"You sure about this?" Reese asked, tugging at his tank top. He's been worrying his head off about meeting Francis and I can't help but find it adorable.
"Of course. Fran has been dying to meet you ever since I mentioned you to her." I check my reflection in the mirror, pulling my hair up into what can vaguely be considered a bun. Reese watches me from his spot on the bed, rubbing his neck,
"I mean, yeah, but what if she hates me? What then?" My chest feels tight as I realise just how nervous he is to disappoint her, to disappoint me. I grab his hand, kissing the back of it.
"Don't worry, Angel. I like you, that's enough for her." He blushes, turning away from me, and I grin. I'm painfully aware of how domestic this all feels and it makes me want to scream. In the best way possible, of course, if it's possible for one to want to scream in a good way. "Why are you fretting so much anyhow? Worrying is my thing." I tease. He shoots me a glare, but considering it contains no malicion whatsoever it doesn't quite have the desired effect.
"Well sorry I want to leave a good impression." He's pouting now and it makes my stomach do all sorts of things. I kiss his cheek and relish in the fact that it only makes him blush brighter.
"You will do just fine, Angel. You're a charmer." I reassure him, tugging his hand lightly as I step back.
"Bastard." He grumbles, standing up, "You're the only person who thinks I'm charming."
"Lies and slander." I grin, leaning down and kissing the top of his head before he can say anything witty in retort. I would have liked to stay like that all day, but I knew Fran was liable to hunt me down if I blew her off to spend the day fraternising with my boyfriend. Still, it was tempting. "Come on, it's only a couple hours. She's very excited to meet you."
"Says you."
"Would I lie to you?" He shoots me a look I know well and I can't help but laugh, briefly looking him over, perhaps checking him out would be more accurate, because I am a weak man, "Are you sure you'll be warm enough in that?"
"It's mid-September, Sammy, I'll be fine." He smirks, leaning up and kissing me one last time before pulling away, "Let's get this over with I guess."
"That's the spirit!" I laugh, texting Fran that we're on our way.
"Fran!" I cheer as soon as I see her, scrambling to get out of the car and nearly falling in the process.
"Sam!" She gets up from the table she'd been sitting at, much more gracefully than I, and rushes over. We hug for what feels like a solid five minutes before I hear Reese clear his throat behind us. "Ooh, is this the notorious Reese I've heard so much about?" I feel my face heat up as she pulls away,
"He's not notorious, Fran. But yes." I step back, grinning as I grab Reese's hand without thinking about it. Then I think about it. I can't help but preen. "Fran, this is Reese. Reese, F-"
"Francis. I'm sure he's told you loads about me. He's definitely told me as much about you." Fran laughs, offering her hand, and I feel my face heat up a bit more.
"Yes, well, what's wrong with that?" I say defensively, "He's my.... well, y'know." I'd planned on saying boyfriend, but we'd already drawn enough attention with our little display and I'd used up all of my courage when I took his hand earlier. I hoped Reese didn't mind. I glanced over at him, lucky for me he seemed more focused on keeping up with Fran than my failure of a declaration.
"Uh, yeah, nice to meet you." I squeeze his hand and he squeezes back. So far so good. I think.
"Yeah, for sure! But, while we're doing introductions I guess-" She glances back at her table. I notice someone else is still sitting there and it takes a second for it to hit me. "Babe! Come meet Sammy! Well, officially." The woman stands up and I feel dizzy. This was not the plan. I hadn't planned on meeting Fran's partner today. I feel the worry tangle round and round. I'm not ready. Then I feel Reese squeeze my hand again. I look over at him again and he shoots me a reassuring smile. I smile back. I think I can do this, if Reese is here. I already knew what Sophia looked like from all the photos, but it was odd to see her in person. She was about Reese's height, in ripped jeans and a t-shirt for some band I'd never heard of. Her hair was long and curly and bright purple. Which is to say, she stuck out like a sore thumb. She didn't seem to mind though. Then, when she held her hand out to me, I noticed it. A rainbow bracelet. It was small, subtle, altogether not even the most noticeable part of her outfit. Still, it made my breath catch in my throat. Reese bumped me with his shoulder and I realised I'd just been staring.
"Oh, sorry. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Sophia. Fran talks highly of you."
"Yeah? She talks about you a lot too. Nice to have a face for the name." SShe laughs and I feel a bit more at ease. We sit down and I think things are going surprisingly well. Fran keeps throwing question after question at Reese and, to his credit, he answers just about every one. I think I probably prepared him for this with my own barrage of questions. Sophia for the most part sits there listening, but every so often she chimes in with her own story. I mostly listen, it's all I can do to keep my thoughts in a row. However, my eyes keep getting drawn back to Sophia and her rainbow bracelet. It's a declaration, just like the rest of her outfit. It says 'this is me and I'm proud of it.' I think about how I couldn't even say the word boyfriend out in public earlier and how easily Fran and Sophia called each other 'Babe' and 'Love' and all sorts of sweet things without even batting an eye. I think I envy them.
I wonder what it must feel like to be that comfortable with yourself.
YOU ARE READING
Cinnamon, Blueberries, & Other Subjects to fill a Book of Poetry
عاطفيةSam is nervous, passionate and more than a little naive. All long limbs and not enough confidence to take up space with them. A secret lover of poetry who could never bring himself to leave his religious small town despite feeling smothered by it al...
