Page 107 of Praising Haru

I kiss Haru’s hair. “You’re not stealing me, but you have stolen my heart.”

He relaxes in my embrace.

“That’s better, gorgeous.”

We follow Mum into the kitchen. Dad is helping her serve dinner.

“Hello,” he says to Haru in a broad Yorkshire accent.

“Hi, Mr Scott.”

“Logan, please.” He comes around the table to shake Haru’s hand. “It’s good to meet you. I was giving up hope that Kyle would ever bring a boyfriend home to meet us. You must be special.”

Haru blushes. “I’m not sure about that.”

“I am.” I put my arm around his shoulders. “You are special.”

We sit at the table and serve ourselves from the feast Mum has prepared. A full roast dinner with all the trimmings. It’s more like Christmas than an average Sunday in summer.

“What do you do, Haru?” Dad asks as he cuts into fluffy roast potatoes.

“I’m in fashion design. Currently looking for work.”

“You’ve got two interviews tomorrow. You won’t be looking for much longer,” I say.

“In London?” Mum asks.

Haru widens his eyes like Mum is shining a spotlight straight in his face. “Yes. In London.”

“That’s where you want to live?”

“It’s where I need to live.”

“Mum,” I say in a warning tone.

She waves a fork between us. “So this isn’t serious?”

I put my hand on Haru’s knee. “I’m in love with Haru if that’s what you’re asking.”

Why the fuck did I think this was a good idea? I should have known Mum would react badly to the possibility of me leaving Leeds.

“London’s an exciting place to live,” Dad says.

“It’s expensive and far away,” Mum says.

“Eh, it’s drivable, or the coach doesn’t cost the earth,” Dad says.

God, I love him. I love them both, but he’s always the voice of reason.

“It’s too early to be thinking of moving in together. It wasn’t that long ago you hooked up with a random guy at Blayd’s,” Mum says.

“That was Haru,” I say.

“We’ve no plans to move in together,” Haru says diplomatically.

“Not yet,” I add.

“Do you want children?” Mum asks.