Brave
Chapter 21 – Enough
Eddie spent most of the evening out on the balcony, clearly not ready to discuss things with Richie just yet. Richie finally gave up on getting anything cleared up that evening and went to bed, deciding that it was probably best to let Eddie cool off until morning. Richie's dad always said things looked better in the morning anyway.
For all the good it did, because Richie fell into a rather fitful sleep. He only dozed off and on and was suddenly wide awake when he heard the glass door to the balcony sliding open. Richie pretended to be asleep, listening to Eddie putter around the room, getting ready for bed.
About twenty minutes later, the mattress dipped down behind Richie. He halfway expected Eddie to cuddle up against his back, wrapping his arm around Richie's waist, but he didn't. Eddie didn't bother to touch him at all, and he wasn't even close enough for Richie to feel any of his body heat. Richie contained the urge to turn over and curl in around Eddie, like he normally did when they slept. Instead, Richie just laid there alone in the dark, waiting for sleep to claim him.
It was the first night since Eddie had gotten out of the hospital that he and Richie hadn't slept clinging to each other tightly.
When Richie awoke the next morning, he realized that Eddie was gone. Other than Richie, the room was completely empty. Eddie wasn't in bed with him, he wasn't out on the balcony, and he wasn't in the bathroom either. Richie's heart thumped uncomfortably in his chest before he realized that Eddie's suitcases and toiletry bag were still in the room's closet.
So Eddie hadn't just up and left, but Richie was left unnerved that Eddie had gone somewhere without a word to him. Other than their first morning together at the townhouse, Richie had always made it a point to wake Eddie up before he left their room in Derry, and it bothered Richie that Eddie couldn't spare him the same consideration.
Richie reached for his phone on his bedside table and he sent Eddie a text.
Richie (7:21 AM): Where are you?
Eds (7:23 AM): Out for a run. I'll be back.
Richie began to type out a response, something stupid and jokey, but then he thought better of it and deleted his message. He sat on the edge of the bed, staring down at his phone and desperately wishing for Eddie to return. Things were weird and strained between them like they had never been before, and Richie really didn't like it.
Nearly a half an hour later, Eddie finally returned to the room, and good god. He was wearing a pair of tiny red track shorts that immediately made Richie's breath catch in his throat. It was the first time since they were children that Richie had seen him wear those, and he wanted to say something. He wanted to tell Eddie that he couldn't just walk around like that without warning him first, but he remained silent. Richie also had the urge to push Eddie up against the wall and start kissing him like he always wanted to, but he stayed seated on his side of the bed.
Eddie was carrying two to-go cups of coffee and a small white paper takeout bag. He set them down on the dresser along with his phone and key card for the room.
"I got us bagels and coffee," Eddie said quietly. "You know, since that's a thing now, I guess."
Richie strained to come up with a response, but for perhaps the first time in his life, no words came to mind. He sat staring at Eddie, not even sure how they had gotten to this point or where they were going to go from here.
"Let me take a quick shower," Eddie said, digging a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt out of his suitcase. "And then we can eat and talk."
Richie only nodded, watching Eddie disappear into the bathroom. Still, Richie sat frozen to his spot, almost terrified to do anything else. Afraid that if he did, something about his relationship with Eddie would be broken and damaged beyond repair.
"Fuck," Eddie said when he finally got out of the bathroom. He was rubbing at his wet hair with one of the hotel's towels, at least looking markedly better than he had yesterday when they had returned from Myra's. "You have no idea how much I've missed running. I'm a bit out of shape after lying around so much for the past two months, but at least I feel better than I have. I almost felt like I was going crazy when I wasn't able to exercise."
Why was Eddie talking to him like everything was normal? Richie sat blinking at him, because he wasn't even sure what he was supposed to say.
"So are you going to talk to me or are you giving me the silent treatment?" Eddie asked, leaning back against the dresser and crossing his arms over his chest.
"I'm not…" Richie began, but he wasn't even sure what he wanted to say. Was that what he was doing – giving Eddie the silent treatment? Because they were too fucking mature for that shit and he knew it. Richie ran his hands through his hair before he said, "Are you pretending like everything's normal after last night? Because it's not."
