#sincerely-us

„They’re always late.“

Evan chuckled and looked at the clock on the wall, shaking his head in playful scolding. “And we’re supposed to be the kids here.”

The restaurant around them was too fancy for them and they both knew it. It was the kind of restaurant they’d never go into with each other, after a night at the cinema or just taking a walk through the city. But Cynthia and Larry had invited them, for the first time in this new year, and neither of them would’ve wanted to say No to such a generous invitation.

New Year’s Eve had been spent at Heidi’s, squeezed tightly together in Evan’s childhood bed, watching the glow stars on the ceiling still weakly shimmering into the night until Connor was the first one to drift away and took Evan with him into dreamland.

And now, fireworks and many kisses later, they sat together and waited, next to each other in a private booth by the window.

“Do you want to bet?” Connor asked mischievously, playing with Evan’s fingers.

Evan raised an eyebrow, eyeing him suspiciously. “On what?”

“Bet my mom is going to say she’s trying to be vegan this year again?” Connor was grinning, goodhearted amusement sparkling in his eyes as he waggled his eyebrow at him.

Evan snorted, rolling his eyes and grabbed another little olive on a spike the waiter had brought earlier. “I will not bet against that, no way. I’d rather bet that your dad-“

“Hi, guys!”

Evan’s eyes widened for a short moment, but Connor quickly covered him, standing up and crushing his mom into a big hug. “Hey, mom.”

Every time their families came together, Evan couldn’t help but nearly explode at how well they all got along, how integrated they both were in each other’s circles. Maybe it shouldn’t have been such a huge surprise, after all. He still remembered the first time he went over to the Murphy’s, how Cynthia had baked cookies without any nut ingredients, because Connor once mentioned Evan’s allergy. How Heidi took a late shift so he and Connor could cuddle and fall asleep in the living room downstairs, only woken up in the morning by the smell of coffee and eggs with bacon. 

So much and still nothing had changed ever since then. They were adults now, living on their own, but the two of them still stood and embraced the couple that just had joined their table.

“Hey Evan, everything alright?” Larry patted him on the shoulder after they shook hands.

Evan smiled. “Yeah, New Year’s Eve was great. Do you have a new jacket?”

Larry’s expression darkened a little. “Cynthia got it for me for Christmas. I’ve been sucking my stomach in for the past thirty minutes. But don’t tell her that.”

Evan did not dare to look down to observe where a zipper might be close to bursting at this point, but instead looked over to where Cynthia was still fuzzing with her son, the two of them still hugging and swaying with each other in affection. Mama’s boy. “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it.”

In the next moment, Evan was pulled into a warm hug too, squeezing Cynthia’s shoulder as Connor and his father greeted each other as well. “Oh, Evan. Thank you so much for the poinsettia you sent us for Christmas, it looks so beautiful in our living room.”

Evan’s eyes lightened up immediately. Passion activated. “I’m so glad! Just make sure he has about twelve hours sun today, manuring him once a month should be fine and-“

“How about we get seated?” Connor interrupted, quickly pressing an apologetic look to Evan when he pulled him into the lounge and rested his chin on his shoulder. “I’m starving and my parents are paying.”

“Oh, are we now?”

“Evan sent you a plant, it’s the natural consequence, mom.”

The four of them got seated, Connor’s thigh naturally touching Evan’s and a waiter brought over the menu. In the beginning of their relationship, going out with the Murphy’s had always stressed Evan to no end and always began with him frantically going through his closet to find something adequate.

Now, years later, he didn’t think he ever felt more comfortable to be around people than when they met with Connor’s parents.

After their drinks arrived and Connor, a nasty habit of him, immediately swapped their orders, the smallest, most precious bark came from under the table.

“Oh!” Cynthia startled and made everyone look down, to where a tiny ball of golden fur sat in between Connor’s black boots. “I’m still not used to him being around you guys.”

“I think the baby demands more water.” Connor said nonchalantly and reached for the water pitcher him and Evan had ordered earlier.

Larry looked a little confused. “The baby?”

“Yes.” Evan and Connor answered in union.

