#kitmon

“Ah, just look atcha, y’look so handsome,” she murmured, holding Nathan’s face, and he grinned at her praise before her hands moved to adjust his tie.

“Not used t’feelin’ so fancy,” he replied, his chest constricting with affection as he met his mum’s proud gaze.  

Unsure why he felt the need to tell her this now, he just knew he did.  “So, there’s somethin’ I gotta tell yeh,” Nathan began, holding up his hands when his mum’s eyes hardened suspiciously and her lips pressed together like they did when she was angry with him.  “It’s nothin’ bad, I swear!” he exclaimed quickly and she raised her eyebrows as if waiting.

“Remember when y’told me I could move back in, and I told yeh I had a flat with some mates?”

“Yes,” she replied slowly, watching him warily.

“Well I, uh, I lied.”

“Nathan!” him mum exclaimed, “now why would y’do that?”

He shrugged slightly, shoving his hands in his pockets as he avoided her gaze.  “I didn’t wanna worry yeh, and you looked so happy with… Jeremy,”  he said reluctantly, as if even the man’s name was too hard for him to say, even on their wedding day. “I didn’t wanna cramp your style,” he explained and his mum shook her head ruefully, a mixture of worry and fondness in her eyes.

“So where have you been staying?” she asked, planting her hands on her hips.

“Now don’t get cross,” he said quickly, “but I was squattin’ at the Community Centre.”

“Nathan!” she exclaimed sharply, “please tell me you’re not still staying there.”  

“I told you not t’get cross!” he exclaimed, pulling his hands from his pockets in a soothing gesture.  “I don’t live there anymore.  I’ve got a flat, f’real this time… with my girlfriend,” he added, feeling his cheeks heat slightly as his mum’s brows rose.

“Girlfriend?” she asked curiously, her frown instantly replaced with a grin.  “It must be serious if you’re livin’ together.  Well, do I get to meet this girl?”

“Yeah, yeah, don’t worry,” Nathan answered, biting his lip to fight back a giddy grin, “she’s my date for today.”

“Oh ho!” his mum exclaimed, clearly tickled at this news.  “And where did ya meet her?”

Nathan snorted.  “Community service.  Who knew there were so many hot girls with ASBOs?” he said cheekily as his mother clicked her tongue and swatted lightly at his shoulder.