Yeah, Richie was an expert at running away from things, but not when it came to Eddie. Not anymore. Eddie had already made him promise more than once that they would discuss everything, they would talk it out when they had a problem, and here he was, trying to sweep this under the rug. It was the first time in Richie's life that he could remember feeling genuinely irritated at Eddie, and Richie hated feeling that way, so they were going to fucking talk this through now.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Eddie muttered, "I know." Staring down at the towel draped over his arms, he said, "Myra messes with my head. You know that. It's why I needed to get away from her – because it isn't healthy the way she makes me question myself. The way she makes me question you." When Eddie raised his eyes to Richie again, they were swimming with unshed tears. "You've done absolutely nothing to make me question your commitment to me, and that's all I've been doing. And I'm sorry." Eddie jerked in anger, throwing his towel at the bed, where it landed on the corner.
And just like that, Richie could feel his frustration seeping away, because none of this was Eddie's fault, and he knew that. Just like when they had been children, he couldn't be angry at this beautiful man standing before him that was only trying to do the best with what he had been given – which wasn't a whole hell of a lot.
"Hey," Richie said, getting to his feet and crossing the room to Eddie. He gripped Eddie's shoulders tightly and said, "Just answer a question for me, okay?"
Eddie nodded, his teeth pressing into his lower lip.
"Do you still want this?" Richie asked. "Do you still want me?"
"Rich…" Eddie gasped out, his bottom lip trembling. "Of course I do. I never would have accepted your proposal if I didn't."
This made Richie smile, because at least that much was better. A part of him had been absolutely terrified when he had gotten up this morning to find Eddie nowhere in sight. He had been afraid that Eddie had just decided to up and leave him, despite everything they had already been through, and perhaps that had been where his earlier annoyance had been stemming from. He wasn't sure, but at least he now felt like things were falling back into place between him and Eddie again. Things were starting to feel okay again.
"Okay," Richie said around a relaxing breath. "Then listen to me. I want this too. I never would have proposed to you either unless I was serious. You know that, right?"
"Yeah," Eddie whispered. "I know you wouldn't play with my feelings like that. But I just…you honestly don't think any of this makes me a bad husband? You don't think that…I'll be a bad husband to you?" Eddie's eyes were on him, wide and searching.
"No," Richie replied. "God, fuck, no, I don't. Look, we talked about this – about why you married Myra. I know you weren't trying to purposely hurt her, but…you settled. You said so yourself. Yeah, that's a bad reason to marry someone, but I know that's not the reason you're marrying me. You're marrying me, because you know what you want, and that's me. I'm the one you've been waiting for all your life."
A smile slowly spread across Eddie's features, those fucking adorable dimples shining through, even with his new facial hair obscuring them a bit. Eddie leaned forward, burying his head in Richie's chest. He brought his hands up next, laying them against the front of Richie's t-shirt.
"You are," Eddie agreed, snuggling closer against Richie.
Richie wrapped an arm around Eddie's shoulders and then tucked his other hand underneath Eddie's chin. Pulling away a little bit, Richie directed Eddie's face up towards his, leaning in to kiss him deeply.
Moaning into his mouth, Eddie curled his arms around the back of Richie's neck, pulling him down closer. "I missed you," Eddie whispered against Richie's lips.
"Why?" Richie asked, breaking the kiss. "Because we went to bed last night without cuddling?" There was a teasing tone to Richie's voice.
"Yeah," Eddie said earnestly. "I don't…I didn't like it. I…wanted to cuddle you last night when I came to bed, but I didn't think you wanted me to."
"I always want you to," Richie replied. "And I know. I didn't like it either. It just…felt wrong lying there and not touching you." He huffed out a laugh and added, "You know by now that I can't keep my hands off you when we're together, so that was honestly really fucking hard."
Eddie giggled quietly, playing lazily with the dark curls at the back of Richie's head. "Can we make another promise to each other?"
"What's that?"
"Let's…never go to bed like that again," Eddie pleaded. "If we ever have any kind of argument, or disagreement, or things just feel strained between us, I want us to talk them out first. I never want to feel like I can't touch you, and I never want to wake up feeling as far away from you as I did this morning."
"Never," Richie agree, and he suddenly dove back in again, kissing Eddie fiercely. He then suddenly stepped backwards, gently pushing Eddie back until Eddie's ass met with the edge of the dresser behind him. Richie thrust his hips forward, because Jesus. Having to refrain from touching Eddie for the last twelve hours had put him a little on edge.
"Rich?"
"Yeah?" Richie asked in between kisses, because he didn't quite have his fill of Eddie just yet.
"Can I have my ring back please?"
That immediately caused Richie to pull back, because he had almost forgotten that he still had Eddie's engagement ring on his own pinky finger. Almost.
