"Why do you look like you're going to vomit?" I ask Tristan as we find a carpark in the street outside the car yard my dad sent directions to, noticing it's not the sort of used car yard I was expecting, rather plenty of brand new cars that are definitely out of my price range.

"What me? I don't. I'm good," he insists.

"Uh huh," I laugh. He doesn't really look like he might be sick, I might be exaggerating, but he does look a little nervous. The way he has been gripping the steering wheel, hardly touched his coffee and the few times I've seen his Adam's apple bob up and down are a dead give away.

"You're dad, what sort of guy is he? Should I be worried?"

"He has connections with a biker gang, some old friend from high school, I don't know they just hung around the house when I was a kid. We weren't allowed in the shed. But like, he isn't a biker. Just looks like one. My mum never could get him to take the damn leather jacket off even at formal events. I don't think he's ever done anything really bad though, like he hasn't killed anyone. I don't think..."

Tristan slams the car into park, and turns to me jaw open. I can't keep a straight face anymore as I burst into laughter.

"That's not funny Mack," he mutters.

"It was pretty funny watching your face pale," I laugh, poking him in his side.

"Sorry for being nervous to meet the father of the girl I like. You know I've not really done this since I was a kid in high school," he says grabbing my hands to stop from poking him.

I take pity on him, softening my face. "Hey, you have nothing to worry about. My dad is the biggest softy ever. He has literally worked in an office his whole life, definitely no bikie connections. It's my mum who is the tough one!" I tell him genuinely. "There is no reason why my dad wouldn't like you, okay?"

"Okay," Tristan nods, finally convinced. I pull him towards me to give him a quick kiss then gather my bag and step out of the car, Tristan joining me a moment later.

We walk towards the entrance where my Dad is standing with Nathan beside him. I feel my grin grow as I see the two of them, especially because I didn't know Nathan was coming today.

"Hey Kenz," Dad says, giving me a big hug.

"Hi Dad!" I say into his neck, lapping up the sort of hug you can only get from a father. I pull away from Dad before giving my little brother a hug too.

"Dad, Nath, this is Tristan. Tristan, this is my dad Peter and brother Nathan," I introduce everyone.

Dad immediately puts his hand out to shake Tristan's. "I've heard your name mentioned a lot. It's nice to put a face to the name. Thank you son, you've been there for Kenz at some important times these last few months."

I can't help but look at Tristan with what I imagine would be heart eyes if we were an emoji. Dad is right, he has been there when I've needed him, more than dad will ever know.

Nathan makes a noise and my eyes dart to him. He has a knowing smirk on his face, looking between Tristan and me. I shoot him a shut up or I'll punch you look.

"Dad, this isn't the used car dealer I was thinking we were going to," I say as we walk past all the brand new cars at the entrance.

"There are used cars out the back," he says, before stopping and turning to face me. "But your mother and I were talking and we think you deserve something nicer. We weren't there for you when you needed us most and for so long you struggled without our help. So we want to get you a brand new car."

"Dad!" I exclaim, unbelieving of what he just said. "It wasn't your fault that I hid how bad things were. You really don't have to do this, I can't accept this. What about Nathan, that's not fair if I get this and he doesn't." I can't help but feel like it's a guilt gift, and I don't want that. It was my fault I shut everyone out.

"Nathan will get something when he decides what he wants. It's already happening kiddo. You just need to pick out a colour."

"I have a few grand, so I'm contributing all of that," I insist, knowing that I have no choice but to concede.

Once I'm picking out colours and options for my brand new car, the shock turns to excitement. I know Dad can see it, and it seems to make him happy that he has made me happy. We sign all the papers, and my new car is ordered. They tell me it may still be a few weeks till it's ready to pick up.

We were done much faster than I had anticipated, so we agreed to all go out for a quick lunch. Unsurprisingly for me, Tristan and my family are getting along like they've always known each other.

When we're seated in the cafe for lunch, dad goes to order and Tristan goes to the bathroom leaving Nathan and I alone at the table.

"So how long are you two going to pretend you're not together?" Nathan asks with a smirk on his face.

"We're not together," I tell him, sipping my water.

Nathan snorts. "I know, hence my question. You obviously like each other so what's the problem. He's hardly taken his eyes off you. Plus I saw you kiss in the car when you arrived."

My jaw drops. "Did Dad see?"

"Don't think so," he shrugs.

