Page 52 of The Best Number

“Okay, love,” Mum says. She still sounds a little wary, but I’m sure she’ll be fine when she meets Cass and gets a handle on the situation.

We hang up and I realise how privileged I am to have supportive parents. They know I’m bisexual and have always supported my choices. I just hope they can get their head around my polyamorous triad relationship… we shall see.

I drop Cass a quick text to see if she’s back from Tom’s yet and get a quick affirmative reply. I run up the stairs, stretching out my legs from the earlier workout, and bound up to her door to knock. She swings the door wide wrapped in a towel with another around her hair.

“You look adorable. Just out the shower?”

“Um, yeah, Tom and I got a little distracted, and he had to dash off to the bar so I came home for a shower,” she says with a blush appearing high on her cheeks. I raise my eyebrows.

“Distracted, huh… Tom is very good at distraction—I’ll give him that.”

“He sure is. You coming in?”

“I just wanted to see if you were free at 5?”

“Free as a bird,” she tells me, tilting her head to the side, intrigue in her eyes.

“How would you fancy going to Tom’s bar for an early dinner?” I ask, and she nods excitedly.

“Ooooh yeah, I want to go and watch him mix drinks. Do you think I can convince him to dance while he makes me cocktails?” Her eyes widen as they twinkle with mischief.

“Er, there’s a bit of a catch though…” Her brows furrow as she quietly waits for me to continue. “It will be with my mum and dad. Is that okay?”

Her eyes go wide and her jaw drops. “You want me to meet your parents?”

“Er, yeah. Only if you want. They’ve met Tom—that’s why they suggested going to his place for dinner. But it would be cool if you could meet them too. I’m not sure what their reaction will be, but they are usually supportive, so I think it’ll be okay.”

She’s still frozen, looking astonished.

“Your parents?” she repeats her earlier question. “You’re going to tell them about us?”

“Yeah, I like giving them a shock every now and again, to keep them on their toes,” I joke.

She swallows slowly, as if she’s letting the information settle. “What should I wear?”

“It’s up to you, Cass. You’d look gorgeous in a sack. It’s pretty casual—no need to dress up. Do you want to come? You don’t have to. Have I overstepped?”

“No, no, not at all. Sorry, Jack. I’m just surprised. I didn’t know we were doing the family introductions thing.” She pauses for breath. “I’d love to come and meet your parents.”

“That’s settled then. Shall we walk down there? Leave about 4.30ish?”

“Sounds good. So you’re not coming in?”

“As much as I’d love to spread you out and devour you, Cass, I need to go and get sorted. But I can devour you after dinner if you like?”

She giggles. “Sounds good. I’ll see you in a bit then.” She blows me a kiss before shutting the door.

I head over to my flat and get my gym stuff in the wash. I’ve already showered at the gym, so I’m not entirely sure why I didn’t take Cass up on her offer to go in. I second guess my decision to come home for a moment. And then remember, I need to speak to Tom to reserve a table. I shoot him a text asking if he’s got a moment and my screen flashes with his incoming call.

“What’s up?” he asks by way of greeting.

“Hey, can I make a reservation at your place for an early dinner?”

“You gonna bring Cassidy?”

“Yeah… and ummm, my parents too,” I tell him, unsure why I’m stumbling over my words.

“Oh, wow,” he says quietly. I find it hard to pick up any inflection in his reply.

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