Since last fall, Evan and Connor had a little golden retriever puppy. Charlie had not been planned, more a surprise than anything else when they saw him online, during one of Connor’s hours where he scrolled mindlessly through his socials. Until he came across little Charlie, looking for a new home after getting into the shelter.

And then Connor gave Evan puppy eyes and when they visited the shelter Charlie gave them both puppy eyes and now here they were.

Dinner passed by in the blink of an eye, a small and cozy affair in candlelight and good conversations. Connor and Cynthia had ordered two different salads and switched after finishing the first half, while Larry had ordered himself the steak of the house. Charlie eyed it with unhidden interest from under the table. Ever so often, Connor sneaked down a small cherry tomato for the little pup to enjoy. Evan ate his own lasagna and watched him do it with loving eyes, helpless to the way Connor always thought about the little one in their middle. Their own small family.

Somewhere between ordering tiramisu and another round of drinks for everyone, Charlie had found his way underneath Connor’s hoodie, the small puppy adorably shifting on his lap and peeking through the collar once or twice before escaping back into the warmth Connor provided for him. Evan, still amazed how well the two of them fitted together, wanted to melt from the sight alone.

Him and Connor shared their dessert with two spoons, taking turns on tasting the sweet cream and coffee and Evan knew if they were alone right now, he would’ve tasted the sugar on Connor’s lips without hesitation. But since his future parents in law were literally seated in front of them, he thought it maybe wasn’t the right moment to try and lick into Connor’s mouth with fervor.

The candle on their table was nearly burned down and a warm and fuzzy feeling had begun to grow in Evan’s stomach when they finished their last drinks. Outside, it had gotten dark and Charlie had become sleepy.

“So,” Larry said and looked at the two of them with a fatherly love in his eyes that made both of their chests swell with emotions, but for different reasons. “Do you guys have any new year resolutions yet?”

They looked at each other, pinkies still intertwined underneath the table where Charlie was slowly dozing in and out, shifting from time to time and licking over the entangled fingers with affection. In Connor’s eyes, stormy grey as the sea and calming blue as the sky, Evan found his answer.

“Yeah, a few.” Connor said, and with him the most beautiful smile brightened up the room, the whole restaurant drowning in everything that was Connor, until Evan felt like the dark, cold winter night outside must have turned into a sunny day as well. “I’ll try to quit smoking, let’s see how that goes.”

“Oh, Connor.” Cynthia looked delighted at that idea. “Finally! I’m trying to be vegan this year.”

The look Connor sent his way was simply priceless and it took nearly everything of Evan to not burst into laughter with his boyfriend.

“Wonderful, mom. Yeah, Charlie always wants to follow me outside on the balcony whenever I’m going and he whines, because I don’t allow him to go outside with me, so that’s part of the reason.”

A little drowsy, Evan added: “And because there is no gum big enough in the world to hide that taste.”

“Evan!” Connor said in mocking shock, but breaking into laughter immediately after Evan just rolled his eyes. His stomach made a summersault, just as Connor leaned on his shoulder and nuzzled his cheek into it, finding a soft place to land on him.

As their parents told them about some of their resolutions, Cynthia wanting to work in the garden more often and Larry finally treating himself with a year’s member card for the local baseball arena, Evan was still caught up in Connor’s smile, still visible as he listened to his parents talk with soft eyes and an even softer heart. It was committed to Evan’s memory forever, like a warm kiss pressed to his cheek in the morning, like standing in the rain and feeling each other through wet clothes.

No matter how long he already had been lucky enough to have it in his life, Evan thought he’d never get used to it. To Connor and what this boy did to his poor heart. As if it was the first time. But then again, all of the moments with Connor felt like a first time, every time.

He thought of all the wonderful things that were still waiting for them this year, the horizon wide with opportunities and surprises, things that used to scare Evan but now didn’t anymore. He thought of all the memories that would find their way into his mind, their photo albums and social media accounts, all the small and big things standing just above their door step.

Evan thought of the ring, carefully stored away in his sock’s drawer, and how he hadn’t found a good moment to ask Connor between the years. Another bright thing to look forward to.

Evan felt the eyes of the other’s, Connor’s ocean eyes on him, and he blinked himself out of his lovesick haze, a subtle blush apparent on his cheeks as he chewed on his lip.