“Get that would you Kyle?”

The buzzer just went for the gate and I want Kyle to start this party as the equal man of our home and being the one to grant access to our guests will be a great start.

“Kyle, what are you doing? Our visitors are waiting to be let in,” I shout again, heading off to find out where he is.

I find him in the lounge, contemplating our front garden, the space where in a few moments people will be parking. He doesn’t look at me as I walk in.

“You OK?” I ask, my voice soft as I wrap my arm around him.

“Yeah, I’m glad my dad got to see this place. It’s a shame he can’t be here tonight, but then it’s more special that he got to see it before anyone else.”

I lean against him and kiss his shoulder over the cotton of his smartest t-shirt. “He was proud of you and all he wanted was for you to be happy.”

The buzzer flares again.

“Now, come on would you. Let’s do him proud.”

He moves, grabs my cheeks between his two huge hands and kisses me. “I love you Elliott Judd.”

With that, he takes himself off to attend to our not so patient guests.

Within half an hour there are bodies in every crevice of the ground floor.

“I didn’t know we knew so many people.” Kyle sidles up to me, his face, light and carefree.

I laugh. I know a lot, but they’re not the types I’d invite into my home. “We’re quite the popular couple, aren’t we?” Our eyes lock and his are softer, more relaxed than they’ve been in such a long time. Instead of dropping my glance, I draw him closer enjoying the warmth from his body as it meets mine, taking in every detail of the moment. The way his broad chest covers mine as he wraps his arms round me, the smell of him, freshly shaved as his neck bristles against the skin of mine. And the love that I see burning for an eternity in his gaze.

“Hey, are you going to introduce us?” I recognize that voice.

“Hey, gorgeous. I didn’t know you were here. You snuck in.” I slap my arm around her shoulder and bear hug her into me. “It’s been too long.” Daisy is one of those girls you either love or hate, and I think she’s spectacular.

“And this must be Kyle. I’ve heard so much about you.” Daisy is smaller than Kyle, a petite lady with a huge personality which means she still meets Kyle eye to eye.

They shake hands in an awkward, half formal kind of way.

“Hi,” Kyle replies, his grin is wide, but I’m not sure whether it’s met his eyes yet. “Yep, I’m him.” He releases Daisy’s hand and makes a bow.

We all snicker, but this the nature of the stilted conjoined laugh defies the pretense that everyone is relaxed. While each member of our group feigns a jaunty demeanor, the silence hangs leaving us fumbling for awkward conversation. I sneak a peek out of the corner of my eye at Kyle. He’s running his fingers over the rim of the glass he holds, figuring out Daisy.

He’s the first to speak, “So, tell me about what you do Daisy.” He’s a fucker, he knows exactly what Daisy does and it’s in that instant that I know he really hasn’t taken to her and that this is his test to see whether he’s going to change his initial opinion.

Daisy is a pro though. She’s used to answering this with a politically correct half-truth. “I have a number of businesses that I run. I guess you could say I’m a classic entrepreneur.” She strokes back her weave, slick as ever.