I push further into the restaurant, past two annoyed waiters who both look like they’re contemplating having a stern talk to me about why I should stay by the hostess stand.
And then I see them: Florian, Annika, Florian’s parents.
Annika’s eyebrows jolt upward. She glances at Florian, concerned.
She’s not supposed to look concerned.
She’s supposed to look… neutral. Maybe she’s supposed to be happy I’m there.
My stomach twists.
Maybe Florian already told her everything.
Florian’s parents though wave to me happily, and I wave back, forcing a smile on my face, even as my chest tightens.
And then Florian looks at me.
His eyes round. At first, I think I see relief, maybe even wonder, but then his shoulders slump, as if in embarrassment.
“Hi, Florian,” I say.
I wind my way around the table.
Florian’s father hops off his chair. “Sit down, Mateo. Florian missed you.”
Florian’s cheeks redden, and he looks down at his plate.
“I thought I would be busy,” I say, unsure what to say now that I am finally here.
Florian’s parents only smile.
“I’ll get a new chair,” Florian’s father says, and I sit beside Florian.
I lean closer and whisper in his ear. “I hope this is okay.”
Florian nods.
And then because I am so near Florian, since I have just been speaking to Florian’s ear, I kiss his cheek.
Florian was always kissing my cheek, and I never kissed his. I couldn’t.
But now Florian knows that I am not his boyfriend, that this is pretend.
Now there is no secret.
Florian inhales when I kiss him, and when he glances at me, his eyeshave softened.
Then he leans next to my ear. “You didn’t need to do that.”
I shrug.
And though he absolutely doesn’t say anything, I know he’s telling me that he’s happy that I came.
I smile.
He smiles.
A waiter comes with a menu for me. He deposits the menu into my hands, then sets up a new place setting for Florian’s father at the head of the table.
