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“Fucking hell, that’s weird.”
“Yep. Apart from my first boyfriend, who they already knew, I’ve never had a relationship get to the point where I’d decided to introduce them to my parents.” He laughed. “My mind boggles what she’d do. But it’s all from the heart—there’s not an ounce of malice in her.”
Dorian had a sudden flash of meeting Alex’s parents. Them all sitting down for tea and Alex’s mum being as mad as a box of frogs and him trying to act as if it was all normal.
“Families are bonkers.”
“Oh yes, and mine more than most.”
The car was slowing and Alex peered through the window. “I think we’re here. Ready?”
Dorian realised they were still holding hands. He squeezed Alex’s, which seemed to startle him into letting go. He took hold of it again. “We need the practise. And I don’t bite.”
“I suppose hand-holding was part of the arrangement,” Alex said with a smile. “But it will be easier to get out of the car if we’re not linked arm in arm.”
Dorian was relieved there was no one waiting outside for them, meaning there’d been no leak in terms of him being out for dinner. His life was crazy and chaotic and he was relishing the idea of having a normal date—or as normal as it could be, given the circumstances.
For a moment he didn’t know what to do, his feet somehow welded to the spot. Alex tugged his hand and led him into the restaurant where the maître d’ greeted them. “Good evening, gentlemen.”
“We have a table reserved in the name of Forbes,” Alex said. They’d had a debate under which name to book it, but they’d settled on Dorian’s as the whole point was he was meant to be out and proud, escorting a new boyfriend.
The staff would have been pre-warned of his arrival, but Dorian wasn’t sure if the maître d’ recognised him, although he found in most places the front of house was a consummate professional who wouldn’t have reacted anyway. They were escorted to a table out of the way, and Dorian was glad they weren’t somewhere prominent.
“Can I get you an aperitif while you peruse the menu?”
“A Kir Royale, please,” Alex said.
“Same,” Dorian said quickly, wanting to be left on their own and he was happy when the maître d’ glided away.
Alex set the menu down. “We’re having the tasting menu, right? Or have you changed your mind and would rather just have a main course and leave as soon as possible?”
He glanced around the restaurant, no one was interested in him. It was kind of nice but he still couldn’t help feeling a little like a fish out of water. “I… we… I’m fine.”
“Dorian, you’re clearly nervous and apprehensive. If you want to leave at any time then we will.”
Alex was lovely and he felt like he was in safe hands. “Let’s enjoy it.”
“Excellent, because I read the reviews online and they have this truffle risotto that is meant to be amazing.”
“Fancy the wine pairing as well?”
Alex nodded. “Oh yes. I’ve arranged so many of these types of dinners but never got to go on one before so if that’s all right I’d love to.”
“Absolutely.”
Dorian had the life where meals like this could be the norm, money was never a concern and he was seldom refused anything he asked for. But that wasn’t what Alex was used to and he liked the idea of spoiling him, giving him more than the cash they’d agreed to because while Alex being Dorian’s boyfriend was purely transactional he could’ve played this down the line and not given a damn about Dorian’s feelings or worries. Instead he’d checked over and over that Dorian was happy with the arrangements, asking him his preferences and offering words of comfort.
Their drinks arrived and they ordered their food, Dorian letting Alex do so for both of them, conscious of what he’d said in the car. He offered up his glass for a toast. “Thank you for this evening.”
“I hope this will be the first of many good experiences as the real you.” Alex clinked glasses. He took his phone out. “I thought we could take a few photos that suggest coupley stuff. Like the two glasses together.”
“Or a selfie.”
Alex rolled his eyes. “We don’t have to go straight to the nuclear option. But we can do one later if you want.”
“Be nice for Instagram and as a memory.”
Alex spent a moment organising the champagne glasses and ordered him to put his hand at the bottom of the stem before doing the same, then taking a photo and showing it to Dorian. “Since you’ve given me access to your Insta account do you want me to post, or do want to do it?”
