Page 99 of Some Things Never Change

The only one who seemed to have caught on was Jonathan as he looked between Andy and I with a shocked, bewildered face. “No. They’re telling the truth!” he bellowed.

His voice rang with so much certainty that everyone looked at him with questioning eyes. Jonathan raised a brow at Andy and I as he flashed us a knowing smirk. “I knew something was going on between you two around Dad’s death anniversary,” he continued. “I just never said it.”

Auntie Gao blinked. "So, what does this mean? You two are, in fact, a couple?"

Andy stepped toward me, wrapped his arm around my waist, and pulled me toward him. I looked up and gave him a smile. "Yes, Mom, we are," he said, without taking his eyes off of me.

A shocked silence filled the house as everyone in the room tried to process what Andy had just said and done. My heart was racing with anticipation as I stared back at their stunned expressions and dropped jaws. Quickly, all their eyes lit up and wide smiles touched their lips in unison.

My mom's face lit up with joy, and she let out a loud laugh. Her eyes quickly darted between Andy and me as her smile stretched wider if possible. She looked so happy.

“Julie, I was wondering who you were going to bring home, and it’s just Andy!” she laughed. “Thank the Lord! I’ll feel more reassured that you’re with a good boy.”

Auntie Gao laughed with her. “Andy, the happiest I’ve ever seen you is always when you’re with Julie. It makes me happy to hear that you two are finally dating.” She turned to my mom, nudging her shoulder. “It won’t be long before we’re in-laws.”

I felt heat rush all the way up past my scalp as Auntie Gao's words hit me. In-laws? Andy and I had only just started dating and our moms were already talking about marriage, as expected. I wasn’t surprised, but it was still embarrassing to hear them laugh over it. My heart pounded intensely as Andy squeezed my waist reassuringly. His own face was bright red as well.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Mom," he said with a happy, wide grin. "We're just taking things one step at a time."

Uncle Gary was the one to laugh in place of Auntie Gao. He patted Andy on the shoulder. He looked between Andy and I with the same wide, beaming smile Andy wore.

“Took you two long enough, though. We’d always known Andy had been in love with you, Julie. It was obvious it was love ever since he told us he loved you when he was seven.” He laughed. “Some things just never change between the two of you, do they?”

I smiled back. “No, they don’t.”

Chapter

Forty-Three

After brunch, I took my mom and Auntie Gao out for the expensive spa and pedicure appointments I set up. The two of them spent the whole time talking about Andy and I.

“I always tell you about how my husband and I always wanted Julie to be with one of your sons, Gao,” said my mom from her end of the room. Her voice was clear over the gentle and soothing spa music. “Well, today is the day; it finally happened. Both of your sons have always been good boys. They’re smart, handsome, loving, and hard-working. I’m glad Julie finally saw these aspects in one of them.”

To which I was certain my entire body flushed bright red. I was smack in the middle between my mom and Auntie Gao as the masseuse worked out a kink between my shoulder blades. I sighed as the knot was finally released, just as Auntie Gao laughed cheerfully.

“Gary and I are the same. We’ve figured Andy had the best luck with Julie since Anthony had always seen her as a sister,” she said. “Andy has always been in love with her since they were children. So, we figured things would eventually come to this. But we didn’t expect everything to take this long. Julie, darling, I’m honestly surprised he waited so long to say anything.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. I never realized that my relationship with Andy had been the subject of discussion for years between our parents. It surprised me this had been a hope and dream for them to see us together.

“I think it was for the best that we took our time, Auntie Gao,” I said. “I think we both needed to realize that the best had always been here—by our sides the whole time. We have always been an unwavering, kind, and gentle friend to one another and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I love being Andy’s best friend.”

A gentle silence washed over the three of us for a moment before my mom started chuckling. “You’ve always been in love with Andy, too, haven’t you?” she asked.

I flushed again as both my mom and Auntie Gao laughed. I could barely stammer out a response.

“Julie, we all knew,” laughed Auntie Gao. “It was only a matter of time before you both realized it, too.”

We came back home around three in the afternoon to the men with a two-on-two basketball game on the Hughes’ driveway. They were all shirtless, and I wasn’t even surprised Uncle Gary was still as fit as these younger men. He, Auntie Gao, and my mom always made sure to hit the gym or take their daily walks around the neighborhood. They all stopped for a quick water break to greet us while Uncle Gary smiled down at Auntie Gao’s red-hot pedicured toes.

Shoua already left to join her family for her family’s Mother’s Day plans long ago, leaving Anthony behind. But she didn’t leave without a knowing smirk and a ‘You need to tell me everything before you two leave town.’

“What’s the score?” I asked as Uncle Gary quickly gave Auntie Gao a kiss on the cheek.

While our moms exclaimed loudly as they headed into the Hughes’ home to gush again at the lush, gigantic bouquets Andy made for them, Anthony turned to me with a cocky grin.

“Four to one,” he said right off the bat. He took a quick swig of his water bottle. “We’re pulverizing your boyfriend and brother into smithereens.”

I laughed as both Andy and Jonathan flipped Anthony off. “Andy, aren’t you supposed to be an all-star basketball player?” I questioned, thinking back to our high school days.

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