Page 43 of Nine-Tenths

"That he is."

Deodorant, I remember as I'm doing up the last button so I have to unbutton the whole shirt again.

"Is heyourpretty man?"

"Maybe. Depending on how tonight goes."

"Och, Colin, I don't want to hear about that."

"Dinner, Mum," I laugh.

"That's alright, then. Wear that nice cologne your brother got you for Christmas."

"Good idea." I spin around on the spot, trying to remember where I put it. Ah-ha, sock drawer.

"And brush your hair, for goodness sake."

Right. This is why I don't tell Mum about these things. My family is bossy.

She's not wrong though, so I comb it back off my face, and put in the nice frizz-killing hair oil.

"Hold on, I'll send you a photo to prove I have. There, sent."

Mum tsks. "You didn't shave? What about beard burn?"

"I thought you didn't want to hear the details," I chuckle. "Besides, he's a dragon. He's probably got a tough hide."

Mum goes so quiet so quickly, it's like an explosion.

"Mum?"

"He's what?"

"A dragon," I repeat. "Minor one, not involved in politics. Just a nice guy." I feel bad for underselling Dav, but his dirty laundry isn't mine to air.

Especially if there's no guarantee that this is a forever thing.

I don't know if I want it to be a forever thing.

(I think maybe I do know.)

The Rules, I remind myself.Don't get ahead of it.

"Colin," Mum starts, and then stops. "I don't know…"

"You didn't freak when I came out." I sit down on the bed, socks hanging from my fingers. "But you're freaking now?"

This hurts in a way I didn't expect.

"I know you like your Harlequins, but those are just books."

"And this is my life. I like Dav, and he likes me. I don't care that he's nothomo sapiens."

Mum is quiet for another chasm of eternity.

"It's just a date," I say softly.

"His life is just so different from yours," Mum says, tentative.