"So we're going to the moonlight cinema?" I asked Tristan as we found a car park around the apparently very busy Melbourne Botanic Gardens.

"Yup! Have you ever been before?" He asked proudly.

"No, I always worked weekend nights, it didn't leave much spare time. But the cinema isn't really helping me figure who I am, unless I'm going to discover I'm secretly a movie connoisseur," I laugh, using my fingers to create quotation marks around the words who I am and hardly trying to hold back my sarcasm.

"It's not about that," Tristan exclaimed, sounding like an excited school teacher about to prove their point. "It's about doing something you haven't done before. Treating yourself and experiencing new things. You said yourself, you always worked, well now you have free time and get to enjoy cool things like the moonlight cinema with cool people like me."

"Cool person?" I raise my eyebrows and smirk as he feigns hurt. "Ok, ok. But we live in Melbourne, and it's April, it's going to get so cold! I'm not sure I dressed for this."

I look down and my jeans, sneakers and oversized crew. Tristan had told me to dress comfortable, not warm. It had also been a fairly mild day, so I didn't layer up like I would have, had I known what we were doing.

Tristan grinned at me, "Do you think I'd come underprepared. I've got the full set up baby!"

Well he wasn't wrong. Tristan had packed a picnic blanket for under us, cushions that I recognised came from his couch, and thermal sleeping bags that he told me kept him warm while camping in the middle of winter. Why he goes camping in winter is beyond me, but when I question it, he says he will show me one day instead. I'd work out a way to get out of that later.

He then handed me a flannel jacket and a pair of fluffy bed socks. I turned them over in my hand while pursing my lips to hold back a laugh.

"You can put them on when we sit down. Take your shoes off, put the warm socks on and get comfortable," he shrugs like it's so obvious. "Or don't, whatever, it's up to you. I saw them and thought you would like them."

I can't help it, I laugh out loud. "You saw fluffy bed socks, probably in the Mother's Day sale item section and thought you know what, Mack will love these!"

"Yeah I did. Be grateful," Tristan rolls his eyes. "Here carry these," he says and hands me some items to help him carry.

There were hundreds of people like us following the path through the gardens towards the moonlight cinema. Everyone had their own set ups and collections of blankets, pillows and picnic dinners. You could feel the happiness in the atmosphere, like walking with a crowd into a concert, something else I rarely got to do. There were kids chasing each other down the path while their mums called after them to slow down and wait up. There were couples hand in hand and groups of girlfriends ready for a girls night.

Tristan bumped my shoulder gently, breaking me out of my people watching stupor. When I looked to him, he was grinning at me.

"What are you smiling at?"

"You have a look on your face like a kid walking into a carnival for the first time," he laughed.

"I just never knew it was like this. I've seen the moonlight cinema advertised, but I never thought about the people that went," I replied, indicating to the group of loud, laughing girls around my age walking just ahead of us. "What are we seeing anyway?"

"Eh, well it was either Disney night tomorrow night, or Crazy Rich Asians tonight, so I went with the romantic comedy. Have you seen it?"

"I actually haven't. Noah was never really into watching movies and as we already covered, I didn't have a lot spare time," I smile when this seemed to please Tristan.

As we approach the grassed area where the cinema actually was I saw a line of food trucks on one side and the entrance to the cinema on the other. Tristan directed us towards the cinema, explaining we would get set up and then come back for some dinner. He pointed out the pasta truck and highly recommended the gnocchi, ranting all about this one time he got it and couldn't believe it came from a food truck.

Tristan showed the usher our tickets on his phone and the young guy directed us to the right. We were pretty early so we could get a good spot, order some food and get comfortable before the movie started at sundown.

We found a spot closer to a few couples, and thankfully away from the families with kids, figuring it would be a bit quieter to enjoy the movie.

"Ok, do you trust me to order your food?" Tristan asked after we set up and I was well and truly propped up by pillows and warm blankets. Much to Tristan's delight, I had also removed my shoes and put on his damn fluffy socks.

"Sure! You're in complete control here, I'll follow your lead," I tell him, enjoying the way his face lights up.

I can't help but think about how with Tristan I really do trust him and am able to relinquish some of my control freak tendencies. I was so used to always having to do everything with and for Noah. Even if I didn't want to be, I had to be in control. This is a nice change.

