"Hey, kiddo, how was the trip?" asked my dad as I dropped into the armchair in his office. He removed the glasses balancing on the end of his nose and rubbed his eyes. He looked exhausted. It was Sunday evening and he should be relaxing in the living room with Mum, not stuck at his desk. My dad worked hard but made sure weekends were for his family.

"It was fun. And so pretty. You should take Mum there one day." I slouched in my seat and slung my legs over the armrest. "Why are you locked up in here?" My nail polish was chipped. I focused on picking bits of it off, watching the black flakes fall onto my jumper.

"Have you spoken to Mum yet?"

I sat up and stared at him. His attention back on his computer, he typed a few words and glanced down at his notes. My stomach knotted and a million scenarios flashed in my mind. I had a feeling I would not like what I was about to hear. "I've just got home. She told me to come straight in here."

He clicked a few more keys, squinted at the screen and grabbed his glasses when he realised he couldn't see what he had written.

"What's going on, Dad? You're making me nervous?"

"Oh, darling, no. Nothing bad at all." He strolled round in front of his desk and perched himself on it. "Sorry. I'm trying to tie some loose ends at work so I can have tomorrow off. Mum and I thought you might like a family day out?"

I released a loud breath and relaxed back against the leather of my chair. "God, Dad. Thought you were about to tell me Mum and you were getting a divorce."

He laughed but didn't call me out on my dramatic comment. "Never. She's stuck with me that one. How about it? A nice walk somewhere? Take my two best girls out for lunch and maybe some shopping?"

"Aww, I'd love that and I haven't had a new handbag in a while." I beamed with a cheeky side glance.

Dad chuckled and patted my knee. "We'll see on that one. Go tell your mum I'll be ready in thirty minutes, an hour max. I'll pick up the Chinese when I'm done."

"Thanks, Dad," I said, standing up to hug him. "We'll go get it while you work. Love you."

"Love you more, kiddo."

***

Parked outside our favourite takeaway restaurant, Mum and I flipped a coin over who would have to leave the car in our Sunday comfies. After ordering our food, I went for a shower and my hair was still dripping down my back, leaving a lovely wet patch on my hoodie.

"Come on, Beatrice. I have no makeup on. It will be ready any second. Just run in and out."

"Mum, I have Batman leggings on and wet hair. I won the coin flip. It's fair."

The Dragon's heart occupied one of 5 units in a strip of shops and barely had enough room for three people to stand comfortably inside it. They didn't deliver, and the owner was equally rude and funny. She would sneer at you, then crack a joke as if she was your best friend. We loved the place and never even considered trying anywhere else. In fact, my parents had been going there long before I was born, when it was owned by June's parents.

"You look cute and fresh. Please," she begged, joining her hands together. "You knew one of us had to go in so it's not my fault."

I laughed and shook my head. "You knew too. Fine. But you're paying for my therapy if they laugh at me. You know June will." I pointed my index finger at her, narrowed my eyes and pursed my lips as I slammed the back car door shut.

She rolled down her window. "Hey Batman, I already pay for it."

"Hardy-Ha," I mouthed, walking backwards, towards the illuminated strip of shops. Before heading in, I scraped my nails through my hair and tied it into a low ponytail with the hair-tie I had secured on my wrist.

Mum seemed so relaxed tonight, and I was floating on a cloud from my weekend away. The banter between us felt like old times. I didn't need to turn around to know my mother's smile was as bright as mine.

My cheeks hurt as I pushed the door open, the overhead buzzer sounding.

"Hey, June."

"Ah, Bea! It's been a while. Where have you been?" She looked me up and down and paused on my scar. She smiled, her features softening. My skin prickled with an unwelcome heat. There it was, pity written all over her face. But catching herself, she smirked. "Off protecting Gotham?"

Unclenching my fists, I gave a half-smile. "Maybe." I shrugged, and just like that, June diffused the awkwardness in the air.

"Want to hear my joke?"

"Go on. Are they as bad as last time?"

"Worse," her son called out from the back kitchen.

"What's Batman's favourite dish?"

"No idea."

"Come on you should know, Gotham," she laughed, motioning to my leggings. Mum owed me an extra spring roll after this. "Kung POW chicken." She boxed the air and burst out laughing.

"Terrible," jeered her son, placing a white paper bag on the counter of the kitchen hatch. "Mum, this order is for the man that went next door. He won't be long. Bea, 10 more minutes for yours."

"Thanks, Rob." I stood off to the side, picking up a menu to flick through. The selection of dishes rarely changed, and we were creatures of habit, always picking the same options. It was that or some brochure on veneers.

The buzzer went off again, but minding my own business, I kept my nose in my pamphlet.

"I thought it was you."

My eyes searched for the source of that Australian twang and landed straight on Matt.

"Love the pants." He grinned, tugging on the fabric at my hip.

My breath caught in my throat and my stomach did somersaults when his palm rested on the same area he tugged on. "Hey."

"Hey, you." He placed a sweet peck to my lips.

Would that happen every time we saw each other? The belly twists and subtle touches. I had asked Matt to go slow, but I wasn't mad at his obvious need to be close when we were together. If anything, I revelled in the feeling and craved more.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice small. I bit the inside of my cheek and chastised myself for coming across weak and delicate.

Matt slipped his arm around my waist. "Same as you, I'm guessing. Food. And wine." He lifted a carrier bag up with a bottle of white wine peeking out the top. "Couldn't be bothered to cook when I got in and the others had ate."

"Oh, yeah. Same. Dad's still working so Mum and I came to get the food."

"Where is she?" He turned his head to the outside carpark.

"The silver car with the woman that looks like she's about to climb out the windscreen." I pointed towards her and waved.

He laughed. "She's probably wondering why a strange man is wrapped around her daughter."