I sigh. "We're taking it slow. Like, really, really slow. I'm a bit scared to jump straight in," I admit, reminding me of when Tristan took me swimming and I acted exactly the same way. He was ready and waiting for me, while I delayed the inevitable.

"Why? He's not Noah, Mack. He's a good guy, has a good job and I can tell he really likes you."

"Noah was a good guy once too, even if we were just kids."

"Exactly, you were kids. Tristan is a grown ass man with his head screwed on. Don't let your past effect your future."

"When did you get so wise?" I ask, laughing, but not confirming that I've actually heard him. We don't get to talk anymore about it because Dad and Tristan both join us at the table and shortly after, our food arrives. I heard Nathan loud and clear though, and his words haven't left my mind.

***

"I thought it was your grandparents and a few aunties and uncles?" I ask Tristan as we pull into his parents driveway, seeing at least nine other cars parked.

"I'm Italian Mack, this is just a few. We don't do small families," he laughs. "C'mon, it will be fine. Nonna can't wait to meet you."

We walk from the car to the house and can already hear the loud voices talking and laughing from inside. The nerves start to bubble inside of me a little. This is weird, first of all I've only ever done this as a teenager and as an adult meeting the family feels a whole lot different and more serious.

Second, we aren't actually together and this is a very relationship type step. We're going in there as friends, knowing very well that soon enough things could change. Or they already have changed. Plus, will they even accept that we are just friends, clearly Nathan didn't buy it.

Tristan stops just before turning the door handle and faces me. "Hey," he says gently. "They will love you."

"It's not that. It's the questions they will have. We can tell them we are just friends all we like, but they probably won't believe us and will assume anyway."

"Let them. It's no one else's business what we are doing. Even if we were just friends, I would still want you to meet them, you're an important part of my life."

I nod and Tristan tucks a fallen piece of my hair behind my ear, his hand lingering on the side of my face. He leans down to kiss me softly and like always, I turn to putty in his arms, melting into the kiss.

"Ha! I knew it!"

We spring apart at the same time the front door opens and Amy stands there with her hands on her hips, a knowing grin on her face and a sparkle in her eye.

"Mum has tried insisting that you two are just friends and that I'm not allowed to meddle but I had a feeling. Now I know that I don't need to meddle, you've figured it out yourselves!" She states triumphantly.

"Amy, don't get ahead of yourself and please don't tell the rest of the family. We aren't together, but we're not, not together either," Tristan awkwardly explains.

Amy looks at us skeptically, raising one eyebrow. "Uhhh, right?"

"Just keep your mouth shut and pretend you didn't just see us kissing," Tristan says pushing past. I follow giving her an apologetic shrug. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I think we know what we're doing. We don't need others getting involved.

"Kissing, who's kissing?"

Tristan groans, muttering under his breath about how of course that's the part his mother heard.

"No one mum," Tristan says. Katrina looks at each of us, one at a time. We all plaster on a smile as she narrows her eyes.

"Fine, don't tell me. I'll find it out eventually," she sings. "Now come on through, everyone is waiting!"

Katrina ushers us through to the kitchen and I don't think I was quite prepared for how many people were going to be here. I knew there were a lot of cars outside, but did each car have four people in it or something. Wow.

There's a slew of women in the kitchen preparing meals together, more at the dining table, a couple holding babies. There's some older kids playing Mario kart on the lounge, looking like they range from pre-teen to about sixteen or seventeen and outside, gathered around the barbecue and fire pit seems to be all of the men of the family.

The conversations halt as we walk in, everyone turning to look at the newcomer to the family, except the kids playing Mario Kart, and I'm at least grateful for that.

"Everyone, this is Mackenzie," Tristan says, gesturing his arm around the room. "Mack, this is everyone. The kids over there are my younger cousins, that's my older cousin Sarah with her little one, and her sister Tash with her boy," Tristan starts pointing around the room and introducing everyone. I know that there is no chance I'm going to remember who everyone is until I chat to them.

They have all gone back to their conversations after the initial introduction, but I can tell they are still watching us out the corner of their eye too.

Before Tristan can even get through pointing everyone out, a little old lady is bustling towards us. She's got a tea towel over her shoulder and is wearing an apron that says My Favourite People call me Nonna, which my guess would be it was a gift from one of her many grandchildren.

"You must be Mackenzie," she gushes, wrapping me up in a warm hug then planting a kiss on each cheek. "I'm so happy to meet you, Amy told me all about you!"

