{ “I love your family” }
and I feel in some way I do love you, but babe I’m not in love with you
”I love your family,” who wouldn’t want to hear those words coming out of their partner’s mouth as they’re cleaning the table? A successful dinner if you ask Clio and Dorian’s parents… and brother and his wife and baby son… Or just Clio? How Davina and Elijah felt wasn’t something Dorian was worried about, nor what he cared about, he just thought it would be fair to introduce them to his girlfriend of 5 months when they finally come to visit him in Miami. Okay, let’s not be harsh, he did care… He wanted them all to like her because he… loved her and he was starting to feel good about this relationship after… Well, everything that happened with his last engagement and… yeah. We all know a thing or two about Dorian’s life. But what has just happened? Long story short - after visiting their better son and his little family, Dorian’s parents decided it would be nice if they all gave Dori a little visit and tell him that the day before. With Clio practically living with him he couldn’t just lie to her and kick her out for a few hours so that meant it was time to finally introduce her to one part of his family… Not like he didn’t want to do that… It was just… Introducing her to his family wasn’t something that crossed Dorian’s mind when it… probably should’ve. They’ve been together for 5 months, what was he waiting for? ”You do? Why?” Putting the dishes in the sink, Dorian glanced at his lovely girlfriend with a hint of disgust on his features. She liked his parents? Ew… why?
HEY, HEY, before you attack him it was a joke. And she could tell that when a smile appeared on his lips and he quickly looked away from her, walking back to the table. ”WH- Don’t be like that,” laughing lightly as she shook her head, Clio walked over to him just so she could playfully punch his arm. ”They are so nice.” And they were nice, Dorian couldn’t deny that and he also couldn’t deny that Clio was nice to them. A little too nice if you ask him - since when do his parents laugh so much? Dylan and his little jokes were a different thing but Clio seemed to act as if they were all just some old friends and it was… kind of nice to see that. ”My sister and I used to make this every Sunday back home. It’s a shame I can’t get Dorian to help me with it,” sitting at the table with Dorian’s family, Clio was talking about the rigatoni with fennel and anchovies she was so kind to make for everyone, glancing at her boyfriend with a cheeky smile. He only rolled his eyes, continuing to eat just to hide the smile that mirrored hers. Sure, he didn’t help her with that but it’s not like he had time for it when he was taking care of other things they could eat and… his girlfriend at the same time. Moving on. ”But that… All him. It must’ve been nice having a son at home who would make delicious meals… I meant Dorian, sorry,” and Clio also quickly got comfortable with his family, already seeing she can joke with his brother. Her gaze traveled to Dylan saying those words, her playful smile staying on her lips. With a hurt expression that was only there to hide his own smile, Dylan tried to defend himself. ”For your information I was the one always making-” ”No-” ”He did nothing.” ”You did nothing, now can we please stop? I like this fake imagine of me Clio created,” looking back at her, there was a subtle smirk on Dorian’s lips that would soon disappear. Before he or anyone else could say anything, Clio bent down to pick up Blaise’s toy he dropped.
”Oh,” with the biggest smile on her lips, Clio handed the bear back to the boy who was in his mother’s arms, making him smile by doing… She just gave him his toy, there wasn’t anything special she was doing, not now and not before but the boy really seemed to like her. ”What did we say about dropping Mr. Bear?” ”What did we say about liking other girls more than you like me?” That wasn’t a conversation Dorian followed because all of a sudden he seemed to be lost in his thoughts. Kids… yeah, no. He loved his nieces and nephews but having his own kids? That wasn’t something he planned to happen anytime soon, not even now when he had a girlfriend who… loved kids and kids loved her. He could see how she was with little Blaise, how happy she truly looked having a kid in her arms. Not just him but any kid that would somehow end up near Dorian when he’s out with Clio and someone recognizes him and wants to say hi. It was a conversation he was hoping he wouldn’t have to have with Clio but it happened not so long ago. What’s up with girls at this age and their love for kids? He wasn’t even sure how things with her would end, and he wasn’t really rushing into anything serious but that wasn’t what she thought. But it’s not really ideal to simply ruin someone’s dreams when they seemed happy talking about it. As happy as Clio seemed… So maybe Dorian gave her false hope, maybe he didn’t state how that’s not what he wants… At least not now. If you asked him that 10 years ago he’d tell you no, but now? Maybe that idea wasn’t that bad… it just depended on who he’d be having kids with and Clio… Clio was just his girlfriend he found when he was really unhappy. That was it.
”They were nice to you because they just met you, give them two more visits and we’ll see what you’ll say about them,” leaning back against the table with a playful smile, Dorian gently wrapped his arms around the girls waist, pulling her closer so she was standing between his legs. Her own arms wrapping around his neck. We all know how this could end and how Dorian was hoping it would end but… ”Or maybe we’ll create a secret little club where we talk sht about you. Could be fun? Oh, which reminds me…” letting ho of him and escaping his embrace (rude), Clio ran to the living room to grab something… That something being a photo album Dorian hasn’t seen in a while. ”Your mom left this and I didn’t get to the end of it,” tightly holding that album over her chest, Clio sat down on the chair next to Dorian, looking up at him with puppy eyes. ”And you want to prepare for that club by making fun of baby me? We are nooot looking at those photos, no! I can’t believe she left this here-” ”Yes. We are! You were actually really cute. Would definitely make some cute babi-” no, don’t go there. ”Fine, let’s look at them.” A sweet smile on his lips, Dori grabbed Clio’s hand to help her get up before picking her up and allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist as he walked them over to the couch, support her thighs.
That should’ve been fun… They were supposed to just look at photos of him and his sibling when they were young, all cuddled up. Laugh at his first school photos and his first soccer game wearing a t-shirt that was too big for him but not… Not this. His hand gently sliding up and down Clio’s leg, he stopped the moment he heard her ask, ”Who is this?” following her finger that pointed at… Jessica. A photo of them not long after they met. ”I hated her then,” saying it more to himself, a soft smile appeared on his lips, thinking back at… That time. Her… If things could’ve been as simple as they were back than. If only his demeanor didn’t change seeing that and having his girlfriend question him. Looking up at her after some time of silence, he could see the confused look on her face obviously waiting for some kind of explanation. You don’t just say how you hated someone and leave it at that. ”That’s…” Someone I used to love? No… Someone I love? My best friend who I wanted to propose to and still have that ring hidden in the back of the closet so you can’t find it? The reason I’m not treating you the way you should be treated because you’re one of the most sweetest girls I’ve ever met and you… don’t deserve this? ”An old friend of mine. I… haven’t seen her in a while. I don’t know why that photo is still there.” Shrugging, Dorian pushed Clio’s legs off of him to get up and… Find an excuse to stop going through the album or talking more about that girl in the photo. ”Keep looking, I’ll go finish cleaning up,” kissing her temple, Dorian tried to give her a sweet smile when she once again looked up at him confused. ”Dori… What’s wro-” ”Hey, don’t complain when I’m letting you relax while I clean up,” trying to reassure her how nothing was wrong when… it was, he bent down to gently press his lips against hers before mumbling, ”I love you,” and going back to the kitchen.