“You already know Sebastian used to date Maddie back in high school. He’s been staying with me in London since she left for New York. That was actually her idea. And I’ll admit, I wasn’texactly thrilled about it at first, the thought of sharing my space with a total stranger, especially one who’d dated my girlfriend…”
He lets out a quiet, awkward laugh, giving them a small, self-deprecating smile.
Maybe he’s afraid of hurting my feelings, but honestly, his initial concerns about me were completely fair. I squeeze his hand, hoping to reassure him, and he picks up on it right away. His shoulders relax slightly, and when he speaks again, there’s a new steadiness in his voice.
“You can probably imagine my surprise when, over time, not only did I start to really enjoy having him around, but I also began to feel something more… something deeper. I was drawn to him, properly drawn to him, and not in a way that could ever be mistaken for just friendship.”
Remi glances up at his mum, his eyes shining with emotion. I hold my breath, tension coiled tight in my chest like a wire stretched to breaking.
Emma rises and crosses the room, taking a seat beside him. She places a gentle hand on his leg and looks at him with the same warmth and love as always.
“Go on, sweetheart,” she says softly. “We’re listening.”
In the quiet that follows Emma’s words, Maude begins cracking her fingers one by one, and for the first time since we met, she actually seems to react to something. I can’t tell whether it’s a good or bad sign.
Remi seems reassured by their silence, as though it's giving him space rather than resistance. He takes a breath and goes on.
“At first, I was confused… I didn’t understand what I was feeling. I’d never been attracted to a guy before Seb. But eventually, I realized I’m bisexual. Even so, Sebastian felt completely off-limits, for all the obvious reasons. I was still in a relationship, and he wasn’t just Maddie’s ex; he was also one of her closest friends.”
He glances around, hesitating just a beat before continuing, quieter now.
“I kept telling myself there was no future in what I felt for him. But in the end… I knew I couldn’t stay with Maddie, not when I was falling for someone else.”
“I thought I didn’t stand a chance with Sebastian,” Remi says, pausing to steady himself, “but even if nothing had ever happened between us, I knew I couldn’t stay with her.”
He draws a breath, and for a moment the whole room feels suspended, waiting for him to go on.
“When I realized, much to my surprise, that Seb felt the same way… I knew I couldn’t let him go. I understand that when Maddie finds out, it’s going to be hard. And that some of our friends might not understand or approve. But there’s something I want to make absolutely clear: I never cheated on her. Sebastian and I only started getting close after I ended things with Maddie. And believe me, we both tried to fight what we were feeling. But it was no use. In the end, we chose to give this a real shot, because maybe… we both deserve that chance.”
He turns to me with a gentle smile, still holding my hand, then looks back at his family, quietly bracing for their response.
The moment of truth has arrived, and the tension is so thick I can barely breathe. My head starts to spin, until, all at once, Emma wraps her arms around both me and Remi, pulling us into a warm, heartfelt hug. Her voice trembles with emotion as she speaks.
“Oh, darlings… You have no idea how happy I am for you. I can only imagine how hard it must have been to come here and tell us everything. That takes so much courage, and I’m so thankful you trusted us enough to share your story.”
She turns to Maude and Ben then, her eyes shining, and calls them over with a gentle look.
They approach slowly, as if unsure what to do, until Ben leans in and hugs us both, clapping our backs with such enthusiasm I nearly fall off the sofa. Maude, after eyeing us from head to toe with a neutral expression, surprises me by addressing me directly.
“Don’t be scared off by those two,” she says, nodding at Emma and Ben. “They’re a bit much, but totally harmless.”
Then, to my surprise, she reaches out a hand and says simply, “Welcome, Sebastian.”
I’m so overwhelmed with relief at being embraced by Remi’s whole family that a lump rises in my throat and my eyes sting with tears. But before I can properly fall apart in front of everyone, Remi gently draws me back into his arms, holding me close.
I bury my face in his chest, dampening the front of his T-shirt, and feel his breath warm against my ear as he whispers, “See, baby? What did I tell you?” Then he hugs me even tighter and presses a kiss to the top of my head.
I hear Emma chuckle nearby. “You’re absolutely smitten, darling… I hardly recognize you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this sweet with anyone in my entire life.”
“Same,” Maude adds dryly, which somehow makes it even better.
I can’t help but smile, heart full, proud to be the one bringing out this softer side of Remi. And if I have anything to say about it, he’s definitely getting spoiled with extra cuddles tonight.
I feel a flush rise up my neck, and it takes real effort to rein in the usual rush of heat his closeness stirs in me, definitely not the time for a family-level diplomatic incident.
Honestly, it already feels like a minor miracle that everyone took the news of Remi’s bisexuality, and of us, so well. The last thing we need now is to steer the conversation toward our sex life.
With the tension finally lifted and everything out in the open, we all settle into the comfort of warm tea and buttery biscuits Emma has so thoughtfully laid out. For the first time since that horrible outing with my own parents, I feel... at peace. Genuinely happy. Maybe even hopeful.