"Perfect," Tristan replied pulling out his phone. Apparently you could order online and select a pick up time so you didn't need to spend too long waiting in line for food.

"Here, I bought some ciders too," he said pulling some drinks out of a small esky that he had managed to pack amongst all the blankets and cushions. I peaked inside the esky seeing a block of my favourite chocolate and some cookies too.

"You literally thought of everything! You spoil me," I praise him, holding my hand over my heart. "Tell me I'm the first girl you've brought here."

"You actually are, I've been with a group of friends, but never just one girl."

"You know this feels very much like you've taken me on a date I didn't know I was on," My eyes sure to be giving away the playfulness behind my words.

"It is a date, a friend date," Tristan replied simply.

"To friends," I propose a toast clinking our glasses together.

"You know Tris, we always talk about me, let's talk about you for once. Tell me about Sarah because I know there is a story there. You have literally never talked about any of your exes or if you are into anyone. I think we are close enough now that I should absolutely know these things," I sit cross legged facing him as he lay on his side, with his head propped up by his hand. I absolutely wasn't trying to notice the sliver of skin peaking out as his t-shirt fell with gravity. But I know what's under that shirt and I'm only human.

"My ex's?" Tristan asked thoughtfully and I nodded keenly. "Well I had the whole high school sweetheart girlfriend, we were together for 2 years, but once school finished we only lasted 6 months."

"What was she like?" I interrupted. "Or was that Sarah?"

"No, not Sarah, Sarah was her friend though. Sarah and I were never anything and we never will be. Her name was Holly, she was blonde and pretty and a dancer. She's married and has a little girl now."

"Ok, I'll drop the Sarah thing, but if you wanted to, she would go there. Why did you and Holly break up?"

"Why do you care so much?" He laughed.

"It's interesting and I love this stuff! So why did you break up? And how many girlfriends since her?"

Tristan shook his head but answered anyway. "We wanted different things, I wasn't ready for marriage and kids right after school, she was. I think she always knew that she just wanted to be a mum. Then let's see, there was Eliza for a few months in uni, then I had a bit of a stage where I tried the whole one night stand thing before I realised it's not for me. Since then there was Olivia and then Ruby, they both only lasted a few months too. I just couldn't see futures with any of them. I've dated a little since, but not for a while and nothing past a second date. Happy now? That's like my entire romantic history laid out for you!"

"Thank you," I stuck my tongue out at his little jab. "Honestly, I can't believe you're single. You are like the complete package."

"Maybe I just haven't found the right woman for me yet, or I have and she just doesn't know it."

I gasp, "Are you saying you are interested in someone?" I practically squeal, garnering the attention of some of the people around us.

"Oh will you look at that! Our food is ready to be picked up, I'll be back!" Tristan jumps up waving his phone in front of me to show the notification.

"This conversion isn't over mister!" I tell him sternly.

"Yes it is," he bops me on the nose as he stands, straightening out his shirt. "I won't be long."

Tristan came back a short time later, dodging his way around other people's picnic set ups with his hands full of our food. As soon as I notice him I stop the people watching I had been doing and leap to my feet to help him.

The smell of the food hit me instantly, making my mouth water. "Oh my, this looks amazing!"

"Wait till you try it," Tristan insisted as he sat back down next to me.

On my plate was a bowl of gnocchi with a red Napoli sauce and beside it was a little square brown thing, it was crumbed and fried but I had no idea what it was. I poked my fork at it before looking to Tristan, "Ah, what's this?"

"It's a Mac n cheese croquette, just try it. It's basically a crumbed and fried big ball of mac n cheese."

I was sceptical, but so far Tristan had been right about just about everything else. I pick it up with my fingers and take a bite and honestly, I don't know how I ever doubted this man. I can't believe I've been missing out on this morsel of fried goodness all my life.

I let out a loud moan as the cheesy goodness rips through my tastebuds, licking my fingers to not miss a single drop. When I open my eyes, Tristan is looking right at me, his eyes slightly hooded and mouth ajar.

When he realised I was watching him he quickly glanced away, so fast I'm now not sure if I imagined the whole thing. His eyes now down on his food and my cheeks flushing red.