"Amy did, did she?" Tristan questions, shooting daggers at his sister who ducks into the kitchen quickly. "What did my dear sister tell you Nonna?"

"Oh Tristan," she says, hugging him next and he dutifully kisses her on the cheek. "All she told me was that you had a friend who makes you very happy. She said that I would love Mackenzie, that's all darling," Nonna says, patting him gently on the cheek.

Tristan grunts, "You sure that's all? I know what the women in this family are like."

"Well is there more you would like to share with your Nonna?" She questions, smirking at him.

"Nope, we're good."

"Good, you introduce Mackenzie to everyone, then send her my way," Nonna instructs then bustles back off to the kitchen.

Eventually we get around the room and outside too. I definitely can't remember who is with who and who's children belong to who. The main thing is they all made me feel welcome, as much as I could tell they wanted more information on where we stood with each other. Tristan's cousins reiterated what I already knew, that he hadn't brought a girl to anything since high school.

Nonna got me in the kitchen and set me to work chopping up vegetables. I'm sure it was a test to see how I could handle the heat, but apparently I passed. She told me stories of Tristan when he was little. He is one of only two older male cousins so they often were made to play dress ups and princesses with the girls. By the time his younger male cousin came along, who it turns out is only 12, Tristan was too old and cool to play games anymore.

Eventually Katrina saved me, insisting she needed my help getting more wine from the garage cellar.

"You looked like you could use a breather," she laughs.

"Thank-you. Is it always this full on?" I ask, following her lead.

"Always! You get used to it though. By the third or fourth time you might have everyone's name," Katrina grins at me, and I can't help but feel like this is a trap to get information from me. I laugh lightly, but don't confirm anything verbally.

"I know my son Mack, he wouldn't have brought you to meet the family if there wasn't more going on. He would have made up some excuse as to why you couldn't come, even after I put you on the spot on the phone. I'm not meaning to intrude, I just... I see how he looks at you. He is very much like his father."

I'm glad we're in the darkness of the garage so she can't see me blushing. Were we really naive enough to think people couldn't see right through us?

"We care about each other very much. I need slow, and Tristan is following my lead," I admit.

"That's ok Mack, you're allowed to go as slow as you like. I know you just got out of a relationship, but there's no timeline that says you have to wait a certain amount of time. If something feels right, go for it. But you don't need me telling you my thoughts. Just know that you two have our support."

"Thanks Katrina."

We rejoin everyone else right in time for cake. I was more than happy to stand at the back and let Tristan and Tony have their moment, but Nonna pushed me to the front to stand next to Tristan, with Katrina and Amy standing on the other side of Tony.

If Nonna tells you to do something, you do it.

The family sing happy birthday, the boys blow out their candles and are handed a knife each to cut into the cake.

"You touched the bottom! You have to kiss the nearest girl!" Tristan's youngest cousin giggles.

"Yes, rules are rules Tristan! Otherwise you'll have bad luck!" Nonna tells him.

I watch him look at me nervously, seeing as thanks to Nonna I was placed directly next to him and he had put his arm around my waist while everyone sung, so I was very clearly the closest girl.

Tristan leans over and plants a soft kiss on my cheek only for everyone to start yelling that it's a cop out. Kiss her properly!  That's not a kiss. Weak!!

His cousins sure are a roudy and opinionated bunch aren't they!

Tristan grins and I know I'm blushing. He looks me in the eye, silently asking me if it's ok, and I'm grateful for that, but I also know there's no getting out of this in front of everyone.

I give Tristan a slight nod of the head and he wastes no time in making a huge show out of it, almost literally sweeping me off my feet as he forces me to bend backwards and he follows me, over, supporting my waist still, his other hand on my neck as he kisses me in front of everyone.

It's short, partly because we both start laughing at the dramatics, and partly because his whole family is in the room too, but they seem pleased with the kiss as they all cheer. We stand back up, and he wraps me closer to him, kissing me softly on the forehead while everyone calms down. I catch Katrina's eye and she is winks at me while taking the cake to the kitchen to cut it up for everyone.

"Thank you," Tristan says softly to me.

"What for?"

"Being here today, being with me, meeting everyone and not totally freaking out."

"Who says I'm not freaking out," I laugh accepting a plate of cake. "You're welcome Tristan, but you don't need to thank me. I enjoy being here with you, and your mum said I'll probably know everyone's name by the third or fourth time," I tell him, hoping he gets the hidden message that I hope to come back time and time again.

Everyone's right, why are we waiting? We both know what we feel.