"I thought you'd never ask," Richie said, letting go of Eddie and pulling the ring off his finger. He had almost been about to reach out for Eddie's left hand to return it to his ring finger, but then he thought better of it. "Let's do this right this time."
Richie dropped to one knee, because that was something he hadn't done the first time, and perhaps he should have. Maybe it had been bad luck not to. He held the ring up between the thumb and forefinger of one hand, staring up at Eddie.
"Marry me?" Richie asked. "Because I love you and I know you're going to be the most amazing husband in the world. One major fuck up doesn't define your entire life just like it doesn't define my entire career."
Eddie's bottom lip quivered the tiniest bit before he pressed his lips together in an attempt to quell it. When he spoke, his shaking voice betrayed his emotion. "Yes," he whimpered out.
Richie wasted no time in sliding the ring onto Eddie's finger, and truth be told, he didn't think he'd ever tire of seeing it there. Of seeing the way Eddie immediately ran his thumb along the band, as if checking to make sure that it was there.
"And you're never allowed to take it off ever again, because I think it's bad luck," Eddie said firmly, despite the fact that the tears were still evident in his voice.
"Never," Richie agreed. He was on his feet a moment later, once again pulling Eddie into his arms. Richie met his lips as he felt Eddie melt into his grip. "I love you," Richie murmured as he began trailing kisses down along Eddie's cheek towards his neck.
Eddie began pushing Richie backwards as he whispered, "I love you. So fucking much."
A moment later, Richie felt the backs of his knees meet with the edge of the bed, and he dropped down to sit on the edge of the mattress. Eddie stood over him for a moment, staring down at him with the biggest grin Richie had perhaps ever seen on his face. At the same time, however, his eyes were still glistening with tears that looked like they were about to spill over onto his cheeks at any minute. Eddie slowly crawled onto his knees on the mattress, straddling Richie's thighs and sitting down in his lap.
Richie wrapped his arms around Eddie's waist, pulling him close as Eddie grinded down against Richie. This withdrew a groan from Richie's lips, because he was still in his boxer shorts. Eddie had blue jeans on, and the stiffness of the denim was pressing insistently against the soft cotton of his own underwear.
"So did you want to eat or not?" Richie joked, because goddamn it. Eddie was going to be the death of him.
"I'm having dessert first," Eddie replied, wrapping his arms around Richie's neck. He tilted his head to the side, kissing Richie deeply and pushing his tongue up against Richie's lips.
Richie immediately parted his lips for the other man, reaching for the bottom hem of Eddie's t-shirt. Richie began pushing the fabric up, wrapping his arms around Eddie again and reaching towards the scar on his back. He was surprised to find Eddie's scar bare, covered only by the thin strips of medical tape the doctor had applied two days previously. Realizing that Eddie probably felt a bit uncomfortable asking Richie to help with his bandages this morning after everything that had happened, Richie allowed his fingers to roam up the slightly raised line of skin that ran up Eddie's back.
Eddie, however, immediately broke the kiss, pushing Richie's arms away. Gasping in a breath, Eddie leaned back, his eyes widened at Richie.
"What?" Richie asked, planting his palms firmly on the mattress like he'd been burned. His own eyes were large and his heart was thumping in his chest, although it wasn't from arousal anymore; Eddie had never pushed him away when they were making out before. "Did – did I do something wrong?"
"It's not you," Eddie began, shaking his head almost frantically. "I just…I'm not…I don't have my bandages on. I…I couldn't do it by myself after my shower. I need you to help me with them before we leave."
"Okay," Richie said carefully, not sure why that was a problem. "You know I will."
"Just…" Eddie said again, and Richie could see him swallowing several times. "I'm not really ready for you to be directly touching my scar when we make out."
Richie blinked at him, because he still didn't know why Eddie didn't want him to touch it. "I've…seen it and touched it before."
"Not in a sexual way," Eddie muttered. "It's not sexy, Rich. Nothing about it is sexy."
"I told you," Richie whispered, still keeping his hands pinned to the mattress, because he would never dare to touch Eddie in a way he didn't want. "I wanted to try and make it better for you. I thought…I thought touching it in a loving way would help."
"Just not yet," Eddie said, his eyes still wide and pleading. "Please, Rich. I'm sorry. I'm such a fucking disaster, I can't even-"
"Shhh," Richie immediately hushed him, wrapping his arms around Eddie and trying to pull him closer.
