Page 10 of Strawberry Kisses

We sat in silence for a few minutes longer as if we were waiting for the other person to speak first.

“So…” Connor said finally, “this weekend.”

“Yeah…” I swallowed and pushed my uneaten cake away from me. I’d vaguely told Connor about the party in the past, but I hadn’t shared many of the details, mostly because I’d been trying to forget it was happening until it had snuck up on me.

“So, my, um, my parents are having a big party this weekend because my Da is turning seventy, and it’s their fiftieth wedding anniversary.”

“They got married young then.”

“Yeah, they got married on Da’s twentieth birthday, about six months after my mum turned eighteen. I think they’d have gotten married before that if they could have, but my nana put her foot down.” Connor snorted. “Anyway, they’re throwing this big party and loads of mum’s family are coming over from Ireland. Mum’s literally catering for about five hundred, even though I think there’ll be two hundred people max since some of them are getting a bit old to travel.”

“That’s still a lot of people.”

“Yeah, Mum and Da have a lot of friends, and Mum’s family is pretty big.” Mum was one of six, and each of her siblings had at least three children. Plus, each of her parents had large families, so there were always various aunties and uncles around. I didn’t see most of my Irish family that often—mostly just weddings, funerals, and large parties like this—and to be honest, I didn’t know many of them that well.

“Anyway, Mum and Da, and my sisters too, I guess, want me to bring you because they think you’re my boyfriend. It would just be for three, maybe four days? I’ve got to go down on Friday afternoon. The party is on Saturday, and I was supposed to be staying until Monday, but I could easily come back Sunday instead. I know it’s a lot to ask, and it’s really short notice, especially because I know you have classes, and if you don’t want to I totally understand. I can just tell them that we broke up or that you couldn’t make it. I’m sure they’d understand…” I trailed off again as Connor raised a finger.

“First of all, I am not having a family I’ve never met think so ill of me as to dump their son just after he came out. That’s just plain rude, and I’d never do something like that, so the breakup excuse will never work. Besides we both know we’ll keep spending time together, and they’re bound to find out, so that’s another reason against that.” He looked pensive, a little frown wrinkling the smooth skin between his brows as he drummed his fingers on the table.

“Okay, no breakup. But I could just tell them you couldn’t make it. I mean, they sprung it on me yesterday, and that’s pretty short notice. They’ll understand.” At least I thought they would. I didn’t think any of them were crazy enough to stalk Connor on social media and bombard him with messages. They did have some boundaries. Maybe.

“I suppose,” Connor said. He took a deep breath. “But I don’t want to put you in that position. And I don’t want you to have to go through the whole weekend explaining yourself.”

“So, what are you saying?” A flicker of hope and excitement bubbled up in my chest, and I tried desperately to tamp it down.

“I’m saying I’ll do it. I’ll be your boyfriend for the weekend.” Connor grinned and reached for my cake. “But we’re going to need to set some ground rules, and you’re going to need to tell me all about your family.”

---