"She knows who you are. She spied on you last time you came to pick me up. Before the zip wire?"

"I should say hello this time." His eyes flickered to mine, silently asking if I was okay with that. Was I? Was he just saying that because it would be weird if he didn't?

"Yeah, sure. She'd like that."

"Hey, Gorgeous. Want to hear my joke?" June called over, setting Matt's order in front of her.

"Do I?" he mumbled into my ear.

"Just go with it. It'll be over quicker."

June repeated her joke and cackled just as hard as the first time. Matt tilted his head to the ceiling and laughed along with her. "Love it!" He paid for his food and waited until mine was ready.

I relaxed into his comforting embrace and when his fingers slipped under my hoodie, tracing lazy circles on my lower back, longing whispered through me. How easy it would be to just let go.

Mum's gaze bounced from Matt to me and a smile danced on her lips. I knew the moment we were alone, she would pounce and ask a million questions.

Matt obviously had no intention to hide that we might be more than friends at this stage. But I didn't have the answers to her questions. Not just friends and not full-time lovers. We balanced on a thin tightrope of ambiguity; a tightrope I had set up. My feet shuffled along the cord, ready to slip and pick a side.

The car window lowered and mum's head popped out, her no makeup dilemma forgotten. She owed me two spring rolls. Or did I owe her one for letting me bump into Matt? My heart raced as we approached.

"Mum, this is Matt. Matt, my mum, Sandra."

She extended her arm for a handshake. "Lovely to finally meet you, Matt. Beatrice has told us all about your weekend. Did you enjoy it?"

Matt's eyes found mine, his lips curled up at the sides. I knew my face was beetroot red from the way he looked at me. Luckily, the poor street lighting concealed it. I didn't tell her everything that happened.

"Nice to meet you, too. I enjoyed it more than I expected to."

"Do you fancy coming back with us? We have more than enough food to share."

"Is that okay with you?" Matt asked and smiled when I nodded. "Sounds great. I have food and wine. I'll follow in my car."

We watched him walk towards his car, parked right outside the restaurant. How had I missed that when we arrived?

"Oof, I can see why you like him. Great arse! Your dad used to have a great arse. They sag a bit with age." She shrugged and turned the key in the ignition.

I buckled my seat belt and glared at my mother in the rearview mirror. "Disgusting Mum! Can we not talk about my dad's bum?"

"Sorry, I shouldn't be comparing it to your boyfriend's." She looked over her shoulder and reversed out of her spot.

"Not my boyfriend."

"Okay, your sex buddy. I saw where he had those hands." Mum wiggled her eyebrows when I glanced at her reflection in the mirror.

"Don't call him that when he gets to the house. Promise, Mum. Best behaviour, okay?" I sank into the back seat and chewed on my nails.

"Promise. Best behaviour. As if you had to ask," she scoffed.

***

We stood in the entrance hall when Dad offered Matt a bottle of beer and shook his hand. The poor lad hadn't even made it into the house before he was attacked with questions about himself. Suddenly everything around felt so small with Matt in it.

I picked on a loose thread on my hoodie and cast my eyes to the mirror above my mother's antique sideboard. Shit, I looked awful; my face bare of makeup and my limp hair slick against my scalp. Wincing at the sight, I turned my back on myself.

"Dad, let him sit down first. You can talk to him over food." I grabbed Matt's hand and showed him into the dining room where Mum had already laid out our takeaway.

"This looks amazing, Sandra." Dad kissed the top of Mum's head and sat down beside her. "I'm starving. Tuck in, everyone."

Matt pulled out my chair and pushed it into place once I was seated. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught my parents exchanging subtle head nods and smiles. I clasped my hands in front of my mouth and shook my head. If there was ever a time for the ground to open up and swallow me whole, it was then. My mother bounced in her seat anytime Matt glanced my way. And my dad was no better. His chest puffed out and his smile grew wider with each exchange, as if he had found Matt himself.

Anyone would think I had never brought a man home before. Scrap that. That was exactly the reason they couldn't contain their excitement.

"So tell us, Matt. What do you do for a living?" Dad asked between bites of his Singapore vermicelli.

Matt swallowed his mouthful of beef in black bean sauce and sipped his water before answering. "I bartend in one of the local clubs. With Zaire. But I really want to be a grief counsellor. I actually qualify as one next spring."

"Commendable work. Any reason behind it?"

"Dad," I warned, remembering the subject was still raw to Matt and Dad knew better than to ask questions when it came to grief.

"It's okay." Matt placed his hand on my knee and gave a gentle squeeze. "I admire the work they do and have always wanted to help others. I've experienced the benefits from counselling sessions myself."

My mum's eyes shot to mine. "Is that where you two met?" She pointed between us.

"No, Mum. I told you. I met him through Zaire."

"Oh, okay."

"It's by chance that we ended up in the same therapy group," he added, beaming.

My dad's eyebrows drew together, and he tapped his index finger to his chin. "Mmm, well, isn't that lucky? So, an Australian, hey. Any plans to return one day?"

Blunt and to the point, as usual.

"Can't say it's crossed my mind. I quite like it here."

"We went to visit some family in Brisbane a few years ago. Absolutely loved it there. Didn't we, David?" With the dinner coming to an end, Mum chucked a fortune cookie each in front of us.

"Yes, we did. Whereabouts are you from?"

"Coolangatta. So not that far from your family. Just over an hour, I'd say."

"You surf then?"

"Not anymore," Matt laughed and cracked open his cookie. "Would you look at that? All the effort you are making will ultimately pay off." He showed me his fortune and nudged my arm with his elbow before winking.

I snapped mine in half and read over it. Don't let the past and useless detail choke your existence.

Well, if that wasn't fucking comical.

***

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