Eddie didn't budge at first, pushing back against Richie's arms, but then he slowly seemed to change his mind. He finally eased into Richie grasp again, burying his head in Richie's shoulder. "I'm sorry," Eddie apologized again.
"God, don't apologize," Richie firmly, rubbing his hands up and down the back of Eddie's t-shirt in an effort to calm him. "I told you, if I ever do anything that makes you uncomfortable, I want you to please tell me so I can stop. Because I would never do anything you don't want me to do. I love you and respect you too much to hurt you on purpose like that. To…treat you like…an object."
Eddie let out a sudden sob. "I think maybe you were right."
Richie tightened his arms around Eddie. "About what?"
"Any time I stood up to my mother or Myra and told them no," Eddie said, pulling away to meet Richie's eyes, "they would get mad at me. I know you're not like that, but…I don't know. I think I'm just so used to it by now, I don't know any other form of love." Eddie collapsed against Richie, wrapping his arms around his neck. "God, I'm so messed up."
"No, you're not," Richie told him, continuing to rub his hands up and down Eddie's back. "They're the ones who were messed up, because that isn't what love is. I know Myra thinks she loved you, and maybe she did in her own way, but…that's a really fucked up form of love – coercing someone into complying with you. That's not what I want from you. Never has been, never will be."
Eddie only tightened his grip around Richie, keeping his head buried in his shoulder.
"You want to know why?" Richie asked quietly.
Sniffling, Eddie asked, "Why?"
Richie tilted his head back, still keeping his arms around Eddie's waist. He locked eyes with Eddie before he said, "Because you're so fucking beautiful and amazing when you stand up for yourself and do what you want. I've always loved you, but…this new Eds that's learning to be his own person is…god. You're making me fall so much more in love with you than I ever thought I could."
Eddie leaned his forehead against Richie's, and Richie could see his bottom lip quivering and the tears springing to life in his eyes once again. "You're amazing, Rich," Eddie whispered, his voice quivering with emotion. "I told you, you never make me feel like I'm giving too little and I fucking love you for it."
"I just want to love you, Eds," Richie said sincerely. "God, I just want to love you in the way you deserve, and that's all I've ever wanted. Believe me, I wouldn't still be pursuing you after twenty-seven years if all I wanted was a good lay."
"You don't even know if I'd be a good lay," Eddie whispered, hiding his head in Richie's shoulder again.
"My point exactly."
"Fuck off."
"But no expectations, okay?" Richie asked, now rubbing his hands over Eddie's hips. "I'm not in this for sex or even just being able to feel you up. I'm in this for you. I just want you."
Eddie squeezed his arms even more tightly around Richie and tightened his legs around Richie's thighs as if he was holding on for dear life. And perhaps he was. "I want you too, Rich."
"Okay," Richie breathed, because he hated when things were off between him and Eddie. Things were once again slotting into place between them and that one missing piece of Richie was back again. "You've got me, and I'm not going anywhere. Certainly not because you're not ready for sex and definitely not because of what happened between you and Myra. None of that matters. All that matters is us. Just you and me, baby."
Eddie let out a small sound somewhere between a giggle and an annoyed grunt. Almost like Eddie was trying to be mad at Richie for calling him 'baby', but not quite managing it. "God," Eddie muttered, running his hands through his still shower-damp hair. "I'm sorry I'm such a fucking mess."
"Hey," Richie said, reaching up to take Eddie's cheeks in his hands. "You're not a mess. We both have issues and we're going to work through them together. Trust me?"
Eddie swallowed hard and then nodded. "More than anyone."
"Me too," Richie agreed. "And as someone told me not so very long ago, this ring means something." He reached down, taking Eddie's left hand in his. Richie brought it up, pressing a kiss to the fire opal and platinum band on Eddie's finger. Smiling, Richie glanced up into Eddie's eyes. "It's not just for show."
A moment later, Eddie returned the smile, and then he leaned forward to kiss Richie deeply. "I love you so much, Richie," Eddie said when he broke the kiss, hugging Richie again.
"I love you," Richie said, giving Eddie one last squeeze. "Like you wouldn't believe. But you want to eat now?" he asked. "Our coffee's going to get cold."
"Yeah," Eddie replied, starting to stand up from the bed. "I'll try not to have any more nervous breakdowns today." He crossed the room to grab the two cups of coffee that he had set there earlier that morning, which now seemed like eons ago.
