Hair still tousled from slumber.
A watery cocoon, washing away all remnants of the night.
???
In the kitchen, Marco slides another poached egg onto my plate.
“I've been meaning to ask you,” I smile. “How would you feel about coming with me to Redcliffe tonight?”
“You mean?”
“I know you're not ready to see your mum. And I know Beth and Porter are like family now. But... how would you feel about meeting mine?”
Marco sets the pan to one side, seeking comfort in my embrace.
He seems a teeny bit nervous.
It’s super sweet.
“Tonight?”
“Yeah, maybe early evening around five. My sister and Robbie will be there too. The kids are off school this week. Everyone’s been wanting to meet you for months. Probably because I'm always like 'Marco, this' and 'Marco, that,' so they…”
I feel a warm mouth against mine.
Fingers curve gently through my hair.
“So that's a yes?”
“That's a yes,” he whispers.
I’m quietly ecstatic.
I’ve been meaning to ask him for so long, but I didn’t want to pressure him.
My family dinners are usually on Sunday nights when he’s working.
“Should I go home to change, or am I okay wearing... should I bring flowers or wine?”
“Just my Marco,” I say. “Just bring you.”
“Just me?”
“They're gonna love you, I promise. They keep saving you a seat whenever I come over, just in case.”
“They do?”
He traces a pinky finger across my palm, unable to hide his smile.
“Every time. It's getting a little awkward to show up Marco-less. There isonepre-requisite though. And it's kind of important.”
“Uh huh?”
“My nephew Ollie wants to know... do you like dragons?”
Marco ponders the question with the seriousness it deserves.
“What kind of world would it be without dragons?” he muses. “If only I'd brought mine with me, they could have kept the fire going last night.”
