My eyes widened. ‘Really?’

‘Really. If you want to.’

‘Really?’ I asked again, a warmth spreading through my chest.

He laughed. ‘God, you’re adorable. It’s not that big a deal.’

‘Meeting your family?’ I shook my head. ‘Of course it’s a big deal. They make movies about how big a deal it is.’

He laughed again.

‘Are they like you?’

‘Like me what?’ He frowned.

‘You know.’ I touched his chin. ‘Polite. Nice. Doctorly.’

‘I guess. Except Sarah. She’s an architect.’

‘How embarrassing for you.’

‘Yeah, we don’t talk like to talk about it.’ He grinned. ‘So? Mum’s asking to meet you.’

I raised an eyebrow. ‘You’ve told her about me?’

A flicker of uncertainty crossed his face. ‘Of course I have.’

My heart thumped in my chest, reminding me it was there.

‘Please?’

‘Yes. Of course. What night? I’ll need to get Nic to—’

‘Tuesday. Not next week but the one after.’

My breath caught.

‘I have plans,’ I said, looking down at my lap. ‘Lina, remember?’

‘I know, but it’s the only night Sarah can get a babysitter.’ He sounded confused. ‘And I’m not working and …’

I squeezed my fingers into a fist.

He noticed, frowned, his hand loosening on my hip. ‘Lina will understand, won’t she? Can you two have dinner on Monday? Or weekend brunch or something?’

A part of me wanted to say we could, wanted to skip group and meet his family, maybe never go back, never have to lie to him again. But something stopped me. The photo. Something else.

Careful.

‘I don’t know.’ I paused. ‘With the wedding and everything, she’s kind of …’

I could feel his eyes on me, but I couldn’t look at him. I’d never met anyone’s mum before, except once unintentionally, after a big night. It seemed too soon to meet his. It seemed like a lot, a step. A part of me wanted it so much but it was too soon.

I hadn’t even mentioned him to my family, I realised. Whenever Mum rang all she wanted to talk about was Lina and the wedding and it had never felt like the time. I bit my lip, feeling my chest tighten.

He sighed. ‘Okay. Maybe next time.’

I reached for his hand, feeling guilty. ‘I can ask,’ I said slowly. ‘If it’s—’

‘No, it’s okay.’ But it didn’t feel it. ‘Don’t worry.’

‘Are you sure?’

He took a moment to answer. ‘Yeah.’ His hands tightened around me again. ‘We’ll work something out. Another night.’

I relaxed, just a little. ‘Thank you.’

‘You’re a good friend,’ he said. ‘I’m looking forward to meeting her.’

I tried to meet his eye. ‘I know,’ I said. ‘Soon. We’ll have lunch or something.’

‘Maybe I can crash one of your Tuesday dinners.’

‘Maybe.’

He looked at me again. ‘Are you all right?’