Richie quickly followed him, wrapping his arms around Eddie from behind and kissing the back of his neck. "It's okay if you do, you know," Richie told him. "I promise I won't get mad at you and I'll help you get through it."
Eddie sighed, relaxing back into Richie's touch. He held one of the cups up by his head and said, "This would be yours. Three sugars and sweet as fuck."
Richie reached for it, leaning in closer for a quick peck on Eddie's cheek before he pulled away. "Sweet as fuck, just like me," he said before reaching for the small white bag on the dresser. "You told me that too, didn't you?" He looked back over his shoulder, grinning at Eddie.
Rolling his eyes, Eddie muttered, "Don't remind me."
"Which bagel has the scary gluten?" Richie asked, peeking into the bag.
"Fuck you," Eddie said, "and it's the one on top." Eddie had leaned back against the dresser, holding his coffee cup to his lips with both hands.
Richie knew, though. Richie knew that Eddie was doing it to hide the smile that had bloomed across his lips. Richie took a moment to stare at the way Eddie's engagement ring curled around his finger. At the way Eddie kept touching it with the fingers of his other hand, as if checking to make sure that it was still there. Checking to make sure that it hadn't somehow disappeared. Checking to make sure that he and Richie were still okay.
"God, at least that's done," Eddie said as they got back into Richie's car after leaving the courthouse. He leaned back in his seat, ran a hand through his hair, and let out a long breath. "Myra said she's not interested in contesting the divorce anymore, so I might be a single man by your birthday."
"We can get married for my present," Richie said, grinning.
He didn't mean it seriously though. Not really. Richie wanted to do things with Eddie properly, and the last thing he wanted was to rush into marriage of all things. Eddie was already stressed out enough with everything that had happened with Myra, and he wanted to give Eddie some time to grow into his own person for a while. Engagement was one thing, but Richie now thought that it was best if they took some time getting to know each other more deeply and sorting out their issues. They had all the time in the world to get married.
Eddie returned the smile at first, but then he broke Richie's gaze. Eddie turned to look out his window, back in the direction of the courthouse. He was frowning and biting at his bottom lip, watching the lines of people crossing the parking lot, going about their business.
"Are you okay?" Richie asked, laying a hand over Eddie's left one. Running his thumb over Eddie's ring.
"Yeah," Eddie replied. He stared down at his lap next, at Richie's hand over his. Eddie turned his hand over in Richie's, gripping it tightly, but his frown remained unchanged. "I just wish things didn't have to be this way. I wish I hadn't fucked up so badly in the first place."
"I know," Richie agreed quietly. "I am sorry for what I said about Myra last night. I think it was just easier for me to pretend that…she didn't have feelings. I could tell myself that we weren't really hurting anyone if I painted her to be this…heartless monster. And she proved us both wrong."
"It is better this way though," Eddie said. "That's what I have to keep telling myself. It was wrong to marry her in the first place, but it would be even more wrong to stay married to her. Maybe she's been romanticizing our relationship since I've been gone. I'm not sure, but what we had wasn't good for either of us. At least maybe how she'll have a chance to find…some kind of happiness. Like I have." His eyes flickered up to Richie's and there was a small smile playing about his lips.
Richie brought Eddie's hand up to his lips, kissing the ring on his finger. Much like trying to touch Eddie's scar in an effort to try and make it better for him, Richie felt the need to keep kissing Eddie's ring. A part of him felt maybe his kisses were helping to cement it in place, to reinforce his commitment in Eddie's mind a little bit. To let Eddie know that they would be okay.
"Can we make one other stop before we leave?" Eddie then asked, his fingers still entwined tightly with Richie's. "I…have to say goodbye to someone else."
Twenty minutes later, Richie was slowly steering his car through the narrow lanes of Ocean View Cemetery. The sun had broken through the rainclouds earlier that morning, and now bright golden rays of sunlight were bursting in between the dying leaves still clinging to the trees. Every now and then, leaves would give up their grip on their branches, slowly drifting to the ground among the tombstones.
"It's up here," Eddie said, pointing out the windshield. "At the next intersection on the corner."
Pulling over at the edge of the grass, Richie asked, "When was the last time you were here?"
"When she died," Eddie said, removing his seatbelt before he opened his door.
Richie did the same, following Eddie through the grass littered with crispy fallen leaves. They crunched under their feet as they went, trekking just a short distance from where the car was parked. When they got to a small flat headstone covered in leaves, Eddie stooped down to wipe away the leaves that were obscuring it.
