This Used To Be Chapter Thirty Eight
Now that Antonio knew that the choice of picking a best man had been left to him, he found himself in a predicament. The answer a few months ago would have been obvious. Gilbert, his best friend, had been around with him forever, had been the one to give him courage enough to consider the idea of marrying Lovino in the first place.
But now Francis was back. His other best friend, had kept in contact with him even though he had made it clear he had never wanted to have anything to do with Hearth again, and had been the one to convince him to offer to Marcus to tutor Lovino in the first place (he had needed the job) to meet the boy he would eventually fall in love with.
When it came down to it, he owed them both a lot. And he was not certain, now that it came down to it, which one of them he would rather have up there with him.
Still, when Lovino called, saying they needed to talk now (although he wondered what could have happened between when he had left the house and one o'clock), Antonio was slightly worried that he needed to decide on one of them now.
"Lovi!" he called as he entered the house. "I'm home!"
"Living room. Now."
Antonio entered the room without hesitation. "Now, I know that–"
"You're consulting Feliks?" Lovino snapped, rising to his feet. Then he hesitated, sitting back down. "No. I took all morning to calm down. No, you just tell me what went through your head. I'm just listening."
It sounded like Lovino was just trying to convince himself. It was absolutely adorable. "You're so–"
"You finish that sentence, Antonio, and I swear I won't feel so much like listening."
Antonio blinked. "But what are you listening to?"
Lovino took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Feliks, Antonio. You asked Feliks to help. I told you I got Elizaveta to do that."
"Which is why I told her!" Antonio assured him happily, moving behind the couch to give his stressed Italian a shoulder massage. "I figured they could get together... more than one head is always better than one!"
"You... told Elizaveta?"
"Of course!" Antonio dropped his face on top of Lovino's head, inhaling the scent of his hair. "We're all supposed to be working together for this!" Lovino did not say anything for a while and Antonio continued his massage. "...Lovi?" he questioned, leaning over the top of his head so as to get a look on his face.
"Have I told you lately that I love you?"
"Last week, but I always figured that with you it is just implied!" Antonio responded happily. Lovino snorted. Antonio kissed him.
He still was not quite certain why it was that Lovino had called him home, but he did not care much. Any excuse to come home to Lovino was perfectly fine with him.
And with whatever had happened making Lovino pull him down on the couch... well, Antonio certainly would not complain!
Notes:
They really do need all the help they can get, do they not?