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The moment the guys spot us, they are on their feet immediately, hurrying to greet us. They all introduce themselves to me, which means I finally know who Martin is.

“Aden, I can’t believe it!” one of them calls out. “Oliver said you would be coming.”

“It’s close to a miracle,” another one grins.

Yeah, shove your miracle somewhere else. How tone-deaf can someone be?

Oliver himself is holding back with his comments, just greeting Aden warmly. I guess he actually is the most aware of them all.

Funnily, they are all very friendly, also to me, I have to give them that, but I can feel Aden closing up next to me. It’s like his whole stance changes, his expression turns stoic, the look in his eyes distances. It makes me realize that a lot of my anxiety about him not opening up towards me was in my own head. Seeing him now is proof of it. He is so different with me.

“I didn’t know Aden would bring a friend,” Kayden says.

“I remember you, Noel,” Oliver says. “You were with his friends when I stumbled over Aden in the bar.” He pauses. “We are very happy to have you.”

“I am Noel,” I say.

“Aden’s friend?” Martin pushes.

“More like his incredibly hot boyfriend,” I tell him before I can stop myself.

From the corner of my eye, I see how Aden’s lips twitch. Okay, good decision to hit them with the truth immediately.

Oliver looks at us, stunned. “Wait… you are dating?”

“Yes,” I say.

As if to underline my words, Aden puts his hand on the small of my back. “Obviously, we are,” Aden adds, before turning towards me. “Come, I will show you around, Noel.”

I can almost feel the eyes of his family on my back when Aden leads me away. “We are staying in the guestroom, right?” I ask.

“Yes.” He leads me to the second floor and then to the end of the corridor, to the room prepared for us, where we leave our bags. “It’s only the two of us staying, and Oliver. The others live close by. All but Francis and his wife, but they are going to stay with an old school friend,” he explains. “I am sorry for all the tension.”

“It’s fine, don’t worry,” I reassure him. “Actually, I am starting to think I will have fun messing with them.”

Aden pulls me into his arms, burying his face in my hair. He doesn’t say anything, just keeps holding me. I return the gesture, wrapping my arms tightly around him.

twenty-two

*ADEN*

Ican’t believe I dragged the person I love into my family mess. The whole way home and up until Noel meeting my family, I was wondering if I was doing the right thing. It’s selfish of me to take Noel along, I know that, yet I can’t deny how much more relaxed I feel with him next to me.

Usually, on the rare occasions I join a family get-together, I sit around feeling awkward, like the outsider I have always been here. No matter how hard my mother tries or how many questions my brothers ask, there is always something inside me that recoils. An automatic tension, almost appearing immediately when they talk, as though I am expecting the worst. When we were kids, and they asked something, they would mock my answer at best, and downright bully me at worst.

I just can’t trust them or myself in this house.

Home is a weird concept. I know from Lynn and from old acquaintances how it’s supposed to feel. I have a vague idea of how I should feel when I come home, but unfortunately for me, home doesn’t feel like much. It’s the house I grew up in, but there is no lingering warmth, no comfort, nothing that makes me feel like I belong or that makes me wish to return here. While my mom fills the place with love with her presence, it only lasts as long as she stands next to me.

The only change this year is having Noel with me. It’s like the sun is shining on me, giving me the energy and strength I need to get through this dinner without having to shut myself in completely.

“How do you like the food?” Mom asks Noel.

“It’s fantastic,” he exclaims. “I am usually not too big on roasted duck, but this is honestly one of the best things I’ve ever had, Mrs. Randall.”

My mom’s face lights up with his obvious honest excitement. “Please, call me Maggie, dear.”

Noel looks so happy that it warms my heart. “Thank you for being so welcoming, Maggie,” he says.