It revealed a simple stone that merely stated Sonia Kaspbrak's name as well as her years of birth and death. There was nothing spectacular or special about it, and there weren't any quotes or titles on the stone either like there perhaps might be for some of the others. For some of the other more revered friends and family members that had been laid to rest in the cemetery. Richie supposed Eddie had done that on purpose.
"Mother," Eddie said, standing up straight again. He took a step back so that he was standing closer to Richie and said, "I know I don't make a habit out of seeing you, and that's not about to change either. I just thought I'd come say goodbye one last time since I don't plan on coming back."
Eddie hung his head, staring down at his hands, which he was wringing together. He took a shaky breath and when he spoke again, his voice was just as unsteady. "You never met her, but you probably would have liked Myra. In fact, I know you would have."
Even from behind him, Richie could see a grimace contorting Eddie's face.
Eddie huffed out a breath of laughter before he said, "But it was just like marrying you, and it was fucking fucked up beyond belief. So I came here to tell you that I'm leaving the both of you here once and for all. I've found someone else who is the complete opposite of the both of you and…I love him more than I ever could have imagined loving anyone."
Despite the gravity of the situation, a small smile grew across Richie's lips. He reached out and laid and a comforting hand on Eddie's shoulder, gripping it firmly.
"You remember Richie, I'm sure," Eddie whispered down at the tombstone. "'That loudmouth boy' you always wished I'd ditch and find more friends like Bill instead."
"Hey, Mrs. K," Richie said, waving his other hand around obnoxiously. Because if there was any chance that Sonia was watching them right now, Richie sure as hell wanted her to remember him. Wanted her to know that he was exactly who Eddie was talking about.
Eddie let out a soft snort before he said, "So yeah." He paused for a very long time and then swallowed. "I'm bisexual and you know what? I don't need your permission for that." He crossed his arms over his chest, seeming to take a firmer stance. "I don't need your permission for anything I'm doing. Richie has asked me to marry him and I've said yes. I'm moving to LA with him and we're going to be together, and I honestly don't care whether you like it or not."
It was then that Richie realized that Eddie was crying. There were a few tears dripping down his cheeks, which he quickly wiped away, but then he drew in a sharp sob when he spoke again.
"You've fucked me up in a lot of ways," Eddie whispered unsteadily. "So much so that I'm having a really fucking hard time accepting the love that Richie has for me sometimes."
Richie let his hand drop down from Eddie's shoulder. He trailed it down Eddie's arm to his hand, which he gripped tightly. Richie once again found himself running his thumb over the ring on Eddie's finger, hoping that Eddie could tell exactly how much Richie truly did love him from the gesture alone.
Eddie suddenly shook his head and when he spoke again, his voice was a bit firmer. "And you know what? I'm not going to do that anymore." He sniffled once and then said, "I'm not going to let you fuck up my life more than you already have. I am allowed to be happy with Richie, and that's what I choose. I finally have what I've wanted since I was fucking thirteen years old, and I'm not going to let you take it away." He took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders and adding, "I choose happiness and I choose Richie. Not you. Not anymore."
Richie hesitated, not quite sure if his touch would be welcome, but he released Eddie's hand. He wrapped his arm around Eddie's shoulders instead, pulling Eddie against him gently. Almost all at once, Eddie went. He turned, burying his head into Richie's shoulder and slumping against him. Taking this as a sign that his touch was all right, Richie brought his other hand up, hugging Eddie firmly.
"I choose you too," Richie told him, again reiterating the fact that he and Eddie were in this for the long haul. And then some.
Eddie took a deep breath, giving Richie one last tight hug. A moment later, he pulled away, staring up into Richie's eyes. "Take me home, Richie."
At first, Richie wasn't entirely sure what Eddie meant, so he asked, "To LA?"
"To LA," Eddie repeated, his sad frown slowly being replaced by a small smile. "Home."
Richie kissed him long and hard before he turned and started guiding Eddie back to this car. Eddie followed, his head still pressed into the crook of Richie's neck.
Even as Richie still knew that this wouldn't magically solve everything between them, at least things did feel different now. Eddie somehow felt calmer and more relaxed against him, like some of the tension that was always present in his back and shoulders had seeped away. Had drained out to be left at his mother's grave.
It was just Richie and Eddie now, and Richie knew somewhere deep inside that that was enough.
To be continued…
Author's note: It is onto LA in the next chapter and the second half of this story! As I said in my previous author's note, we'll be getting into Richie navigating getting back into his career and publicly coming out.