"You are so right, that was possibly the best thing I've ever eaten!" I say to try and break the awkwardness.

"Uh, yeah, sure sounded like you enjoyed it," he croaks out and I don't miss the slight pink tinge in his cheeks too. Now the second time I have seen Tristan blush.

"So anyway, my mum called when I went to get food. She invited you over tomorrow," Tristan just casually mentions and I nearly choke, gratefully that gnocchi slides down my throat easily.

"Wait, what? I'm sorry I thought you just said she invited me over?"

"Yup," he replied, "In fact, she insists she must meet you."

"You've told your mum about me?" I question, unable to help the way my lips curve into a small smile.

"Mmhmm, she asked what I've been up to and I told her. She always wants to meet my friends, it's like her thing, her way of being involved in our lives. You don't have to come if you don't want, but I'm going for lunch and the invitation is extended to you if you're not busy."

"I guess. I mean why not, sure!" I grin before digging into my little puffs of perfectly cooked potato drowned in the most delicious sauce.

The thought of Tristan telling his mum about me and the fact she insisted on meeting me gave me butterflies, which was entirely confusing. I was important enough to him that he shared our friendship with his parents. What he had told them about me was a whole other question.

Soon after we finished eating, the sun quickly lowered and the screen started up. With the sun now disappearing the temperature dropped rapidly and we pulled out the sleeping bags, unzipping them to make them into blankets. The sound coming from the speakers in the park was loud enough to scare the bats from around the gardens into the air and I watched in amazement as hundreds of the creatures filled the air above us.

There were no stars that we could see above us, due to being in the middle of the city, but there were twinkling fairy lights soft enough to not disrupt the movie, but light enough to show people to the toilets and create a magical atmosphere.

Surprisingly, we both got rather invested in the movie, making little comments here and there to each other, anything to make the other laugh, but trying not to be too loud to annoy the people around us.

It's about halfway through the movie and my body is getting really stiff on the ground. The pillows are really not doing enough to make me comfortable.

"Come here," Tristan whispered.

"Come where?" I question, not really sure what he is meaning.

"Here," he said pulling the blanket aside and patting the ground between his legs. "You can lean against me, it will be more comfortable."

I shrug my shoulders, figuring I had nothing to lose and noticing the people around us had started to watch us instead of the movie. I quickly nestled my way between his legs, leaning back against the wall of muscle that is surprisingly comfortable.

We wrapped the blanket back around us and annoyingly, he was right again. I was more comfortable and certainly much warmer, I didn't even need the extra jacket.

As the movie went on, I found myself snuggling more and more into the human pillow behind me. Tristan didn't seem to mind at all though, he had lay back onto the pillows, one arm supporting his head and the other wrapped around me. Where his hand on me had landed, my crew had ridden up slightly and he was rubbing small circles on my skin with his thumb.

I was trying so hard not to read into it and concentrate on the movie instead. Friends do this too right, it was probably a natural reaction for him, he wouldn't even know he is doing it. If I'm totally honest, I liked it. It's comforting and it's so very Tristan with his soft and caring nature. So I let him continue and didn't say anything.

I shouldn't let my mind wonder into dangerous territory, but I can't help but wonder if this is what Tristan the boyfriend would be like. What his hands would feel like to wonder further around my body. I trust him so much already. But I'm sure he doesn't want that with me anyway and it's probably too soon to even think about moving on with someone else.

Is there a too soon? What is an appropriate amount of time? My thoughts start spiralling, so I force myself to stop and concentrate on the movie instead, trying not to think about the little circles on my hip.

When the movie finished, I was fighting sleep and very begrudgingly untangled myself from Tristan's arms. We sleepily packed everything up and we walked back to the car in near silence. Tristan wrapped his arm around my waist as I took slow tired steps.

"You can always stay at my place if you want? It's closer and you're just about falling asleep walking," Tristan offered as we were finally sat in his car, the seats so comfortable I was ready to suggest I just sleep here all night.

"You only have one bed," I yawned.

"I can take the couch, or we can share. It's just sleeping Mack, not the fist time either. You can remain clothed this time though," he winks.

"Mmm, ok, sounds great." I reply, closing my eyes and letting sleep take over.