beach there. Unless there’s something else you want to do.”

“No, that works for me.” Tony slid down and rested his head on my lap. “What’s the plan for while we’re in San Diego?”

Oh, my feet were going to hate this next part. “Jake loves the zoo.”

“Oh god.” Tony groaned. “Do you know how big that place is? How much walking there is?”

I laughed. “Yes, I do. Look at it this way; we have an entire day to let our feet recuperate from today.”

“Yeah, and we’ll need another day to let them recuperate after.” Tony sighed, but I could tell he wasn’t as put out as he acted. “But Jake loves the zoo, so the zoo it is.”

I lifted Tony’s head off my lap and lay down so we were face-to-face. “So far I’d say our first vacation as a family is off to a good start.”

Shit. I clenched my eyes shut, so I wouldn’t see his expression. That wasn’t what I meant to say at all. Yes, I felt like Tony was part of the family. Much more than my ex, Dave, ever was, even though I’d been with him for years. I just wasn’t sure if Tony felt the same way. We’d never really talked about it. Did he consider me and Jake his family? Was he at that point yet? We kept our own places, and Tony came over more often than he didn’t. The only time I was really able to go spend time at his place was when Jamie and Paul had Jake. Not that Jake wasn’t welcome, he was, but he got bored.

Tony had been quiet for so long I didn’t think he was going to respond. Maybe that was a good thing. Now I just had to figure a way to dig myself out of the hole I found myself in. I felt Tony moving on the bed, and he brushed his fingers against my face.

“Brad, look at me.”

I wasn’t sure I wanted to, not knowing what I’d see.

“Please.”

It was that whispered please that got to me. I opened my eyes. Tony smiled, shifted close, and pressed his lips lightly against mine. I felt a little dazed when he pulled back. I searched his eyes for the answer to what I had said, even though it hadn’t really been a question.

His smile got bigger. “I wanted to talk to you about that, now that I’m no longer Jake’s teacher.”

My face got warm as I remembered how hung up I’d been on that fact when we first got together.

“Even though the school had agreed to leave Jake in my class when we were dating, I was worried that if we started living together, they’d remove him. That wasn’t a chance I was willing to take. Now that’s not an issue.” For once, Tony was the one who looked uncertain. “I love you, and I love Jake. I’d like nothing more than for us to be a family, if you’re ready for that.”

I let out the breath I’d been holding. “I’m ready, and I think Jake is too.” I took a deep breath. “I’m happier with you than I’ve ever been with anyone, and just the thought of losing you feels like I’m being stabbed.”

Tony shook his head and leaned up on one elbow. He looked down at me. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be than with you and Jake. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know. That’s the shocking part. Even though the thought scares me, I know you’re not going anywhere. I trust you not to hurt Jake. Or me.” I reached up and pulled him closer, but paused just before our lips touched to whisper what was in my heart. “I love you, Tony. Move in with us.”

“Yes.”

Tony’s slammed his mouth down on mine. He traced my lips with his tongue until I parted them and let him inside. He slid his free hand along my side as he twisted his tongue around mine. I groaned as I returned his kiss, but then I remembered and pulled back before we got too carried away.

“We can’t do this here.” I motioned toward the other bed where Jake lay sleeping. Thank god he hadn’t woken up.

Tony groaned and rested his forehead against mine. “When we get home, we’re going to take Jake to Jamie and Paul’s, and then”—he grinned—“we’re going to celebrate.”

“Sounds perfect.”