“You’re that kind of boyfriend, are you?” My chest feels bubbly as though another laugh is lurking there.
“The kind that celebrates the smallest of anniversaries? Yes.” Stefan grins at me. “Is that a problem?”
The laugh bursts out of me. My family are staring at us, clearly not getting the joke. I guess that makes us even more couply than just revisiting silly conversations in reverse.
“I’m not sure what’s so funny, but I must say you’re adorable together.” Sabella picks up her wine glass. “A toast. To the first three weeks and the next.”
I don’t trust myself to pick up my glass of water and clink it against her wine glass, so I let everyone else make the toast while I sit and recover.
Sabella opens the cards next and somehow finds room on the table to stand them up.
“What do you do, Bryan?” Stefan asks.
“I’m a lecturer in the physics department at Imperial College London. My speciality is particle physics.”
“Fascinating.”
“Or boring, depending on your perspective. I know science isn’t everyone’s thing. Quinn was always much more into art and sport. Like his mum.”
I dip my chin. “Stefan’s good at maths.”
“I enjoy it. That’s not quite the same thing. I took advanced maths as one of my A levels.”
“But not your degree?” Dad asks.
Stefan replies with a polite smile. “I didn’t go to uni. My brother did. He’s a lawyer. I worked so he didn’t have to.”
“Couldn’t your parents help out so you could both go to uni?” Sabella asks.
Stefan’s smile becomes tight. “No.”
“I’m sorry.”
Stefan shrugs. “It was fine. My twin and I take care of each other.”
“Twins? How delightful!”
“Beau is the colourful twin,” Rubin says.
I shoot him a look.
“What? It’s true.”
“I think you dress very smartly.” Sabella flicks her gaze over Stefan. “If a little old-fashioned. You look very handsome in that outfit.”
“Thank you.”
The conversation pauses while the waiter brings out our food. It smells delicious. My gnocchi is covered in bright red sauce.
“Have you thought about kids?” Sabella asks Stefan.
For a moment, I think he’s going to choke on his pizza.
“Having them?”
Sabella laughs. “Yes. What else did you think I meant? Eating them?”
Everyone laughs, including me. I put my knife and fork down just in case.
